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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