Accounting of geomechanical layer properties in multi-layer oil field development

Abstract

Amid the ever-increasing urgency to develop oil fields with complex mining and geological conditions and low-efficiency reservoirs, in the process of structurally complex reservoir exploitation a number of problems arise, which are associated with the impact of layer fractures on filtration processes, significant heterogeneity of the structure, variability of stress-strain states of the rock mass, etc. Hence an important task in production engineering of such fields is a comprehensive accounting of their complex geology. In order to solve such problems, the authors suggest a methodological approach, which provides for a more reliable forecast of changes in reservoir pressure when constructing a geological and hydrodynamic model of a multi-layer field. Another relevant issue in the forecasting of performance parameters is accounting of rock compressibility and its impact on absolute permeability, which is the main factor defining the law of fluid filtration in the productive layer.
 The paper contains analysis of complex geology of a multi-layer formation at the Alpha field, results of compression test for 178 standard core samples, obtained dependencies between compressibility factor and porosity of each layer. By means of multiple regression, dependencies between permeability and a range of parameters (porosity, density, calcite and dolomite content, compressibility) were obtained, which allowed to take into account the impact of secondary processes on the formation of absolute permeability. At the final stage, efficiency of the proposed methodological approach for construction of a geological and hydrodynamic model of an oil field was assessed. An enhancement in the quality of well-by-well adaptation of main performance parameters, as well as an improvement in predictive ability of the adjusted model, was identified.

Facilities Construction Engineering for the Avaldsnes Section of the Johan Sverdrup Field in the North Sea

“…According to exploration wells, the average depth of the Intra Draupne sandstone ranges from 1900 m to 1930 m. The estimated number of wells is determined based on the experience of developing other sections of the Johan Sverdrup field and it is equal to 18. According to the hydrodynamic modeling in the Tempest software package with a staggered grid of horizontal wells, the following data were obtained [22][23][24]: The water masses of the North Sea are characterized by a mixture of Atlantic, Baltic and river waters. The main flow of water enters the sea from the northwest-between the Shetland Islands and Scandinavia, as well as between the Shetland and Orkney Islands.…”

Experience in the Application of Hydrocarbon Optical Studies in Oil Field Development

“…Operational control of drilling processes [18] and well operation [19] with the use of machine learning elements reduces both technological and economic risks. In the final analysis, data from the monitoring of the development of the oil field at various stages of its development are used to refine geological and hydrodynamic models of oil deposits [20] and with the possibility of identifying areas of unprocessed oil reserves [21], prediction of reservoir productivity with regard to its anisotropy [22]. Geophysical, hydrodynamic and geochemical studies are the main methods of hydrocarbon field development control [23].…”

“…The geochemical method for monitoring the development of oil fields relates to the photocolorimetry method (optical method), which, for example, determines the water and oil content of the extracted products and wastewater [20,24]. It is also possible to determine the hydrodynamic bond, saturation and depth of the fluid contacts by estimating the optical density of hydrocarbons in the formation conditions with the aid of the MDT system [25].…”

Development of a Method for Improving the Energy Efficiency of Oil Production with an Electrical Submersible Pump

“…Currently, most oil and gas fields have reached the late stages of development [1]. Oil production at such fields is characterized by a constant or declining dynamics of oil production, an increase in the water cut of well production, and an increase in the number of factors that complicate the processes of oil production and transportation [2].…”