Catch-22* in time-lapse seismic;: Can we proceed?

Time-lapse seismic is a powerful technology able to provide valuable 3D information about the reservoir. The interpretation of time-lapse seismic is known to be dependent on well data and a rock physics model that is calibrated at the well locations. For proper interpretation, time-lapse well logs are required, measured concurrent with the seismic acquisition. For most fields the time-lapse well control is limited, leaving only one alternative: to use the reservoir model to provide the necessary information for interpretation of the time-lapse seismic. This gives rise to a classical Catch-22 problem: the time-lapse seismic is acquired to improve the quality of the reservoir model, while the reservoir model is used to calibrate the time-lapse seismic.