Construction of dynamic, integrated reservoir models requires input on geological structure and architecture, rock and fluid properties and their distribution, and on displacement characteristics. Early in development the limited availability of data usually leads to significant uncertainty in predicted reservoir performance.
The band of uncertainty narrows when additional data allow for further constraining of geological realisations and rock and fluid property distributions. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art on the construction of high quality dynamic reservoir models and the tools available to optimise both reservoir performance prediction and field development planning.
Further improvements in the prediction of reservoir performances are forthcoming. Developments in acquisition of data and emerging techniques for rapid incorporation of new data and upgrading of reservoir models will provide improved starting points for performance predictions. In addition continuous improvement of the quality of reservoir simulation models and reservoir performance predictions is ensured by ongoing and expected developments in the areas of (adaptive) gridding techniques, fast screening of geological realisations, generation of effective static and dynamic properties, modelling of complex wells and displacement processes, and modelling of multiple field developments scenarios.
Discovering hydrocarbons is no guarantee for economic prosperity. The profitability of an oil or gas field will depend crucially on how meticulously one plans its development. A key element from the very outset of that planning is a conceptual model of the hydrocarbon reservoir. The reservoir model provides an estimate of the amount of hydrocarbons that is potentially recoverable under various development schemes and serves as the basis for predicting the return on the huge financial investment that developing the field entails. The quality of these predictions depends critically on the quality of the acquired data and on the incorporation of these data in the construction and upgrading of the reservoir model.
This paper reviews recent developments in the acquisition of data, the construction of high quality dynamic reservoir models and the tools available to optimize both reservoir performance prediction and field development planning. The first part concentrates on the early stage of field development when limited data are available and uncertainty in the predicted reservoir performance is significant. The second part addresses the handling of additional production and seismic data and data from additional (multi-) well tests, monitoring
