Patent ID: 7672825
Filing Date: 2010-03-02
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling production of hydrocarbon fluid from an underground hydrocarbon containing formation by means of a closed loop production control system in which: an assembly of monitoring sensors monitor the flux or other physical properties of hydrocarbon or other fluids within the formation; a plurality of mathematical reservoir models calculate each an estimate of the flux or other physical properties of hydrocarbon and other fluids within the formation; the mathematical reservoir models are each iteratively updated in response to data provided by the assembly of sensors such that any difference between the properties monitored by the assembly of sensors and those calculated by each of the reservoir models is minimized; an optimal mathematical reservoir model or an optimal combination of mathematical reservoir models is selected during at least one updating step for which an averaged difference between the calculated properties and the properties monitored by the assembly of sensors is minimal, and an optimization algorithm controls, on the basis of data provided by the selected optimal mathematical reservoir model or optimal combination of mathematical reservoir models, production control assemblies of a plurality of wells which traverse the hydrocarbon containing formation; wherein a plurality of low order mathematical reservoir models, which are derived from one or more high order mathematical reservoir models by different mathematical reduction techniques, calculate each an estimate of the flux or other physical properties of hydrocarbon or other fluids within the formation; the low order mathematical reservoir models are each iteratively updated in response to data provided by the assembly of sensors such that any difference between the properties monitored by the assembly of sensors and those calculated by each of the low order mathematical reservoir models is minimized; an optimal low order mathematical reservoir model or an optimal combination of low order mathematical reservoir models is selected during at least one updating step for which an averaged difference between the calculated properties and the properties monitored by the assembly of sensors is minimal; and an optimization algorithm optimizes, on the basis of data provided by the selected optimal low order mathematical reservoir model or optimal combination of low order mathematical reservoir models, production control assemblies of a plurality of wells which traverse the formation.