Managing Structural Uncertainty in a Mature Field for Optimal Well Placement

Abstract

Summary This paper describes a reservoir simulation study of a mature field. The objective of the study was to decide whether to drill an additional well and, if so, to determine its optimum location. An original approach to history-matching the model and accounting for structural uncertainty was adopted and we come to the following conclusions: The structural map can be used as a history matching parameter, Maps with the same original oil in place (OOIP) can lead to quite different productions, The same production can be obtained from different maps having different OOIP, The choice of complementary development schemes must take the nonuniqueness of the history match into account in order to minimize risk, Demonstration of the use of experimental design techniques in accounting for and managing structural uncertainty.