Providing a simplified subterranean model
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsGeorg Zangl, Radek Pecher, Anthony J. Fitzpatrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
To provide a simplified subterranean model of a subterranean structure, a first grid size for the simplified subterranean model is selected, where the first grid size is coarser than a second grid size associated with a detailed subterranean model. The simplified subterranean model is populated with subterranean properties according to the selected first grid size, where multiple realizations of the simplified subterranean model are provided for different sets of values of the subterranean properties. The realizations of the simplified subterranean model are ranked based on comparing outputs of simulations of the realizations with measured data associated with the subterranean structure.
Claims17
A method executed by a computer, the method comprising:
- selecting a production workflow for a subterranean structure that comprises wells wherein the production workflow depends on availability of simulation data;
- responsive to selecting the production workflow, building a simplified simulation model for the subterranean structure by
- selecting a grid size for a grid of the simplified simulation model, the grid size greater than a grid size for a grid of an existing detailed simulation model for the subterranean structure,
- populating the grid of the simplified simulation model using data wherein the data comprises data from the existing detailed simulation model,
- generating candidate simplified simulation models using a stochastic process wherein each of the candidate simplified simulation models comprises the grid size for the grid of the simplified simulation model,
- performing simulation runs using each of the candidate simplified simulation models to generate candidate simulation data,
- after performing the simulation runs, comparing the generated candidate simulation data to measured data for the subterranean structure to rank the candidate simplified simulation models with respect to accuracy,
- performing a sensitivity analysis to fine tune at least a top ranked candidate simplified simulation model of the candidate simplified simulation models, and
- selecting a fine tuned candidate simplified simulation model of the candidate simplified simulation models;
- and
- performing one or more runs of the selected, fine tuned candidate simplified simulation model to generate the simulation data for the production workflow.
One or more computer-readable non-transitory storage media comprising computer-executable instructions to instruct a computer to:
- build a simplified simulation model for a subterranean structure responsive to selection of a production workflow that depends on availability of simulation data, wherein the instructions to instruct a computer to build the simplified simulation model comprise instructions to:
- select a grid size for a grid of the simplified simulation model, the grid size greater than a grid size for a grid of an existing detailed simulation model for the subterranean structure,
- populate the grid of the simplified simulation model using data wherein the data comprises data from the existing detailed simulation model,
- generate candidate simplified simulation models using a stochastic process wherein each of the candidate simplified simulation models comprises the grid size for the grid of the simplified simulation model,
- perform simulation runs using each of the candidate simplified simulation models to generate candidate simulation data,
- after performance of the simulation runs, compare the generated candidate simulation data to measured data for the subterranean structure to rank the candidate simplified simulation models with respect to accuracy,
- perform a sensitivity analysis to fine tune at least a top ranked candidate simplified simulation model of the candidate simplified simulation models, and
- select a fine tuned candidate simplified simulation model of the candidate simplified simulation models to generate the simulation data for the production workflow.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.