CSM/PI Integrated Carbonate Reservoir Studies

Project Title
Characterization and Simulation of Abu Dhabi Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs

Objective
Evaluate various options to improve oil recovery beyond primary production and waterflood. The potential options include gas injection (DDP) and surfactant- augmented waterflood.

Main Researchers

• CSM: Kazemi
• PI: Ghedan

Primary students: Ali Al-Sumaiti, Baharak Barzegar Alamdari

Thesis Title for Mr. Al-Sumaiti
“Experimental and Numerical Modeling of Double Displacement Oil Recovery in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs”

Thesis Title for Ms. Alamdari
“Viability of Matrix-Fracture Transfer Functions for Dilute Surfactant-Augmented Waterflooding in Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs”

Deliverables
Determine critical flow characteristics of Abu Dhabi fractured carbonate reservoirs to be used to recommend the best approach for improving the long-term hydrocarbon recovery of Abu Dhabi carbonate fields -- especially Thamama reservoirs.

Provide guidelines to upscale reservoir recovery processes from laboratory experimental results to field scale. In addition, provide guidelines to upscale from the geocellular model grid to the larger flow simulation grid without altering reservoir architecture, flow channels, and physics of flow.

Results from experiments explained briefly above give valuable information on:

Estimating the field scale recovery from carbonate fractured reservoir before and after waterflood.

Effect of using surfactant in enhancing the oil recovery from carbonate fractured reservoir.

Fracture role in improving the recovery by comparing the base cores with fractured cores and studying the transfer function.

Rock-fluid behavior of the carbonates.

Since the relative permeability can be obtained both from recovery data in flooding test and centrifuge test, data can be compared for further validation.

All the information can be used as input data for simulation purposes.

Project Title
Fluid Sensitivity of Seismic Properties in Carbonate Reservoirs

Objective
Characterize seismic attributes predictive of porosity, permeability, and saturation changes in carbonate reservoirs from Abu Dhabi; develop an understanding of fluid sensitivity; and create a site-specific data base for predictive 4D models

Main Researchers

• CSM – Batzle, Prasad
• PI – Vega

Primary graduate student (PhD) – Ravi Sharma

M.S. Thesis Title for Mr. Sharma
“Sensitivity of Elastic Properties and Flow Characteristics in Carbonate Rocks to Heterogeneity in Fabric and Fluid Saturation”

Project Title
Selection and Optimization of Miscible and Immiscible Displacement to Improve Production from Fractured, Carbonate Reservoirs of Abu Dhabi

Objective
Obtain appropriate PVT data pertaining to CO2 improved oil recovery for the Thamama 1A formation. Use commercial compositional simulator(s) to predict CO2 oil recovery potential. Develop a research compositional simulator based on the latest understanding of physics of CO2 miscible displacement. Refine the predictions of the models using the commercial simulator(s).

Main Researchers

• CSM: Kazemi
• PI: Ghedan

Primary student: Jeff Brown

Thesis Title
“A Practical Compositional Simulation Model for CO2 Flooding”

Deliverables
IOR and EOR guidelines and critical properties of Abu Dhabi fractured carbonate reservoirs for improved and enhanced hydrocarbon recovery.

Optimum scale of the commercial simulation grid to capture the physics of fluid flow in Abu Dhabi fractured carbonate reservoirs.

Project Title
Integrated Carbonate Reservoir Characterization

Objective
Numerically characterize carbonate reservoirs in 3-D space, and improve our ability to predict effective reservoir flow units (i.e., compartments), and reservoir connectivity (i.e., connectors), and the dynamic fluid flow within them (Figure 1). We would like to develop an integrated geosciences-engineering work flow that will utilize a new generation of numerical simulation tools, and an array of geoscience, engineering and completion technologies. Deliverables from this project will include joint CSM/PI publications, trained experts in PI and ADNOC, and carbonate reservoir workshops held in Abu Dhabi.

Main Researchers

• CSM – Sarg
• PI – Lokier, Steuber
• CSM Ph.D. graduate student – T. Dawn Jobe;
• PI Ms. graduate student – Mohammed Eid Al Suwaidi, to begin study in January, 2011.

Project Title
Imaging two-phase flow and hydrofracturing in carbonate rocks by looking at the joint inversion of passive seismic and electrical signals

Objective
Our goal is to be able to image the migration of oil in carbonate reservoirs by the use of passive seismic and electrical methods. The migration of oil during the production of a reervoir generates microearthquakes, which in turn can generate non only seismic waves but also electromagnetic disturbances that can be used with the seismic information to determine the moment tensor, extent, and localization of these events. We propose a new cross-hole imaging approach based on seismoelectric conversions associated with the transmission of seismic waves from seismic sources located in a borehole to receivers (electrodes) located in a second borehole. These new technologies could be a breakthrough to optimize the production of oil in carbonate reservoirs.

Main Researchers

• CSM: Revil
• PI: Vega

Primary student: Harry Mahardika

Thesis Title
To Be Determined