Performance prediction method for hydrocarbon recovery processes
First Claim
1. A method for predicting performance of a patterned flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer wells, comprising the steps of:
- determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells (first well pairs) using a geological model;
developing a connective pore volume distribution curve for each first well pair;
selecting at least two first well pairs (selected well pairs) that reflect narrow and wide connective pore volume distributions that correspond to higher and lower oil recovery levels;
developing a 3-D simulation model for each selected well pair;
performing a reservoir simulation for each selected well pair for the corresponding flooding process; and
generating prototype performance curves for each selected well pair.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method for predicting the performance of large-scale hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir floods. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for predicting performance of a patterned flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer wells, comprising the steps of: determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells [FIG. 4, item 78a] (first well pairs) using a geological model [item 76]; developing a connective pore volume distribution curve for each first well pair item [78b]; selecting at least two first well pairs (selected well pairs) that reflect narrow and wide connective pore volume distributions that correspond to high and lower oil recovery levels; developing a 3-D simulation model for each selected well pair, performing a reservoir simulation for each selected well pair for the corresponding flooding process; and generating prototype performance curves for each selected well pair. An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a method for predicting the performance of large-scale hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir floods where injection well location, production well location, a process parameter, or a well processing rate is modified.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for predicting performance of a patterned flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer wells, comprising the steps of:
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determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells (first well pairs) using a geological model;
developing a connective pore volume distribution curve for each first well pair;
selecting at least two first well pairs (selected well pairs) that reflect narrow and wide connective pore volume distributions that correspond to higher and lower oil recovery levels;
developing a 3-D simulation model for each selected well pair;
performing a reservoir simulation for each selected well pair for the corresponding flooding process; and
generating prototype performance curves for each selected well pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for predicting performance of a patterned flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer wells, comprising the steps of:
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generating type-curve correlation equations for two or more well types;
providing a single-phase, 2-D model of at least a portion of the subterranean formation;
initializing said single-phase, 2-D model for initial pressure and initial oil saturation at the start of the patterned flooding process;
determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells (second well pairs) using said single-phase, 2-D model of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation;
determining for each second well pair a second processing rate and second pore volume;
assigning to each second well pair one set of said type-curve correlation equations;
calculating second cumulative injection for each second well pair using said second well pair'"'"'s second processing rate and second pore volume;
calculating second cumulative fluid production for each said second well pair from said second well pair'"'"'s assigned type-curve correlation equations;
estimating a second oil saturation in the single phase, 2-D model grid cells based on a tracer simulation representative of the formation before a modification;
modifying injection well location, production well location, a process parameter, or a well processing rate;
re-determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells (third well pairs) using said single phase, 2-D model of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation and re-calculating for each said third well pair a third processing rate and third pore volume;
calculating a new starting point on said type-curve correlation equations using said initial oil saturation and said second oil saturation; and
using said third processing rate, said third pore volume, and said type-curve correlation equations to predict fluid production for each said third well pair for predetermined time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification