How the Visualization of Oil and Gas Production Data Enhances Field Development and Reservoir Management

Oil rigs against a golden sky.

Reservoir engineers build simulation models based on geological models, well logs, seismic data, oil and gas production data, and with a good dose of intuition. Engineers iterate the model building process to generate models that best match the production history, often generating an ensemble of models, each with certain variations, to better understand the uncertainty. A thorough comprehension of the production data and its integration with other data helps reservoir engineers develop more accurate and useful reservoir simulation models. The better the models match actual reservoir conditions, the better the predictions of future production. The reservoir simulation model, in conjunction with other available data and models, provides the backbone for effective field development.

Data Integration

Proper data integration grows more crucial as oil fields mature and changing field conditions must be understood. With so many data sources at play, the management and surveillance process can be a cumbersome endeavor; inaccurate reservoir models can result in costly mistakes from improperly predicted production volumes and/or unnecessary operations.

Mature fields often have massive, disparate datasets that are nearly impossible to fully interrogate and cross-correlate manually. Most discipline-specific software packages cannot integrate data from other software packages, leading to co-visualization challenges and a lack of understanding of detailed field relationships. DGI’s CoViz 4D can merge many data types seamlessly and has the capability to visualize them in 3D or 4D. The software provides new ways for users to visualize and analyze traditional data to obtain detailed and precise 3D visualizations of fields and reservoir characteristics. Using enhanced 3D visualization and 4D temporal animation, CoViz 4D offers a complete view of the field at any stage and its associated data including:

  • Seismic volumes (including time-lapse)
  • Seismic attributes
  • Well data
  • Drilling hazards
  • Production data (cumulative and instantaneous)
  • Geologic models
  • Property models
  • Reservoir simulation models

The true data integration within CoViz 4D provides reservoir engineers and geoscientists with a collaborative environment that solves some of the industry’s toughest field challenges. This integration enhances workflows and reduces manual hours devoted to analysis—highlighting the most pertinent pieces of information to foster better decision-making.

Production Visualization and Field Development

Proper geospatial 3D/4D visualization of production variability within a reservoir is critical to effective planning of a field’s development. With 3D and 4D visualization of production data in DGI’s CoViz 4D it is possible to identify areas of good or poor production and to cross-correlate the production data with the geologic models, seismic data, completion information, and well locations. The ability to co-visualize available data helps reservoir engineers and geoscientists understand the most likely reason(s) for the variability in production from existing wells. This process results in a multidisciplinary interpretation of all the data and significantly helps in the determination of the best, and lowest risk, locations for future development wells.

Once the areas of the highest production potential are determined, additional development wells can be targeted and planned using DGI’s WellArchitect software. WellArchitect offers advanced well planning using straightforward spreadsheets and the ability to visualize designed well trajectories in 3D with an associated Earth model (and other data) to easily foresee potential collision or geologic hazard problems. It also has the ability to monitor wells being drilled and pre-predict wellpaths and target interceptions.

Oil and Gas Production Data with CoViz 4D

CoViz 4D integrates production data with other datasets, breaking down the barriers between different disciplines and making it easy for reservoir engineers and geologists to seamlessly integrate their unique datasets and truly collaborate in a single visual environment.
When it comes to analysis, oil and gas production data are incomplete without relevant supporting data from all of the contributing disciplines. This is especially true for mature fields which often have abundant data in different formats and from multiple sources. CoViz 4D helps operators integrate and understand their complex datasets in order to make better and faster reservoir management decisions.

CoViz 4D, a data visualization analytics software from Dynamic Graphics, Inc., provides the necessary visualization tools that combine production data with other datasets, providing a clearer understanding of surface and subsurface conditions. It can consolidate complex data forms into a single viewing hub for team members to comprehend easily. To learn more about CoViz 4D, contact our team.

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