Refining Permeability Values for History-Matching of the Reservoir Simulation Model

Abstract

Reservoir simulation models are used to design oil field developments, estimate efficiency of geological and engineering operations and perform prediction calculations of long-term development performances. A method has been developed to adjust the permeability cube values during reservoir model history-matching subject to the corederived dependence between rock petrophysical properties. The method was implemented using an example of the Bobrikovian formation (terrigenous reservoir) deposit of a field in the Solikamskian depression. A statistical analysis of the Bobrikovian formation porosity and permeability properties was conducted following the well logging results interpretation and reservoir modelling data. We analysed differences between the initial permeability obtained after upscaling the geological model and permeability obtained after the reservoir model history-matching. The analysis revealed divergences between the statistical characteristics of the permeability values based on the well logging data interpretation and the reservoir model, as well as substantial differences between the adjusted and initial permeability cubes. It was established that the initial permeability was significantly modified by manual adjustments in the process of history-matching. Extreme permeability values were defined and corrected based on the core-derived petrophysical dependence KPR = f(KP) , subject to ranges of porosity and permeability ratios. By using the modified permeability cube, calculations were performed to reproduce the formation production history. According to the calculation results, we achieved convergence with the actual data, while deviations were in line with the accuracy requirements to the model history-matching. Thus, this method of the permeability cube adjustment following the manual history-matching will save from the gross overestimation or underestimation of permeability in reservoir model cells.