IDENTIFYING FIELD DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASING RECOVERY EFFICIENCY OF PETROLEUM RESERVOIRS

• US 20130110571A1
• Filed: 10/26/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: QRI Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: QRI Group, LLC
• Inventors: Saleri, Nansen G., Toronyi, Robert M., Broussard, Joey D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,710,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.22
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/50 Analysing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

Performing a Recovery Design Assessment™ (RDA™) for a petroleum producing field provides a novel indicator and metric that is designed to assess how to improve recovery efficiency of a petroleum producing (e.g., oil) field. A combination of global benchmark analysis and reservoir management assessment is utilized to identify areas of reservoir management that can be improved to increase recovery efficiency. Global benchmark analysis can include comparing a recovery efficiency for a petroleum reservoir to that of other benchmark petroleum reservoirs to indicate if alterations to recovery design or developments plans or reservoir management optimizations are to be pursued. Management of the petroleum reservoir is assessed to identify recovery obstacles potentially reducing recovery efficiency. Development opportunities for overcoming recover obstacles can be implemented to increase recovery efficiency.

Claims

1. In a computing system having a processor and system memory and which is configured to receive and analyze data relating petroleum rate production for a petroleum producer and petroleum reserves for the petroleum producer, a method of performing a recovery design assessment (RDA) for a petroleum producing field, comprising:

inputting into the computing system data relating to a reservoir management rating (RMR) for a petroleum reservoir supplying the petroleum producing field;

inputting into the computing system data relating to the petroleum producing field'"'"'s estimated maximum recovery efficiency based on the geology of the petroleum reservoir supplying the petroleum producing field;

the computing system identifying, by relating the reservoir management rating (RMF) to the petroleum producing field'"'"'s estimated maximum recovery efficiency, one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs) impeding the petroleum producing field from achieving the estimated maximum recovery efficiency; and

identifying one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) addressing the one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs), the one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) implementable to increase the recovery efficiency for the petroleum producing field closer to the estimated maximum recovery efficiency.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein inputting into the computing system data relating to a reservoir management rating (RMR) for the petroleum producing field comprises an act of inputting data relating to one or more of:

reservoir management design, reserves appreciation, development and operating plan, reservoir surveillance and monitoring, technology application, and knowledge management.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein inputting into the computing system data relating to a reservoir management rating (RMR) for the petroleum producing field comprises an act of inputting data plurality of different portions of data and assigning a weight to each of portion of data in the plurality of different portions of data.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein inputting into the computing system data relating to the petroleum producing field'"'"'s estimated maximum recovery efficiency comprises inputting into the computer system a plurality of portions of geological data related to the geology of the petroleum producing field;

and further comprising;

the computing system calculating, by relating the plurality of portions of geology data to one another, a geo-technical index (GTI) for the petroleum producing field.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein inputting into the computer system a plurality of portions of geological data comprises inputting one or more of:

a compartmentalization factor, a transmissibility index, and a depth factor for the petroleum producing field.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein determining a geo-technical index (GTI) for the petroleum producing field comprises an act of determining the geo-technical index (GTI) by determining the sum of a weighted compartmentalization factor plus a weighted a transmissibility index plus a weighted depth factor.

7. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein inputting into the computing system data relating to the petroleum producing field'"'"'s estimated maximum recovery efficiency comprises an act of inputting an estimated ultimate recovery factor corresponding the calculated geo-technical index, the estimated ultimate recovery factor indicative of a selected recovery efficiency for petroleum producers using designated practices and technology to extract petroleum from petroleum reservoirs having the calculated geo-technical index.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs) comprises identifying one or more of:

a decline of reservoir pressure, reduced sweep efficiency, bypassed petroleum, gas breakthrough, water breakthrough, and a high depletion rate.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs) comprises identifying one or more primary key recovery obstacles (KROs) and one or more secondary key recovery obstacles (KROs), the primary key recovery obstacles (KROs) requiring more significant alterations to recovery design or development plan, the secondary key recovery obstacles (KROs) being addressable through reservoir management optimizations.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, identifying one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) addressing the one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs) comprises the identifying one or more of:

increasing a gas injection rate, improving reservoir surveillance, improving drawdown constraints, improving infill drilling, implementing well cycling programs, using sand control screens, injecting water, and new well placement.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) comprises identifying one or more opportunities to extend the amount of time an oil field can operate at a specified oil production rate.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein identifying one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) comprises identifying one or more opportunities to increase the cumulative output of an oil field over time.

13. In a computing system having a processor and system memory and which is configured to receive and analyze data relating petroleum rate production for a petroleum producer and petroleum reserves for the petroleum producer, a method of performing a recovery design assessment (RDA) for a petroleum producing field, comprising:

determining a reservoir management rating (RMR) for a petroleum reservoir, including;

inputting into the computing system data relating to a plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness for the petroleum reservoir;

inputting into the computer system data relating to relative weighting for each of the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness; and

the computing system determining, by relating the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness to one another in accordance with the relative weighting of each of the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness, a reservoir management rating (RMR) for the petroleum reservoir;

inputting into the computing system data relating to a global benchmark analysis of the petroleum reservoir'"'"'s recovery efficiency based on the geology of the petroleum reservoir;

the computing system identifying, by relating the reservoir management rating to the global benchmark analysis, one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs) impeding the petroleum producing field from achieving an increased recovery efficiency; and

identifying one or more field development opportunities (FDO'"'"'s) addressing the one or more key recovery obstacles (KROs), the one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) implementable to increase the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein inputting into the computing system data relating to a plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness comprises inputting data related to corresponding subcategories within each of the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining a reservoir management rating (RMR) for the petroleum reservoir comprises generating a score for each of the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness based on the corresponding subcategories.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein inputting into the computing system data relating to a plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness comprises inputting data related to one or more of:

reservoir management design, reserves appreciation, development plan, operating plan, reservoir surveillance, reservoir monitor, technology application, and knowledge management,

17. In a computing system having a processor and system memory and which is configured to receive and analyze data relating petroleum rate production for a petroleum producer and petroleum reserves for the petroleum producer, a method of performing a recovery design assessment (RDA) for a petroleum producing field, comprising:

inputting into the computing system data relating to a reservoir management rating (RMR) for a petroleum reservoir supplying the petroleum producing field;

determining a geo-technical index (GTI) for a petroleum reservoir, comprising;

inputting into the computing system compartmentalization data relating to the compartmentalization of the petroleum reservoir;

inputting into the computing system transmissibility data relating to transmissibility of the petroleum reservoir;

inputting into the computing system depth data relating to depth of the petroleum reservoir; and

the computing system determining, by relating the compartmentalization data, the transmissibility data, and the depth data to one another, the geo-technical index (GTI) for the petroleum reservoir;

determining a recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir;

obtaining an estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage corresponding to the geo-technical index, estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage representative of the recovery efficiency at other petroleum reservoir having geology similar to the petroleum reservoir;

comparing the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir to the estimated ultimate recovery (EURF) percentage; and

the computing system identifying, by relating the reservoir management rating (RMF) to the comparison between the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir and the estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage, one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) implementable to increase the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving user input identifying one or more of gaps and deficiencies in the client'"'"'s asset manage, mtn design and further plans;

and

wherein identifying one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) comprises identifying opportunities to address the one or more of the gaps and deficiencies.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage is a benchmark recovery efficiency for oil fields that user reservoir management best practices and technology.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the geo-technical index (GTI) is determined in accordance with the following equation:

GTI™

=n_A·

A+n_B·

B+n_C·

C

21. A method of performing a recovery design assessment (RDA) for a petroleum producing field, comprising:

determining a reservoir management rating (RMR) for a petroleum reservoir by;

obtaining data relating to a plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness for the petroleum reservoir;

obtaining data relating to relative weighting for each of the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness; and

determining, by relating the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness to one another in accordance with the relative weighting of each of the plurality of categories of reservoir management effectiveness, a reservoir management rating (RMR) for the petroleum reservoir;

determining a geo-technical index (GTI) for a petroleum reservoir by;

measuring and/or obtaining data relating to the compartmentalization of the petroleum reservoir;

measuring and/or obtaining data relating to transmissibility of the petroleum reservoir;

measuring and/or obtaining data relating to depth of the petroleum reservoir; and

determining the geo-technical index (GTI) for the petroleum reservoir by relating the compartmentalization data, the transmissibility data, and the depth data to one another;

determining a recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir;

obtaining an estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage corresponding to the geo-technical index, estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage representative of the recovery efficiency at other petroleum reservoir having geology similar to the petroleum reservoir;

comparing the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir to the estimated ultimate recovery (EURF) percentage; and

identifying, by relating the reservoir management rating (RMF) to the comparison between the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir and the estimated ultimate recovery factor (EURF) percentage, one or more field development opportunities (FDOs) implementable to increase the recovery efficiency for the petroleum reservoir.