A hierarchical carbonate reservoir benchmarking case study for reservoir characterisation, uncertainty quantification & history matching

Abstract

There are a number of benchmark studies for clastic reservoirs (e.g. the PUNQ, SPE10, Brugge Field, Watt Field, or Norne Field models) for challenges such as EOR, testing new numerical algorithms for reservoir simulation and uncertainty quantification. To date, the only carbonate benchmark reservoir is UNISIM-11-D which focuses on the Brazilian Pre-Salt however, neglects any geological uncertainties. This paper presents an update on ongoing work to create an open access reservoir model ensemble that considers the major ranges of interpretational uncertainties inherent to carbonate reservoirs covering interpretational scenarios and modelling choices such as geomodelling techniques. The result of this research is a semi-synthetic but geologically realistic suite of carbonate reservoir models that capture a wide range of geological, petrophysical, and geomodelling uncertainties and can be history-matched against a synthetic “truth case”. Eventually the models will be made available as open access data to provide the opportunity for reproducible science in the field of reservoir simulation and help training new generations of reservoir engineers in the art of simulating and history matching carbonate reservoirs over the next decade.