Seeing the effect of steam injection from the surface
A historical ADR technology-development programme with Chevron investigated whether surface electromagnetic measurements could detect temperature-related dielectric change and identify the presence or absence of steam in the subsurface.
Where does injected steam go?
Steam injection is used in Enhanced Oil Recovery to heat viscous hydrocarbons and improve production. The operational challenge is surveillance: understanding where heat and injected steam are present within the reservoir.
Historical published work describes ADR development at Chevron’s Kern River field using an unusually rich surveillance dataset. The research dataset included open-hole logs and dedicated surveillance wells with core and time-lapse Carbon/Oxygen, Neutron and Temperature information.
The objective was not simply to map geology. It was to investigate whether changes associated with heat and steam could be sensed remotely from ground level.
Surface measurement → subsurface change
Train → Blind Test → Detect → Compare → Repeat
Training
ADR interpretation had access to the surveillance database at selected locations.
Calibration
Temperature, dielectric response and known subsurface conditions were compared.
Blind test
At test locations the interpretation team did not have access to the database.
Prediction
ADR was used to interpret whether a single-zone steam chest was present or absent.
Comparison
The blind interpretation could then be checked against Chevron’s surveillance information.
Dielectric response tracked temperature behaviour
The published AEGC study reports that blind tests detected the presence or absence of a single-zone steam chest through a rise in dielectric constant at the appropriate space and time. It also states that multi-zone steam chests were more challenging, an important limitation rather than a result to hide.
Blind tests could detect the presence or absence of a single-zone steam chest.
Finding reported in the published AEGC 2018 paper describing the Chevron programme. The paper also notes that multi-zone steam chests were more challenging.
Temperature and dielectric measurements to depth
The published Figure 3 compares Chevron’s downhole temperature curve with an ADR predictive temperature curve.
The same published figure presents measured dielectric response alongside the ADR-derived temperature behaviour.
The paper reports temperature and dielectric tracking to just over 1,600 ft below ground level in the Chevron example.
A foundation for time-lapse subsurface intelligence
Demonstrated in the historical programme
- Surface ADR measurements evaluated against a large surveillance dataset.
- Training locations with access to reference data.
- Blind-test locations without access to the reference database.
- Reported detection of presence/absence of a single-zone steam chest.
- Comparison between ADR-derived temperature behaviour and Chevron downhole temperature information.
Important boundaries
- The work did not establish perfect steam-front imaging.
- Published material states multi-zone steam chests were more challenging.
- ADR surveillance should complement, not replace, appropriate wells and reservoir surveillance.
- Modern applications require project-specific calibration and validation.
Go directly to the published evidence
For technical readers, the historical Chevron surveillance work can be traced into public conference papers and presentations. These source documents provide the methodology, field context and original temperature/dielectric results behind this VEXRAD case study.
Monitoring Steam Injection for EOR
New method for monitoring steam injection for Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) and for finding sources of geothermal heat. Includes the Chevron California case, training/blind-test description and the original Figure 3 temperature/dielectric comparison.
OPEN AEGC PAPER →Oilfield Steam Injection — Field Results
A highly visual technical presentation containing hot-hole versus cold-hole steam-injection results, measured temperature, ADR-calculated temperature and ADR dielectric curves, plus related geothermal examples.
OPEN FIELD RESULTS →Large Depth Exploration Using Pulsed Radar
Broader technical presentation placing the Chevron Kern River work within the development of deep pulsed-radar / ADR applications and other subsurface case studies.
OPEN TECHNICAL PRESENTATION →Chevron temperature & dielectric comparison
This simplified VEXRAD graphic explains the structure of the original published Figure 3 rather than reproducing the legacy figure. The paper reports temperature and dielectrics tracked to just over 1,600 ft below ground level.
Important: this is an explanatory redraw, not a digitisation of Chevron’s original curves. Use the AEGC paper above to inspect the original Figure 3.
From steam surveillance to repeat subsurface monitoring
The Chevron programme is important to VEXRAD because it demonstrates the underlying concept of repeat, surface-based measurement of a changing subsurface condition. The historical evidence is EOR-specific; the same monitoring philosophy now motivates VEXRAD development for other applications where heat, fluids or dielectric properties change through time.
Geothermal
Potential time-lapse monitoring of reservoir response, thermal behaviour and fluid-related change.
CCUS
Potential complementary surveillance of subsurface change associated with injection, subject to site-specific validation.
Water
Potential repeat monitoring of aquifers and changes in subsurface water conditions.
What changes beneath your site after injection?
Talk to VEXRAD about a baseline-and-repeat ADR monitoring programme designed around the subsurface change you need to observe.
VIEW THE PUBLIC AEGC PAPER →