Two important challenges during upscaling includes the determination of how many layers is needed and how those layers should be combined in the coarse scale to maintain the dynamic behavior of the fine scale model. CONNECT-UpGrid addresses these issues. The program provides the guide to the user to determine the optimum number of upscaled layers and then gives the appropriate layer combination.
Using main input (perm and poro), and optional input (rock type, rel.perm, and viscosity), UpGrid produces diagnostic plots (Design Factor and Step Error Plot) that will guide the user in selecting the optimum number of layers. The Design Factor shows the benefit of using design vs. proportional method. The Step Error gives the error introduced when two subsequent layers are being combined.
Once the number of upscaled layers is selected by the user, UpGrid will produce Layer Design and Fraction Design, in the form of text file, appropriate for upscaling. This output will be used as the input for PETREL Scale-Up Structure module. Additionally, the layer design is inserted as new data type in PETREL’s input window to be used for CONNECT-Transmod.
Using flow simulation, it can be shown that the design from CONNECT-UpGrid gives better result compared to other upgridding techniques (e.g., variance based method). As a matter of fact, when an optimum number of upscaled layers is selected, CONNECT-UpGrid provides the design that matches the dynamic performance of fine scale model almost perfectly.
CONNECT is an Ocean plug-in that facilitates reservoir description and assessment by providing connectivity between :
CONNECT consists of two plug-ins to design optimum vertical layering, CONNECT-UpGrid, and to preserve geologic connectivity, CONNECT-TransMod, of your fine scale reservoir models. With CONNECT you get 90% accuracy of your fine scale dynamic behavior with 10% of your model size, which translates into 100 times faster flow simulations
Going from geological model with millions of cells to a simulation model requires a careful upscaling of the fine scale grids so that dynamic performance of the geological model is preserved. Using proportional upgridding would result in combining layers which will have different petrophysical properties. CONNECT-UpGrid uses a new algorithm which allows the combination of layers such that the pressure profile at fine scale is preserved. The layers - which have similar pressure distributions - are combined first, and the layers with distinct pressure profiles are isolated. In addition, depending on the mobility ratio, the layering is adjusted. By preserving the dynamic behavior, the resulting upscaled model is able to reproduce the behavior of the fine scale model with 10% of the effort. In addition to combining the layers correctly, the program also is able to provide the guidelines in terms of optimum number of layers needed to preserve the fine scale, dynamic, behavior
To request for an evaluation or to purchase the Perpetual License, please contact Kelkar and Associates, Inc.
ECCN: US origin, EAR99