Data-Analytics-Driven Sectorization Review Enables Efficient Reservoir Management
Authors: Carpenter Chris 
Published: October 2024

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This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 216359, “Data-Analytics-Driven Subsurface Reservoir Sectorization Review of a Giant Abu Dhabi Onshore Field Carbonate Reservoir for Efficient Reservoir Management,” by Khalid Javid, Sara Alshkeili, and Fatema Al-Hammadi, ADNOC, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

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The complete paper discusses an approach used to sectorize a mature onshore Abu Dhabi giant carbonate reservoir for the purposes of reservoir management, offtake, and injection balancing. The reservoir is developed under a line-drive water-alternating-gas (WAG) scheme in combination with peripheral water injection. The development plan for the reservoir includes massive deployment of maximum reservoir contact (MRC) horizontal wells and a gas-based enhanced oil recovery scheme. A practical data-driven approach, based on one of the operator’s integrated reservoir management (IRM) workflows, was selected for the purpose of sectorization.

Field Development Background

Reservoir A is part of a giant oil field considered low permeability. Its porosity ranges between 13 and 26%, while permeability increases from 1 md on the flanks to 50 md in the crest of the structure. Production began 30 years ago, and the development scheme has undergone several transformations since. Currently, it is being developed under mid-flank line-drive waterflooding combined with crestal WAG and peripheral water injection. The current recovery factor of Reservoir A is approximately 10%.

Two field-trial pilots were implemented (gas-injection and water-injection pilots) and then were converted to WAG injection between 2007 and 2013. These locations show high gas/oil ratio (GOR) and high water cut (WC).

The development scheme includes downspacing of the existing line-drive to approximately 300 m intended to enhance sweep efficiency and increase recovery factor. The number of wells is expected to increase substantially. To optimize well placement and reduce development capital expenditure and subsurface congestion with other development targets in the field, development will capitalize on long horizontal MRC wells.

Reservoir Sectorization

Objectives.

The sectorization exercise undertaken for Reservoir A aimed to achieve the following:

- Establish a manageable number of sectors and allow creation of relevant, meaningful reservoir management key performance indicators and more-efficient surveillance programs

- Honor main geological features

-Reflect reservoir pressure distribution and communication between different areas of the reservoir

- Reflect fluid-front movement

- Reflect well-performance trends

- Honor future development plans (including MRC wells)

Proposed Sectorization Options.

Reservoir A originally was divided into 13 regions for reservoir management, surveillance, and reservoir monitoring planning purposes, including production and injection balancing, voidage replacement ratio (VRR), pressure performance, and diagnostic plots.

At the start of the study, eight sectorization scenarios were proposed. These scenarios were evaluated following a methodology described in the complete paper, aiming to combine the initial 13 regions into a smaller number of sectors where possible. Each scenario was evaluated against criteria including data analytics; the scheme honoring most of the criteria with an optimal number of sectors would be selected.