The dynamic nature of oil and gas reservoirs are better understood when relevant data acquired or generated throughout the life of the reservoir are integrated, visualized, and analyzed collaboratively by reservoir teams. By combining static and dynamic reservoir data, an integrated method of reservoir modeling offers a very effective means of achieving greater reservoir modeling accuracy.
However, one of the greatest challenges in achieving this goal is the integration of both static and dynamic reservoir data. Consider several examples of the variety of static and dynamic datasets that individually quantify one or more characteristics of a reservoir.
Static Data |
Dynamic Data |
| Seismic surveys | Well tests |
| Geologic models | Fluid levels |
| Petrophysical data | Production history |
| Reservoir simulation models | Tracer data |
| Well logs | Geomechanical models |
These and many other types of subsurface data are generated or acquired by a variety of software applications from vendors such as Schlumberger and Halliburton. These applications are the de facto tools of geologists, geophysicists, reservoir engineers, well planners, drilling engineers, and operations personnel. With these software applications, individual team members explore, model and analyze their discipline-specific data to gain a better understanding of the reservoir. The maximum value of these data is only realized when they are integrated to create a more detailed reservoir model, which may present a formidable integration challenge.
Solving the Problem of Integrating Static and Dynamic Reservoir Data
The CoViz 4D data registry solves the problem of integrating relevant static and dynamic reservoir datasets that individually characterize reservoir attributes. A data registry:
- provides a means for individuals in the reservoir team to easily load and access their data (if using CoViz 4D, this is easily done via drag and drop to the data registry);
- automatically imports and translates the various dataset and file types into a format that allows the data to be integrated, visualized, and analyzed; and
- allows reservoir teams to access datasets generated by the discipline-specific software applications without needing to know how to use or run the additional software.
A data registry makes it easy to integrate and access vital subsurface datasets. Once the relevant static and dynamic reservoir data have been registered, reservoir management teams can then use powerful visualization and analytic software to further improve the understanding of their reservoir.
CoViz 4D Facilitates Greater Efficiency and Accuracy in Reservoir Modeling
CoViz 4D from Dynamic Graphics, Inc. is the industry-leading software that gives reservoir teams the ability tovisualize and analyze a wide range of data to gain a better understanding of the changing response of a reservoir over time. Using the data registry, CoViz 4D easily combines and visualizes a wide range of static and dynamic reservoir data, including seismic volumes and attributes, reservoir simulations, well logs, fluid production, and monitoring data. Ease of access to relevant data and the ability to visualize and analyze specific data in the context of other subsurface data improves the efficiency and accuracy of reservoir models.
Management teams can apply a wide range of visualization techniques, analytic tools, and utilities available in CoViz 4D to collaboratively evaluate and interpret integrated reservoir data. The insights that can be gained using these techniques for management teams include:
- depict a geocellular grid, including seismic volume, geologic model, wellpaths, and well logs;
- highlight fault locations between cells and evaluate the influences of faults on flows
- evaluate transmissibility factors across boundaries;
- detect non-neighbor connections relative to faults and non-stratigraphic boundaries;
- determine reservoir flow patterns relative to particular cells;
- easily identify anomalies, such as a well located outside of a reservoir simulation grid; and
- compare wells and cross-correlate factors to learn how similar or disparate attributes affect performance.
Visualize Reservoir Evolution Over Time
CoViz 4D also enables reservoir teams to evaluate reservoir evolution over time by viewing snapshots or time sequence animations (4D) using relevant static and dynamic reservoir data. Visualizing reservoir evolution over time allows reservoir teams to see how decisions have affected reservoir performance. Based on that insight, teams can propose strategies to optimize the recovery of remaining hydrocarbons.
Efficiently Evaluate Simulation Parameters to Determine the Best Model
To improve the accuracy of reservoir models, CoViz 4D allows reservoir engineers to iteratively modify reservoir simulation parameters, visualize and evaluate the results, and select the model that best characterizes current reservoir performance. CoViz 4D workflows manage the iterative modifications and visualizations of reservoir simulations. Teams using Python and/or Jupyter Notebook have the option of creating customized scripts to manage the evaluation of multiple simulation models. Workflows and scripting facilitate faster evaluation of parameters, allowing reservoir teams to significantly reduce the time it takes to determine the best model.
To improve the accuracy of reservoir models, CoViz 4D allows reservoir engineers to iteratively modify reservoir simulation parameters, visualize and evaluate the results, and select the model that best characterizes current reservoir performance.
Integrate, Visualize, and Analyze to Create Accurate Reservoir Models
When data are integrated, visualized, and analyzed to explore the complex interrelationships among subsurface structures, attributes, and historical performance, management teams achieve a more accurate understanding of reservoir performance. The ability to easily integrate relevant static and dynamic reservoir data facilitates faster development of more accurate reservoir models that can guide operational decisions to maximize recovery going forward.
