Summary This paper illustrates how practical application of surveillance and monitoring principles is a key to understanding reservoir performance and identifying opportunities that will improve ultimate oil recovery. Implementation of various principles recommended by industry experts is presented using examples from fields currently in production. Practices in processing valuable information and analyzing data from different perspectives are presented in a methodical way on the following bases: field, block, pattern, and wells. A novel diagnostic plot is presented to assess well performance and identify problem wells for the field. Results from the application of these practices in a pilot area are shared, indicating that the nominal decline rate improved from 33 to 18% per year without any infill drilling. The change in the decline rate is attributed primarily to effective waterflood management with a methodical approach, employing an integrated multifunctional team. Although the suggested techniques can be applied to any oil field undergoing a waterflood, they are of great value to mature waterfloods that involve significant production history. In these cases, prioritization is a key aspect to maintain focus on the opportunities that will add the most value during the final period of the depletion cycle. Case studies illustrating the best surveillance practices are discussed. Introduction Surveillance and monitoring techniques were first discussed in SPE literature in the early 1960s (Kunkel and Bagley 1965). Since then, several highly recognized authors have published related materials (Thakur 1991; Thakur and Satter 1998; Talash 1988; Gulick and McCain 1998; Baker 1997, 1998; SPE Reprint 2003). Industry experts recommend the following valuable principles:The key ingredients of any surveillance program are planning and accurate data collection.To understand reservoir flows and reduce nonuniqueness in interpretations, it is crucial to implement a multilevel surveillance effort.A single technique in isolation is not generally indicative because different parameters can cause similar plot signatures.Controlled waterflooding through the use of pattern balancing requires time and technical efforts —engineering and geological—during the life of the project.Valuable insights into the performance of the waterflood can be gained from individual-well plots such as Hall plots.Surveillance techniques should always be a precursor to in-depth studies, including numerical simulation. A process to consistently evaluate the performance of a reservoir—from field to block to pattern to well level—is discussed with the help of real-life examples. Type plots and maps are used to identify opportunities and promote team discussions to effectively manage a reservoir undergoing waterflood. Production history and basic reservoir characterization serve as primary input variables for the recommended analysis.
TX 75083-3836, U.S.A., fax 01-972-952-9435. AbstractThis paper illustrates how practical application of surveillance and monitoring principles are keys to understanding reservoir performance and identifying opportunities that will improve ultimate oil recovery. Implementation of various principles recommended by industry experts is presented using examples from fields currently in production.Practices on how to process valuable information and analyze data from different perspectives are presented in a methodical way on the following bases: field, block, pattern, and wells. A novel diagnostic plot is presented to assess well performance and identify problem wells for the field.Results from the application of these practices in a pilot area are shared, indicating that the nominal decline rate improved from 33% to 18% per year without any infill drilling. The change in the decline rate is primarily attributed to effective waterflood management with a methodical approach, employing an integrated multi-functional team.Although the suggested techniques can be applied to any oil field undergoing a waterflood, they are of great value to mature waterfloods that involve significant production history. In these cases, prioritization is a key aspect to maintain focus on the opportunities that will add most value during the final period of the depletion cycle. Case studies illustrating the best surveillance practices are discussed.
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