Which sub-seismic heterogeneities influence waterflood performance? A case study of a low net-to-gross fluvial reservoir

Jones, Alistair; Doyle, James; Jacobsen, Torgrim; Kjønsvik, Dagrun

doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.1995.084.01.02

Cited by 69 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Alternations of parallel, continuous layers of different lithologic and physical properties are a ubiquitous type of geologic heterogeneity observed at many different length scales, including lamination (millimeter-thick layers), bedding (centimeter-to meter-thick layers) and laterally extensive genetic and stratigraphic units that may correspond to flow zones in groundwater aquifers and hydrocarbon reservoirs, typically several meters to tens of meters in thickness (e.g., Campbell 1967;Ringrose et al 1993a, b;Jones et al 1994Jones et al , 1995Koltermann and Gorelick 1996;Marsily et al 1998;White and Barton 1999;Li and White 2003;Jackson et al 2003;Deveugle et al 2011). Understanding multiphase flow in layered porous media is therefore important for accurate prediction of many subsurface processes; examples include geologic carbon storage, migration of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in contaminated aquifers and hydrocarbon production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

et al. 2017

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We examine the effect of viscous forces on the displacement of one fluid by a second, immiscible fluid along parallel layers of contrasting porosity, absolute permeability and relative permeability. Flow is characterized using five dimensionless numbers and the dimensionless storage efficiency, so results are directly applicable, regardless of scale, to geologic carbon storage. The storage efficiency is numerically equivalent to the recovery efficiency, applicable to hydrocarbon production. We quantify the shock-front velocities at the leading edge of the displacing phase using asymptotic flow solutions obtained in the limits of no crossflow and equilibrium crossflow. The shock-front velocities can be used to identify a fast layer and a slow layer, although in some cases the shock-front velocities are identical even though the layers have contrasting properties. Three crossflow regimes are identified and defined with respect to the fast and slow shock-front mobility ratios, using both theoretical predictions and confirmation from numerical flow simulations. Previous studies have identified only two crossflow regimes. Contrasts in porosity and relative permeability exert a significant influence on contrasts in the shock-front velocities and on storage efficiency, in addition to previously examined contrasts in absolute permeability. Previous studies concluded that the maximum storage efficiency is obtained for unit permeability ratio; this is true only if there are no contrasts in porosity and relative permeability. The impact of crossflow on storage efficiency depends on the mobility ratio evaluated across the fast shock-front and on the time at which the efficiency is measured.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

et al. 2017

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“…Flint & Bryant 1993 and references therein; Brandsaeter et al 2005), which allowed specific questions, such as the connectivity of channels in 3D (Jones et al 1993;Georgsen et al 1994;Khan et al 1995) or the impact of certain specific baffle populations on flow (e.g. Stephen et al 2001), to be dynamically tested and better understood.…”

Section: Early Development and Evolution Of Quantitative Outcrop Analmentioning

confidence: 99%

The application of outcrop analogues in geological modelling: a review, present status and future outlook

2014

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Analogues, especially outcrop analogues, have played a central role in improving understanding of subsurface reservoir architectures. Analogues provide important information on geobody size, geometry and potential connectivity. The historical application of outcrop analogues for understanding geobody distributions in reservoirs is reviewed, from the pioneering work of the 1960s to the high-tech virtual outcrop methodologies of today. Four key types of analogue data are identified: hard data, which describe the dimensions and geometry of the geobody; soft data, which describe the conceptual relationships between different geobody types; training images, which record the dimensions, proportions and spatial relationship; and analogue production data, which are taken from direct subsurface production analogues. The use of these different data types at different stages of the geomodelling workflow is discussed and the potential sources of error considered. Finally, a review of geobody and analogue studies in different clastic environments is discussed with reference to selected previous work and the range of papers in the current volume.Over the last 30 years, computer-based, geocellular models have become a routinely used tool for understanding subsurface reservoirs (Budding & Inglin 1981; review in Keogh et al. 2007). Such models are typically built to aid field development and reservoir management business decisions, but also serve the purpose of integrating disparate scales and types of subsurface data, and visualizing complex three-dimensional (3D) distributions of rocks and fluids. Since the application of early modelling tools, to the present day, it has been common practice to supplement sparse subsurface datasets (e.g. wells and seismic) with data and concepts derived from reservoir analogues. The intention of this process is to generate more accurate representations of the subsurface than would otherwise be possible. Considerable effort has been expended in recent years by industry and academia on the description of reservoir analogues for this purpose. This paper examines the challenges inherent in selection and application of appropriate analogue data, particularly quantitative datasets, during construction of geological models.The most commonly used type of analogue is the outcrop, where information on geometric data that are limited in the subsurface is more readily available in cliff sections. Analogues may also include subsurface data but this is less common. This aspect is considered briefly in this review. The perspective on the application of analogues as discussed here is with regard to sedimentology and stratigraphy applied to hydrocarbon reservoir analysis, and the insights that 3D facies models bring to the distribution of petrophysical properties that control hydrocarbon flow. The discussion is based on clastic systems, but many of the aspects described are equally as applicable to carbonates, although they are not discussed explicitly here. Other branches of subsurface modelling, no...

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“…Such displacements are typically influenced by a combination of viscous, capillary and gravitational forces (e.g. Ringrose et al 1993;Kjonsvik et al 1994;Jones et al 1995;King and Mansfield 1999;White and Barton 1999). This paper is the third of a series that investigates flow in layered porous media and focuses on flow driven by buoyancy and viscous forces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the Buoyancy–Viscous Force Balance on Two-Phase Flow in Layered Porous Media

et al. 2018

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Motivated by geological carbon storage and hydrocarbon recovery, the effect of buoyancy and viscous forces on the displacement of one fluid by a second immiscible fluid, along parallel and dipping layers of contrasting permeability, is characterized using five independent dimensionless numbers and a dimensionless storage or recovery efficiency. Application of simple dimensionless models shows that increased longitudinal buoyancy effects increase storage efficiency by reducing the distance between the leading edges of the injected phase in each layer and decreasing the residual displaced phase saturation behind the leading edge of the displacing phase. Increased transverse buoyancy crossflow increases storage efficiency if it competes with permeability layering effects, but reduces storage efficiency otherwise. When both longitudinal and transverse buoyancy effects are varied simultaneously, a purely geometrical dip angle group defines whether changes in storage efficiency are dominated by changes in the longitudinal or transverse buoyancy effects. In the limit of buoyancy-segregated flow, we report an equivalent, unidimensional flow model which allows rapid prediction of storage efficiency. The model presented accounts for both dip and layering, thereby generalizing earlier work which accounted for each of these but not both together. We suggest that the predicted storage efficiency can be used to compare and rank geostatistical realizations, and complements earlier heterogeneity measures which are applicable in the viscous limit.

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Which sub-seismic heterogeneities influence waterflood performance? A case study of a low net-to-gross fluvial reservoir

Cited by 69 publications

References 9 publications

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

Viscous Crossflow in Layered Porous Media

The application of outcrop analogues in geological modelling: a review, present status and future outlook

Impact of the Buoyancy–Viscous Force Balance on Two-Phase Flow in Layered Porous Media

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