Optimizing flow control device properties on both producer and injector wells in coupled injector-producer liquid flooding systems

A system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one memory storing processor executable instructions for determining flow control device (FCD) properties along an injection well in coupled injector-producer liquid flooding systems within a formation that yield a uniform displacement front along a production well, the processor executable instructions comprises instructions for:
• initializing a FCD distribution function to have a uniform FCD distribution profile;
• simulating propagation of a displacement front representing a volume of liquid injected from the injection well into a reservoir area of the formation between the injection well and the production well, based on the initialized FCD distribution function;
• determining a pressure distribution in the reservoir area and a location of the displacement front when it reaches the production well during the simulation;
• determining a reference location along a length of the injection well, based on the pressure distribution and the location of the displacement front, the reference location corresponding to a point along the displacement front where the simulated displacement front propagation is determined to be at a minimum;
• adjusting the FCD distribution function by decreasing values of the FCD distribution function at points where the simulated displacement front propagation has advanced relative to the reference location;
• determining whether an axial variation between a shape of the displacement front according to the adjusted FCD distribution function and a target profile is within a predetermined convergence value;
• when the axial variation is determined not to be within the predetermined convergence value, repeating the simulation of the displacement front propagation and the adjustment of the FCD distribution function until the axial variation is determined to be within the predetermined convergence range;
• when the axial variation is determined to be within the predetermined convergence value, determining the FCD properties of flow control devices along the injection well that yield the uniform displacement front along the production well;
• and
• controlling an injection flow rate of liquid from the injection well into the reservoir area of the formation using flow control devices along the injection well based on the FCD properties of the flow control devices along the injection well that yield the uniform displacement front along the production well.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions for determining flow control device (FCD) properties along an injection well in coupled injector-producer liquid flooding systems within a formation that yield a uniform displacement front along a production well, the computer executable instructions when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising:

• initializing a FCD distribution function to have a uniform FCD distribution profile;
• simulating propagation of a displacement front representing a volume of liquid injected from the injection well into a reservoir area of the formation between the injection well and the production well, based on the initialized FCD distribution function;
• determining a pressure distribution in the reservoir area and a location of the displacement front when it reaches the production well during the simulation;
• determining a reference location along a length of the injection well, based on the pressure distribution and the location of the displacement front, the reference location corresponding to a point along the displacement front where the simulated displacement front propagation is determined to be at a minimum;
• adjusting the FCD distribution function by decreasing values of the FCD distribution function at points where the simulated displacement front propagation has advanced relative to the reference location;
• determining whether an axial variation between a shape of the displacement front according to the adjusted FCD distribution function and a target profile is within a predetermined convergence value;
• when the axial variation is determined not to be within the predetermined convergence value, repeating the simulation of the displacement front propagation and the adjustment of the FCD distribution function until the axial variation is determined to be within the predetermined convergence range;
• when the axial variation is determined to be within the predetermined convergence value, determining the FCD properties of flow control devices along at least one of the injection well that yield the uniform displacement front along the production well;
• and
• controlling an injection flow rate of liquid from the injection well into the reservoir area of the formation using flow control devices along the injection well based on the FCD properties of the flow control devices along the injection well that yield the uniform displacement front along the production well.