Scholarly record

SPECIFICITY OF RESERVOIR SIMULATION OF HEAVY OIL FIELD ACCOUNTING ROCK WETTABILITY

Albina Sitdikova

Abstract

This paper describes the results of the project which uses information from core lab studies in reservoir simulation in order to improve the quality of the forecasting ability. Samples of core were selected for each of the rock type in order to study wettability. Studies on the determination of the contact angle of wetting were carried out by the device, which allows determining the surface tension and contact angle in the formation conditions. The obtained values were applied for each of the five rock types for further use in the calculation of capillary pressures and relative permeability. To simplify the task of entering the obtained data into the model, the samples were grouped according to the distribution of reservoir properties. In the geological model distribution of rock types was simulated throughout the field, based on this variations two reservoir models had been built: considering the wettability of each rock type and without wettability consideration. Analysis of reservoir models showed that the accounting of wettability favorably affected history matching. The results of laboratory studies show that the contact angle changes with depth, which is associated with the change in the composition of bitumoide. Reservoir simulations considering wettability showed noticeable improvements in history matching results, as well as the significant difference between the forecast models. Lithological identification of the productive interval and the rock wettability consideration obtained for each rock type based on the results of laboratory research in reservoir modeling can significantly affect the position of the current water injected front and the position of the formation water.

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