Reservoir

Simulatio
n

Introduction
Reservoir simulation is the process of using computer models

to predict the flow of fluids (typically oil water and gas )

through porous media.
model requires that the eld under study be described by

a grid system, usually referred to as cells or grid blocks.

Importance of the reservoir

Simulation
1. The only way to described quantitatively multi-phase flow in a

heterogeneous reservoir
2. The only way to handle situation having a production

schedule.
3. How should the field be developed and produced in order to

maximize the economic recovery of hydrocarbon.

4. What is the best enhanced recovery scheme for the

reservoir .How and when should it be implemented.

5. What is the best completion scheme for wells in a reservoir.
6. What portion of the reservoir is the production coming form.

Reservoir Simulator
Classification
The most common criteria for classifying reservoir
simulators are :
The type of reservoir and reservoir fluids to be

simulated and the recovery process occurring in the

subject reservoir .
The coordinate system used in the model , the number

of dimensions in space , and the number of phases .

Reservoir Simulation
Applications

Set the study objectives , these objectives must be

compatible with available data and production

history.
Acquire and validate the reservoir data.
Construct the reservoir model : in this step the

reservoir is divided in to grid blocks . and formation

properties (, K , h ,..) are assigned to these grid
cells.

 History match the reservoir model : Once the

simulation model has been built it must be tuned in

history matched.
Run prediction cases : this is the final step in the

simulation process in which various production

schemes are evaluated and sensitivity analysis of
various production and reservoir parameters are
performed.

Modeling Methods

Any problem is solvable if you can make the reality

assumptions.
Not every question demands in-depth modeling detail.

All mathematical techniques are simply an application of the

three fundamental equations reservoir engineering

Darcys Law
Material Balance Equation
Fluid Properties (PVT or EOS)

With varying boundary conditions.

Pre-planning the Reservoir

Simulation Study
Objectives of the study
Assess uncertainties
Data requirements and availability
Modeling approach
Limitations of proposed procedures
Resources
Project budget should be related to decisions Time available
Hardware: PC, Workstation, , supercomputer, Software:

Commercial (Eclipse, VIP,CMG), in-as CHEARS)

KeyStepsinaSimulationStudy

Step1SetClearObjectives&Priorities
TypicalGoalsforNewFields
TypicalGoalsforMatureFields

Step2CharacterizetheReservoir
PetrophysicalModelThe petro physical model defines where the volumes

of oil, water and gas are located in the reservoir, as well as how fluids
behave in the presence of the rock.

Step3AspectsofModel
Step4SelecttheModel

DeterminetheDimensionality

Step5ConstructtheModel

Step6ValidatetheModel

Step7MakePredictions

Step8DocumenttheStudy

ReservoirRockPropertiesrequiredin
Simulationstudies

Porosity

Permeability
Homogeneous vs. heterogeneous systems
Isotropic and anisotropic systems

Porosity&Permeability

Rock matrix

Pore space

Homogeneousvs.heterogeneoussystems
Isotropicandanisotropicsystems

Flowinreservoirs
1. Type of fluids in the reservoir.
2. Flow regimes.
3. Reservoir geometry.
4. Number of flowing fluids in the reservoir.

BasicReservoirEngineeringConcepts:

a. Fluidpotential

b.DarcysLaw:forsinglephase1D:

c.Compressibility:

d.Capillarypressure:

Capillary pressure exists whenever pores are saturated with two or more
phases .
For water wet system :

For two phase oil and gas :

e.Relativepermeability

DerivationoftheFluidflowequation

Lawofmassconservation

= mass rate in , the mass of the component entering the control volume from
the other part of the reservoir .
= mass rate out.
= Sink or Source
= rate of mass accumulated

Now
take the limit of each term as and approach zero the following equations
obtained :

The three dimensional form of that equation is :

Darcy's Law

Converting it to surface conditions then we have to add some parameters

(assuminghorizontalflowandignoringgravitationalforcesinthezdirection)

Different Form of flow

equations
Incompressible -fluid- flow equation
Slightly Compressible fluid flow equation
Compressible fluid flow equation

Rectangularflowgeometry

 One-dimensional flow

Two-dimensional flow

 Three-dimensional flow

BoundaryandInitialConditions
Dirichlet
Neumann type

Numerical Models: Grid

Systems

Size and Number of

grid block
Sizeandnumberofgridblockdependsonthefactors:

Availabilityofdata

Levelofinformationdesired

Qualityofinformationdesired

Flowcharacteristics

Complexityofthereservoir

Numberofwells

Explicit
Formulation

Implicit Formulation