Reservoir Development Planning Using Optimization Methods In An Oil Field Case

This paper deals with the application of optimization techniques in order to facilitate decision-making regarding the oil reservoir development planning. In this sense, in order to maximize economical profits and incremental oil recovery, it is specified restrictions such as the number and type of new wells to be drilled, the control scheduling as well as optimal locations with the objective to perform a waterflooding project. The method exploits information, which is provided by simulations of a numerical reservoir model to obtain optimal combination of the decision variables. In this study, a modified PSO-MADS algorithm was implemented with capabilities to manage constrains related to existing history wells. Thus, new wells are allowed to be placed only in reservoir avoiding existing well-heads and inactive cells. The effectiveness of the procedure was illustrated by its ability to optimize a complex heavy oil reservoir represented by 2.202.702 grid cells (529.014 active cells, 72 layers) and 11 faults. A total of 420 decision variables were used to solve this problem. The PSO-MADS methodology was adapted, and operational restrictions associated to existing wells were included. In addition to increase the oil recovery, decide the optimal new well placement and control operation as it is shown. The proposed constrained version of PSO-MADS algorithm considers limitations displayed by existing wells. The selected cases showed an optimal location of new wells, resulting in a significant volume of oil recovered and positives values of net present value for reservoir development planning.