Upscaling, Gridding, and Simulation Using Streamtubes

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative upscaling methodology based on the semi-analytical simulator developed in the first part. The methodology generates a coarse grid based on streamtubes and isobars, whose upscaled properties are accurately calculated using the properties of each streamtube that constitutes the coarse block. Beyond the calculation of upscaled static properties of the grid, the methodology also calculates upscaled relative permeability curves, or pseudoflinctions, using the semi-analytical streamtube method to perform this without requiring any significant additional time. Tests showed that the results from the streamtube coarse grid had an excellent agreement with the fine grid solution. In contrast, simulations with a coarse grid upscaled with conventional techniques failed in many situations. Although this upscaling methodology is heavily based on a fixed streamtube simulaflon method, it provided good results even for situations in which this streamtube simulator is not supposed to work, such as displacements with favorable mobility ratios, and for problems with gravity and compressibility. P. 361

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