A new and improved heterogeneity index is introduced that uses the shear-strain rate of the single phase velocity field to characterise heterogeneity in terms of its impact on performance. This index's ability to rank heterogeneous reservoir models is compared with that of the Dykstra-Parsons coefficient and the dynamic Lorenz coefficient. The new index is able to rank reservoirs, both accurately and quickly, based on performance for both miscible and immiscible fluids at a range of different mobility ratios. In contrast both the Dykstra-Parsons coefficient and the dynamic Lorenz coefficient are found to lack the sensitivity needed to be able to estimate the time to breakthrough of the displacing fluid and the recovery of oil at one pore volume injected.

Keywords:
dykstra-parson coefficient, reservoir simulation, enhanced recovery, heterogeneity index, velocity field, permeability heterogeneity, breakthrough time, coefficient, muggeridge, well pattern
Subjects:
Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Improved and Enhanced Recovery, Reservoir Simulation, Flow in porous media
Copyright 2010, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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