Using Flow Diagnostics to Quantify the Impact of Reservoir Rock Typing on Fluid Flow in Complex Carbonate Reservoirs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahed Alhashmi ◽  
Sebastian Geiger ◽  
Mohamed Albreiki
2021 ◽  
pp. petgeo2021-028
Author(s):  
Mohamed AlBreiki ◽  
Sebastian Geiger ◽  
Patrick Corbett

We demonstrate how modelling decisions for a giant carbonate reservoir with a thick transition zone in the Middle East, most notably the approach to reservoir rock typing and modelling the initial fluid saturations, impact the hydrocarbon distributions and oil-in-place estimates in the reservoir. Rather than anchoring our model around a single base case with an upside and downside, we apply a comprehensive 3D multiple deterministic scenario workflow to compare-and-contrast how modelling decisions and geological uncertainties influence the volumetric estimates. We carry out a detailed analysis which shows that the variations in STOIIP estimates can be as high as 28% depending on the preferred modelling decision, which could potentially mask the impact of other geological uncertainties. These models were validated through repeated and randomised blind tests. We hence present a quantitative approach that helps us to assess if the static models are consistent in terms of the integration of geological and petrophysical data. Ultimately, the decision which of the different modelling options should be applied does not only influence STOIIP estimates, but also subsequent history matching & forecasts.


2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (9) ◽  
pp. 978-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Choi ◽  
L. Han ◽  
Y. Hua

Laser aided Directed Material Deposition (DMD) is an additive manufacturing process based on laser cladding. A full understanding of laser cladding is essential in order to achieve a steady state and robust DMD process. A two dimensional mathematical model of laser cladding with droplet injection was developed to understand the influence of fluid flow on the mixing, dilution depth, and deposition dimension, while incorporating melting, solidification, and evaporation phenomena. The fluid flow in the melt pool that is driven by thermal capillary convection and an energy balance at the liquid–vapor and the solid–liquid interface was investigated and the impact of the droplets on the melt pool shape and ripple was also studied. Dynamic motion, development of melt pool and the formation of cladding layer were simulated. The simulated results for average surface roughness were compared with the experimental data and showed a comparable trend.


Author(s):  
Quinten D. Boersma ◽  
Pierre Olivier Bruna ◽  
Stephan de Hoop ◽  
Francesco Vinci ◽  
Ali Moradi Tehrani ◽  
...  

Abstract The positive impact that natural fractures can have on geothermal heat production from low-permeability reservoirs has become increasingly recognised and proven by subsurface case studies. In this study, we assess the potential impact of natural fractures on heat extraction from the tight Lower Buntsandstein Subgroup targeted by the recently drilled NLW-GT-01 well (West Netherlands Basin (WNB)). We integrate: (1) reservoir property characterisation using petrophysical analysis and geostatistical inversion, (2) image-log and core interpretation, (3) large-scale seismic fault extraction and characterisation, (4) Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) modelling and permeability upscaling, and (5) fluid-flow and temperature modelling. First, the results of the petrophysical analysis and geostatistical inversion indicate that the Volpriehausen has almost no intrinsic porosity or permeability in the rock volume surrounding the NLW-GT-01 well. The Detfurth and Hardegsen sandstones show better reservoir properties. Second, the image-log interpretation shows predominately NW–SE-orientated fractures, which are hydraulically conductive and show log-normal and negative-power-law behaviour for their length and aperture, respectively. Third, the faults extracted from the seismic data have four different orientations: NW–SE, N–S, NE–SW and E–W, with faults in proximity to the NLW-GT-01 having a similar strike to the observed fractures. Fourth, inspection of the reservoir-scale 2D DFNs, upscaled permeability models and fluid-flow/temperature simulations indicates that these potentially open natural fractures significantly enhance the effective permeability and heat production of the normally tight reservoir volume. However, our modelling results also show that when the natural fractures are closed, production values are negligible. Furthermore, because active well tests were not performed prior to the abandonment of the Triassic formations targeted by the NLW-GT-01, no conclusive data exist on whether the observed natural fractures are connected and hydraulically conductive under subsurface conditions. Therefore, based on the presented findings and remaining uncertainties, we propose that measures which can test the potential of fracture-enhanced permeability under subsurface conditions should become standard procedure in projects targeting deep and potentially fractured geothermal reservoirs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mojtaba Moradi ◽  
Michael R Konopczynski

Abstract Matrix acidizing is a common but complex stimulation treatment that could significantly improve production/injection rate, particularly in carbonate reservoirs. However, the desired improvement in all zones of the well by such operation may not be achieved due to existing and/or developing reservoir heterogeneity. This paper describes how a new flow control device (FCD) previously used to control water injection in long horizontal wells can also be used to improve the conformance of acid stimulation in carbonate reservoirs. Acid stimulation of a carbonate reservoir is a positive feedback process. Acid preferentially takes the least resistant path, an area with higher permeability or low skin. Once acid reacts with the formation, the injectivity in that zone increases, resulting in further preferential injection in the stimulated zone. Over-treating a high permeability zone results in poor distribution of acid to low permeability zones. Mechanical, chemical or foam diversions have been used to improve stimulation conformance along the wellbore, however, they may fail in carbonate reservoirs with natural fractures where fracture injectivity dominates the stimulation process. A new FCD has been developed to autonomously control flow and provide mechanical diversion during matrix stimulation. Once a predefined upper limit flowrate is reached at a zone, the valve autonomously closes. This eliminates the impact of thief zone on acid injection conformance and maintains a prescribed acid distribution. Like other FCDs, this device is installed in several compartments in the wells. The device has two operating conditions, one, as a passive outflow control valve, and two, as a barrier when the flow rate through the valve exceeds a designed limit, analogous to an electrical circuit breaker. Once a zone has been sufficiently stimulated by the acid and the injection rate in that zone exceeds the device trip point, the device in that zone closes and restricts further stimulation. Acid can then flow to and stimulate other zones This process can be repeated later in well life to re-stimulate zones. This performance enables the operators to minimise the impacts of high permeability zones on the acid conformance and to autonomously react to a dynamic change in reservoirs properties, specifically the growth of wormholes. The device can be installed as part of lower completions in both injection and production wells. It can be retrofitted in existing completions or be used in a retrievable completion. This technology allows repeat stimulation of carbonate reservoirs, providing mechanical diversion without the need for coiled tubing or other complex intervention. This paper will briefly present an overview of the device performance, flow loop testing and some results from numerical modelling. The paper also discusses the completion design workflow in carbonates reservoirs.


SPE Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Yanqing Wang ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Jun Lu

Summary Seawater breakthrough percentage monitoring is critical for offshore oil reservoirs because seawater fraction is an important parameter for estimating the severity of many flow assurance issues caused by seawater injection and further developing effective strategies to mitigate the impact of those issues on production. The validation of using natural ions as a tracer to calculate the seawater fraction was investigated systematically by studying the natural chemical composition evolution in porous media using coreflood tests and static bottle tests. The applicable range of ions was discussed based on the interaction between ion and rock. The barium sulfate reactive model was improved by integrating interaction between ions and rock as well as fluid flow effect. The results indicate that chloride and sodium interact with rock, but the influence of the interaction can be minimized to a negligible level because of the high concentrations of chloride and sodium. Thus, chloride and sodium can be used as conservative tracers during the seawater flooding process. However, adsorption/desorption may have a large influence on chloride and sodium concentrations under the scenario that both injection water and formation water have low chloride and sodium content. Bromide shows negligible interaction with rock even at low concentrations and can be regarded as being conservative. The application of a barium and sulfate reaction model in coreflood tests does not work as well as in bottle tests because fluid flow in porous media and ion interaction with rock is not taken into account. Although sulfate and barium adsorption on clay is small, it should not be neglected. The barium sulfate reaction model was improved based on the simulation of ion transport in porous media. Cations (magnesium, calcium, and potassium) are involved in the complicated cation-exchange process, which causes large deviation. Therefore, magnesium, calcium, and potassium are not recommended to calculate seawater fraction. Boron, which exists as anions in formation water and is used as a conservative tracer, has significant interactions with core matrix, and using boron in an ion tracking method directly can significantly underestimate the seawater fraction. The results give guidelines on selecting suitable ions as tracers to determine seawater breakthrough percentages under different production scenarios.


Author(s):  
Dieter E. Bohn ◽  
Norbert Moritz

A transpiration cooled flat plate configuration is investigated numerically by application of a 3-D conjugate fluid flow and heat transfer solver, CHT-Flow. The geometrical setup and the fluid flow conditions are derived from modern gas turbine combustion chambers. The plate is composed of three layers, a substrate layer (CMSX-4) with a thickness of 2 mm, a bondcoat (MCrAlY) with thickness 0,15 mm, and a thermal barrier coating (EB-PVD, Yttrium stabilized ZrO2) with thickness 0,25 mm, respectively. The numerical grid contains the coolant supply (plenum), the solid body, and the main flow area upon the plate. The transpiration cooling is realized by finest drilled holes with a diameter of 0,2 mm that are shaped in the region of the thermal barrier coating. The holes are inclined with an angle of 30°. Two different configurations are investigated that differ in the shaping of the holes in their outlet region. The numerical investigation focus on the influence of different turbulence models on the results. Regarding the secondary flow, the cooling film development and complex jet mixing vortex systems are analyzed. Additionally, the impact on the temperature distribution both on the plate surface and in the plate is investigated. It is shown that the choice of the turbulence model has a significant influence on the prediction of the flow structure, and, consequently, on the calculation of the thermal load of the solid body.


2018 ◽  
Vol 934 ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Prapasiri Pongprayoon ◽  
Attaphon Chaimanatsakun

Graphene nanopore has been widely employed in nanofilter or nanopore devices due to its outstanding properties. The understanding of its mechanical properties at nanoscale is crucial for device improvement. In this work, the mechanical properties of graphene nanopore is thus investigated using atomistic finite element method (AFEM). Four graphene models with different pore shapes (circular (CR), horizontal rectangle (RH), and vertical rectangle (RV)) in sub-nm size which could be successfully fabricated experimentally have been studied here. The force normal to a pore surface is applied to mimic the impact force due to a fluid flow. Increasing pore size results in the reduction in its strength. Comparing among different pore shapes with comparable sizes, the order of pore strength is CR>RH>RV>SQ. In addition, we observe that the direction of pore alignment and geometries of pore edge also play a key role in mechanical strength of nanopores.


GeoArabia ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-284
Author(s):  
John L. Douglas ◽  

ABSTRACT The North ‘Ain Dar 3-D geocellular model consists of geostatistical models for electrofacies, porosity and permeability for a portion of the Jurassic Arab-D reservoir of Ghawar field, Saudi Arabia. The reservoir consists of a series of shallow water carbonate shelf sediments and is subdivided into 10 time-stratigraphic slices on the basis of core descriptions and gamma/porosity log correlations. The North ‘Ain Dar model includes an electrofacies model and electrofacies-dependent porosity and permeability models. Sequential Indicator Simulations were used to create the electrofacies and porosity models. Cloud Transform Simulations were used to generate permeability models. Advantages of the geostatistical modeling approach used here include: (1) porosity and permeability models are constrained by the electrofacies model, i.e. by the distribution of reservoir rock types; (2) patterns of spatial correlation and variability present in well log and core data are built into the models; (3) data extremes are preserved and are incorporated into the model. These are critical when it comes to determining fluid flow patterns in the reservoir. Comparison of model Kh with production data Kh indicates that the stratigraphic boundaries used in the model generally coincide with shifts in fluid flow as indicated by flowmeter data, and therefore represent reasonable flow unit boundaries. Further, model permeability and production estimated permeability are correlated on a Kh basis, in terms of vertical patterns of distribution and cumulative Kh values at well locations. This agreement between model and well test Kh improves on previous, deterministic models of the Arab-D reservoir and indicates that the modeling approach used in North ‘Ain Dar should be applicable to other portions of the Ghawar reservoir.


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