Field test of acoustic logs for measuring porosity and oil saturation in a mature waterflood in the Wilmington Field, CA

A field test was carried out in the Wilmington Field, CA. to assess the effectiveness of multi-pole acoustic logs to measure porosity and oil saturation through casing in sands waterflooded for over 40 years. The field test was also designed to assess the production potential of selectively recompleting wells in high water cut areas. The multi-pole acoustic logs offer a promising new method for reservoir characterization, depletion monitoring, and optimizing the recomplete and redrill potential of existing wells. The Department of Energy (DOE) is co-funding a multiyear study to refine the acoustic log analyses, to improve reservoir characterization, and to evaluate the cost effectiveness of various recomplete methods.