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Production
History and Field Characteristics to
Quantify the Influence of Geologic and Engineering Attributes on Reservoir
Performance in Wyoming Oil Fields
The University of Wyoming's Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute
is studying Wyoming oil fields to better understand past performance in order
to assist operators with (1) predicting future production and (2) improving the
efficiency of their oil production practices. The primary goal of this research
is to quantify the impact that various geologic and engineering attributes have
on field production. Through an advanced statistical approach to the classic
decline-curve analysis of oil field production, the impact of factors such as
reservoir type, porosity, permeability, fracture intensity, drive mechanism and
oil viscosity is being investigated. Initial work is being done on fields in
the Powder River Basin to test and refine the technique. Expected benefits
include the ability to estimate how a reservoir should have performed, based
upon the production performance of its peers. This should allow operators to
identify which of their fields are underperforming
and hence are candidates for additional study to discover the nature of
deleterious factors. Additionally, the statistical analysis should allow the
grouping of fields based upon production
characteristics. EOR scoping models based upon these groups should allow
operators to determine if their reservoirs are potential EOR candidates and
worthy of additional study.