Elements of Building a
Simulator
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Reservoir Simulation
• What is it?
• numerical model of
reservoir made up of
a large number of
cells.
• Equations are
solved to calculate
pressures and flows
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• What data does it need
• Structural information,
• Rock properties,
• Fluid properties,
• Well data,
• Historical production
• Operating constraints
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• What can it do ?
• Used to predict
future performance
to decide on optimum
development strategies
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Reservoir Models
• Analogy
• Decline Analysis
• Classical Analysis
• Physical Models
• Numeric Models
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Classical Analysis
• Volumetric
• Material Balance
• Fluid Flow Fluid Displacement
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Limitations of Classical Methods
• NO DISTRIBUTION OF PRESSURES AND
SATURATIONS.
• NO INDICATION OF UNSWEPT OR
UNCONTACTED AREAS.
• DOES NOT USE SPATIAL INFORMATION.
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Volumetric Calculations
OIP = Area . H . Φ .(1- Sw)/ Bo
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Drive Types
• Fluid Expansion: Press > Pb
• Solution Gas: Press < Pb. Gravity Drainage
• Primary Gas Cap: Pres < Pb
• Compaction Drive: Unconsolidated sands,
over pressured conditions
• Water Drive: Aquifer influx due to
expansion or high pressure
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Material Balance
RELATES OIL INPLACE WITH:
• Pressure/Production
• Gas Cap Expansion
• Solution Gas Expansion
• Remaining Oil
• Rock & Connate Water Expansion
• Net Water Influx Production
• Injection
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M.B.ASSUMES:
• ZERO DIMENSION
• NO HETEROGENEITY
• SINGLE AVERAGE PRESSURE
• NO CAPILLARY PRESSURE
• NO COMPOSITION CHANGE
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Fluid Flow
• Relates Flow
Rate to
Pressure
(Darcy's Law)
Linear flow versus
radial flow
RADIAL DIFFUSIVITY
EQUATION:
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Fluid Displacement
• Fractional Flow Concept
• Buckley-Leverett Equation
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Reservoir Simulation
• To build a model of the reservoir and
to examine its performance in terms
of production and pressure
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Method
• The reservoir is divided into a number of
blocks Basic data is provided for each
block.
• Wells are positioned within the
arrangement of blocks.
• The required off take rate is specified as
a function of time.
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• The appropriate equations are solved to
give the pressure and saturations for
each block as well as the production of
each phase from each well
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Benefits of Reservoir Simulation
• Examine the performance of a given
reservoir under depletion, water
injection or gas cycling.
• Judge the most effective type of
water flooding.
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Benefits of Reservoir Simulation
• Estimate the effect of well location
and spacing and number of wells.
• Estimate the effect of production rate
on the hydrocarbon recovery and
economics.
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Benefits of Reservoir Simulation
• Maximize the hydrocarbon recovery.
• Find optimal methods of field
development and production schemes.
• Assess possible enhanced oil recovery
(EOR) schemes and their
implementation.
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Benefits of Reservoir Simulation
• Assess laboratory and field data
requirements and their effect on the
performance predictions.
• Investigate the reason why the
reservoir behavior deviates from the
earlier predictions.
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Benefits of Reservoir Simulation
• Establish the best completion schemes
for wells.
• Identify the section of reservoir from
which the hydrocarbon is produced.
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Typical Problems
• How Many Wells?
• What Rate Infill Drilling?
• Perforation Work-over Pressure.
• Maintained Water or Gas Injection.
• Pattern Flood.
• Peripheral Flood
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Objectives of Simulation
• To gather all information available.
• To augment basic methods.
• To history match past performance.
• To predict future performance.
• To determine what is important.
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• To examine effects of variation in
data.
• To compare scenarios.
• To investigate problem areas.
• To understand the reservoir.
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Requirements for Simulation
Knowledge of the Reservoir.
Statement of the Objectives.
Critical examination of the Data.
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Rubbish in gives Rubbish out
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Data Required at each System Node
• Permeability
• Porosity
• Thickness
• Elevation
• Initial Saturation for Each Phase
• Initial Pressure
• Fluid Properties (oil, water, gas) B, m, Rs, Rv
• Rock Properties Kr versus S, Pcow, Pcgo, Cf
• Grid Dimensions
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Other Data
• Well Producing Interval and
Productivity.
• Pressure Loss in Tubing and Flow Lines.
• Aquifer Description.
• Historical Oil, Water, and Gas
Production.
• Observed Pressure versus Time.
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Simulation Flow Equations
Combination of:
• Continuity Equation (Conservation of
Mass).
• Fluid Flow Equation.
• Equation-of-State.
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Simulation Equations
• Equations in Partial Differential Form
• Finite Difference Approximation
• Flow Terms
• Well Model
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MODEL
[Model of our process]
• "FINITE
DIFFERENCE“
• "A FORTRAN
PROGRAM"
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