Wednesday, 20 October, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Organizers: Michael Payne and Mark Houston

Speaker: Robert Withers, Chevron Team Manager of Enhanced Oil Recovery

Topic: Uses and Abuses of Geophysics in Production Environments

Over the years many geophysical processes have been proposed with promises of great potential to characterize reservoirs and map fluid properties. Although many tools have fulfilled their promise and are adding asset value, some surveillance tools have also proven disappointing and are no longer being routinely deployed. The reasons for this situation are multifold and examples of successes and opportunities will be discussed in the presentation.

To gain commercial acceptance of any new technique typically requires a long development period with multiple deployments. This is difficult to sustain in a world of fluctuating commodity prices. It is also proposed that the geophysical community needs to spend more time assessing the economic viability of the application of each geophysical method and the subsequent value of the information generated under real time field operational constraints. Business drivers are forced on production and facilities engineers for rapid field depletion. Maximizing value with minimal capital investment and operating costs, leads to development plans which frequently inhibit the applicability of geophysical tools. It is necessary to become engaged in early field development decisions by communicating clear value tradeoffs while accessing the needs of geophysical processes. This should result in a wider use of geophysical surveillance and mapping techniques, providing greater value added to the assets.

Biography: Dr. Robert Withers has worked for more than 30 years using geophysics in Exploration and Production applications for Oil and Gas developments. He spent 20 years with ARCO in a variety of domestic and international assignments with increasing responsibility, leading to the position of Geophysical Advisor with ARCO Research heading a team to evaluate and develop many of the acquisition, processing, and interpretation tools now commonly available in industry. His special focus was in the use of wide azimuth seismic recording and processing, and the use of passive seismic to monitor real-time hydro-fractures. In 1998, Robert moved to Venezuela as the sub-surface manager of the Giant Hamaca HO Field startup with Texaco, and then as an Asset Management Consultant with Chevron. His recent assignments involved being the Technology Manager for the Duri Steam Flood in Indonesia and developing a Sumatera Portfolio of Opportunities. He returned to Houston in 2009 to lead the Chevron EOR group assigned to move Resources to Reserves. In each of these assignments Robert has need to manage diverse teams of Earth Science and Engineering professionals.