Correctly modeling compressibility effects in

ECLIPSE when receiving petrophysical properties

from the GeoModeler?
Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
Reservoir Pore Volume decreases with pressure by compaction
Let’s take consider 3 similar cells at different depths in reservoir conditions
• as Pressure increases, the grains will compact
• more material fits in the same bulk volume
• the reservoir pore volume decreases as compaction increases

P1 PoreV(P1)

P2 PoreV(P2)
Depth
Reservoir PoreV
P3 PoreV(P3)
 Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
In the simulator, PoreV is a function of Pressure and Rock Compressibility
When the pressure evolves from the initial pressure, the situation may become counter intuitive:
• as Pressure increases from the initial pressure, the grains within each simulation cell will compact
• since the simulation cell bulk volume does not change in the simulator and since the same material remains in each cell
• PoreV does increase artificially in the simulator as the pressure increases from the initial pressure
Reservoir PoreV Dynamic PoreV

• PoreV changes dynamically within the simulator as

a function of ΔP and Rock Compressibility
depth

PoreV_Dynamic = PoreV_Reservoir * PoreV_Multiplier(P-Pres,Compressibility)

• Dynamic PoreV increases with Pressure

• Reservoir PoreV decreases with depth/Pressure

Pres Pressure P
Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
How big is the PoreV multiplier correction applied by ECLIPSE?

Compressibility effects will only affect very thick reservoirs

(in which we observe big ranges of pressure) with high compressibility
PoreV_Multiplier

With C=1E-4 and ΔP =200, the initial PoreV is

multiplied by 1.02: 2% of PoreV variations due to
Rock Compaction

ΔP
Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
Definitions – Differences between the GeoModeler and ECLIPSE
Rock Compressiblity C: C=(dPoreV/dP)/PoreV which leads to the following 1st order formula

PoreV(P)=PoreV(P0).(1+X+X2/2) where X =C(P-P0)=C.ΔP

PoreV_Dynamic PoreV_Multiplier(ΔP, C)

The definition of PoreV(P0) differs between the GeoModeler and ECLIPSE

In the GeoModeler
GeoModeler::
• Petrophysical properties are assumed to be defined in reservoir conditions;
• P0=Pres is a function of depth and fluid content;
• PoreV(P0) is the « Reservoir Pore Volume »
• PoreV_Dynamic = PoreV_Reservoir * PoreV_Multiplier(P-Pres,Compressibility)

In ECLIPSE:
• Petrophysical properties are assumed to be defined at a fixed reference pressure;
• P0=Pref is fixed « Reference » pressure;
• PoreV(P0) is the « Reference Pore Volume »
• PoreV_Dynamic = PoreV_Reference* PoreV_Multiplier(P-Pref,Compressibility)
Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
Definitions – Differences between the GeoModeler and ECLIPSE

In ECLIPSE:
• PoreV_Dynamic = PoreV_Reference* PoreV_Multiplier(P-Pref,Compressibility)
• PoreV_Reservoir= PoreV_Reference * PoreV_Multiplier(Pres-Pref,Compressibility)

PoreV_Multiplier(P-Pref,Compressibility)
• PoreV_Dynamic = PoreV_Reservoir* PoreV_Multiplier(Pres-Pref,Compressibility)

In the GeoModeler:
GeoModeler:
≠
• PoreV_Dynamic = PoreV_Reservoir * PoreV_Multiplier(P-Pres,Compressibility)

• ECLIPSE will by default include compressibility effects to convert the

« Reference Pore Volumes » into « Reservoir Pore Volumes »;
• In other words, ECLIPSE applies a correction to the GeoModeler volumes;
• Initial volumes are by default inconsistent between ECLIPSE and the
GeoModeler;
 Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
Differences between the GeoModeler and ECLIPSE - Illustration

ECLIPSE by default applies a correction to the GeoModeler volumes

ECLIPSE ECLIPSE GeoModeler

Reference PoreV Reservoir PoreV Reservoir PoreV
depth

Pref Pressure Pres Pres

Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
ROCKOPTS(STORE) option – Reconciling the GeoModeler and ECLIPSE
• ECLIPSE manual is very clear about the default definition of PORV (check below) and the
potential pitfall that this represents
• But there is an option that allows using the « Reservoir Pore Volumes » rather than the
default « Reference Pore Volume » approach
• This option should be added to all ECLIPSE data decks receiving petrophysical properties
from a GeoModeler (in particular in data decks created by Petrel RE)

By default With ROCKOPTS(STORE)

ECLIPSE adjusts the pore volumes using
V(P)=V(Pres)(1+X+X2/2)

Where X=C(P-Pres)
and V(Pres) is the pore volume at initial conditions
The initial PoreV models rock compaction
Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling - Illustration

Fluid distribution ECLIPSE output

GOC Pressure

ECLIPSE
WOC

ECLIPSE input ECLIPSE output

PoreV(Pref)= PoreV_Geometric PoreV_ECLIPSE = PoreV_Geometric *
PoreV_Multiplier(P)
In this example, Poro=0.2, NTG=0.8
PoreV_Geometric is a constant PoreV_ECLIPSE at t=0 is not a constant
(geologist input) (simulator output)
ECLIPSE

PoreV_Geometric = Bulk*PORO*NTG*ACTNUM
where ACTNUM is a boolean representing active/inactive simulation cells
where PORO and NTG are the petrophysical properties provided by the geologist
Rock Compaction Static and Dynamic Modeling
Conclusions

• ECLIPSE by default applies a multiplier to the reservoir volumes provided by the

geologist: this approach is usually WRONG as the geologist should include any
compressibility effects during the petrophysical modeling

• This mistake has little to no impact when rock compressibility is small and/or when the
reservoir is thin but has a large impact on very thick reservoirs with high compressibility.

The correct approach is to add ROCKOPT(STORE) in the ECLIPSE decks

ECLIPSE Input ECLIPSE output

PoreV(Pref)= PoreV_Geometric
In this example, Poro=0.2, NTG=0.8
PoreV_Geometric is a constant
(geologist input)
ECLIPSE
With ROCKOPTS(STORE)
PoreV_ECLIPSE = PoreV_Geometric
PoreV_ECLIPSE at t=0 is equal to the
PoreV provided by the geologist