Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study
The current RF (recovery factor) of the subject reservoir is <10%, considered uncharacteristically low for a high porosity and permeability reservoir. Detailed studies were conducted to find out the reasons behind the reservoir’s very low RF. Applying analytical tools, we learned that; (1) a bott...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Energy Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722007442 |
| _version_ | 1828011170003419136 |
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| author | Zeinab Zargar Ganesh C. Thakur |
| author_facet | Zeinab Zargar Ganesh C. Thakur |
| author_sort | Zeinab Zargar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The current RF (recovery factor) of the subject reservoir is <10%, considered uncharacteristically low for a high porosity and permeability reservoir. Detailed studies were conducted to find out the reasons behind the reservoir’s very low RF. Applying analytical tools, we learned that; (1) a bottom aquifer supported more than 70% of the reservoir energy, (2) excessive free gas production occurred, and (3) productivity of almost all the wells was deteriorated by water/gas coning. Multiple simulation runs were conducted to achieve a reasonable history matching of 47-year long field production and pressure profiles. Results show that initial oil–water and gas–oil contacts moved up considerably in the reservoir. Consequently, a significant gas cap re-saturation happened. This resulted in a very low RF and failure of several wells. These findings are in close agreement with the material balance results and log analysis. Nearly 40% of original oil-in-place moved into the initial gas cap which could have been prevented by controlling producing GOR (gas–oil ratio) and reservoir pressure, and close monitoring of fluid contacts.Alternative RM methodologies of reservoir were investigated showing that the RF could have been as high as 35%, utilizing four horizontal wells with an average horizontal section of about 800 m located in the middle of oil column, and controlling producing GOR. That proves that high oil recovery with significant economic benefits can be achieved by utilizing horizontal wells in development of the oil reservoirs with a large gas cap and strong aquifer. Finally, this study highlights the need of performing analytical analysis for a reservoir experiencing complex behavior prior to reservoir simulation study to get more reliable understanding of the reservoir behavior, establish consistency across the various datasets, and also provide initial field development planning insights. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:11:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92f6f10bf95148fd9f4b9e6a2908b7be |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-4847 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T09:11:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energy Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-92f6f10bf95148fd9f4b9e6a2908b7be2023-02-21T05:11:07ZengElsevierEnergy Reports2352-48472022-11-01850385052Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case studyZeinab Zargar0Ganesh C. Thakur15000 Gulf Freeway, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA5000 Gulf Freeway, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USAThe current RF (recovery factor) of the subject reservoir is <10%, considered uncharacteristically low for a high porosity and permeability reservoir. Detailed studies were conducted to find out the reasons behind the reservoir’s very low RF. Applying analytical tools, we learned that; (1) a bottom aquifer supported more than 70% of the reservoir energy, (2) excessive free gas production occurred, and (3) productivity of almost all the wells was deteriorated by water/gas coning. Multiple simulation runs were conducted to achieve a reasonable history matching of 47-year long field production and pressure profiles. Results show that initial oil–water and gas–oil contacts moved up considerably in the reservoir. Consequently, a significant gas cap re-saturation happened. This resulted in a very low RF and failure of several wells. These findings are in close agreement with the material balance results and log analysis. Nearly 40% of original oil-in-place moved into the initial gas cap which could have been prevented by controlling producing GOR (gas–oil ratio) and reservoir pressure, and close monitoring of fluid contacts.Alternative RM methodologies of reservoir were investigated showing that the RF could have been as high as 35%, utilizing four horizontal wells with an average horizontal section of about 800 m located in the middle of oil column, and controlling producing GOR. That proves that high oil recovery with significant economic benefits can be achieved by utilizing horizontal wells in development of the oil reservoirs with a large gas cap and strong aquifer. Finally, this study highlights the need of performing analytical analysis for a reservoir experiencing complex behavior prior to reservoir simulation study to get more reliable understanding of the reservoir behavior, establish consistency across the various datasets, and also provide initial field development planning insights.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722007442Reservoir managementReservoir simulationField developmentMaterial balanceGas and water coningFluid contact movement |
| spellingShingle | Zeinab Zargar Ganesh C. Thakur Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study Energy Reports Reservoir management Reservoir simulation Field development Material balance Gas and water coning Fluid contact movement |
| title | Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study |
| title_full | Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study |
| title_fullStr | Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study |
| title_short | Importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development — Case study |
| title_sort | importance of reservoir simulation and early reservoir management for successful field development case study |
| topic | Reservoir management Reservoir simulation Field development Material balance Gas and water coning Fluid contact movement |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352484722007442 |
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