Feedback Controllers for the Simulation of Field Processes

Abstract

Abstract Control systems with feedback controllers are useful in reservoir simulation as they enable the maintenance of desired operating conditions of a field. This in turn helps establish the value of implementing automated mechanisms in the field, and also in determining long term field operating strategies. A generic controller framework is constructed within a reservoir simulator that enables the usage of different kinds of controller algorithms for managing a variety of field processes. In this study, three field processes are considered. First, average pressure within a reservoir region is maintained by adjusting the voidage replacement ratio between a group of injectors and producers. Second, control systems are used for the prevention of gas/water coning for single and multiple wells. Finally, the average temperature within a reservoir region is maintained at a critical value by controlling flow into the formation, so as to operate with the desired mobility of heavy-oil. Traditional Proportional, Integral, Derivative (PID) controllers, as well as linear and nonlinear fuzzy controllers are considered. The advantages and disadvantages of the approaches are discussed. Tuning control systems is a difficult process in practice. Several methods for tuning the parameters of these controllers are investigated, and rule-of-thumb values are suggested in this study. Synthetic and real reservoir models are used.