Quantification of Uncertainty in Recovery Efficiency Predictions: Lessons Learned from 250 Mature Carbonate Fields

Author:

Sloan Rod1

Affiliation:

1. C&C Reservoirs

Abstract

Abstract The most prominent aspects of carbonate reservoirs are their heterogeneity, variable wettability and dual pore network, which collectively contribute to complex fluid flow and uncertainty in reservoir performance and recovery efficiency predictions. A review of ultimate recovery efficiency in 250 mature carbonate fields from around the world provides constraints for quantifying uncertainty in recovery efficiency predictions. Key determinants of ultimate recovery are fluid type, pore network, reservoir heterogeneity, drive mechanism and wettability. Development strategies and reservoir management techniques play crucial roles in maximizing expected ultimate recoveries for given reservoir/fluid parameters. Five main fluid type/carbonate reservoir classes, with characteristic ultimate recovery distributions and controls are:heavy and viscous oil reservoirs, in which recovery factor (RF) is controlled by fluid viscosity variations, field size and application of horizontal drilling,karstic/fractured carbonate oil reservoirs, in which RF is controlled by fracture intensity, matrix permeability, wettability and drive mechanism,conventional carbonate oil reservoirs, in which RF is controlled by reservoir connectivity, permeability and mobility ratio,organic buildup oil reservoirs, in which RF is controlled by nature and size of organic buildups and diagenetic modifications, andgas/condensate reservoirs, in which RF is controlled by aquifer encroachment and condensate drop-out. Examination of actual case histories reduces uncertainty in predevelopment recovery efficiency predictions and shows what is possible in new or old fields. Introduction Carbonate reservoirs are notorious for their generally low and variable recovery factors. This, together with unpredictability in reservoir geometry, continuity and quality, often leads to great uncertainty in evaluating the economic potential of carbonate prospects. Lack of consistent criteria and reliable data for the definition and calculation of recovery factors creates further problems. Historically, a large portion of the original geologic and reservoir engineering investigations in the petroleum industry dealt with physical principles involved in the production of oil and gas in clastic reservoirs with intergranular porosity. Most of this knowledge can also be applied to conventional carbonate reservoirs with interparticle or intercrystalline porosity. However, for carbonate reservoirs with a dual pore system, much of the theory and many of the practices developed for clastic reservoirs do not apply because fluid flow through cavernous, vugular, and/or fractured carbonates is fundamentally different from flow through clastic reservoirs with homogeneous pore systems. In order to understand the key geologic and engineering factors that control reservoir performance and recovery efficiency in various types of carbonate reservoirs, we have undertaken a systematic study of more than 250 carbonate reservoirs throughout the world. This paper examines 196 of these reservoirs in the fractured/karstic, conventional carbonate and organic buildup categories. Only reservoirs for which a comprehensive spectrum of parameters was available, were chosen for study. The effect on recovery of both inherent parameters and reservoir management techniques were examined, in order to achieve a thorough understanding of the relative importance of each variable. Recovery Efficiency in Carbonate Reservoirs C&C Reservoirs' DIGITAL ANALOGS System [1] currently contains nearly one thousand producing reservoirs worldwide. There are more than 250 carbonate reservoirs that can be analyzed and compared based on their depositional facies, diagenetic modifications, rock properties, fluid types, drive mechanisms, development strategies, EOR techniques and production histories. The advanced search engine provided in the DIGITAL ANALOGS System allowed us to easily find all of the carbonate reservoirs in the relational database and to group them into the five reservoir types defined in the abstract. Using this data, we were able to systematically evaluate genetically related reservoirs and identify the common factors that control reservoir performance and recovery efficiency in each group.

Publisher

SPE

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3