Generating maximum returns from reservoir modelling – increasing the upside potential of a mature Middle East field

T he decline in oil and gas prices and operators’ needs to generate maximum returns from their assets has ensured that reservoir modelling remains a powerful and highly important decision-making tool in the upstream oil and gas sector. 3D reservoir modelling is today the standard platform for the mapping, understanding and predicting of reservoir behaviour, providing operators with the crucial information they need on where to drill, what production strategies to adopt and how to maximize oil and gas recovery. By building a realistic representation of the geometry of the reservoir, operators can accurately map out fluid flows and volumes and make field development decisions that have a major impact on the field’s lifecycle and production capabilities for years to come. Yet, reservoir modelling can only be fully effective if it addresses potential bottlenecks in work processes and provides a seamless and integrated workflow across different domains. The danger of incomplete and inconsistent information being passed through the modelling chain, which ultimately forms the basis for field development decisions, is a considerable risk. From seismic interpretation through to the creation of a structural model, the incorporation of properties and dynamic uncertainties, and reservoir simulation and history matching, operators require a fully integrated uncertainty management workflow to protect investment returns and guide future development decisions. This article will illustrate how this has been achieved on a mature Middle East field, located in a highly tectonically active area. Figure 1 shows the field development plan.