Reservoir modeling tools have played a significant role in designing subsurface fluid-injection methods such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery (EOR). However, these models are computationally expensive, requiring extensive geological and engineering data that often are not available in the early phases of carbon use and storage projects. This work presents the development of fast predictive models and optimization methodologies to evaluate CO2 EOR and storage operations quickly in mature oil fields.
Weyburn-Midale CO2 EOR Reservoir
Model Description. The Weyburn oilfield is in southern Saskatchewan, Canada. Weyburn oil reserves are within a thin zone of fractured carbonates (maximum thickness of 30 m) deposited in a shallow carbonate shelf environment at a depth of 1350–1450 m. The reservoir consists of two main units, the upper Marly dolostone (thickness ranging from 0 to 10 m) and the lower vuggy limestone (thickness ranging from 0 to 20 m). Oil production began in 1956. CO2 miscible-flooding EOR was initiated in 2000, alternating with water in some wells to improve oil-recovery efficiency and to store CO2 for the long term.
The Weyburn-Midale CO2 EOR model in this work is a subarea of the Phase 1A monitoring and storage project.
