Insights from Streamline Flow Simulation of a Faulted Region

Flow-based connectivity calculation attempts to characterize a geological model on the basis of hydraulic connectivity between arbitrary points in the model (e.g., Agarwal et al. 2003 ). Streamline-based dynamic or hydraulic connectivity analysis uses a method of flow discretization. A simple description of this method is a configuration of sources and sinks with fixed high and low pressures, respectively, to compute flow in reservoirs (e.g., Al-Huthali et al. 2004 ). The main outcomes are a steady state pressure potential distribution throughout the connected parts of the reservoirs and associated velocity fields. The distribution of the streamlines describes the flow pattern resulting from a combination of the geological model, source sink placement, and applied pressure difference between sources and sinks. Regions with high flow rates, reflecting high porosity and permeability values, would produce higher density of streamlines than regions with lower rates. The time taken by a particle (time of flight) to move a certain distance from the source towards the sink is related to the distribution of porosity and permeability along the streamline. This method is tested in a producing, mature oil field, where production is still driven by primary reservoir pressure.