ROSS, J. MIKE, JOHN MANSOORI, and RICHARD CHAMBERS, Amoco Production Company, Tulsa, OK

ABSTRACT: Reservoir Characterization and Performance Prediction by Modeling and Identifying Uncertainties: A Field Case Study

This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary team

approach, which involves data integration, three-dimensional (3-D) reservoir characterization and fluid-flow simulation, to predict future field performance. This study also identifies uncertainties (geologic and petrophysical) of the 3-D reservoir characterization and relates these to the uncertainties of predicting future field performance. These techniques are demonstrated by a field case study.

Conventional core measurements, logs, geological interpretation, and other geoscience data are incorporated using geostatistical methodologies to create multiple equiprobable realizations of structure, facies, porosities, and permeabilities. These multimillion-cell reservoir characterizations are upscaled for input to the fluid flow simulator. The uncertainties associated with such equiprobable reservoir descriptions are linked to uncertainties in the numerical fluid flow simulator's ability to predict future performance.

Furthermore, the geostatistical approach is compared to a conventional approach of reservoir characterization for better appreciation of similarities and/or differences between the deterministic and stochastic techniques applied to reservoir management studies.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90990©1993 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, The Hague, Netherlands, October 17-20, 1993.