Optimizing a Waterflood Using a Combination of Machine Learning and Reservoir Physics. A Field Application for Reducing Fresh Water Injection with no Impact on Oil Production and Improved Carbon Intensity

Abstract

As the oil and gas industry embarks on the path to energy transition, pressure from government regulators, investors, and the public in general demand that companies have clear and transparent net-zero goals and that their operational initiatives and plans support such transition efforts. Mature fields present an opportunity to increase production through operational optimization, which at the same time, can also lead to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions efficiency. This paper presents the application of a novel modeling and optimization technique in a mature waterflood environment. Data Physics is the amalgamation of the state-of-the-art in machine learning and the same underlying physics present in reservoir simulators. These models can be created as efficiently as machine learning models, integrate all kinds of data, and can be evaluated orders of magnitude faster than full scale simulation models, and since they include similar underlying physics as simulators, they have good long term predictive capacity and can even be used to predict performance of new wells without any historical data. The technology was applied to a mature field in the Neuquen basin in Argentina to effectively reduce the amount of water injected into the reservoir with no negative impact on the production. Additionally, a new Carbon Intensity (CI) modeling tool was used to compare the emissions intensity before and after optimization showing a significant improvement in CI achieving three objectives in one single decision: 1) obtain significant water injection reduction with its corresponding impact in injection and water treatment costs; 2) maintaining production compared to the initial decline of the field, improving the top line; and 3) improving the GHG emissions intensity hence the long term benefit to the environment. The paper deals more with the implementation of the technologies than the technologies themselves, assuming that readers unfamiliar with both Data Physics and Carbon Intensity tools will refer to the references section to gain familiarity with these.