3D Reservoir Modeling of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs

Course Description

Reservoir modeling for field development planning is a well-accepted process but its application to fractured reservoirs requires specific considerations that are less commonly known. This course describes a practical methodology for building 3D static (‘geocellular’) reservoir models for naturally fractured reservoirs using standard modeling software, covering such considerations.

The issues addressed include the integration of log, core and seismic data, the process of defining and building the static reservoir model itself and the creation of output in a form appropriate for dynamic modeling using dual porosity reservoir simulators where appropriate. More complex workflows using discrete fracture networks will also be summarized, as will general issues of fracture description, uncertainty- handling and developing and managing fractured reservoirs.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will:

• Be aware of practical workflows for modelling naturally fractured reservoirs using standard industry software;
• Understand the data-gathering requirements and methodology for characterizing fractured reservoirs;
• Appreciate the special distinction of naturally fractured reservoir models compared to standard single-porosity models.

Course Outline

• Origins and distributions of natural fracturing
• Describing and quantifying fractures from well data
• Estimating fracture system characteristics away from wells
• Geological model building workflow for implicit fracture representation
• Brief introduction to discrete fracture networks
• Basic fractured reservoir simulation model construction
• Fractured reservoir development and management considerations

Participants’ Profile

Geoscientists and petroleum engineers newly working in naturally fractured reservoirs where they need to provide or receive output from fractured reservoir models.

Prerequisites

Participants should have and in depth understanding of the oil business and a good understanding of conventional reservoir characterization and modelling techniques. No software will be used interactively during the day and no hands-on modelling experience is therefore required. However, it would be beneficial.

About the Instructor

Dr Tim Wynn is a Reservoir Geologist with 27 years’ experience in reservoir development and reserves evaluation studies with a focus on the geological and geomechanical aspects of naturally fractured reservoir characterisation and modelling. With a PhD in structural geology from Imperial College, London he joined GeoScience Limited in 1994 and spent 6 years working on fractured reservoir characterisation projects for the nuclear and oil industries. He then joined ICE Energy working on wellbore stability problems until the merger of ICE Energy with TRACS International in 2001. During his career, Tim has worked on a wide variety of international consultancy projects and delivered many training courses.

This broad experience over many years has enabled Dr Wynn to understand the key issues for people working in naturally fractured reservoirs including biases in interpretation, inappropriate modelling techniques and understanding potential mitigations during the development and management of naturally fractured reservoirs. Tim is a member of the EAGE, SPE, Geological Society, London and PESGB and has published a number of papers since 1995 on structural geology, naturally fractured reservoirs and geomechanics. He is also a technical peer reviewer for the EAGE and SPE.