Landmark Graphics Corporation

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Sheldon Burt Gorell

Amit Kumar

Alvin Stanley Cullick

Priyesh Ranjan

Gustavo Carvajal

Hatem N Nasr

Luigi Saputelli

Hasnain A Khan

Karelis Alejandra Urrutia

Ronald Glen Dusterhoft

Kenneth E Williams

Systems and methods for subsurface secondary and/or tertiary oil recovery optimization based on either a short term, medium term or long term optimization analysis of selected zones, wells, patterns/clusters and/or fields.

Systems and methods for subsurface oil recovery optimization

A method of solving a optimization problem is described. The method includes creating an initial model having a plurality of wells, each well being associated with a parameter and dividing the well field into first and second regions, the first region including a first subset of the plurality of wells and the second region including a second subset of the plurality of wells. The method also includes solving for the parameters associated with the wells in the first subset to get a first set of values while holding constant the parameters associated with the wells in the second subset, setting the parameters associated with the wells in the first subset to the first set of values, and solving for the parameters associated with the wells in the second subset to get a second set of values while holding constant the parameters associated with the wells in the first subset.

System and method for reservoir simulation optimization

System and method for implementing a reservoir simulation system are described. One embodiment is a computer-implemented method of coarsening a fine grid including a plurality of fine gridblocks, the fine grid representing a geological model having at least one discontinuity therein. The method comprises grouping a number of fine gridblocks together to form coarse gridblocks, wherein at least one of the coarse gridblocks is a nonstandard-shaped gridblock; and calculating a transmissibility for each pair of adjacent coarse gridblocks in which at least one gridblock of the coarse gridblock pair is a nonstandard-shaped gridblock. The calculating comprises calculating a transmissibility for each pair of adjacent fine gridblocks; mapping each of the fine gridblock pairs to a coarse gridblock pair; and for each gridblock pair, summing the transmissiblities of the fine gridblock pairs mapped thereto.

System and method for coarsening in reservoir simulation system

A computer system records a plurality of cases. Each case is used with a software system. The version of the software system is the same for each case. Each case includes a set of input data. Each case includes an identification of a parent case from which input data in the case was copied unless the case is an original case. The identification of the parent case creates a parent/child relationship between the case and the parent case. The computer system creates a hierarchy of the parent/child relationships among the plurality of cases. The computer system displays a subset of the plurality of cases in response to a search of the plurality of cases. A smaller subset of the plurality of cases is selected as a chosen model for an environment in which an activity is to be performed.

Managing versions of cases

A system and method of automatic local grid refinements in reservoir simulation systems is described. In one aspect of the disclosure, a method is directed to a computer-implemented method of modeling a formation. The method includes applying a coarse grid to a geologic formation of interest, the coarse grid having a plurality of coarse grid blocks and identifying a structure of interest disposed in the formation. Further, the method includes determining a fine grid zone around the structure based upon a time period for flow simulation of the geologic formation and a geologic characteristic of the geologic formation in a local region adjacent the structure and applying a fine grid to the coarse grid blocks encompassed by the fine grid zone.

System and method for automatic local grid refinement in reservoir simulation systems

Plotting correlated data. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: displaying on a display system of a computer system a two-dimensional plot of output data related to an earth formation, the output data estimated from a model of the earth formation, and the volume plotted relative to modeled time; placing a cursor shown on the display system over a first portion of the two-dimensional plot, the first portion corresponding to a first modeled time; and displaying on the display system a three-dimensional plot of respective values of a parameter from a plurality of cells of the model of the earth formation, the respective values at the first modeled time.

Method and system of plotting correlated data

Modeling hydrocarbon flow, from layered shale formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modeling movement of hydrocarbons through kerogen-related porosity, the movement through a first model volume; estimating a first permeability of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation based on the modeling; and modeling hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation. The modeling hydrocarbon production may include: utilizing the first permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation; and utilizing a second permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation, the second permeability different than the first permeability. In various cases the modeling of hydrocarbon production is with respect to a second model volume greater than the first model volume.

Methods and systems of modeling hydrocarbon flow from layered shale formations

Modeling hydrocarbon flow from kerogens in a hydrocarbon bearing formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including modeling flow of hydrocarbons through a hydrocarbon bearing formation by: obtaining an indication of kerogen-wet porosity of kerogen within a portion of the formation; obtaining an indication of water-wet porosity within the portion of the formation; modeling hydrocarbon movement through the kerogen-wet porosity; and modeling hydrocarbon movement through the water-wet porosity.

Methods and systems of modeling hydrocarbon flow from kerogens in a hydrocarbon bearing formation

Updating a geocellular model. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modifying a geocellular model of an earth formation based on an actual datum from an actual borehole, the modifying by: selecting a plurality of cells to be removed from the geocellular model; interpolating to determine a new surface using data associated with cells to be removed, data associated with cells not selected for removal, and the actual datum from the actual borehole; and calculating data associated with new cells that replace the cells to be removed, the new cells with locations relative to the new surface.

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

Sheldon Burt Gorell