Full field reservoir modeling of shale assets using advanced data-driven analytics

Hydrocarbon production from shale has attracted much attention in the recent years. When applied to this prolific and hydrocarbon rich resource plays, our understanding of the complexities of the flow mechanism（sorption process and flow behavior in complex fracture systems- induced or natural） leaves much to be desired. In this paper, we present and discuss a novel approach to modeling, history matching of hydrocarbon production from a Marcellus shale asset in southwestern Pennsylvania using advanced data mining, pattern recognition and machine learning technologies. In this new approach instead of imposing our understanding of the flow mechanism, the impact of multi-stage hydraulic fractures, and the production process on the reservoir model, we allow the production history, well log, completion and hydraulic fracturing data to guide our model and determine its behavior. The uniqueness of this technology is that it incorporates the so-called ＂hard data＂ directly into the reservoir model, so that the model can be used to optimize the hydraulic fracture process. The ＂hard data＂ refers to field measurements during the hydraulic fracturing process such as fluid and proppant type and amount, injection pressure and rate as well as proppant concentration. This novel approach contrasts with the current industry focus on the use of ＂soft data＂（non-measured, interpretive data such as frac length, width,height and conductivity） in the reservoir models. The study focuses on a Marcellus shale asset that includes 135 wells with multiple pads, different landing targets, well length and reservoir properties. The full field history matching process was successfully completed using this data driven approach thus capturing the production behavior with acceptable accuracy for individual wells and for the entire asset.

Subsurface analytics: Contribution of artificial intelligence and machine learning to reservoir engineering, reservoir modeling, and reservoir management

Traditional Numerical Reservoir Simulation has been contributing to the oil and gas industry for decades.The current state of this technology is the result of decades of research and development by a large number of engineers and scientists.Starting in the late 1960s and early 1970s,advances in computer hardware along with development and adaptation of clever algorithms resulted in a paradigm shift in reservoir studies moving them from simplified analogs and analytical solution methods to more mathematically robust computational and numerical solution models.

Sarvak Formation Reservoir Modeling, in Oilfield Kuhmond (Southwestern Iran)

Sarvak formation is one of the important hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Zagros Basin that is one of the mid-Cretaceous carbonate units in Bangestan. This formation is located in the Kazhdomi Formation with the same slope. Geology, Kohmond field is located in the southeast of Bushehr and north and northwest of the Fars province. In this project, the geology, the tank and Petrophysics features were studied in the field with sedimentology;stratigraphy, Petrophysics, sedimentary environments and reservoir data analysis. According to studies, sedimentary environment of Sarvak in the Kohmond field is diagnosed as a ramp carbonate platform. Sarvak reservoir modeling in this field was done by using Petrelli software. The results indicate parts with high porosity, which are focused more in central and southeastern parts of the field and can contain large amounts of oil.

Application of Seismic Data to Reservoir Modeling of the Chegu 201 Block

Great uncertainty exists in reservoir models built for blocks where well spacing is uneven or large. The uncertainty in reservoir models can be significantly reduced by using Coordinate Cokriging Sequential Gaussian Simulation technology, in combination with the restriction of seismic characteristic data. Satisfactory reservoir parameter interpolation results, which are more accurate than those derived only from borehole data, are obtained, giving rise to a reasonable combination of widespread and dense-sampled seismic (soft data) data with borehole data (hard data). A significant effect has been made in reservoir parameter modeling in the Chegu 201 block of the Futai Oilfield by using this technology.

Static Reservoir Modeling, a Case Study from Early Cretaceous Yamama Formation, Southern Iraq

Constructing a static reservoir model or a 3D geological model is a widely used modern tool to employ subsurface information expose the setting and properties of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The current study attempts to build a 3D reservoir model of the Yamama Formation (an important oil reservoir in Southern Iraq), from digital logs data and drilling information. This would lead to a better understanding of the relationships between different reservoir elements, then expose many characteristics of the reservoir, such as the facies distribution and petrophysical properties. The data of the Yamama Formation (Early Cretaceous Carbonates) were taken from four wells of Gharraf Oilfield, Southern Iraq (GA-1, GA-2, GA-3, and GA-4). The adopted modeling approach consists of a series of steps starting with a preliminary analysis of data, followed by interpretation of these data, and terminated by geostatistical methods for building the structural model. The modeling was assisted by defining the top of each layer detected by wireline logs and final well reports of each studied well. The results of the study encompass four microfacies distributed between Inner Ramp and Mid Ramp environments. The followed 3D geological modeling scheme was capable to visualize the distribution of petrophysical properties, and the classification of Yamama Formation into several layers or reservoir units (Y1 to Y5), and thirteen subdivisions (minor units). The model could also define the places where effective porosity was enhanced. The process of Pillar Gridding, a step within the modeling, showed that the Yamama Formation is composed of two domes. The constructed model was helpful, based on the evaluation of petrophysical parameters, then to point out the most important reservoir zone (Zone Y3_top) that has Effective Porosity of (13.6%) and water saturation of around (10.6%).

Fractured reservoir modeling by discrete fracture network and seismic modeling in the Tarim Basin,China

Fractured reservoirs are an important target for oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin and the prediction of this type of reservoir is challenging.Due to the complicated fracture system in the Tarim Basin,the conventional AVO inversion method based on HTI theory to predict fracture development will result in some errors.Thus,an integrated research concept for fractured reservoir prediction is put forward in this paper.Seismic modeling plays a bridging role in this concept,and the establishment of an anisotropic fracture model by Discrete Fracture Network （DFN） is the key part.Because the fracture system in the Tarim Basin shows complex anisotropic characteristics,it is vital to build an effective anisotropic model.Based on geological,well logging and seismic data,an effective anisotropic model of complex fracture systems can be set up with the DFN method.The effective elastic coefficients,and the input data for seismic modeling can be calculated.Then seismic modeling based on this model is performed,and the seismic response characteristics are analyzed.The modeling results can be used in the following AVO inversion for fracture detection.

Formation conditions and reservoir-forming models of the Ordovician buried hill reservoirs in the Jizhong depression

The buried hill in the Jizhong depression contains abundant petroleum reserves and are important production areas.The Ordovician buried hill has restricted the discovery of new oil and gas exploration targets because of its strong reservoir heterogeneity and complex reservoir-controlling factors.Based on a large volume of core,thin section,logging,seismic,and geochemical data and numerous geological analyses,the reservoir-forming conditions and modes were systematically analyzed to guide the exploration and achieve important breakthroughs in the Yangshuiwu and Wen an slope buried hills.The study revealed that three sets of source rocks of the third and fourth members of the Shahejie Formation from the Paleogene and Carboniferous-Permian were developed in the Jizhong depression,providing sufficient material basis for the formation of buried hill oil and gas reservoirs.The reservoir control mechanism involving the three major factors of“cloud-karst-fault”was clarified,and karst cave,fracture fissure-pore,and cloud pore type reservoir models were established,thereby expanding the exploration potential.Controlled by the superposition of multi-stage tectonic processes during the Indosinian,Yanshanian,and Himalayan,two genetic buried hill trap types of uplift-depression and depression-uplift were formed.Based on the analysis of reservoir-forming factors of the Ordovician buried hill,three buried hill oil and gas reservoir-forming models were identified:low-level tectonic-lithologic composite quasi-layered buried hill,medium-level paleo-storage paleo-block buried hill,and high-level paleo-storage new-block buried hill.Comprehensive evaluations indicate that the reservoir-forming conditions of the low-level tectonic-lithologic composite quasi-layered buried hill in the northern portion of the Jizhong depression are the most favorable and that the Sicundian and Xinzhen buried hills are favorable areas for future exploration.

Petroleum system analysis-conjoined 3D-static reservoir modeling in a 3-way and 4-way dip closure setting: Insights into petroleum geology of fluvio-marine deposits at BED-2 Field (Western Desert, Egypt)

Imperfect determination of petroleum system processes coincidence,entrapment and charge timing,along with reservoir heterogeneity can considerably cause high risks throughout exploration and development phases of petroleum.Therefore,a complete subsurface visualization of the petroleum system nature,elements and processes,is badly required.To this end,we corroborated,in this study,static reservoir modeling with petroleum system analysis workflows,to better characterize the Cenomanian fluvio-marine reservoir,sandstones of Bahariya Formation,at Bed-2 Field,Abu Gharadig Basin(Western Desert,Egypt).We used dataset of 2D seismic profiles and well logs of eight wells.The geometry and property of the reservoir were acquired performing static reservoir geocellular modeling approach.The geohistory,timing of charge,migration pathways,and accumulation sites were identified performing 1D and 2D basin modeling approaches.Combining both approaches was aimed at identifying new petroleum prospect areas,and estimating the hydrocarbon volumes,that are the need for such poorly-defined petroleum systems area.As indicated by the constructed,robust,reservoir and 1D-2D basin models,an additional hydrocarbon prospect,to the north central part of Bed-2 Field,is proposed to be drilled during the further oilfield development phases of the area.This prospect has all features that adequately lead to reliable inferences regarding the ultimate petroleum potential of the area.

Evaluation method of underground water storage space and thermal reservoir model in abandoned mine

A large number of mines are closed or abandoned every year in China.Geothermal utilization is one of the important ways to efficiently reuse underground resources in abandoned mines.How to calculate the volume and distribution of underground water storage space is the key to accurately evaluate the sustainable geothermal production in abandoned mines.In this paper,according to the multi-scale characteristics of the underground space in abandoned mine,the flow and heat transfer equations in the multi-scale space are sorted out systematically,and the calculation methods of different secondary space volumes are derived in detail.Taking Jiahe abandoned mine as the background,the volume and distribution of underground secondary space are calculated,and three heat storage evaluation models considering different water storage spaces are established by using COMSOL.The simulation results show that there are great differences among different models,and the results of the equivalent porous media model considering the multi-scale space are most consistent with the reality.Sensitivity analyses of key parameters model results indicated that the heat production is closely related to not only the recharge flow rate but also the recharge temperature and operating time.Furthermore,the energy saving and emission reduction benefits of geothermal utilization in abandoned mines are calculated,the results show that geothermal utilization of abandoned mines can effectively reduce energy consumption and CO_(2)emissions,and it has great economic benefits.

The Classification and Model of Coalbed Methane Reservoirs

Coalbed methane has been explored in many basins worldwide for 30 years, and has been developed commercially in some of the basins. Many researchers have described the characteristics of coalbed methane geology and technology systematically. According to these investigations, a coalbed methane reservoir can be defined: 'a coal seam that contains some coalbed methane and is isolated from other fluid units is called a coalbed methane reservoir'. On the basis of anatomization, analysis, and comparison of the typical coalbed methane reservoirs, coalbed methane reservoirs can be divided into two classes: the hydrodynamic sealing coalbed methane reservoirs and the self-sealing coalbed methane reservoirs. The former can be further divided into two sub-classes: the hydrodynamic capping coalbed methane reservoirs, which can be divided into five types and the hydrodynamic driving coalbed methane reservoirs, which can be divided into three types. The latter can be divided into three types. Currently, hydrodynamic sealing reservoirs are the main target for coalbed methane exploration and development; self-sealing reservoirs are unsuitable for coalbed methane exploration and development, but they are closely related with coal mine gas hazards. Finally, a model for hydrodynamic sealing coalbed methane reservoirs is established.

Three-Dimensional Modelling of a Multi-Layer Sandstone Reservoir： the Sebei Gas Field, China

Multi-layer sandstone reservoirs occur globally and are currently in international production. The 3D characteristics of these reservoirs are too complicated to be accurately delineated by general structural-facies-reservoir modelling. In view of the special geological features, such as the vertical architecture of sandstone and mudstone interbeds, the lateral stable sedimentation and the strong heterogeneity of reservoir poroperm and fluid distribution, we developed a new three-stage and six-phase procedure for 3D characterization of multi-layer sandstone reservoirs. The procedure comprises two-phase structural modelling, two-phase facies modelling and modelling of two types of reservoir properties. Using this procedure, we established models of the formation structure, sand body structure and microfacies, reservoir facies and properties including porosity, permeability and gas saturation and provided a 3D fine-scale, systematic characterization of the Sebei multi-layer sandstone gas field, China. This new procedure, validated by the Sebei gas field, can be applied to characterize similar multi-layer sandstone reservoirs.

A 3D analysis of the occurrence of fractures in hot dry rock reservoirs based on the spatial distribution of natural fractures

Hot dry rock(HDR)geothermal energy is a kind of widely distributed clean energy with huge reserves.However,its commercial development has been constrained by reservoir stimulation.In the early stage of HDR geothermal energy development,properly determining spatial distribution patterns of natural fractures in HDR reservoirs can effectively guide reservoir stimulation.This study analyzes the spatial distribution of natural fractures by using FracMan software based on the actual geological data and log data of well M-2 in the Matouying Uplift area,Hebei Province.The fracture parameters are counted and Monte Carlo simulation technique is introduced to optimize the parameters,which makes the natural fracture model more accurate and reliable.Furthermore,this study simulates hydraulic fracturing using the model combined with the actual in-situ stress parameters and the construction scheme.As verified by fitting the changes in simulated wellhead pressure during hydraulic fracturing with the actual wellhead pressure data detected during construction,the methods for natural fracture modeling used in this study are scientific and reasonable.The preliminary prediction results show that the displacement design scheme with a pump displacement of 2.0-3.0 m^(3)/min,4.0-5.5 m^(3)/min and 6-7 m^(3)/min in the early,middle and late stages,respectively,has good fracturing effect.The results of this study can be utilized as a reference for preparing development schemes for HDR reservoirs.

Enhanced history matching process by incorporation of saturation logs as model selection criteria

This paper proposes a methodology for an alternative history matching process enhanced by the incorporation of a simplified binary interpretation of reservoir saturation logs(RST) as objective function. Incorporating fluids saturation logs during the history matching phase unlocks the possibility to adjust or select models that better represent the near wellbore waterfront movement, which is particularly important for uncertainty mitigation during future well interference assessments in water driven reservoirs. For the purposes of this study, a semi-synthetic open-source reservoir model was used as base case to evaluate the proposed methodology. The reservoir model represents a water driven, highly heterogenous sandstone reservoir from Namorado field in Brazil. To effectively compare the proposed methodology against the conventional methods, a commercial reservoir simulator was used in combination with a state-of-the-art benchmarking workflow based on the Big LoopTMapproach. A well-known group of binary metrics were evaluated to be used as the objective function, and the Matthew correlation coefficient(MCC) has been proved to offer the best results when using binary data from water saturation logs. History matching results obtained with the proposed methodology allowed the selection of a more reliable group of reservoir models,especially for cases with high heterogeneity. The methodology also offers additional information and understanding of sweep behaviour behind the well casing at specific production zones, thus revealing full model potential to define new wells and reservoir development opportunities.

A unified model for the formation and distribution of both conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs

The discovery and large-scale exploration of unconventional oil/gas resources since 1980s have been considered as the most important advancement in the history of petroleum geology;that has not only changed the balance of supply and demand in the global energy market,but also improved our understanding of the formation mechanisms and distribution characteristics of oil/gas reservoirs.However,what is the difference of conventional and unconventional resources and why they always related to each other in petroliferous basins is not clear.As the differences and correlations between unconventional and conventional resources are complex challenging issues and very critical for resources assessment and hydrocarbon exploration,this paper focused on studying the relationship of formations and distributions among different oil/gas reservoirs.Drilling results of 12,237 exploratory wells in 6 representative petroliferous basins of China and distribution characteristics for 52,926 oil/gas accumulations over the world were applied to clarify the formation conditions and genetic relations of different oil/gas reservoirs in a petroliferous basin,and then to establish a unified model to address the differences and correlations of conventional and unconventional reservoirs.In this model,conventional reservoirs formed in free hydrocarbon dynamic field with high porosity and permeability located above the boundary of hydrocarbon buoyancy-driven accumulation depth limit.Unconventional tight reservoirs formed in confined hydrocarbon dynamic field with low porosity and permeability located between hydrocarbon buoyancy-driven accumulation depth limit and hydrocarbon accumulation depth limit.Shale oil/gas reservoirs formed in the bound hydrocarbon dynamic field with low porosity and ultra-low permeability within the source rock layers.More than 75%of proved reserves around the world are discovered in the free hydrocarbon dynamic field,which is estimated to contain only 10%of originally generated hydrocarbons.Most of undiscovered resources distributed in the confined hydrocarbon dynamic field and the bound hydrocarbon dynamic field,which contains 90%of original generated hydrocarbons,implying a reasonable and promising area for future hydrocarbon explorations.The buried depths of hydrocarbon dynamic fields become shallow with the increase of heat flow,and the remaining oil/gas resources mainly exist in the deep area of“cold basin”with low geothermal gradient.Lithology changing in the hydrocarbon dynamic field causes local anomalies in the oil/gas dynamic mechanism,leading to the local formation of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs in the free hydrocarbon dynamic field or the occurrence of oil/gas enrichment sweet points with high porosity and permeability in the confined hydrocarbon dynamic field.The tectonic movements destroy the medium conditions and oil/gas components,which leads to the transformation of conventional oil/gas reservoirs formed in free hydrocarbon dynamic field to unconventional ones or unconventional ones formed in confined and bound hydrocarbon dynamic fields to conventional ones.

A vertically integrated eutrophication model and its application to a river-style reservoir-Fuchunjiang,China

Based on a 2-D hydrodynamic model, a vertically integrated eutrophication model was developed. The physical sub-model can be used for calculation of water density at different depths, and the water quality sub-model was used for calculation of algal growth. The cohesive and non-cohesive sediments were simulated separately with different methods. The light extinction coefficient used in the underwater light regime sub-model was linearly related to the sum of sediment and phytoplankton biomass. Some components less important to the model were simplified to improve practicability and calculation efficiency. Using field data from Fuchunjiang Reservoir, we calculated the sensitivity of ecological parameters included in this model and validated the model. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the parameters strongly influenced the phytoplankton biomass, including phytoplankton maximum growth rate, respiration rate, non-predatory mortality rate, settling rate, zooplankton maximum filtration rate, specific extinction coefficient for suspended solids and sediment oxygen demand rate. The model was calibrated by adjusting these parameters. Total chlorophyll α （chl-α） concentrations at different layers in the water column were reproduced very well by the model simulations. The simulated chl-α values were positively correlated to the measured values with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.92. The mean difference between measured and simulated chl-α concentrations was 12% of the measured chl-α concentration. Measured and simulated DO concentrations were also positively correlated （r = 0.74） and the mean difference was 4% of measured DO concentrations. The successful validation of model indicated that it would be very useful in water quality management and algal bloom prediction in Fuchunjiang Reservoir and a good tool for water quality regulation of other fiver-style reservoirs.

The tectonic fracture modeling of an ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir based on an outcrop analogy: A case study in the Wangyao Oilfield of Ordos Basin, China

Due to inherent limits of data acquisition and geophysical data resolution, there are large uncertainties in the characterization of subsurface fractures. However, outcrop analogies can provide qualitative and quantitative information on a large number of fractures, based on which the accuracy of subsurface fracture characterization can be improved. Here we take the tectonic fracture modeling of an ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir based on an outcrop analogy, a case study of the Chang6t~ Formation of the Upper Triassic Yanchang Group of the Wangyao Oilfield in the Ordos Basin of China. An outcrop at the edge of the basin is a suitable analog for the reservoir, but the prerequisite is that they must have equivalent previous stress fields, similar final structural characteristics, relative timing and an identical depositional environment and diagenesis. The relationship among fracture density, rock type and bed thickness based on the outcrop is one of the most important fracture distribution models, and can be used to interpret fracture density in individual wells quantitatively. Fracture orientation, dip, geometry and scale, also should be described and measured in the outcrop, and can be used together with structure restoration and single well fracture density interpretation to guide fracture intensity prediction on bed surfaces and to constrain the construction of the 3D fracture geometry model of the subsurface reservoir. The application of the above principles shows the outcrop-based tectonic fracture models of the target ultra-low permeability sandstone reservoir are consistent with fractures inferred from microseismic interpretation and tracer tests. This illustrated that the fracture modeling based on the outcrop analogy is reliable and can reduce the uncertainty in stochastic fracture modeling.

Reservoir Stochastic Modeling Constrained by Quantitative Geological Conceptual Patterns

This paper discusses the principles of geologic constraints on reservoir stochastic modeling. By using the system science theory, two kinds of uncertainties, including random uncertainty and fuzzy uncertainty, are recognized. In order to improve the precision of stochastic modeling and reduce the uncertainty in realization, the fuzzy uncertainty should be stressed, and the ＂geological genesis-controlled modeling＂ is conducted under the guidance of a quantitative geological pattern. An example of the Pingqiao horizontal-well division of the Ansai Oilfield in the Ordos Basin is taken to expound the method of stochastic modeling.

Impact of Reservoir Properties on the Production of the Mannville Coal Measures, South Central Alberta from a Numerical Modelling Parametric Analysis

Numerical simulations are used to investigate the impact of intrinsic and extrinsic reservoir properties on the production from coal and organic rich lithologies in the Lower Cretaceous Mannville coal measures of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. The coal measures are complex reservoirs in which production is from horizontal wells drilled and completed in the thickest coal seam in the succession (1 m versus 3 m), which has production and pressure support from thinner coals in the adjacent stratigraphy and from organic-rich shales interbedded and over and underlying the coal seams. Numerical models provide insight as to the relative importance of the myriad of parameters that may impact production that are not self-evident or intuitive in complex coal measures.

A Technical Review on Shale Gas Production and Unconventional Reservoirs Modeling

During the past several years, natural gas production from shale gas is increased and has adsorbed much attention worldwide. The reason behind this is because of advances gained in shale gas recovery techniques from this ultra-low permeability/porosity rock. These techniques are considered the horizontal drilling of the length of 3000 to 5000 ft long and conducting multi-stage hydraulic fracturing along the horizontal portion of the wells. The successful application of above has also driven down the gas prices worldwide and also culminated the security of gas supply for the upcoming decades. This paper is a technical literature review of shale gas production and modeling for future performance evaluation that identifies the current challenges in different stages. Several different and complex physics of gas flow in such a low permeability formation is also explained and the state of the art of the challenges encountered in the modeling process is also explained. As such, gas desorption phenomena, non-Darcy Flow, gas Klinkenberg effect are investigated for different shale formations in the US. This technical review also takes a look over the hydraulic fracturing effects on the economics of shale gas wells due to its straight tie to the production from shale and also the overall recovery from such reservoirs.

Applications of GSTARS Computer Models for Solving River and Reservoir Sedimentation Problems

GSTARS (Generalized Sediment Transport model for Alluvial River Simulation) is a series of computer models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation while the author was employed by that agency. The stream tube concept is used in all GSTARS models which allow us to solve one-dimensional equations for each stream tube independently and obtain semi-two-dimensional variation of the hydraulic conditions along and across stream tubes for rivers and reservoirs. Sedi-ment transport, scour, and deposition processes are simulated along each stream tube independently to give us a semi-three-dimensional variation of the bed geometry. Most sediment transport computer models assume that channel width is given and cannot change during the simulation process. GSTARS models apply the theory of minimum stream power to the determination of optimum channel width and channel geometry. The concepts of channel side stability, and active, inactive, and armoring layers are used in all GSTARS models for realistic long-term simulation and prediction of the scour and deposition processes in rivers and reservoirs.GSTARS models have been applied in many countries for solving a wide range of river and reservoir sedimentation problems. Case studies will be used to illustrate the applications of GSTARS computer models.