Inputs and Outputs for Reservoir Simulators

1

Simulation Input and Output

Data

Instructional Objectives • Discuss reservoir simulation applications

• List the types of data input to simulators

• Discuss the sources of different input

data

• Define what values are computed in a

typical simulation run (solved for by

simulator)

• List possible output data from simulators

• Discuss post-processing

Inputs and Outputs for Reservoir Simulators

2

SIMULATION:

``To Give the Appearance

Of...''

What Is Reservoir Simulation?

• Reservoir simulation is the representation

of petroleum reservoir performance using

a model.

Inputs and Outputs for Reservoir Simulators

3

Applications of

Reservoir Simulation

You can produce your reservoir once in

reality but you can produce it several

hundred times on your computer !

Example Applications

• Determine the performance of an oil reservoir

under natural depletion, water injection or gas

injection.

• Compare flank waterflooding to pattern

waterflooding.

• Determine the effects of well location, spacing

and producing rate on recovery.

• Determine the working gas and peak-day

deliverability for a gas storage field.

• Estimate lease-line drainage in heterogeneous

oil or gas fields.

Inputs and Outputs for Reservoir Simulators

4

Grid or Strata (Rock) Properties

• Geometrical (Structural) Properties

– Elevation (structure map)

– Gross interval thickness

– Reservoir limits

– Discontinuities (faults)

• Formation Properties

– Porosity

– Permeability (3 directional permeability)

– Net to Gross

– Pore volume and transmissibility multipliers

Black Oil PVT Properties • Oil:

– Formation volume factor

– Viscosity

– Solution gas oil ratio

• Gas:

– Formation volume factor

– Viscosity

• Water:

– Formation volume factor

– Viscosity

– Compressibility

• Surface densities

• Rock Compressibility (could be alternatively input in rock

properties)

• Compositional simulation requires the input of EOS parameters

Inputs and Outputs for Reservoir Simulators

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Rock-Fluid Properties

• Relative permeability

• Capillary pressure

• Also called multi-phase flow properties

Well Data • Well location and completion data

– Well bottom-hole location and orientation

– Well bore radius

– Perforation interval

– Permeability thickness product for well

– Skin factor

– Well constant

• Well control information

– Production data by phase

– Pressure data (static, bottom-hole flowing, THP)

– Production control mode (wells can also be

controlled by sophisticated well management

routines that allow for field or group control)

Inputs and Outputs for Reservoir Simulators

6

Simulator and Run Control Data

• Solution controls

– Formulation of equations

– Solver

– Tolerances for solution (pressure and

saturations)

• Time step controls

• Economical or facilities controls for scenario

modeled (e.g. minimum production rates,

minimum bottom hole or THP, maximum

water cut or GOR, etc)

Simulator Output • Computed Values:

– Grid block pressure

– Grid block saturations

– Production rates and bottom hole pressure for wells

(can also compute these values for every

connection)

• Simulators can also output solution performance

statistics and input data

• Post Processing:

– Huge amount of data output is possible

– Post processing programs are capable of producing

2D graphs, 2D maps, and 3D volumes