Patent ID: 7699561

Claim:
A method for improving the recovery efficiency of storing fresh water into an aquifer using a storage model of the aquifer, the storing comprising injecting the fresh water and extracting injected fresh water by a single water storage system comprising at least one well penetrating the aquifer, the method comprising: controlling a plurality of screens, each of the plurality of screens being located alongside a wall of the at least one well, and each of the plurality of screens respectively allowing a flow of fresh water between an associated storage zone in contact with the screen and the at least one well on which the screen is located; determining, in the storage model, a behavior of each associated storage zone using a plurality of geological characteristics of the aquifer; receiving data from a plurality of sensors, wherein each of the plurality of sensors measures and monitors a quality parameter of water at one of the plurality of screens; determining that the quality parameter of water has reached a predetermined threshold using at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors; using the storage model to simulate an interaction between the injected fresh water and native water from each associated storage zone using the behavior of each associated storage zone, the data received from the plurality of sensors, and the quality parameter that has reached the predetermined threshold; determining, based on the interaction, that the flow of fresh water from one or more screens of the plurality of screens should be modified to maintain or improve produced water quality of the at least one well; and adjusting the one or more screens to maintain or improve the produced water quality of the at least one well.