4D Time-Lapse Full Waveform Inversion Case Study for SAGD Steam Chamber Imaging

Abstract

Summary We present a 4D time-lapse Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) case study using a monitor and baseline seismic dataset acquired on the Sunrise SAGD project near Fort McMurray, Alberta. We applied a double-difference FWI method in the 4D study. The double-difference FWI takes the difference between the baseline and monitor seismic waveforms and inverts for velocity differences. We demonstrate the method is stable and less dependent on a starting model's accuracy lacking low frequencies in the FWI seismic input waveform. We also present a processing workflow to prepare input data for FWI. The results show our workflow is practical and efficient and produces the improved imaging of the SAGD steam chamber geometry.