Abstract
Currently, conventional reservoir simulators are not able to reproduce the changes inferred upon fundamental properties such as porosity and permeability by the action of the stress field and the deformation associated to geomechanics as the reservoir is being depleted. The prediction of the impact of these variables in surface facilities and the integrity of wells is also important. Hence, in many cases it is required to couple the effect of geomechanics in numerical reservoir simulation in order to have a more realistic response on the behavior of the reservoir and more accurate predictions. The coupling between the numerical simulation and reservoir geomechanics can be reached by considering the interaction between the main equations governing fluid flow in porous media, the fundamental equations of rock mechanics and the constitutive laws that describe the deformation of rocks in response to an applied stress in a given time. In this paper the evolution and development of the coupled simulation technology are analyzed through the study of 132 available publications, which include dissertations, reports and articles. This paper also describes the main fields of application of this technology, comprising compaction, subsidence, naturally fractured reservoirs, steam assisted gravity drainage, water injection, steam injection, sanding, hydraulic fracturing, fault recovery and pressure testing, among others. Furthermore, a conceptual numerical simulation example with reservoir features of the Orinoco Oil Belt is presented.
Based on the documented experiences, a generic methodology for the implementation of coupled simulations is presented. A description of the historical evolution of the major mathematical developments in this area is shown and, a ranking of the different coupling techniques in studies of behavior and development of reservoirs focused on solving real problems is performed. The ultimate purpose of this study is to establish a technical base criterion that may be used as a guide to apply this technology in reservoir studies.