A Summary of Hydrocarbon Extraction-Induced Subsidence Worldwide
Subsidence as a result of reservoir compaction due to hydrocarbon extraction has occurred and is well documented for many locations in the world: e.g. in Alberta, California, Texas, Louisiana, Venezuela, The Netherlands, North Sea, Italy, Russia, Georgia and Oman.
Many oil and gas fields are situated in delta sediments of large river systems such as the Orinoco Delta, Venezuela; Rhine Delta, The Netherlands; Niger Delta, Nigeria; Mackenzie Delta, Canada; and the Po Delta, Italy. The reason for these occurrences is that these delta systems offer ideal settings for the rapid burial of organic material in anaerobic (oxygen-poor) environments, essential to hydrocarbon formation. Some locations in the world where hydrocarbon extraction generated subsidence has occurred are listed in Table 1.
Extensive monitoring of the compacting reservoir compaction and resulting subsidence bowl occurs in The Netherlands (by the NAM, a joint venture of Shell and ExxonMobil), Italy (by ENI), the (Norwegian and British) North Sea (by ConocoPhillips, Statoilhydro and BP), Venezuela (by PDVSA) and California (by Aera, a joint venture of Shell and ExxonMobil, and by ChevronTexaco). A summary of information on reservoir depth, amount of observed subsidence, and select references to scientific literature discussing monitoring of the hydrocarbon extraction generated reservoir compaction can be found in Table 1.
Further information on the topic of reservoir compaction and subsidence can be found in “Subsidence due to Fluid Withdrawal” by Chilingarian et al. (1995) published in Developments in Petroleum Science, Vol.41, Elsevier, Amsterdam. A recent overview paper on the topic of reservoir compaction and subsidence is Doornhof et al. (2006) entitled “Compaction and Subsidence”, written by representatives from the oil and gas companies NAM, BP, ConocoPhillips, Total, ENI, StatoilHydro and Petoro. One of the MGP proponents, ConocoPhillips, filed a report that mentions experience with reservoir compaction and subsidence elsewhere in the world (Nagel 2004).
Environment Canada and its technical advisor Natural Resources Canada can provide further information upon request. Table 1. Occurrence of Hydrocarbon Extraction Induced Subsidence Location Hydrocarbon Subsidence Reservoir Area Years of Operator Source Amount Depth (km2) Operation (m) (m) Wilmington, Oil 9.00 90 1937-1997 Tidelands Oil Nagel California Production Co 2004 THUMS Long Beach Unit Lost Hills, Oil 2.50/10 700 ChevronTexaco Brink et California years al. 2002 Belridge, Oil 2.50/10 250-1000 1977-1995 Aera: Shell and Fielding California years ExxonMobil et al. 1998 Goose Creek, Oil 3.00/8 years 500 -1000 ExxonMobil and Chilin- Texas Gulf garian et (ConocoPhillips) al. 1995 Cold Lake, Oil-sands (Cyclic 415-470 Imperial Oil * Alberta Steam Stimulation and Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) Lake Oil 5.00 1926-2008 PDVSA (used to be Murria Maracaibo, Maraven SA and 1991 Venezuela Shell) Groningen, Natural gas 0.35 2900 900 1963-2008 NAM: Shell and NAM Netherlands ExxonMobil www Po Delta, Italy Natural gas 0.40 ENI (AGIP) Bau et al. 2002 Ekofisk, Oil 6.00 ConocoPhillips Nagel Norwegian 2001 North Sea Yibal, Oman Natural gas and 1969-2003 Petroleum ** some oil Development Oman LLC (PDO) * = http://aapgbull.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/reprint/85/5/781.pdf ** = http://oilit.com/1_tw/2006_contents/0618_SEG_NewOrleans.pdf
Literature quoted:
Bau, D., M. Ferronato, G. Gambolati and P. Teatini 2002. Basin-scale compressibility of the northern Adriatic by the radioactive marker technique. Géotechnique Vol. 52, No. 8, p. 605-616.
Brink, J.L., T.W. Patzek, D.B. Silin, and E.J. Fielding 2002. Lost Hills Field Trial – Incorporating New Technology for Reservoir Management. Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio 2002. SPE paper 77646, 11p.
Chilingarian, G.V., E.C. Donaldson and T.F. Yen (1995). Subsidence due to Fluid Withdrawal Developments in Petroleum Science, Vol.41, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Doornhof, D., T.G. Kristiansen, N.B. Nagel, P.D. Pattillo and C. Sayers 2006. Compaction and Subsidence. Schlumberger, Oilfield Review, Autumn 2006, Vol.18 No. 3, p. 50-68. http://www.slb.com/media/services/resources/oilfieldreview/ors06/aut06/compaction_and_subside nce.pdf
Fielding, E.J., R.G. Blom and R.M. Goldstein 1998. Rapid subsidence over oil fields measured by SAR interferometry. Geophysical Research Letters, American Geophysical Union, September 1998, Vol. 25, No. 17, p.3215-3218.
Hettema, M., E. Papamichos, and P. Schutjens 2002. Subsidence Delay: Field Observations and Analysis. Oil & Gas Science and Technology – Rev. IFP, Vol. 57 (2002), No.5, p.443-458.
Murria, J., 1991. Subsidence Due to Oil Production in Western Venezuela: Engineering Problems and Solutions. Land Subsidence. Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Land Subsidence May 1991. IAHS Publication No. 200 p.129-139.
Nagel, N.B. November 2004 (updated May 2006). The Evaluation of Reservoir Compaction and Surface Subsidence Potential for the Parsons Lake Field, Mackenzie Delta – Northwest Territories, Canada. ConocoPhillips Upstream Technology Report WBT.CU0379-1-2004., Filed in JRP Hearings as J-IORVL-00544.
Nagel, N.B., 2001. Compaction and Subsidence Issues Within the Petroleum Industry: From Wilmington to Ekofisk and Beyond. Phys. Chem. Earth (A), Vol. 26, No. 1-2, p. 3-14.