Overview

This chapter emphasizes the importance of geoscience in resevoir characterization influencing waterflood asset management and discusses methodologies for developing reservoir models. The details of the reservoir modeling are described in Appendix B ^[1]. It is important for the waterflood asset management team to understand the concepts used to develop a reservoir model and be aware of the limitations that are present in the process. In addition, several case studies illustrating the importance of reservoir description are presented in this chapter. The examples of waterflood experience emphasizing reservoir description process illustrate the importance of developing a sound reservoir model for waterflood asset management.

The purpose of a well-integrated study is to assit in answering the following questions:

1. Will the reservoir perform:

   • as a series of independent layers?

   • as zones of different permeability with crossflow?

2. Are there zones with high gas or water saturation that could be channels?

3. Does the reservoir contain long natural fractures that could cause directional permeability and preferential fluid movements?

4. Are there areas of high or low permeability that may cause unbalanced flooding?

5. Will cross bedding impair communication between injectors and procedures?

6. Does the reservoir contain closed fractures that could open at bottom-hole injection pressures?

Organizing and Collecting Data

Recording, interpreting, and applying reservoir data correctly are some of the most important tasks that petroleum engineers and geologists perform. The quality and quantity of these data determine the success of any...