Cross-coupling based fluid front monitoring

Abstract

Device, system, and method embodiments provide fluid front monitoring via permanent, casing-mounted electromagnetic (EM) transducers. One or more casing strings have one or more transmit antennas that each encircle a casing string and one or more receive antennas that similarly encircle the casing string, with at least one receive antenna oriented differently from at least one transmit antenna to provide sensitivity to at least one cross-component signal. A processor unit derives an estimated distance to a fluid front, and may further determine a direction and orientation of the fluid front for display to a user. Signals from an array of transmit and receive antennas may be combined, optionally with signals from other boreholes, to locate and track multiple points on the fluid front. In response to the determined location and progress of the front, the processor unit may further provide control settings to adjust injection and/or production rates.