{"id":4674,"date":"2016-04-04T14:53:31","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T13:53:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etlsolutions.com\/?p=4674"},"modified":"2018-10-10T10:47:08","modified_gmt":"2018-10-10T09:47:08","slug":"why-data-is-the-key-to-integrated-reservoir-evaluation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etlsolutions.com\/why-data-is-the-key-to-integrated-reservoir-evaluation\/","title":{"rendered":"Why data is the key to integrated reservoir evaluation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Emmanuel Udeh<\/a>, Subsurface Data Analyst at Shell<\/p>\n

Generating integrated reservoir models is very important to the E&P business because it helps Oil & Gas companies better understand, evaluate, develop and predict the behavior of their subsurface assets. Advancements in reservoir modeling software capabilities have made it possible to rapidly collect and analyze vast amounts of diverse data, generating models that accurately represent reservoir properties. This helps to create a useful and accurate model for history matching and for predicting reservoir behavior at any particular stage of field development and management.<\/p>\n

At the same time, however, computer based modeling \u2013 no matter how sophisticated \u2013 cannot reproduce the subsurface exactly. Advances in computer technology cannot eliminate the central role of the engineer in model interpretation. Many uncertainties exist at every stage of reservoir modelling, so it is important that the quality of data required to address these uncertainties be of a certain level of quality, in order to create a useful earth model with the data available.<\/p>\n

Data sources<\/h3>\n

Shell\u2019s ex-Exploration Head Roel Murris once remarked<\/a>, \u201cWe probably have more oil in our archives than we\u2019ve ever actually found!\u201d This statement emphasizes the value of information in our data stores. Relevant data required for an integrated reservoir characterization study will normally be available from several sources, including in-house sources, national data repositories, the various information service companies that offer data services, and proprietary reports on specific fields or reservoirs. These reports most often contain detailed geologic and reservoir parameters. Published articles and reports that may have appeared in journals or other literature may also provide helpful information. It is up to the subsurface team to approach this effort in an integrated manner in order to identify available and useful data.<\/p>\n

Assemble and review<\/h3>\n

The first step in building any integrated reservoir model is to gather and evaluate all available data on both field and target reservoir interval. This commonly will include well logs, fluid (PVT) data, pressure data, core data, seismic data (2-D or 3-D), production data (for developed fields or from well tests) and any available reports on that field. In cases where very little information is available, analogues (data from reservoirs with similar properties and characteristics) become very important in attempting to generate the closest and most useful representation of the subsurface.<\/p>\n

After all relevant data has been assembled, it is essential that these datasets must be evaluated in order to determine:<\/p>\n