Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of 4D Reservoir Geomechanics, including how it integrates time-lapse data (4D) with reservoir modeling, and its application in improving oil and gas reservoir performance, safety, and decision-making. The key objectives of the course are:

1. Introduction to Reservoir Geomechanics

• Understand the fundamental principles of geomechanics and its role in oil and gas reservoir management.
• Learn about the geomechanical properties of the subsurface, including stress, strain, rock mechanics, and their relationship with reservoir performance.
• Study the impact of geomechanical factors on reservoir behavior, including compaction, subsidence, fracturing, and fault activation.

2. Fundamentals of 4D Geomechanics

• Gain an understanding of 4D geomechanics, which involves incorporating time as a critical factor in geomechanical models, allowing for dynamic, real-time simulation of reservoir behavior.
• Study how time-lapse (4D) data, such as seismic surveys, pressure measurements, and wellbore data, can be integrated with geomechanical models for continuous monitoring of reservoir changes.
• Understand how temporal variations in stress and pressure affect the performance of reservoirs and how to model these changes over time.

3. Reservoir Rock Properties and Stress Field

• Learn about the geological properties of reservoir rocks, such as porosity, permeability, and elastic properties, and their influence on stress and strain behaviors.
• Understand how the stress field in a reservoir changes over time due to production, injection, and other reservoir management activities.
• Study how the reservoir's stress regime (tensile, compressive, or shear) can affect wellbore stability, fracture propagation, and fluid flow.

4. Integration of 4D Data in Reservoir Modeling

• Understand how to integrate time-lapse data (4D data) from different sources such as seismic surveys, reservoir pressure data, and wellbore deformation measurements into geomechanical models.
• Learn the techniques of data assimilation, including how to align and calibrate time-lapse data with reservoir simulation models for accurate predictions.
• Study how to use reservoir simulation tools that integrate geomechanics and 4D data for better decision-making, such as CMG (Computer Modelling Group) or ECLIPSE.

5. Geomechanical Modeling Techniques

• Learn how to build geomechanical models of reservoirs, from 1D (vertical) to 3D (spatial) and 4D (temporal) models, to simulate stress changes over time.
• Study the methods for modeling subsurface stress during production, water injection, gas injection, and CO2 sequestration.
• Understand the finite element method (FEM), finite difference method (FDM), and other modeling approaches for simulating geomechanical phenomena and predicting reservoir deformation.

6. Applications of 4D Geomechanics in Reservoir Management

• Study how 4D geomechanics can be applied to optimize production strategies, well placement, and water/gas injection operations.
• Understand the importance of reservoir compaction and its influence on surface subsidence, well integrity, and surface infrastructure.
• Learn how to monitor and manage the geomechanical risks associated with reservoir exploitation, including fault reactivation, sand production, and wellbore stability.

7. Wellbore Stability and Geomechanics

• Explore the influence of geomechanical stress changes on wellbore stability during drilling, production, and injection activities.
• Study the role of wellbore integrity in preventing casing failure, fracture propagation, and lost circulation in reservoirs.
• Learn how to use geomechanical models to assess wellbore stability and optimize drilling operations.

8. Geomechanics for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

• Study how 4D geomechanics can improve the efficiency and safety of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, including CO2 flooding, waterflooding, and thermal recovery.
• Understand how changes in the reservoir’s stress field during EOR can affect the overall recovery process and help to predict the long-term impact of these methods on reservoir behavior.
• Learn how to evaluate and mitigate geomechanical risks during EOR, such as fracture propagation or unwanted pressure build-up.

9. Monitoring and Surveillance in 4D Geomechanics

• Understand the importance of real-time monitoring in 4D geomechanics, including the use of seismic monitoring, inclinometers, and pressure gauges to track changes in the subsurface stress and strain over time.
• Learn about surveillance systems that track well performance and geomechanical changes in real-time, providing critical data for decision-making and operational adjustments.
• Study the role of data analytics and machine learning in interpreting complex geomechanical data and improving predictive capabilities.

10. Risk Management and Mitigation Strategies

• Learn how to assess and manage the geomechanical risks associated with reservoir management, such as surface subsidence, fault reactivation, and wellbore instability.
• Study mitigation techniques for managing these risks, such as reservoir pressure management, controlled fracturing, and wellbore reinforcement.
• Understand the role of geomechanics in decision-making for reducing risk and enhancing production sustainability.

11. Case Studies in 4D Reservoir Geomechanics

• Review real-world case studies where 4D geomechanics has been successfully applied to improve reservoir management and performance.
• Analyze how 4D data was integrated with geomechanical modeling to solve complex challenges such as fault management, wellbore stability, reservoir compaction, and subsurface monitoring.
• Study lessons learned from case studies to understand the practical challenges and opportunities in applying 4D geomechanics.

Target Audience

This course is designed for professionals involved in the geomechanical analysis, modeling, and management of oil and gas reservoirs. The target audience includes:

• Engineers involved in the modeling, analysis, and optimization of reservoir performance, particularly in integrating geomechanics into reservoir management.

• Professionals specializing in the geomechanical behavior of reservoirs, including stress modeling, fracture mechanics, and wellbore stability.

• Engineers involved in production optimization and reservoir management, who want to integrate geomechanical data to improve operational decisions.

• Engineers working in the drilling domain, focusing on the stability of wellbores, and those interested in understanding the effects of subsurface stresses on drilling operations.

• Geophysicists specializing in seismic data interpretation and 4D seismic monitoring, and interested in integrating seismic data with geomechanical models.