Production simulations based on a productivity potential proxy function: An application to UNISIM-I-D and PUNQ-S3 synthetic reservoirs

Oil recovery from a reservoir involves quite a lot of challenges related to well placement before any action can be taken. An important step is proposing a reservoir target area that provides an indication of high potential for oil recovery. In other words, a position presenting high productivity potential according to some criteria. A simple proposal is the potential productivity proxy function (PP) based on the oil-bearing and mobility capacities of oil suggested as φ kSₒⁿ ϕ k S o n , where n is a correlation parameter, φ ϕ is porosity, k is absolute permeability and Sₒ S o is oil saturation at grid block. In this paper, we consider this proxy function as a well placement strategy based on the column-wise ( PPC PP C ) and layer-wise ( PPL PP L ) values. To test this model, the UNISIM-I-D and PUNQ-S3 synthetic reservoirs are considered. Several production simulations are realized assuming a set of vertical wells placed at the best PPC ∩ PPL PP C ∩ PP L , supported by the additional considerations of minimizing the water saturation and respecting a minimum distance between wells. The results, compared to the production of the original grouped UNISIM-I-D and grouped PUNQ-S3 wells, show a reasonable performance of the PP strategy for well placement. In addition, the net present value shows that the proposed wells are economically feasible. The study provided that under certain conditions, PPC ∩ PPL PP C ∩ PP L is an alternative approach to find out target positions exhibiting a high productivity potential for well placement appropriateness and oil recovery.