Oilfield Review Spring 2008

Although the intelligent well technologies used in natural gasstorage wells are similar to those used in producing wells, the information is often utilized in ways that are quite different. As underground gas-storage operations evolve, these new approaches are proving to be an ideal platform for innovative applications. The results are storage facilities that look more like the hydrocarbon fields of the future than the winter supply depots of the past.

The cement sheath behind casing not only must support a well’s structure, but more importantly it must prevent unwanted fluid flow. And it must do so for many years beyond the well’s lifetime. A new, self-healing cement does just that, and a new logging tool helps boost operator confidence in the success of the primary cement job.

Smart materials have properties that respond in a controlled manner to changes in their environment. These materials can perform sophisticated functions, sometimes several simultaneously. This capability makes smart materials promising for use in a variety of devices, from household appliances to complex scientific instruments such as downhole intervention tools.

Seismic waves are primarily used to identify subsurface structure, but they also contain valuable information about the rock and fluid properties of the formations they pass through. The process of seismic inversion uses calibration information from wells to extract formation properties from seismic reflection amplitudes. This article examines inversion and presents examples from 3D, time-lapse and multicomponent surveys.