Well Log Fluid Property Prediction for Low-Permeability Reservoirs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reservoir rocks with poor permeability pose challenges in producing hydrocarbons, necessitating improved methods for predicting fluid properties to enhance hydrocarbon production and development planning.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a logging system to obtain well logs, a fluid retrieval system to collect samples, and a fluid property analysis system to determine fluid properties, applying a transform to well log data to predict fluid properties, which informs subsurface development planning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods are used to determine fluid properties, then direct measurement accuracy is improved, but the number of fluid samples required increases and production time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting and analyzing multiple fluid samples at different depths before final production decisions are made. The fluid property analysis system processes these samples to establish transforms that can predict properties for all depths, eliminating the need for continuous manual sampling throughout the entire well during production planning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational copy of the fluid property determination process. Instead of physically sampling every depth, the system uses the transform derived from sampled data to predict fluid properties at unsampled depths, effectively copying the measurement process through mathematical modeling rather than physical intervention.
2Measurement precision
If multiple fluid samples are collected at different depths, then fluid property prediction accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the well into discrete depth intervals with fluid samples collected at specific locations. The fluid property analysis system then processes these segmented samples independently to determine transforms for each segment, which can be applied to predict properties at other depths. This segmentation allows complex multi-depth analysis to be broken down into manageable portions.
3Measurement precision
If fluid samples are retrieved from multiple depths, then the accuracy of transform determination is improved, but the difficulty of fluid retrieval operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fluid property analysis system as an intermediary between the fluid retrieval system and the production planning system. This intermediary processes the raw fluid samples into useful transform data, abstracting away the complexity of multi-depth retrieval operations. The intermediary converts physical sampling operations into computational processing, making the overall system easier to operate despite the complexity of obtaining multiple samples.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed herein. A method may include obtaining a well log of a well and obtaining a first fluid sample at a first one of the plurality of depths within the well. The method may include obtaining a second fluid sample at a second one of the plurality of depths within the well. The method may include determining a first fluid property from the first fluid sample and a second fluid property from the second fluid sample. The method may include determining a transform based on the first fluid property, the second fluid property, and the well log data. The method may include applying the transform to the well log data at a third one of the plurality of depths within the well yielding a first predicted fluid property. The method may include determining a subsurface development plan based on the first predicted fluid property.