InSAR for Waterflooding Monitoring: Example of the Greater Burgan Field, Kuwait

Abstract Monitoring the impact and effectiveness of water injection is paramount for the long-term success of waterflood projects, especially in super-giant oil fields. This study successfully utilised satellite-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) surface deformation measurements to provide field-wide surveillance of the Wara Pressure Maintenance Project (WPMP) in the Greater Burgan Field. Traditional monitoring methods, including observation wells, tracer studies, and 4D seismic surveys, are often constrained by high costs, prolonged turnaround times, and limited spatial coverage. Consequently, Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) adopted advanced InSAR as a cost-effective, non-intrusive alternative providing high-density, millimetric-scale deformation measurements across the entire 1,500 km² area of interest. The methodology employed high-resolution TerraSAR-X (TSX) satellite data, utilising the proprietary SqueeSAR® multi-image algorithm to process images from both ascending and descending orbits. This dual-geometry approach enabled the critical decomposition of the Line-Of-Sight (LOS) motion into true vertical (uplift/subsidence) and east-west horizontal displacement components. The 10-year, ongoing InSAR monitoring project (2015–2025) at the Burgan and Magwa production fields has provided a robust, quantitative record of significant and sustained vertical ground subsidence. The data analysis established a clear spatiotemporal correlation between hydrocarbon extraction and the resulting surface strain, with deformation rates of 7 to 13 mm/year. Following the initiation of peripheral water injection in the Wara reservoir in late 2014 aimed at maintaining reservoir pressure and enhance oil recovery, time-lapse displacement maps revealed a clear geomechanical reversal in injection-influenced areas. A cumulative vertical uplift of more than 10 mm was observed in the western border of the field between 2016 and April 2020, which correlated well with an anticipated reservoir pressure increase of approximately 500 to 1000 psi. Furthermore, specific, strong localised uplift exceeding 15 mm has been detected south of the Burgan field since 2020, demonstrating ongoing pressure effects. The InSAR data proved instrumental in operational decision-making by identifying zones near injectors with hotspots of localised uplift rates, which were attributed to poor fluid offtake or reservoir compartmentalisation. Consequently, operators were able to proactively reduce injection rates to mitigate risks associated with caprock integrity and hydraulic fracturing or failure. The successful application validates InSAR, powered by SqueeSAR®, as a fundamental, high-value monitoring technique that significantly informs and improves the efficiency and safety of waterflood management strategies in complex, super-giant reservoirs.