Practical Deployment of Fluid Contact Tracking During History Matching for a More Reliable Reservoir Simulation Model: A Niger Delta Case study

The reliability of dynamic simulation models can spell the difference between value creation or erosion during the development of a hydrocarbon reservoir. There is a strong need to use every available data during reservoir characterization, earth modelling and history matching of the production and pressure history of the reservoir. Of greater importance is the need to blind test the history-matched simulation model, to ascertain its reliability, especially when the model is to be used for further development of the reservoir. This paper details an offshore Niger Delta case study in which saturation logging results were used to blind test a history matched model, with an objective to further validate the model. The saturated oil reservoir was fully characterized using high resolution sequence stratigraphy and the earth model developed with available static data. History matching of the dynamic model was carried out using the parameter estimation approach, incorporating available dynamic data and tracking of contact movement observed in post-production wells. Following the history match, a saturation log was run in one of the producers in the reservoir, as a blind test for the quality of the history match. Results of the log matched the contacts in the dynamic model within 1 ft, in the subject well, providing additional confidence in the quality of the model. As a result, matched model has been used for the maturation of 2 new drill opportunities with significant estimated recoveries.