Petroleum production control for optimum recovery

Abstract

The investigations of the relationship between maximum allowable oil rate and ultimate oil recovery of a solution gas drive reservoir are made. The effects of fluid PVT properties and reservoir heterogeneity on the relationship between maximum allowable oil rate and ultimate oil recovery are also investigated. Data generated from a numerical black oil reservoir simulator are used for the investigations. It is found that maximum allowable oil rate has no effect on the ultimate oil recovery for set of fluids and reservoir properties. However, times to reach ultimate oil recovery are affected by maximum allowable oil rates provided that the maximum allowable oil rate is lower than a threshold maximum allowable oil rate. By incorporating a tubing lift table into the study model in order to simulate flow behavior in tubing, surface data can be generated. Using these data, the unique shape of the derivative of flowing tubing head pressure of the threshold plateau rate has been identified and can be used to specify optimum plateau rate after having some production data. An example of use of the technique is given.