Semester
Summer
Date of Graduation
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources
Department
Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Committee Chair
Shahab D Mohaghegh
Abstract
Rock typing is an essential part of building geologic model for an asset. Millions of dollars are invested in logs, core measurements, SCAL studies, and geological interpretation that result in definition of different rock types. Rock types overlap and do not have crisp boundaries.;Upon definition of rock types for a series of geological formations geoscientists use approximation of multiple and overlapping rock types to identify a dominant rock type for any grid block in a reservoir simulation model. This defeats the original purpose of performing detail geological, petrophysical studies as far as reservoir flow models are concerned.;The objective of this study is to develop a new and novel methodology based on performing "fuzzy rock typing". Fuzzy rock typing refers to application of fuzzy set theory to the part of reservoir characterization that is concerned with rock type determination. Fuzzy set theory is applied in order to take into account the inherent uncertainties and vagueness associated with rock typing in hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs.;In this work, a numerical simulator has been used as the control environment in order to set up multiple studies that would demonstrate the differences between using conventional (current practices) approach of implementation of geologic models in the reservoir flow simulation studies and the new approach that is the subject of this study. By using the numerical reservoir simulator as the control environment it is intended to study the complexities that exist in upscaling the high resolution geological model using two different approaches.;The high resolution geological model used in its entirety and the flow simulation is performed. The results (production profiles) are compared to first, the upscaled model using conventional (current) practices and then the upscaled model using the proposed technique. The results are analyzed in order to demonstrate the difference between the two techniques and the advantages and disadvantages of each have been identified.
Recommended Citation
Gholami, Vida, "Fuzzy rock typing: Enhancing reservoir simulation and modeling by honoring high resolution geological models" (2009). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4468.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4468