Well Placement Optimization Using a Basic Genetic Search Heuristics Algorithm and a Black Oil Simulator

Charles Y Onuh,Bamidele T Arowolo,David Alaigba,Oluwatosin J Rotimi

doi:10.4236/ojogas.2017.24017

Abstract

In petroleum reservoir management, the essence of well placement is to develop and maintain reservoir pressure in order to achieve maximum production for economic benefits. Large production can be achieved with the placement of multiple wells but this approach is capital intensive and inefficient for the development of a reservoir. A preferable option is the optimal placement of production and injection wells so as to fully capitalize on the imbedded hydrocarbons at a relatively decreased capital investment. The aim of this study is to use developed algorithm and a black oil simulator to place wells in the zones for optimal recovery in the reservoir. Optimal production was determined out of eight scenarios created from well placement in a hypothetical reservoir (finch reservoir) using a black oil simulator, alongside an algorithm developed with java for determining the best possible locations for well placement, taking into consideration the reservoir permeability, fluid saturation, and pay zone thickness. The results of this study reveal that well placement using the engineering judgment coupled with the application of the algorithm using a black oil simulator results in better production compared to other scenarios which consider the combined effect of algorithm and black oil simulator alone.

Highlights

IntroductionWell placement can be described as the positioning of production and injection
The results of this study reveal that well placement using the engineering judgment coupled with the application of the algorithm using a black oil simulator results in better production compared to other scenarios which consider the combined effect of algorithm and black oil simulator alone
Following the derivation of the well placement indices for all the cells in the vertical direction in order to guide the selection of various cases, the well spacing is not taken into consideration for cases 1 to 4

Summary

Introduction

Well placement can be described as the positioning of production and injection. Knowledge of this key concept is a necessary requirement to effectively utilize the reservoirs natural pressure; this will ensure optimal drainage of the saturating hydrocarbons [1]. A decision on optimal well location is normally a tedious process which is affected by geologic complexities, engineering limitations and economics. These factors must be properly accounted for to avoid the adverse effect on the general performance of the reservoir and place limit to the recoverable hydrocarbon reserves. In the utilization of quality maps, two approaches are present: the basic quality map approach (BQM) and the modified quality map approach (MQM) [2] [3] [4]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion