1 SPE 10 Case Study Overview

The case used in our study is Model 2 of the Tenth SPE Comparative Solution Project (Christie and
Blunt, 2001). It has a simple geometry, without top structures or faults. The fine geological model is
described on a cartesian grid with over 1 million cells (60x220x85). The dimensions are 1,200 in the xdirection, 2,200 in the y-direction, and 170 in the z-direction.
The model has 4 producer wells, each located in a corner of the reservoir and controlled by bottomhole
flowing pressure (Pwf) of 4,000 psia, and 1 injector well located in the center and controlled by Pwf of
10,000 psia. All wells were perforated vertically along the entire reservoir. The system is single-phase
and incompressible, neglecting the viscosity of the fluid. The porosity and permeability distribution of
the fine model can be illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3.

Fig. 1 Porosity distribution of SPE 10 case.

Fig. 2 Distribution of Kx and Ky of SPE 10 case.

Fig. 3 Distribution of Kz of SPE 10 case.

The model can be divided into two formations (Fig. 4). The top 35 layers represent the Tarbert
Formation, which is a prograding near shore environment. The bottom 50 layers represent the Upper
Ness Formation, which belongs to a fluvial environment (See Appendix A for formation definitions).
Comparing the statistics of the two formations, the mean porosity for the upper part and lower part is
19.08% and 15.64% respectively. More differences can be observed in the permeability distribution
pattern. The upper part has unimodal Kx and Ky distribution (Fig. 5), and the lower part has bimodal Kx
and Ky distribution (Fig. 6).

a) Upper formation

b) Lower formation

Fig. 4 Distribution of Kx and Ky for a) upper formation, and b) lower formation.

Fig. 5 Unimodal distribution of Kx and Ky (Upper formation).

Fig. 6 Bimodal distribution of Kx and Ky (Lower formation).

Overall, the upper part of the model is more homogenous than the lower part. More care should be put
into selecting the appropriate upscaling method for the lower part because it has higher conductivity
contrast and thus more sensitive to the upscaling method used.

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2.1

Appendix
A Geologic Formations