Waterflood Management Based on Well Allocation Factors for Improved Sweep Efficiency: Model Based or Data Based?

Abstract

Streamline-based methods provide an effective model-based tool for assessing flow patterns and well allocation factors. This type of diagnostic information is a key enabler in model-based waterflood management. Alternatively, data-driven techniques are available for waterflood diagnostics and estimating injector/producer connectivity, including one based on the Capacitance-Resistivity Model (CRM). The purpose of this paper is to compare the results of these two complementary approaches using a sector area representative of a mature field. In the first part of the paper, a workflow which allows a comparison of the streamlines and the CRM methodologies, regardless of the uncertainty of the simulation model, is introduced. The limitations of both approaches are discussed. In the second part of the paper, the CRM data-driven approach is used to determine the statistically significant allocation factors for the injection and production data from the sector reservoir model, and they are compared with the streamline-based factors. The results and guidance for the integration of the two approaches are presented.

Fault characterization and flow barrier detection using capacitance-resistance model and diagnostic plots

“…Based on adequacy of interwell connectivity estimates, Shahvali et al (2012) compared CRM and streamline simulation; Artun (2016) compared CRM and artificial neural networks. Gherabati et al (2017) presented a reservoir network model for quantifying interwell formation characteristics using historical data, bottomhole pressure (BHP) data, along with well and reservoir boundary locations.…”

Improved capacitance model considering bottom-hole flowing pressure and interference between oil wells

“…For cases in which pressures are unavailable, as often occurs with legacy assets two enhancements of the CM, the segmented CM and the compensated CM, were described. Ballin et al (2012) compared the connectivity coefficients calculated by the CM and streamline simulation and proposed the idea of combining the CM and streamline simulation. However, the aforementioned CM did not consider the interference between oil wells and the reasonable influence space range of injection and production wells.…”