Top-Down Reservoir Modelling

Abstract

Abstract Over the last twenty or more years of reservoir performance prediction through simulation there have been only two fundamental changes. First was the evolutionary increase in computing speed that has allowed larger, more detailed reservoir models to be built. Second was the revolutionary change in approach that involved the entire subsurface community in building integrated reservoir descriptions. The next big change may in time prove to be BP's Top-Down Reservoir Modelling (TDRM). This is a new pragmatic approach to fully incorporate reservoir uncertainty in model construction and performance prediction. TDRM is proprietary technology that has been developed in BP through extensive R&D, and consists of a philosophy and tools that enable a faster and more robust exploration of uncertainty than has hitherto been possible. The philosophy is to start investigations with the simplest possible model and simulator appropriate to the business decision. Detail is added later as required. The approach overcomes the problems of the conventional "bottom-up" process, which uses detailed models that are too slow and cumbersome to fully explore uncertainty and identify critical issues. Highly detailed models cannot overcome an underlying absence of information, and can have the negative effect of creating a false sense of understanding. The TDRM tools have been designed to minimise manual iterations by creating a semi automated, flexible workflow for case management, assisted history matching, depletion planning optimisation and post-analysis. TDRM has been successfully applied to eighteen oil and gas reservoirs that range from development appraisal stage to mature fields, and has resulted in up to 20% increase in estimated net present value for the projects.