Short Term Injection Re-Distribution STIR: Real-Time Waterflood Optimization Technique Using Advanced Data Analytics

Abstract

Short Term Injection Re-distribution (STIR) is a python based real-time WaterFlood optimization technique for brownfield assets that uses advanced data analytics. The objective of this technique is to generate recommendations for injection water re-distribution to maximize oil production at the facility level. Even though this is a data driven technique, it is tightly bounded by Petroleum Engineering principles such as material balance etc. The workflow integrates and analyse short term data (last 3-6 months) at reservoir, wells and facility level. STIR workflow is divided into three modules: Injector-producer connectivity Injector efficiency Injection water optimization First module uses four major data types to estimate the connectivity between each injector-producer pair in the reservoir: Producers data (pressure, WC, GOR, salinity) Faults presence Subsurface distance Perforation similarity – layers and kh Second module uses connectivity and watercut data to establish the injector efficiency. Higher efficiency injectors contribute most to production while poor efficiency injectors contribute to water recycling. Third module has a mathematical optimizer to maximize the oil production by re-distributing the injection water amongst injectors while honoring the constraints at each node (well, facility etc.) of the production system. The STIR workflow has been applied to 6 reservoirs across different assets and an annual increase of 3-7% in oil production is predicted. Each recommendation is verified using an independent source of data and hence, the generated recommendations align very well with the reservoir understanding. The benefits of this technique can be seen in 3-6 months of implementation in terms of increased oil production and better support (pressure increase) to low watercut producers. The inherent flexibility in the workflow allows for easy replication in any Waterflooded Reservoir and works best when the injector well count in the reservoir is relatively high. Geological features are well represented in the workflow which is one of the unique functionalities of this technique. This method also generates producers bean-up and injector stimulation candidates opportunities. This low cost (no CAPEX) technique offers the advantages of conventional petroleum engineering techniques and Data driven approach. This technique provides a great alternative for WaterFlood management in brownfield where performing a reliable conventional analysis is challenging or at times impossible. STIR can be implemented in a reservoir from scratch in 3-6 weeks timeframe.