UNIVERSITY OF

BAMENDA
Department of Geology, Mining and Environmental Sciences

RESERVOIR STUDIES (GLYS7114)

RESERVOIR SIMULATION
PART TWO

By
AGBOR TAKU JUNIOR
(UBa19SP136)
PhD. Petroleum Geosciences Candidate

JUNE 2020
Outline
■ RESERVOIR SIMULATION MODELS
 The purpose of simulation models
■ Simulation Model Designing
 Formulation
 Discretization
 Linearization
 Validation
■ Reservoir simulation elements
 Geological description:
 Fluid Type
 Reservoir depletion mechanism
■ CLASSES OF RESERVOIR SIMULATION MODELS:
 Static model
 Dynamic model
RESERVOIR SIMULATION MODELS

 The purpose of simulation models

1. To estimate field performance

2. For the development an operational planning
3. For visualisation
4. For volumetric calculation
5. For well planning
6. To generate data for Probabilistic models
7. To generate input to seismic modelling
Simulation Model Designing
Designing a simulation model follows the steps below;

1. Formulation: The basic assumptions inherent to the simulator has to be outlined, stated in precise
mathematical terms and applied to a control volume in the reservoir. The result is a set of coupled,
nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) that describes fluid flow through porous media.
Since the PDEs cant be solved analytically, they need to be discretized.

2. Discretization: It is the process of converting PDEs into algebraic equations.

Several numerical
methods can be used to discretize the PDEs; however, the most common approach in the oil
industry today is the finite difference method. The discretization process results in a system of
nonlinear algebraic equations.

3. Linearization: It involves approximating nonlinear terms (transmissibilities, production and injection,

and coefficients of unknowns in the accumulation terms) in both space and time. Linearization
results in a set of linear algebraic equations. Any one of several linear equation solvers can then be
used to obtain the solution, which comprises pressure and fluid saturation distributions in the
reservoir and well flow rates.

4. Validation: This involves testing the numerical code to make sure that no errors were introduced in the
various steps of development or in computer programming.
Reservoir simulation elements
1) Geological description: The description of geological properties of a reservoir (lithology, porosity,
permeability)

2) Fluid Type: This can be obtained using the Black oil / Compositional models
3) Reservoir depletion (drive) mechanism

It is worth nothing that all the components of reservoir simulation model show both probabilistic
and deterministic properties.

Table 1: Differentiating deterministic and probabilistic components

Deterministic
All necessary data is known before
Can tell exactly what is going to happen, once the system
starts.
Example. Conversion between ft and meter is deterministic
The process of calculating the output is deterministic
process
Probabilistic
Element of chance is involved
Don’t see exactly when it will
occur, but the possibility is known
Example. Roll a die until it comes up ‘3’.
Know that in each roll, a ‘3’ will come up with
probability 1/6.
CLASSES OF RESERVOIR SIMULATION MODELS

1) Static model: The static or steady state models are time- invariant. That is, time has little impact in
the system. It involves Geocellular modelling which is the process of generating a model of the
subsurface and the physical properties of the reservoir are stored at the grid point.

Steps in developing static model

a) Define a proper GRID

The aim of gridding in reservoir simulation is to turn the geological

model of the field into a discrete system for which the fluid flow
equation can be solved. Common grid co-ordinate system include the
Cartesian and cylindrical. To divide or discretize geological model
into divisions of ΔX, ΔY, ΔZ, the reservoir is broken down “Shup-up”
into block and then modelled block by block. When time is
subdivided into divisions of Δt, it is known as temporal discretisation.
CLASSES OF RESERVOIR SIMULATION MODELS (Cont’d)

a) Rock Property modelling

 Structure modelling
 Stratigraphic modelling
 Lithological modelling
 Petrophysical modelling

Given that rock properties are

generally stochastic and difficulty to
measure directly, it is common to use
geostatical methods to make
realisation of permeability, porosity
and water saturation.
CLASSES OF RESERVOIR SIMULATION MODELS (Cont’d)
2) Dynamic model: Dynamic modelling is usually carried out at the end of static modelling. It is
developed and validated using production data and well test. This model is used principally for forecasting
and field development planning.