Description:
A field scale polymer flood has been in operation since early 2010 in a major oil field of the Sultanate of Oman. The project comprises 26 patterns where water flood was on-going prior to initiation of Polymer flood in 2010. A full-field streamline simulation model has been built, history matched and being used for optimizing the polymer-flood. Full-field simulation allows the proper modeling of each pattern and their interactions with off-set patterns, and these simulations can be performed in a reasonable computation time because of the efficiency of streamline modeling.Application
Optimization methodology using streamline simulation discussed in this paper can be applied in other polymer-flood projects in operation or even in water-flood projects where polymer-flood is being considered. Results
A full-field streamline model has been built and being regularly used for optimization of a large polymer flood project.
The model has facilitated optimization of polymer flood in pattern level, specifically when to stop polymer injection, slug size, and slug concentration. The individual patterns are ranked based on pattern efficiency .
The model is also being used for ranking the existing water-flood patterns for next phase of polymer-flood implementation and carrying out short term production forecast.
Computational efficiency of streamline simulation has facilitated use of the model for routine well and reservoir management decisions. This would not have been possible with a finite difference model because of excessive run time and inability to clearly establish injection-production relationship as in a streamline model.
Observations and Conclusions
A full-field streamline simulation model has been built and being used for optimization of a large polymer-flood project.
The model is being routinely used for optimization of polymer-flood project at individual pattern level, ranking of patterns for next phase of polymer flood development and carrying out short-term production forecast
