Geodetic imaging of crustal deformation caused by oil and gas extraction

When hydrocarbon is extracted from underground reservoirs, the land above can slowly deform and change in shape. This change could gradually evolve into geological hazards that could affect the safety of surface infrastructures. Monitoring these surface deformations is essential in ensuring the stability of hydrocarbon field development, thus keeping field operations safe.  In this project, the InSAR time series is employed to measure the surface deformation over hydrocarbon fields in Niger Delta, Nigeria from 2014 – 2024 using both Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 data to understand the spatial and temporal variations in surface deformation over the areas. A numerical model to relate surface deformation to hydrocarbon extraction will be implemented to provide insights into the mechanism of subsidence in the Niger-Delta Nigeria hydrocarbon fields.