Simulation of Facies Uncertainty in Field Development

The aim of this paper is to assess the use of a recent facies modelling method (Adaptive Plurigaussian Simulation or APS) for facies-uncertainty analysis and sensitivity study in a complex field-development project. This method provides multiple facies realizations that honours all prior data (well, seismic, and geological concept) can be updated when conditioning to dynamical data, using ensemble methods, when production starts. The method is set up as part of an integrated and automated workflow (Fast Model Update or FMU) for reservoir modelling and characterization that is implemented in Statoil. We demonstrate that the use of APS within an FMU workflow allows for fast simulation of facies sensitivities that are reflected in the production profiles.