Tiziano Labruzzo

Marine-controlled source electromagnetics (CSEM) have been extensively applied to various exploration scenarios worldwide. However, its perceived value and cost relative to seismic and the scarcity of realistic case studies have limited the industry’s interest in time-lapse reservoir-monitoring (4D) applications. A feasible way to make demand for CSEM for 4D-monitoring programs would be to increase the value of information and reduce survey costs by performing joint operations where seismic and CSEM data are acquired during the same survey and at equivalent spatial densities. To this end, we propose a new multiphysics ocean-bottom nodes (OBN) concept and show the industry that CSEM can be a cost efficient and effective integrators to 4D seismic projects. To this end, we conducted a feasibility study demonstrating that horizontal magnetic field components have the required sensitivities and can be used instead of horizontal electric field components in mapping the 3D resistivity distribution and 4D fluid change responses in a given reservoir. This makes engineering a new OBN class simpler and cheaper, as various miniaturized magnetic field sensors are available off-the-shelf or readily working along with packaging and coupling solutions.