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Linking oil production to surface subsidence from satellite radar interferometry
Author(s) -
Xu Haibin,
Dvorkin Jack,
Nur Amos
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2000gl012483
Subject(s) - interferometric synthetic aperture radar , geology , subsidence , synthetic aperture radar , geodesy , interferometry , satellite , deformation (meteorology) , groundwater related subsidence , radar , oil field , levelling , remote sensing , geomorphology , petroleum engineering , optics , telecommunications , oceanography , physics , engineering , structural basin , aerospace engineering , computer science
Land subsidence over the Belridge and Lost Hills oil fields, Southern California, was measured using spaceborne interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR). During the 105‐day period between 11/5/95 and 2/17/96, the subsidence in the center of the Lost Hills field reached 15 cm. We assume that this surface subsidence resulted from the vertical shrinkage of the reservoir, which in turn was due to oil production and the resulting pore pressure drop. We model this mechanical effect using an elastic deformation theoretical solution with input constants taken from relevant experiments. The modeled surface deformation matches the InSAR measured values. This result indicates that it is possible, in principle, to monitor hydrocarbon production using satellite‐based measurements of earth deformation.