Geologic Modeling and History Matching
Proett, Brian A.1, John J.
Lawrence1, Colin J. Lyttle1, David
J. Fenter2,
Robert C. Szafranski1, Lester H. Landis1, Nancy S. Huang2,
Kenneth A. Frederick2,
David
E. Courtnage2, Steve L.
Lyons1, Adrian J. Coker1, and James K. Miller1 (1)
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co, Houston, TX (2)ExxonMobil Production Company, Houston, TX
The Reservoir Evaluation Time Reduction (RETR) methodology was
developed to improve the process of building reservoir models, both geologic
and simulation. This improvement is achieved by using an iterative approach
that measures the effect of increasing amount of detail with a corresponding
simulation response. Effective properties are generated using patented
in-house software and used to populate geologic models built at a similar
scale to the simulation grid, thereby streamlining the model building and
history matching processes.
The RETR process was tested on six producing fields of varying
zonal complexity, number of wells, and depositional environment. All fields had
significant production history that had previously been history matched using
our conventional approaches. This previous work provided a reference for
comparison of the RETR methodology with the traditional approach to model
building and reservoir history matching.
The following are the major conclusions
of our study.
· Improved ability to integrate dynamic
data into the geologic model
· Enhanced ability to maintain
synchronization of geologic and simulation models
· Ability to build easily updateable
geologic and simulation models
· Increased collaboration of geophysical,
geologic, and engineering disciplines
· Enhanced ability to create models
representing alternate geologic scenarios
· Improved ability to produce a history
match in a timely manner
· Reduced calendar time required to build
and update reservoir models.