Feasibility study of surface-to-borehole electromagnetic monitoring in horizontal wells using numerical simulation

Waterflood monitoring is crucial for effective reservoir management and optimizing hydrocarbon recovery. We investigate the feasibility of using surface-to-borehole electromagnetic (EM) techniques for waterflood monitoring in horizontal wells. Numerical simulations are performed to assess the sensitivity of surface-to-borehole EM to changes in water saturation and fluid properties within the reservoir. Numerical simulations are conducted using a 3D frequency-domain CSEM methodology to analyze the time-lapse electromagnetic responses. The results demonstrate that the simulated near offset inline EM components exhibit high sensitivity to reservoir water saturation variations, with the horizontal electric field identified as the primary component for interpretation. The phase component of the horizontal electric field shows a strong correlation with the static conductance model, enabling the determination of the water front position in the reservoir without the need for inversion. The surface-to-borehole EM technique using horizontal wells offers enhanced resolution and spatial coverage, allowing for detailed characterization of reservoir heterogeneity and localized changes in conductivity.