Capturing Reservoir Behavior by Simulating Vertical Fracture and Super-K Zones in the Ghawar Field

Abstract

Summary A dynamic simulation model containing several million cells shows geological details used to simulate the vertical fractures and high stratiform permeability of the Ghawar field. Observed performance data have shown that well intersections in the Ghawar field exhibit thin intervals of extremely high productivity. These can be related to high-permeability layers (stratiform features) or to subvertical faults and fractures. To capture observed field behavior in a dynamic simulation model, these two features must be incorporated in the simulation model. This paper discusses how vertical fractures and high stratiform permeability were simulated in the world's largest oil reservoir.