Simulation of Polymer Gel

Injection Well Treatments

Chuck Norman
Tiorco, Inc.
Tiorco de Argentina
 Agenda
► Flood-Out Waterflood Model
 Input
 Model Process
 Information Generated by the Waterflood Model

► Flood-Out Polymer Gel model

 Dykstra-Parsons Theory
 Information generated by the Gel Model
 Forecasts with the Gel Model (Examples)
 ABILITY TO CONTROL LAYER
PROPERTIES ACCORDING TO
IN-SITU CHEMICAL
CONCENTRATIONS:
1. RESERVOIR (TOTAL)
2. ADSORBED (IMMOBILE)
3. MOBILE (PRODUCIBLE)
 What data entry is required?
MANDATORY – PVT & reservoir data
 What data entry is required?
MANDATORY – model layers
DATA BASE MODEL LAYERS - STRUCTURE:

ASCII ASCII
Import in Import in
8-column 14-column
COLUMN DATA UNIT NOTE format format REMARK

1 Name, Coarse Layer Name [alpha-numeric] required v v

2 Active Layer? [1 or 0] required v v
3 Dtop, Layer-Top Depth [feet tvd] required either either User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
4 Hg, Gross Thickness [feet tvd] required either either User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
5 Hn, Net Thickness [feet tvd] required either either User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
6 Dtop, Layer-Top Depth [metres tvd] required or or User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
7 Hg, Gross Thickness [metres tvd] required or or User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
8 Hn, Net Thickness [metres tvd] required or or User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
9 K, Permeability [md] required v v
10 phi, Porosity [fraction] required v v
11 Ea, Areal Sweep Efficiency [fraction] required v Fill any empty columns using editor
12 Ev, Vertical Sweep Efficiency [fraction] required v Fill any empty columns using editor
13 Swc, Initial Water Saturation [fraction PV] required v Fill any empty columns using editor
14 Sor, Residual Oil Saturation [fraction PV] required v Fill any empty columns using editor
15 K'rw, Water Relative Permability End-Point [fraction] required v Fill any empty columns using editor
16 K'ro, Oil Relative Permability End-Point [fraction] required v Fill any empty columns using editor
17 User-Defined Layer Flood-Out Order [integer] optional v v Do not leave this column empty in imported file - enter as zeroes if disused

NOTE: MORE LAYERS RESULT IN IMPROVED FORECASTING RESOLUTION

AS EACH LAYER CONTRIBUTES ONE “POINT” IN THE TYPE-CURVE
 What data entry is required?

MANDATORY – production profiles

DATA BASE PRODUCTION PROFILES - STRUCTURE:

ASCII ASCII
Import in Import in
7-column 18-column
1
COLUMN DATA UNIT NOTE format format REMARK

1 DATE {must be daily time steps} [dd/mm/yyyy] required v v May be imported or set-up using the editor; MUST BE DAILY TIME STEPS
2 COPR, Constraining Oil Production Rate [stbopd] required v v May be imported or set-up using the editor
3 CWPR, Constraining Water Production Rate [stbwpd] required v v May be imported or set-up using the editor
4 CLPR, Constraining Liquid Production Rate [stblpd] required v v May be imported or set-up using the editor
5 AWCR, Actual Water-Cut Ratio [fraction] required v v May be imported or set-up using the editor
6 AWOR, Actual Water/Oil Ratio [fraction] optional v v May be imported or set-up using the editor; set column to zero if disused
7 CWIR, Constraining Water Injection Rate [stbwpd] required v v May be imported or set-up using the editor
8 MOPR, Model Oil Production Rate [stbopd] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
9 MWPR, Model Water Production Rate [stbwpd] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
10 MLPR, Model Liquid Production Rate [stblpd] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
11 MWCR, Model Water-Cut Ratio [fraction] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
12 MWOR, Model Water/Oil Ratio [fraction] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
13 MWIR, Model Water Injection Rate [stbwpd] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
14 MOPC, Model Oil Production Cumulative [stbo] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
15 MORR, Model Oil Recovery Ratio (Factor) [fraction] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
16 MWPC, Model Water Production Cumulative [stbw] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
17 MLPC, Model Liquid Production Cumulative [stbl] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast
18 MWIC, Model Water Injection Cumulative [stbw] forecast v Calculated by the Forward Model Multi-Rate Forecast

NOTE 1 - Volume Units available, for import and display, are: stb, scf and scm
NOTE 2 - Columnised data entry starts at row two (2) of the imported ascii data file
NOTE 3 - Row one (1) of the imported file must contain the Title of the Production Profile [alpha-numeric]
NOTE 4 - Flood-Out requires daily time steps
 What data entry is required?
OPTIONAL – log layers
DATA BASE LOG LAYERS - STRUCTURE:

ASCII ASCII ASCII

Import in Import in Import in
3-column 9-column 12-column
COLUMN DATA UNIT NOTE format format format REMARK

1 Name, Coarse Layer Name [alpha-numeric] required v Required for log layers to be coarsened; otherwise leave empty
2 Number, Coarse Layer Number [integer] required v Required for log layers to be coarsened; otherwise leave empty
3 Active Layer? [1 or 0] required v Required for log layers to be coarsened; otherwise leave empty
4 Dmid, Mid-Layer Depth [feet tvd] required either either either User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
5 Dmid, Mid-Layer Depth [metres tvd] required or or or User selects whether imported length dimension is feet or metres
6 K, Permeability [md] required v v v
7 phi, Porosity [fraction] required v v v
8 Ea, Areal Sweep Efficiency [fraction] required v v Fill any empty columns using editor
9 Ev, Vertical Sweep Efficiency [fraction] required v v Fill any empty columns using editor
10 Swc, Initial Water Saturation [fraction PV] required v v Fill any empty columns using editor
11 Sor, Residual Oil Saturation [fraction PV] required v v Fill any empty columns using editor
12 K'rw, Water Relative Permability End-Point [fraction] required v v Fill any empty columns using editor
13 K'ro, Oil Relative Permability End-Point [fraction] required v v Fill any empty columns using editor
14 Vsh, Volume of Shale [fraction] optional optional - may be merged from the Cased Hole Data Base
15 perf, Perforation Flag [1=perfed 0=unperfed] optional optional - may be merged from the Cased Hole Data Base
16 FC, PLT Flow Contribution [fraction] optional optional - may be merged from the Cased Hole Data Base
17 WCT, PLT Water-Cut [fraction] optional optional - may be merged from the Cased Hole Data Base
18 Sw(sigma), Sigma Log Water Saturation [fraction] optional optional - may be merged from the Cased Hole Data Base
 The flood-out Process
01 Import fine resolution log data and define coarse model layers -

02 Create coarse model layers -

 The flood-out Process
03 Generate forward model pseudo-relative permeability -

04 Generate forward model fractional flow -

 The flood-out Process
05 Generate the forward model production type-curve -

06 View the first-pass water-cut history match (match needs improvement) -

First-pass: Poor history match!

 The flood-out Process
07 Generate reverse model fractional flow -

08 Generate reverse model pseudo-relative permeability -

 The flood-out Process
09 Generate the reverse model “Eglew” layers -

< New
Versus
Old >

< New
Versus
Old >
 The flood-out Process
10 Generate a new forward model pseudo-relative permeability -

11 Generate a new forward model fractional flow -

12 Generate a new forward model production type-curve -

 The flood-out Process
13 An improved water-cut history match results from importation of the reverse model into the forward model -

14 An optimised production and injection forecast can now be generated within system’s constraints -
 The flood-out Process
15 Create a flood-out slide show and generate synthetic logs -

16 forecast production and injection by

multi-cell material balance -
Dykstra-Parsons’ Water Flood Theory
adapted to Chemical Flood Modeling

DYKSTRA-PARSONS’ THEORY:
(a) is applicable for all mobility ratios
(b) assumes layers flood-out in flow-
velocity order
(c) layer cross-flow does not occur
 Polymer Flood Model: How does
it work?
Dykstra-Parsons’ theory is employed to accomplish the following (at
each time step) for a user-specified set of Model Layers:

1. Determine relative flood-frontal advancement for each layer

2. Generate a type-curve (Oil Recovery Factor versus Water-cut),

which is interpolated by the forecasting optimiser

3. Once polymer is introduced, layer permeability is altered according

to resistance factor expressed as a function of in-situ (i.e. reservoir)
polymer concentration (ppm)

4. Highly-permeable layers accept larger water injection volumes, and

consequently polymer concentration builds-up preferentially in these
layers. This stabilises the flood, or invokes profile conformance.
 Dykstra-Parsons’ Water Flood Theory
adapted to Chemical Flood Modelling
A spreadsheet employing non-linear regression
automatically finds a cubic polynomial of best-
RESISTANCE
FACTOR
fit to tabulated data
70

HOW DOES IT WORK?

60
High K Layers build-up
measured data
the highest polymer
50 F(X)-3S = 99.7% of data concentration, which
F(X)-2S = 95.5% of data alters layer flow-velocity
40
F(X)-1S = 64% of data
order and invokes profile
F(X) = polynomial of best fit
F(X)+1S = 64% of data
conformance.
F(X)+2S = 95.5% of data
30
F(X)+3S = 99.7% of data
Res.Factor

20

Note: THIS CURVE

10
APPLIES FOR A FIXED
INJECTION RATE
0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

-10

Poly.Conc. IN-SITU POLYMER

CONCENTRAION
A B C D
3 2
Y= 3.54E-08 X + -3.49E-05 X + 0.014775 X + 0.858221
 Polymer Gel Model
Output and Forecasts
 Re-commence “pure” water injection
In this example,
polymer is injected
over a three month
period:
Month1 – 500 ppm
Month2 – 1000 ppm
Month3 – 1500 ppm produced polymer concentration
in-situ or reservoir polymer concentration
adsorbed polymer concentration
 Produced polymer concentration –
high permeability layers are produced preferentially

Zoomed view of
“production side” in-situ or reservoir polymer concentration

adsorbed polymer concentration

NOTE that the
adsorbed polymer
concentration
Polymer injection “flag” dilutes once
“pure” water
injection re-
commences
 Production response to the
polymer flood

Actual Water Injection Rate (AWIR) is optional User input

Produced water rate decreases due to polymer injection

Oil rate increases due to polymer injection

 Re-commence “pure” water injection

Resistance Factor >

Once polymer injection

ceases, displaced by “pure”
water injection, the resistance
factor decreases. Adsorbed
polymer is entrapped in order
to model residual resistance.
Average Permeability
changes with in-situ
polymer concentration

Re-commence “pure” water injection

 Maximum
permeability of all
model layers

NOTE: standard deviation

of K is a measure of
profile conformance,
enhanced by the injection
of polymer (i.e. Std Dev.
Average permeability
decreases once polymer
and standard
is introduced)
deviation of model
layer permeability
 Mobility Ratio “M” decreases as the flood front stabilises

Commence polymer injection

Mobility Ratio “M” increases as the in-situ polymer

concentration dilutes (i.e. post-polymer flood)
 WOR: water flood (base case – left) versus
polymer flood (right)

Reduced WOR
Base Case due to polymer
Water-flood injection

“BEFORE” AND “AFTER”

PRODUCTION PERFORMANCE -
Oil Rate: water flood (base case – left) versus
polymer flood (right)

Oil rate uplift

Base Case
due to polymer
Water-flood
injection

“BEFORE” AND “AFTER” PRODUCTION

PERFORMANCE -
The Polymer Flood Model
allows the User to track the
performance of any Model Layer # 20 100% flooded
Layer – here and in the
following slides layer # 20
performance is shown.

Dykstra-Parsons relative layer

water flood penetration distance
(versus time) for layer # 20
Polymer production (at in-situ or reservoir polymer concentration

the producing well) only

commences once the
layer has 100% flooded Produced polymer concentration
(according to Dykstra-
Parsons’ Theory) – prior
to layer-by-layer water
breakthrough each layer
produces clean oil into
the producing well.

Polymer injection “flag” adsorbed polymer concentration

Layer # 20 Oil Rate Water breakthrough at producer for layer # 20
increases as the model
allocates more Water
Injection to layer # 20
(i.e. following the
commencement of Layer # 20 100% flooded
polymer injection)
 Re-commence “pure” water injection

Layer # 20
Resistance Factor >

Once polymer injection

ceases, displaced by “pure”
water injection, the resistance
factor decreases. Adsorbed
polymer is entrapped in order
to model residual resistance.
Layer # 20
Permeability changes
with in-situ polymer
concentration

Re-commence “pure” water injection

Simulation of Polymer Gel
Injection Well Treatments
Chuck Norman
Tiorco, Inc.
Tiorco de Argentina