Waterflood Management Case Study - Goal Change waterflood strategy early in waterflood to maximize recovery:

12 months of waterflood performance

Predicted ultimate waterflood recoveries are only half what was forecast

How do we increase waterflood recovery ?

Waterflood Management – How ? Step 1 - Design optimal waterflood strategy:

History match primary production

Step 2 - Change waterflood strategy continuously in real time to maximize recovery:

Why ?

Primary history match does not normally require understanding vertical/areal heteregenities

How ?

Downhole pressure data + tracer tests + simulator

Waterflood – Tracer versus Pressure Pressure Advantages:

Effect of pressure seen 10 times faster than tracer response

Time is money !

Proposed Waterflood Sweep in UnconformityAfter 650 days of flooding :

Proposed Waterflood Sweep in UpperAfter 650 days of flooding :

Pressure Contour Maps in Both SandsAfter 285 and 650 days of flooding :

Cumulative Production Map in Unconformity

Oil+Water Bubble Map in Upper Sand

Waterflood Results – Correct Perm MapBypassed oil identified before water breakthrough

Areas with water overinjection identified

Waterflood Study Case Study - Results

Downhole pressures/production information was used to:

Generate accurate permeability distribution maps in the model

Discover bypassed oil/overinjection long before breakthrough:

Breakthrough anticipated in 3-96 months

Water injection strategy changed within first 15 months

Waterflood recovery may now be doubled

Overall water injection rates reduced by 30%