Integrated Asset Modeling Through Optimization of Multiple Reservoirs Using Next-Generation Reservoir Simulators

摘要

Integrated asset modeling (IAM) offers the oil industry several benefits. Next-generation reservoirrnsimulators help achieve faster runtimes, offer insight into interaction between various components of arndevelopment, and can be used as an effective tool in detecting bottlenecks in a production system as wellrnas a constant and more effective communication tool between various departments. IAM providesrnsignificant opportunities for the optimization of very large or complex infrastructures and life-of-fieldrnanalyses of production optimization scenarios.rnSimultaneous modeling of surface and subsurface components helps reduce time and enhancesrnefficiency during the decision-making process, which eliminates the requirement for tedious, timeconsumingrnwork and iterations between separate solutions of reservoir and surface networks. Beyond thisrnconvenience, this technology makes it possible to reach more robust results more quickly using surfacesubsurfacerncoupling. The objective of this study is to outline the advantages and the challenges in usingrnnext-generation simulators for the simulation of multiple reservoirs in integrated asset management.rnSimultaneous simulation of multiple reservoirs adds another dimension of complexity to the process ofrnintegrated asset modeling. Several sub-reservoir models can be simulated simultaneously in large fieldsrncomprising sub-reservoirs with complex surface systems, which could otherwise become very tedious tornhandle. In this study, a next-generation reservoir simulator is coupled with an optimization and uncertaintyrntool that is used to optimize the net present value of the entire asset. Several constraints and bottlenecksrnin such a large system exist all connected to one another. IAM proves useful in debottlenecking to increasernthe efficiency of the total system. The strengths and difficulties associated with simultaneous simulationrnand optimization of multiple reservoirs are compared to the more conventional way of simulating thernassets separately, thus illustrating the benefits of using next-generation reservoir simulators during thernoptimization of multiple reservoirs.rnThe results show that a simultaneous solution of the surface-subsurface coupling gives significantlyrnfaster results than that of a system that consists of separate solutions for surface and subsurface. The speedrndifference becomes more significant when the number of reservoirs simulated is greater than one. Thisrnstudy outlines the workflow in setting up the model, the CPU time for each component of the simulation,rnand the explanation of each important item in this process to illustrate the incremental benefits of the usernof next-generation reservoir simulators in simulating multiple reservoirs with surface facilities taken intornaccount.rnAlthough the use of next-generation simulators is becoming more common, solid examples thatrnillustrate the benefits of simultaneous simulation of multiple reservoirs with surface facilities underrnseveral different constraints, like this study, are important to prove the use of such tools to carry out thernoptimization in a system that handles decision parameters and constraints simultaneously.