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01-Introduction To Reservoir Simulation

The document provides an introduction to reservoir simulation, including: 1. The types of reservoir simulation models including analog, physical, mathematical, numerical, and computer models. 2. Examples of reservoir simulation applications such as determining oil reservoir performance under different production methods. 3. The basics of reservoir simulation including combining material balance, Darcy's law, and equations of state to calculate fluid movement between grid blocks over time.

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Waleed Barakat Maria
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261 views18 pages

01-Introduction To Reservoir Simulation

The document provides an introduction to reservoir simulation, including: 1. The types of reservoir simulation models including analog, physical, mathematical, numerical, and computer models. 2. Examples of reservoir simulation applications such as determining oil reservoir performance under different production methods. 3. The basics of reservoir simulation including combining material balance, Darcy's law, and equations of state to calculate fluid movement between grid blocks over time.

Uploaded by

Waleed Barakat Maria
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 1

Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 2

After completing this module, you will be able to:

1. List the types of reservoir simulation models.


2. Give examples on reservoir simulation applications.
3. Explain briefly the basics of reservoir simulation.
4. List some of the differences between commercially available
simulators.
5. List the steps needed to complete a reservoir simulation study.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 3
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 4
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 5

Analog
g Models: Electrical resistance models.
Physical Models: Core samples and sand packs.
Mathematical Models: Partial differential equations describing
fluid flow in porous media.
Numerical Models: Algebraic equations which approximate
the partial differential equations
describing fluid flow in porous media.
Computer Models: Computer programs written to solve the
equations of the numerical model.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 6
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 7

Examples
p of applications:
pp
1. Determine the performance of an oil reservoir under natural
depletion, water injection or gas injection.
2. Compare flank waterflooding to pattern waterflooding.
3. Determine the effects of well location, spacing and producing
rate on recovery.
recovery
4. Determine the working gas and peak-day deliverability for a
gas storage field.
5. Estimate lease-line drainage in heterogeneous oil or gas
fields.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 8

Reservoir simulation can be applied


pp in all p
phases of field
development and exploration, usually not used very frequently
during exploration and appraisal and used extensively during
development and maturity phases.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 9

We combine the following


gpprinciples:
p
1. Material balance equation (also called continuity equation or
conservation of mass).
2. Darcy’s law (also called fluid flow equation or simply flow
equation).
3. Equation of State (EOS).
3 (EOS) The EOS is used to determine the
PVT properties. Alternatively, we use PVT properties in a table of
properties versus pressure format.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 10

For now,, our discussion ppertains to the Black-Oil approach


pp and
not to the Compositional approach.
Every grid block is looked at as a small reservoir that possess
certain properties (porosity, permeability, net-to-gross ratio,
volume, elevation, etc.). We want to calculate how much each
grid block has of each phase as time progresses in the reservoir
lif
life. Thi is
This i simply
i l a function
f i off the
h grid
id block
bl k pressure and d fluid
fl id
movement between grid blocks.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 11

Even if the reservoir ((and consequently


q y our g
grid)) is very
y
complicated, the principles stay the same.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 12

The resulting
g equations
q are non-linear equations
q ((meaning
g the
pressure and saturation coefficients in the equations depend on
p, Sw, and Sg for every grid block). To solve this problem we have
to guess p, Sw, and Sg, calculate the equations coefficients, then
solve the equations for p, Sw, and Sg. We may have to iterate until
our guess matches the calculated values.

The following slides explain how this is done in the simulator.


Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 13

Time steps
p can be as small as few seconds or minutes ((e.g. g
matching pressure transient test resolution) or as large as few
days, months or less commonly years (e.g. field scale simulation).
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 14

To solve a linear system


y of equations,
q , we p
put the equations
q in a
matrix form as shown schematically. However, our system of
equations is non-linear. Therefore, we have to iterate on our
solution vector (p, Sw, and Sg for every grid block) until we
converge on the solution.

These iterations are required because the matrix coefficients


need to be updated (i.e. calculated at the new values of p, Sw,
and Sg ). The iterations are called non-linear iterations, Newton’s
iterations, or outer iterations.

The matrix problem is solved using one of two main techniques:


- Direct solver (e.g. Guassian elimination), or
- Iterative solver (more common for field scale problems).
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 15

The schematic above summarizes the steps p and iterations


needed to solve the simulation equations.
We start from a known solution at any time level n. If an iterative
matrix solver is used, we solve for pressure and saturations until
the matrix solution converges. These iterations are called linear
iterations (denoted by k=1, 2, etc).
Once the matrix has been solved, we update the matrix
coefficients (i.e. we use the latest estimate of pressure and
saturations in calculating the matrix coefficients), and solve a new
matrix problem with, hopefully, better estimates of pressure and
saturations. We continue with these Newton’s iterations until the
non linear iterations converge,
non-linear converge and hence,
hence we have the solution at
the new time level n+1.
Approximately 70 to 80% of the time of a typical black-oil run is
spent in solving the matrix equations.
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 16

Differences between simulators lie in three main areas:


1. Although all simulators expect the same input, the way the
simulators handle input data (also called pre-processing) is
usually different from a simulator to another. The output
capabilities (post-processing) are also different.
2. Because a large
g ppercentage
g of the simulation time is spent
p in
solving the matrix problem, simulator developers work very
hard to make their matrix solvers more efficient. However, it is
impossible to have a solver that is optimum for all problems.
3. Some simulators are more versatile than others and can allow
for modeling special situations (e.g. modeling friction in
h i
horizontal
t l wellbores,
llb modeling
d li surface
f network,
t k and
d allowing
ll i
the use of parallel processors).
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 17
Introduction to Reservoir Simulation 18

References:

1. Coats, K. H.: "Use and Misuse of Reservoir Simulation


Models," JPT (Nov. 1969) 1391-1398.

2. Mattax, C. C. and Dalton, R. L.: Reservoir Simulation,


Monograph Series, SPE, Richardson, TX (1990) 13.

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