Advanced InSAR for Reservoir Geomechanical Analysis

Reservoir monitoring improves our understanding of reservoir behaviour and helps achieve more effective reservoir management and prediction of future performance with obvious economic benefits. It relies on an integrated approach involving both data collection and modelling. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) is a satellite remote sensing technique that can provide surface deformation data with millimetre precision over large areas. Previous publications have already shown how InSAR can provide data on surface subsidence or uplift due to reservoir compaction/expansion, fault/fractures reactivation and areas of possible well failure. In order to link surface deformation to reservoir parameters, we need to use geomechanics and geophysical inversion methods. The calibration of geomechanical models is probably one of the most important InSAR applications within the oil and gas sector. In this paper some examples of how satellite radar data can be extremely effective in tracking fluid migration, in particular in the Middle East area, where vegetation is scarce and radar signals are not affected by soil moisture effects.