TITLE:
Type Curves Relating Well Spacing and Heterogeneity to Oil Recovery in a Water Flooded Reservoir—A Case Study
AUTHORS:
R. Trabelsi, F. Boukadi, J. Lee, B. Boukadi, A. Seibi, H. Trabelsi
KEYWORDS:
Type Curves, Permeability, Recovery, Well Spacing, Heterogeneity
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.8 No.10,
October
31,
2017
ABSTRACT: The design of an optimum spacing between oil wells entails both reservoir
characterization and economics considerations. High hydrocarbon recovery
requires short distances between wells. However, higher well density leads to a
greater development cost. Accordingly, determination of an optimum well spacing
is primordial in the development of oil fields. As a matter of fact, the
identification of optimum well spacing for heterogeneous sandstone reservoirs
undergoing waterflooding requires extensive analytical and numerical studies.
The intent of this work is therefore to develop type curves as a quick tool in
estimating ultimate recovery and reduce excessive reservoir simulation cost in
analog reservoirs. These type curves utilize reservoir heterogeneity and well
spacing in the estimating of oil recovery. In this work, we investigated
numerically the effects of heterogeneity and well spacing on ultimate recovery
using Eclipse black oil simulation and PEEP economic software 2015 and 2009
versions, respectively. The study involved a 50-ft thick Middle Eastern
reservoir with porosity variability ranging from 0.2 to 0.9. Corresponding
average matrix permeabilities of 1, 10 and 100 md were considered. Type curves
relating well spacing and heterogeneity to ultimate oil recovery were
developed. Type curves and net present value calculations indicated that there
is exists an ultimate well spacing for each of the considered matrix
permeabilities.