KPI Based Standardizing Static Geomodeling Practices for QA and QC of Models

Abstract

Subsurface petroleum industry is burdened with uncertainties in every aspect from exploration to production due to limitations of accessibility to reservoir and technology. The most important tools used to understand, quantify and mitigate the uncertainties are geostatistical static modeling and numerical dynamic simulation geomodels. Geomodels are widely used in the industry for characterizing the reservoir and planning favorable development strategy. It is vital instrument for maximizing asset value and optimize project economics. Static geomodels are foundation for all the advanced numerical and analytical solutions to solve the intricacies of reservoir performance. At the same time, it is where all the static and dynamic geological and engineering observations get integrated to develop common understanding of the reservoir for future studies. Understanding of the above observations and imaging of reservoir framework by individual is the basis for building static geomodels. Hence, at time, the process is highly subjective and proper QC'ing of the models to achieve the general and specific modeling objectives becomes imperative. Simple Questionaries’ based QC'ing and ranking methodologies are also controlled by subjectivity and individual preferences. In the present endeavor, quantitative ‘Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)’ based standard static geomodeling practices and QC'ing methodologies at corporate level are developed in specially designed "Process Implementation Project (PIP) – Hydrocarbon resource and Uncertainty Management"’ under the aegis of ‘Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) - Reservoir Management Best Practices Steering Committee'. The main objectives are to establish a practical modeling process, workflows and criteria to standardize modeling processes. A structured self-guidling modeling document has been developed with self-assemment guidelines and questionary. Finally, for each individual process a set of KPIs are specified as minimum standard to meet to obtain the approval of static model. The present efforts are important for any geologists, geomodelers and reservoir engineers dealing with geostatistical and numerical reservoir modeling and will provide the KPI's based general practices for quality assurance (QA) and QC'ing of the models.