A Brief Review of the Minimal-Effort Time-Lapse Seismic Concept

Multiple, time-separated/time-lapse 3-D (TL 3-D) seismic surveys are becoming increasingly used as means of monitoring petroleum reservoir production. Typically, the separate monitoring surveys are all performed in a manner very similar to the original, exploration survey, this is not always the most efficient manner in which to collect the information necessary to make production decisions. Once the petroleum signature is recognized in the original (exploration) survey, considerable information is available to allow the monitoring survey(s) to be designed so that the production can be monitored in a, manner more efficient than simply repeating an exploration grade survey. Empirical and mathematical techniques are being developed to determine the minimal effort (most efficient) TL 3-D schemes. These minimal effort schemes promise to reduce costs for reservoir monitoring and to allow TL 3-D monitoring to be applied cost effectively to smaller reservoirs. The demand for Minimal Effort TL 3-D (ME TL 3-D) surveys will likely result in a new breed of specialized (faster, better, cheaper) seismic crews