Solutions: Overview
Sub-Seismic Geological Heterogeneity Effects on Fluid Flow
The Challenge
In order to understand the uncertainty associated with reservoirs in complex geologic environments, it is critical to create reservoir models that incorporate fine scale stratigraphic detail. By modeling stratigraphic features below the scale of seismic resolution, SBEDStudio incorporates the effects of small scale geological heterogeneity on fluid flow within the reservoir.
The Solution
SBEDStudio software accurately models the internal stratification and lithofacies relationships observed in depositional environments such as fluvial channel and channel-levee complexes, deep water submarine fans, tidal bars and shoreface environments. By modeling sub-seismic stratigraphic features, SBEDStudio generates geologically accurate models for more realistic reservoir simulations and uncertainty estimates. The results contribute to better E&P decisions and a better understanding of reservoir risk.
SBEDStudio Modeling Workflow
• Create a framework grid by importing well data and seismic interpretation results, or by importing Eclipse grids or SBED small scale grids.• Refine the framework grid using a ‘process-oriented’ heterogeneity modeling method. The method mimics sedimentary processes including deposition, erosion, and migration of depositional centers. The result is a definition of the geometry and structures for each zone in the framework grid. All modeling parameters can be deterministically specified or sampled from probability distributions.
• Define the facies proportions and trend parameters using facies templates for specific geologic environments and simulate litho-objects (such as mud, sand, silt) within the stratigraphic grids.
• Define the reservoir properties to be modeled, such as porosity and permeability, and input the property statistics for each facies. Export property grids, stratigraphic grids, facies grids, and porosity and permeability simulations as corner-point grids, which can be handled by any reservoir simulator.
• Calculate reserve volumes that include the effects of heterogeneity within a defined range of uncertainty.
• Generate a 3D synthetic seismic volume for QC of the geologic model and for comparison with the original seismic data.
• Create multiple geologic scenarios to evaluate the effect of geological detail on reservoir performance.
• Model production profiles of the geological models with a built-in 3DSL streamline simulator link. Based on multiple geological simulations, probability distributions of hydrocarbon recovery can be derived for different geological scenarios.
The Benefit
The benefits of using SBEDStudio to capture the effects of small scale geological heterogeneity on fluid flow include:
• improved effective property distributions for specific geologic environments
• detailed rule-based geologic models
• the ability to identify reservoirs below seismic resolution
• the ability to constrain reservoir uncertainty and risk through geological scenario modeling.