Least square approach for time series analysis of land subsidence over Greater Burgan Oil Field, Kuwait, using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry

Though land subsidence is a problem over Kuwait s oil fields due to oil extraction, no reliable data is available on this subject. A Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry technique is applied over the Greater Burgan Oil Field of Kuwait to assess the land subsidence. Thirty-five subsidence maps are generated with the temporal baseline varying from 35 days to 630 days using 28 ASAR images. Thirty-five days temporal baseline subsidence map is a clear indication of noise levels in the results. Similar noise is expected in all the subsidence maps. A plot of temporal baseline versus subsidence clearly shows the subsidence over the southern portion of the oil field, though the noise levels are very high. Assuming a linear subsidence for the period of the study, the slope of the line is estimated using least square technique, thus minimizing the effect of noise. A subsidence map of Greater Burgan Oil Field is generated which shows a subsidence rate of 3.5 to 4 mm per 100 days at the southern portion of the oil field. This is the first quantitative assessment of subsidence over Greater Burgan Oil Field.