FACULTY of ENGINEERING
Assignment & Test Cover Sheet
COURSE CODE & TITLE:PGE 511 - Petroleum Reservoir Modelling &
Simulation. SEMESTER & SESSION: 1st (Harmattan) Semester,
2023/24 Session.
TITLES OF ASSIGNMENT: Midterm Examination I. Fundamentals of Petroleum
Reservoir Simulation.
LAST NAME: HASSAN KANGIWA
OTHER NAMES: HAUWA
STUDENT ID NOS: 171205044
ENROLLMENT NOS: 44
TELEPHONE NOS: 08143486762
DATE DUE: TUESDAY 26th DECEMBER 2023
DATE SUBMITTED: Tuesday 26th DECEMBER
2023
LECTURER: Prof. Abdullahi Gimba.
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DEPARTMENT of PETROLEUM & GAS ENGINEERING
1st (Harmattan) Semester, 2023/24 Academic
Session. PGE 511 - Petroleum Reservoir
Modelling & Simulation
Midterm Examination. Fundamentals of Petroleum Reservoir
Simulation.
The Midterm Examination consist of undertaking the online course below and
answering the questions that followed.You can find the online course by
Udemy via the link:
Fundamentals of Reservoir Simulation.
https://www.udemy.com/share/1036b6/
QUESTIONS.
After successfully completing the online course, answer the following questions:
1. Principles of Reservoir Simulation: Select any hypothetical oil reservoir
with specific characteristics. Describe in detail the key steps you would
follow to create a reservoir simulation model for this scenario. Highlight
the parameters you would consider and the reasons behind their
selection;
2. Sensitivity Analysis: Perform a sensitivity analysis for any selected
reservoir simulation model of your choice. Identify two key parameters
and discuss their impact on oil recovery and reservoir performance.
Provide recommendations based on your analysis;
3. Simulation Challenges: Describe a complex reservoir scenario where
conventional simulation methods might not be effective. Propose
alternative or enhanced ap- proaches to model this scenario and justify
your choices;
4. Ethical Considerations and Decision-making: Explore the ethical
dilemmas related to the use of reservoir simulation in the petroleum
industry. Discuss how ethical considerations should influence decision-
making based on simulation results;
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5. Future Trends and Continuous Learning: Evaluate the potential future
advance- ments in reservoir simulation. Discuss how professionals in the
field should adapt and continually learn to stay abreast of these
developments;
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6. Attach the Completion Certificates of the courses. Without the
Completion Certificate, your work will not be marked.
INSTRUCTIONS
Please kindly submit two SOFT copies in both pdf and MS Word/Pages via
the PGE 511 2023 Midterm 1 link in the MS Teams Classroom on or
before 12:00 Noon, Friday, 22nd December 2023.
1. You are encouraged to research the topic extensively and widely.
Collect as much relevant information as possible;
2. Refer extensively to the “Guidelines on Writing Assignments” already
given to you in ‘Course Materials’. All other instructions given earlier
apply;
3. All submissions MUST be typewritten, neat and tidy; Late submission
will re- ceive the necessary penalty;
4. Attach the Certificate of Completion;
5. Check for plagiarism and AI generated text by using turnitin or
Copyspace and submit the Similarity Report, which most not be more
than 20%;
6. The total word count must not be less than 3,000 words;
7. Download the MS Word/pages version and use the PGE 511 2023
Assignment Template given to you. Your work must be in one
document;
8. Fill the relevant information onto the Assignment Cover Sheet. Do not
leave out anything;
9. Font and headings. Please use Palatino, Calibri, Avenir Next,
Helvetica, Times New Roman, or similar text;
10. Page Alignment - Full justified. Font size (text) - 12 (text);
11. In the main assignment text, one should use a 1.2 line spacing format.
Spacing before paragraph should be 6 points, and spacing after
paragraph 6 points;
12. Headings should be separated from the previous paragraph by leaving
one empty row between them. Headings and paragraphs should begin
in the left- hand of a page with no increased indent;
13. Begin each question on a fresh page;
14. The width of the margins should be as follows: the left margin 2.54
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cm, the right margin 1.9 cm, and the top margin 2.54 cm and bottom
margins 2.54 cm;
15. When attempting the assignment, write the full Question first, before
writing the answer below it;
16. Each question should be BOLD to make it stand out from the answer;
17. When listing items, use the “Bullets & List” function of the MS Word or
Apple Pages, depending on the types of computer you are using;
18. The idea is to make your work as presentable as possible so that the
reader (Lec- turer) would be interested in reading it, and hence give
you good marks!
You are permitted to discuss problems — however any sharing and/or
copying of work among students or among any other persons is specifically
forbidden. In addition, any presentation of the work of others (including text
derivations, solutions, plots, pro- grams, etc.) as your own work is also
expressly forbidden. You are expected to perform and submit your own work
for this assignment - failure to adhere to these conditions will result in severe
penalties.
Prof. Abdullahi Gimba
10th December 2023.
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1. Principles of Reservoir Simulation: Select any hypothetical oil
reservoir with specific characteristics. Describe in detail the key
steps you would follow to create a reservoir simulation model for
this scenario. Highlight the parameters you would consider and the
reasons behind their selection.
Answers.
HYPOTHETICAL OIL RESERVOIR SCENARIO:
Reservoir type: Sandstone reservoir with heterogeneous permeability.
Fluid type: Light crude oil with dissolved gas.
Reservoir geometry: Anticline structure with faults.
Key Steps to Create Reservoir Simulation Model:
1. Data Collection:
Obtain geological data
(porosity, permeability, fault distribution).
Gather fluid properties (PVT data for oil and gas).
2. Grid Generation:
Create a numerical grid representing the reservoir geometry.
3. Rock and Fluid Modeling:
Define rock properties (porosity, permeability) and fluid properties.
4. Equation of State:
Incorporate an equation of state to model fluid behavior under reservoir
conditions.
5. Well Modeling:
Model production and injection wells.
6. Boundary Conditions:
Set appropriate boundary conditions for the reservoir.
7. Initialization and Calibration:
Initialize the model with realistic initial conditions, Calibrate against
historical
production data.
Explanation:
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8. Simulation Run:
Perform simulations using numerical solvers.
9. Analysis:
Analyze simulation results for reservoir performance.
Parameters Considered and Reasons:
Permeability: Influences fluid flow and recovery rates.
Pore volume : Affects the total fluid storage capacity .
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2. Sensitivity Analysis: Perform a sensitivity analysis for any selected
reservoir simulation model of your choice. Identify two key
parameters and discuss their impact on oil recovery and reservoir
performance. Provide recommendations based on your analysis;
Answers:
Certainly! Let's consider a simple reservoir simulation model with a black oil
formulation, commonly used to simulate three-phase flow in oil reservoirs.
For this sensitivity analysis, we'll focus on two critical parameters:
permeability and
porosity.
Permeability: The rock's capacity to permit fluid flow is indicated by its
permeability. Greater permeability suggests that the reservoir rock's fluid
can pass through it more easily. Because increased permeability promotes
improved fluid flow and more effective oil displacement from reservoir rock
pores, it typically results in higher oil recovery. On the other hand, overly
high permeability may cause a fluid to breakthrough more quickly, resulting
in the generation of gas or water earlier and lowering total oil recovery.
Porosity: Porosity is the amount of pore space in a rock that can hold fluids.
Greater porosity typically means greater fluid capacity, which raises oil
recovery. Greater oil storage capacity is made possible by increased
porosity in the reservoir rock. On the other hand, a low porosity can limit
the total amount of oil that can be recovered from the reservoir.
Impact on Oil Recovery and Reservoir Performance
Permeability: Better fluid flow results in increased recovery when
permeability is increased. Overly high permeability, however, may cause
non-oil phases to emerge sooner than expected, which could lower oil
recovery and reduce sweep efficiency.
Porosity: By giving oil more room to accumulate, a higher porosity typically
results in a higher oil recovery. Lower recovery rates may arise from
insufficient porosity, which also restricts oil storage capacity.
Recommendations :
Permeability Optimization: Perform sensitivity analysis to identify
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the optimal range of permeability that maximizes oil recovery
while maintaining sweep efficiency. Hydraulic fracturing, well
placement adjustments, and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) methods
like gas or water injection may all be necessary.
Balancing Porosity: To improve sweep efficiency in regions with
reduced porosity, assess reservoir variability and take reservoir
engineering strategies into account. In order to optimize recovery,
zones for targeted reservoir management techniques can be
identified with the aid of improved characterization and
understanding of rock qualities.
To obtain a full understanding of the combined impact of various
parameters on oil recovery and reservoir performance, it is imperative to
conduct a thorough sensitivity analysis that takes into account other factors
including fluid viscosity, reservoir pressure, and rock compressibility.
Decisions about reservoir management and development tactics are guided
by this research in order to maximize development strategies for optimizing
oil production.
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3. Simulation Challenges: Describe a complex reservoir scenario
where conventional simulation methods might not be effective.
Propose alternative or enhanced ap- proaches to model this
scenario and justify your choices;
Answers:
One complex reservoir scenario where conventional simulation method
might struggle is in simulating fractured reservoirs with multiphase flow
and complex fracture networks. In these situations, traditional models can
oversimplify the fractures or be unable to fully represent their complex
connection and flow behavior, which would result in predictions that are not
true.
Improved methods might include the use of discrete fracture network (DFN)
models, which model fractures as discrete elements with distinct
characteristics. This technique makes it possible to depict fracture
networks, their connectedness, and how they affect the reservoir's fluid flow
in more detail. A more accurate representation of the interplay between
matrix and fracture systems can be achieved by combining DFN with
reservoir modeling methods like as dual-porosity or dual-permeability
models.
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4. Ethical Considerations and Decision-making: Explore the ethical
dilemmas related to the use of reservoir simulation in the petroleum
industry. Discuss how ethical considerations should influence
decision-making based on simulation results;
Answers:
The reservoir simulation problem presents the petroleum industry with a
number of ethical conundrums, most centered around resource
management, societal responsibility, and environmental effect.
1.Environmental Impact: Simulation results inform extraction technique
choices that could deteriorate the environment. Underestimating reservoir
potential could result in needless environmental disruption, while
overestimating it could lead to excessive drilling and resource loss.
2. Resource Management: The equitable and fair distribution of resources
raises ethical questions. Geopolitical tensions and economic inequality may
result from inaccurate models that alter resource estimates and market
supply.
3. Societal Responsibility: Simulation-based decision-making might affect
investments and energy-related policies. Ensuring access to energy while
working towards greener options that are in line with global climate goals is
a matter of ethics.
Ethical considerations should play a crucial role in decision-making
based on simulation results:
1. Accountability and Transparency: Businesses have to be transparent
about their simulation techniques, presumptions, and uncertainties.
Stakeholders are guaranteed to be informed of any potential biases or limits
via transparent reporting.
The prioritization of sustainable practices by decision-makers is vital, with
consideration given to the long-term repercussions. Aligning investments
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and extraction techniques with environmental stewardship and societal well-
being is crucial.
2. Risk Assessment and Mitigation: To reduce adverse effects on
ecosystems and communities, full risk assessments, including
environmental impact assessments, are necessary part of ethical
decision-making.
The observance of regulatory norms and industry best practices guarantees
that conclusions derived from simulations comply with legal obligations,
thereby strengthening the ethical foundation of decision-making.
3. Continuous Evaluation and Improvement: Responsibly making
decisions is facilitated by periodically reviewing simulation models
and adding fresh data.
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5.Future Trends and Continuous Learning: Evaluate the potential future
advance- ments in reservoir simulation. Discuss how professionals in the
field should adapt and continually learn to stay abreast of these
developments.
Answer
Future advancements in reservoir simulation are likely to be driven by
technological innovations and advancements in data analytics,
computational capabilities, and modeling techniques. Some potential trends
include:
1. Advanced Data Integration: Using machine learning and artificial
intelligence (AI) methods, real-time field data (such as sensor data,
well logs, and seismic data) is integrated with simulation models to
increase accuracy and facilitate in-the-moment decision-making.
2. Enhanced Computational Power: As high-performance computing
continues to advance, more intricate and comprehensive
simulations will be possible, enabling calculations to be completed
more quickly and at a greater resolution.
3. Multi-physics and Multi-scale Modeling: With the development of
modeling tools, it will be possible to incorporate multi-scale simulations and
numerous physical processes (such fluid flow, thermal impacts, and
chemical reactions) to gain a more thorough knowledge of reservoir
behavior.
4. Incorporation of Uncertainty Quantification: Reliable forecasts and
risk assessments will result from better techniques for managing and
quantifying uncertainties inside simulation models.
5. Integration of Physics-Based and Machine Learning Models: Hybrid
models that combine machine learning techniques and physics-based
simulations will improve predictive capabilities, particularly for managing
complex reservoir behavior and optimizing production methods.
Professionals in the field should adapt and continually learn to stay
abreast of these developments by:
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Ongoing Education and Training: Attending conferences,
workshops, and professional development courses with an
emphasis on cutting-edge reservoir simulation techniques and
technology.
Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: To share ideas and keep up
to date on the most recent developments, network with colleagues,
attend conferences, and work together on research initiatives.
Investigating New Software and Tools: Having an open mind and a
willingness to learn new simulation software and tools that use
cutting-edge technologies for better reservoir modeling.
Remaining Current with Research and Literature: To comprehend
cutting-edge methods and trends, read scholarly journals,
publications, and research papers on a regular basis.
Experimentation and Practical Application: Taking an active role in
practical applications of new approaches or hands-on projects in
order to obtain first-hand knowledge and experience.
In summary, staying at the forefront of reservoir simulation advancements
requires a commitment to continuous learning, embracing new
technologies, fostering collaboration, and maintaining a proactive approach
towards professional development within the evolving landscape of the
industry.
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6.Attach the Completion Certificates of the courses. Without the
Completion Certificate, your work will not be marked.
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