Performance prediction method for hydrocarbon recovery processes

A method for predicting performance of a patterned flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer wells, comprising the steps of:

• generating type-curve correlation equations for two or more well types;
• providing a single-phase, 2-D model of at least a portion of the subterranean formation;
• initializing said single-phase, 2-D model for initial pressure and initial oil saturation at the start of the patterned flooding process;
• determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells (second well pairs) using said single-phase, 2-D model of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation;
• determining for each second well pair a second processing rate and second pore volume;
• assigning to each second well pair one set of said type-curve correlation equations;
• calculating second cumulative injection for each second well pair using said second well pair's second processing rate and second pore volume;
• calculating second cumulative fluid production for each said second well pair from said second well pair's assigned type-curve correlation equations;
• estimating a second oil saturation in the single phase, 2-D model grid cells based on a tracer simulation representative of the formation before a modification;
• modifying injection well location, production well location, a process parameter, or a well processing rate;
• re-determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells (third well pairs) using said single phase, 2-D model of at least a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation and re-calculating for each said third well pair a third processing rate and third pore volume;
• calculating a new starting point on said type-curve correlation equations using said initial oil saturation and said second oil saturation;
• and
• using said third processing rate, said third pore volume, and said type-curve correlation equations to predict fluid production for each said third well pair for predetermined time intervals.