reservoir simulation model

UNIVERSITY OF KARBALA

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

PETROLEUM ENG. DEP

“reservoir simulation model for two of

Iraqi oil fields”

A Report

Submitted to petroleum engineering department of university of karbala

By:--

Ali Mahmoud Ayal

Supervisor:

Mr.Ahmed Abdalmuain
Evening study

Date

3/7/2020

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reservoir simulation model

Introduction

Reservoir simulators are computer programs that solve the equations for heat and mass
flow in porous media, subject to appropriate initial and boundary conditions. or another
diftion area of reservoir engineering in which computer models are used to predict the
flow of fluids (typically, oil, water, and gas) through porous media

Reservoir simulation models are used by oil and gas companies in the development of
new fields. Also, models are used in developed fields where production forecasts are
needed to help make investment decisions. As building and maintaining a robust, reliable
model of a field is often timeconsuming and expensive, models are typically only
constructed where large investment decisions are at stake. Improvements in simulation
software have lowered the time to develop a model. Also, models can be run on personal
computers rather than more expensive workstations.

Reservoir simulation is used extensively to identify opportunities to increase oil

production in heavy oil deposits. Oil recovery is improved by lowering the oil viscosity
by injecting steam or hot water. Typical processes are steam soaks (steam is injected,
then oil produced from the same well) and steam flooding (separate steam injectors and
oil producers). These processes require simulators with special features to account for
heat transfer to the fluids present and the formation, the subsequent property changes and
heat losses outside of the formation. A recent application of reservoir simulation is the
modeling of coalbed methane (CBM) production. This application requires a specialized
CBM simulator. In addition to the normal fractured (fissured) formation data, CBM
simulation requires gas content data values at initial pressure, sorption isotherms,
diffusion coefficient, and parameters to estimate the changes in absolute permeability as a
function of porepressure depletion and gas desorption.

Theory

Traditional simulators dominate both theoretical and practical work in reservoir

simulation. Conventional simulation is underpinned by three physical concepts:
conservation of mass, isothermal fluid phase behavior, and the Darcy approximation of

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fluid flow through porous media. Thermal simulators (most commonly used for heavy
crude oil applications) add conservation of energy to this list, allowing temperatures to
change within the reservoir. Numerical techniques and approaches that are common in

modern simulators :- Most modern simulation programs allow for construction of

3Drepresentations for use in either fullfield or singlewell models. 2D approximations are
also used in various conceptual models, such as cross sections and 2D radial grid models.

Theoretically, models permit discretization of the reservoir using both structured and
more complex unstructured grids to accurately represent the geometry of the reservoir.
Local grid refinements (a finer grid embedded inside of a coarse grid) are also a feature
provided by many simulators to more accurately represent the near wellbore multiphase
flow effects. This "refined meshing" near wellbores is extremely important when
analyzing issues such as water and gas coning in reservoirs.

A black oil simulator does not consider changes in composition of the hydrocarbons as
the field is produced. The compositional model, is a more complex model, where the
PVT properties of oil and gas phases have been fitted to an equation of state (EOS), as a
mixture of components.

The simulation model computes the saturation change of three phases (oil, water and
gas)and pressure of each phase in each cell at each time step. As a result of declining
pressure as in a reservoir depletion study, gas will be liberated from the oil. If
pressures increase as a result of water or gas injection, the gas is redissolved into the oil
phase. A simulation project of a developed field, usually requires "history matching" .

Software

Many software, private, open source or commercial, are available for reservoir
simulation. The most well knows are :-

Open Source:-

(BOAST) Black Oil Applied Simulation Tool (Boast) simulator is a free software
package for reservoir simulation available from the U.S. Department of Energy.[1] Boast
is an IMPES numerical simulator (finitedifference implicit pressureexplicit saturation)

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which finds the pressure distribution for a given time step first then calculates the
saturation distribution for the same time step isothermal. a good simulator for educational
purposes.

(MRST) The MATLAB Reservoir Simulation Toolbox (MRST) is developed by

SINTEF Applied Matemathics as a MATLAB® toolbox. The toolbox consists of two
main parts: a core offering basic functionality and single and twophase solvers, and a set
of addon modules offering more advanced models, viewers and solvers. many of the tools
are quite efficient and can be applied to surprisingly large and complex models.[2]

(OPM )The Open Porous Media (OPM) initiative provides a set of opensource
tools centered around the simulation of flow and transport of fluids in porous media.[3]

Commercial:-

(CMG) Suite (IMEX, GEM and STARS) Computer Modelling Group currently offers
three simulators: a black oil simulator, called IMEX, a compositional simulator called
GEM and a thermal compositional simulator called STARS.[4]

(Schlumberger ECLIPSE ECLIPSE) is an oil and gas reservoir simulator originally

developed by ECL (Exploration Consultants Limited) and currently owned, developed,
marketed and maintained by SIS (formerly known as GeoQuest), a division of
Schlumberger. Simulators include black oil, compositional, thermal finitevolume, and
streamline simulation. Addon options include local grid refinements, coalbed methane,
gas field operations, advanced wells, reservoir coupling, and surface networks.

(Landmark Nexus Nexus )is an oil and gas reservoir simulator originally developed as
'Falcon' by Amoco, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Cray Research. It is currently
owned, developed, marketed and maintained by Landmark Graphics, a product service
line of Halliburton. Nexus will gradually replace VIP, or Desktop VIP, Landmark's
earlier generation of simulator.

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Types of Computer Modeling

The reservoir model \ Fluid flow Equation within the reservoir. The reservoir is
modeled by subdividing the reservoir volume into an array, or grid, of smaller volume
elements, which called: gridblock, cell, or node.
The well model \ Fluid flow that represents the extraction of fluids from the reservoir or
the injection of fluids into the reservoir.
The well bore model \ Fluid flow from the sand face to the surface
The surface model \ Constraints associated with surface facilities, such as platform and
separator limitations.

Figure (1) Types of Computer Modeling

Digrame “ show the processes of simulation we need “

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reservoir simulation model

Reservoir Simulator Classifications

They can be classified in different approaches based on:-

A- Type of reservoir fluids being studied (include gas, black oil, and compositional
simulators) and the recovery processes being modeled (include conventional recovery
(black oil), miscible displacement, thermal recovery, and chemical flood simulators).

B- The number of dimensions (1D, 2D, and 3D), the number of phases (singlephase, two-
phase, and three-phase), and the coordinate system used in the model (rectangular,
cylindrical, and spherical).

C-Rock structure or response (ordinary, dual porosity/permeability, and coupled

hydraulic/thermal fracturing and flow).

Reservoir Simulation Steps when it appl

Essential steps in a simulator are:-

1. Read input data (include reservoir description)
2. Initialize
3. Start time-step calculations
• linearize equation,
• start iteration loop (Newtonian iterations),
• solve linear equations by direct or iterative methods,
• test for convergence, and
• repeat iterations if necessary.
4. Print and plot results at appropriate times
5. End if specified constraints are violated
6. Increment time and go to step 3 if end is not reached
7. End when run complete

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reservoir simulation model

Examples about reservoir simulation in our country

First Example

“3D Petrophysical Model for Mansouriya Gas Field/Jeribe Formation by

using Petrel”

Abstract:
Mansuriya Gas field is an elongated anticlinal structure aligned from NW to SE about 25
km long and 5-6 km wide. The Jeribe formation considered the main reservoir, contains
gas condensate fluid, has a uniform thickness about 60 m. The reservoir is significantly
overpressured, The 3D geological model for Jeribe Formation in Mansuriya Gas Field is
setup by using Petrel. Jeribe Formation represents the most important reservoir in
Mansuriya Gas Field. Four vertical wells (Mn-1, Mn-2, Mn-3 and Mn-4) were drilled in
Mansuriya Gas Field and used to set-up water saturation and porosity models represented
bya 3D static geological model in three dimensions. The main reservoir, Jeribe Formation
carbonate, is subdivided into 8 zones namely J1 to J8.. Petrophysical model (porosity and
water saturation) for Jeribe Formation was set-up from values of porosity and water
saturation using Sequential Gaussian Simulation algorithm. According to data analyses
and the results from modeling the units (J1, J3, J4, J5, J6 and J8) are considered as high-
quality reservoir units due to the high PHIE, low water saturation and no shale content.
Units (J2 and J7) are considered as non-pay units because of very high-water saturation.

The Study Area:

The location of Mansuriya Gas field in block 45 in Diyala governorate about 45 km north
east of Baquba. It is also located about 100 km north east of Baghdad as shown in Figure
(2). The Mansuriya field is an elongated anticlinal structure aligned from NW to SE
about 25 km long and 5-6 km wide. The hydrocarbon accumulation (gas condensate) is
located in the Jeribe formation which is considered the main reservoir, has a uniform
thickness about 60 m. The reservoir is significantly over-pressured [5].

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reservoir simulation model

Fig. (2) Mansuriya Gas Field Location Map [4]

Model Design
Petrel, the modeling program, allows the user to interpret seismic data, perform well
correlation, build reservoir models suitable for simulation, submit and visualize
simulation results, calculate volumes, produce maps and design development strategies to
maximizereservoir exploitation. [6].

Structural Modelling:
It consists of three operations: fault modelling, pillar gridding, and vertical layering.
These contour maps have been built depending on the contour map from the last study on
the reservoir where it is corrected for seismic lines. Contour maps have been built from
the tops of the Jeribe formation. In constructing these maps, old contour map direction is
considered as a general direction in building the new contour maps [5].

Fig. (3) Structural contour map

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Pillar Gridding
Top, a Mid and a Base skeleton grid, each attached to the Top, the Mid and the Base
points of the Key Pillars. [5] Jeribe formation is represented by three-dimensional grid
systems of 50*50 grid elements along the x and y axis as shown in the Figure (4).

Fig. (4) The Skeletons of the Jeribe formation.

Make horizons
It is the first step used in defining the vertical layering of the 3D grid in Petrel.
The eight horizons that have been built up for the formation were built by entering main
structural maps that had been built in (Structural modeling). Figure (5) show the main
zones of Jeribe formation.[5]

Fig. (5) Main zones of Jeribe formation (map).

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reservoir simulation model

Petrophysical Modeling process

Porosity model
It was built depending on the final results of the porosity logs (density, neutron, and sonic
logs) from CPI. Some erroneous values appeared in the upscaled porosity model but the
results in general are similar. Figure (6) shows the porosity model for Jeribe formation.

Figure (6) Porosity distribution.

Water saturation model

It was built after the scale up of water saturation from CPI for each reservoir unit of the
Jeribe formation in the Mansoriya field [6]. The same Geostatistical method was used as
in the porosity. Figure (7) shows the water saturation model for Jeribe formation.

Fig. (7) Water saturation distribution.

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reservoir simulation model

Conclusions for first example

Structural model that Mansuriya Gas Field represents an elongated anticlinal structure
aligned between NW and SE, about 25 km long and 5-6 km wide.
No Vsh cut-off is applied for the Jeribe formation, as the petrophysical analysis
found the Jeribe to be a clean formation. Fluid contact for the Jeribe Formation was
estimated by using the bottom hole build-up pressure data measured from the well tests
and the actual well results such as Lowest Known Gas (LKG) in the well MN-2, Highest
Known Water (HKW) in the well MN-4. it has been noticed that porosity values in Jeribe
formation increases in the flanks better than on the crust and in the North West direction
while water saturation model shows increasing in (SW) values in the northern part more
than the southern part of Jeribe formation.

Second Example

Building A 3D Geological model Using Petrel Software for Asmari

Reservoir, South Eastern Iraq

Abstract

Building a 3D geological model from field and subsurface data is a typical task in
geological studies involving natural resource evaluation and hazard assessment. In
this paper a 3D geological model for Asmari Reservoir in Fauqi oil field has been
built using petrel software.it represents the second reservoir products after Mishrif
Reservoir in Fauqi field. Five wells namely FQ6, FQ7, FQ15, FQ20, FQ21 have been
selected lying in Missan governorate in order to build Structural and petrophysical
(porosity and water saturation) models represented by a 3D static geological model in
three directions .Structural model shows that Fauqi oil field represents un cylindrical
anticlinal fold which contains number of culminations at northern and southern parts
separated by depressions. After making zones for Asmari reservoir, which is divided into
4 zones (Jeribe/ Euphrates and Kirkuk group which includes Upper Kirkuk, Buzurgan
member, Lower and Middle Kirkuk) , Layers are built for each zone of Asmari reservoir
depending on petrophysical properties.

Study Area
Fauqi oil field is located in southeast of Iraq in Missan governorate near Iranian border, it has an

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axial length about 23 km and its width is about 6 km with these coordinates (3565000-3554000)
northing lines and (73700-74300) easting lines. Fauqi oil field represents concerted fields with
Iran especially in the northern part of field, see figures -1 and (-2). Asmari formation in this field
is divided to four sub formations in which they are; (A) Jeribe- Euphrates, which it composed
mainly of dolomite with some limestone and anhydrite. (B) Upper Kirkuk, it is composed of
mainly limestone, dolomite and some sandstone. (C) Buzurgan Member, it is mainly containing
sandstone with some dolomite, limestone, and shale in the upper part. (D) Middle-Lower Kirkuk,
it is in general composed of limestone, dolomite, and sandstone [7].

Figure( 8)- location map of Fauqi oil field [5].

Methodology

Petrel software 2009 has been used to build 3D model. Petrel is a PC- based workflow
application for subsurface interpretation and modeling [8].Data preparation is the basis for
geologic model. These data include
1-Well head: include the position of each well in 3-dimentions, and the measured depth along the
path.
2- Well tops: Markers representing significant points (well picks) along the well path, normally a
change in stratigraphy.
3- Well logs: the data cover effective porosity and water saturation values along the well path.

Structural modeling:

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used for building geological model. It was subdivided into three processes as follows: fault
modeling, pillar gridding, and vertical layering. A structure contour map is one of the most
important tools for three-dimensional structural interpretation because it represents the full three-
dimensional form of map horizon. 3D Structural maps were built depending on the well tops for
all Fauqi wells as well as the available structural map for top of Asmari reservoir from 2D
seismic. 3D contour maps have been built to each zone of the Asmari reservoir.

Figure 9- 3D structural modeling of Asmari reservoir in Fauqi oil field.

structural framework is to define the thickness and orientation of thelayers between horizons of
the 3D Grid. These layers in conjunction with the pillars define the cells of the 3D Grid that are
assigned attributes during property modeling [9]. Each Asmari unit in Fauqi oil field has been
divided into many layers depending on petrophysical properties. The Jeribe/ Euphrates zone
consists of two layers in the uppermost of the formation. Upper Kirkuk zone has a greater
number of layers. This unit has 5 layers, but Buzurgan member has the least layers in the
formation. It has one layer, while Lower and Middle Kirkuk zone was divided into two layers.
(Figure-10).

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Figure (10)- The layering in the Asmari Formation.

Petrophysical modeling process

Porosity and water saturation models were built depending on the results of porosity and water
saturation values which have been corrected and interpreted in the IP software

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Figure (11)- Final porosity model for Asmari reservoir in Fauqi oil field.

Figure (12)- Final water saturation model for Asmari reservoir in Fauqi oil field.

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Figure (13)- Cross section in N-S direction shows distribution of the porosity of Asmari
reservoir.

Conclusions for second example

Structural model has been made using petrel software for Asmari reservoir. This model shows
that Fauqi oil field represents un cylindrical anticlinal fold which contains two domes at northern
and southern parts separated by depressions. Layers were built for each zone depending on
petrophysical properties. Jeribe/ Euphrates zone and Lower and Middle Kirkuk
zone were divided into two layers, Upper Kirkuk zone was divided into five layers while
Buzurgan member divided into one layer.
Petrophysical model (porosity and water saturation) for Asmari reservoir in Fauqi oil field was
built from porosity and water saturation values using Sequential Gaussian Simulation algorithm
as a statistical method after scale up of porosity and water saturation. This model shows that the
high porosity and low water saturation are placed in upper Kirkuk zone which represents the
principle oil bearing unit in Asmari reservoir while Buzurgan member is characterized by
moderate petrophysical properties .
.

References:

[1] Dr. Mohammed Abdalla Ayoub,“RESERVOIR MODELLING AND SIMULATION “ ,

2015. .

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[2] Turkish Petroleum Overseas Company (TPOC) Reservoir Modelling and Simulation Study of
The Mansuriya Gas Field May 2014.

[3] Schlumberger ''open Hole Log Interpretation principles and Applications''.

Handbook, 1989.

[4] Schlumberger, 2010 (a). Petrel introduction course. Schlumberger.

[5] Asquith, C. “Basic Well Log Analysis for Geologists”, Methods in

Exploration Series, AAPG, 1982.

[6] Schlumberger ''open Hole Log Interpretation principles and Applications''.

Handbook, 1989.

[7] Pirson, S.J.," Handbook of Well Log Analysis", Englewood Cliffs, 1963.

[8] Crain, Petrophysical Handbook, 2015, WWW.spec2000.net/07-grlog.

[9] Schlumberger “Petrel Manual and applications”, 2008.

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