Hydrocarbon reservoir testing
AssigneeKepler Research & Development Limited
InventorsJames Robinson, John Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reservoir in a payrock (2) is analyzed using finite element simulation. A reservoir engineer selects an appropriate model from a set of template models, each comprising a set of polygons (51) in plan and layers (53) in elevation. The polygons are defined in objects instantiated from classes by control points and the layers as depth values of control points. A pattern object sweeps rotationally about a wellbore in a wellbore polygon to define a pattern of elements, fewer in number with distance from the wellbore. A polygon object also sweeps linearly from a generator line in the direction of a base line. The generator and a base lines correspond to polygon boundaries. Finite element simulation is performed with the model so derived.
Claims24
A hydrocarbon reservoir analysis method comprising the steps of simulating hydrocarbon flow from the reservoir into a wellbore and analysing the simulated wellface pressure response by comparing it with measured pressure data, characterised in that, the reservoir is modelled before simulation as a solid model comprising polygons in plan and layers in elevation, finite elements are generated in patterns in the polygons and the layers to provide a mesh, and simulation is performed with said mesh.
A hydrocarbon reservoir analysis system comprising means for performing a method as claimed in any preceding claim.
A hydrocarbon reservoir analysis method comprising the steps of simulating hydrocarbon flow from the reservoir into a wellbore and analysing the simulated wellface pressure response by comparing it with measured pressure data, characterised in that,
- the reservoir is modelled before simulation as a solid model comprising polygons in plan and layers in elevation, finite elements are generated in patterns in the polygons and the layers to provide a mesh, and simulation is performed with said mesh;
- the model is represented by:
- a shape object defining the overall reservoir shape;
- a polygon object defining each polygon in terms of an aerial region in plan bounded by edges defining vertical planes;
- and
- a layer object defining each layer in terms of the bounding planes above and below;
- and
- the mesh is generated by generating a pattern object defining elements extending in an elevational plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.