Estimating flow rates from multiple hydrocarbon reservoir layers into a production well

摘要

There is provided a computer-implemented method for estimating flow of fluid into a production well extending into a reservoir comprising fluid, the well comprising a central tubing and an annulus surrounding the central tubing. The annulus is connected to the reservoir so as to receive fluid at one or more inflow locations. The central tubing has at least one inlet, arranged to allow fluid to flow from the annulus into the central tubing, and is located downstream of the one or more inflow locations. The production well further comprises one or more devices arranged to measure a temperature of fluid within the annulus at a plurality of points along the length of the annulus. The method comprises: receiving temperature data from the one or more devices indicative of a temperature of fluid at a plurality of points along the length of the annulus identifying a change in temperature of fluid flowing within the annulus on the basis of the received temperature data at the plurality of points; using a model to estimate heat transfer from the central tubing to fluid flowing within the annulus, said model being configured such that the heat transfer is assumed to be substantially constant along the length of the tubing; and estimating a rate at which fluid flows into the annulus from the reservoir at a first inflow location on the basis of the identified change in temperature between the points and the estimated heat transfer.