US 2017/0285221 A1Published application

Generating dynamically calibrated geo-models in green fields

AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company

InventorsBabatope Kayode, Faisal Thawad

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Abstract

Techniques to generate dynamically calibrated geo-models green fields are described. A geo-model representing a field on which wells are drilled in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation adjusted to generate multiple adjusted geo-models. Each adjusted geo-model represents a variant of the numerical geo-model. Using each adjusted geo-model, multiple simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in a well drilled in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation are determined. A measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well is compared with the multiple simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well. Based on a result of the comparing, the adjusted geo-model that yielded simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures that best matched the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressure is identified. A geological property associated with the best-match adjusted geo-model is determined and presented in a geological property contour map of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

(a) receiving a numerical geo-model representing a field on which wells are drilled in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the numerical geo-model comprising a plurality of grid blocks representing a portion of the formation, the plurality of grid blocks associated with a value representing a geological property of the portion of the formation;
(b) generating a plurality of adjusted numerical geo-models from the initial received numerical geo-model, wherein each adjusted numerical geo-model represents a variant of the received numerical geo-model;
(c) determining a plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in a well drilled in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, each simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time determined using a volumetric flow rate over time through the well, each simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well associated with an adjusted numerical geo-model;
(d) receiving a measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well;
(e) comparing the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time to the plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well;
(f) based on a result of the comparing, identifying a first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time from the plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time;
(g) identifying an adjusted geological property value of the portion of the formation, wherein adjusting the first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time based on the adjusted geological property value decreases the difference between the first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time and the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures;
and
(h) providing the adjusted geological property value to be presented in a geological property contour map of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

6 more elements

A system comprising:

one or more processors;
and
a computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
(a) receiving a numerical geo-model representing a field on which wells are drilled in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the numerical geo-model comprising a plurality of grid blocks representing a portion of the formation, the plurality of grid blocks associated with a value representing a geological property of the portion of the formation;
(b) generating a plurality of adjusted numerical geo-models from the initial received numerical geo-model, wherein each adjusted numerical geo-model represents a variant of the received numerical geo-model;
(c) determining a plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in a well drilled in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, each simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time determined using a volumetric flow rate over time through the well, each simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well associated with an adjusted numerical geo-model;
(d) receiving a measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well;
(e) comparing the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time to the plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well;
(f) based on a result of the comparing, identifying a first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time from the plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time;
(g) identifying an adjusted geological property value of the portion of the formation, wherein adjusting the first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time based on the adjusted geological property value decreases the difference between the first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time and the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures;
and
(h) providing the adjusted geological property value to be presented in a geological property contour map of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

9 more elements

A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

(a) receiving a numerical geo-model representing a field on which wells are drilled in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the numerical geo-model comprising a plurality of grid blocks representing a portion of the formation, the plurality of grid blocks associated with a value representing a geological property of the portion of the formation;
(b) generating a plurality of adjusted numerical geo-models from the initial received numerical geo-model, wherein each adjusted numerical geo-model represents a variant of the received numerical geo-model;
(c) determining a plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in a well drilled in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, each simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time determined using a volumetric flow rate over time through the well, each simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well associated with an adjusted numerical geo-model;
(d) receiving a measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well;
(e) comparing the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time to the plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time in the well;
(f) based on a result of the comparing, identifying a first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time from the plurality of simulated rates of change of bottomhole pressures over time;
(g) identifying an adjusted geological property value of the portion of the formation, wherein adjusting the first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time based on the adjusted geological property value decreases the difference between the first simulated rate of change of bottomhole pressures over time and the measured rate of change of bottomhole pressures;
and
(h) providing the adjusted geological property value to be presented in a geological property contour map of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/404,674Filed 12 Jan 2017
Priority: 22 Jan 2016
Published: 5 Oct 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G01V 20/00
Geomodelling in general
E21B 43/00
Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials
E21B 47/06
Survey of boreholes or wells: measuring temperature or pressure
E21B 49/00
Testing the nature of borehole walls

Family

Application62/286,254Us provisional application · filed 22 Jan 2016
US 10,359,542 B2Related patent
US 2017/0285221 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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