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Capturing Fracture
Uncertainties in Reservoir Simulation of a Giant Mature Fractured
Wei, Lingli1,
Simon Price1, Martin De Keijzer2, Salah Al Dhahab1 (1)
Shell International Exploration and Production,
Significant hydrocarbon volumes still remain in the mature giant
fractured carbonate fields of the
Surface (outcrop) and subsurface (seismic, BHI, cores etc) data
provide the input constraint for a range of plausible 3D fracture models,
extending beyond areas of well control. The range of a priori estimates of many
fracture parameters is still, however, too broad for optimal re-development of
these complex fields.
This paper describes the workflow developed and applied for such
a field in
(e.g.
density) and non-geometrical (e.g. porosity) parameters. Along with other
matrix and dynamic parameters, a priori estimates of each parameter are made and
then historical field production data are used to narrow the uncertainty range.
The narrowed uncertainty ranges significantly improve the economic evaluation
of alternative re-development options and allow for a more focused data
collection and surveillance programme to target remaining uncertainties.
The focus of this paper is:
1. How to implement a range of geologically realistic
static fracture models in reservoir simulations (nested, multi-scaled fracture
systems with multi-scaled vertical connectivity);
2. How to
determine and model fracture porosity and fracture permeability uncertainties;
3. How to
incorporate historic production data to narrow down the uncertainties; and
4. Which types of
historic data are useful for narrowing down different fracture uncertainties.