Modeling of ground subsidence in oil fields

Abstract

A method of integrated analysis and prediction of ground subsidence in oil fields is being developed at the Canadian Centre for Geodetic Engineering. The method utilizes the in-situ data such as location and geometry of the oil reservoir, geology, pressure in oil wells, production data, and surface deformation monitoring results. The data is used in forward analysis of deformation analysis of the rock mass. The reservoir compaction and subsidence modeling is based on the functional relationship between production, change of pressure in underground oil reservoir and measured ground subsidence. As a first stage of the study, various methods of ground subsidence modeling have been implemented and compared in modeling the effects of oil extraction in oil fields along La Costa Oriental del Lago de Maracaibo (COLM) in Venezuela. A method of inucleus straini, Knotheis influence function, and finite element method have been used in the comparison.