Improved imaging, mapping and monitoring of hydrocarbon reservoirs

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The ROSE (Rock Seismic) project was launched in 2004 with support from the Norwegian research council. Since then, this project has gained strong interest from the industry, which is underlined by the fact that we currently have 20 companies sponsoring th is project. In the extention of the ROSE project we intend to strenghten our focus on seismic imaging, mapping and montitoring of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Together with 5 professors at NTNU, 5 Phd students and 3 post docs and several national and internati onal researchers will be involved. The project will be focused on three major topics: 1) Imaging of complex structures, 2) reservoir characterixation and monitoring and 3) rock physics. Both for exploration and production of hydrocarbons, the imaging of the subsurface is extremely important. Imaging is also important for identification and monitoring of CO2 storage. In the project we will develop new methods dedicated towards imaging of complex reservoirs, such as those below salt or basalt, or heavily faulted structures. Within reservoir seismic and monitoring of fluid and pressure changes within subsurface layers, we will develop methods aiming for quantitative estimates of for instance saturation changes, amount of fluid being moved, including for instance CO2-storage in subsurface layers. The link between geophysical reservoir description/monitoring and reservoir parameters such as saturation and pressure is rock physics. Research on rock physics and mechanics will involve laboratory multidimen sional measurements of P and S-wave velocities. It is also possible to vary the stress and temperature in this core measurements. The geomechanical modeling initiated in the first phase of the ROSE project will be extended. The role of the industrial p artners is two-folded: Both to bring in data for analysis and testing and as discussion partners for PhD students, post docs and professors. Results will be published as 30 papers and 40 presentations