Inclusion of geomechanics in streamline simulation

• Author / Creator

  Rodriguez-de la Torre, Rhamid Hortensia

• Since oil and gas production from conventional fields is decreasing, the produc-tion of unconventional hydrocarbon reservoirs is becoming imperative, where geo-mechanical responses play an important role.
  This research presents a methodology that starts exploring the inclusion of geomechanics in streamline simulations using a two-way explicit coupling approach between a reservoir and geomechanical simulators. This was done in an effort of conducting field-scale simulations considering the impact of geomechanical parame-ters on reservoir “static” properties, which affect ultimate recovery.
  Porosity, permeability, and porosity and permeability were used as the coupling parameters; the influence that they have on the process is problem-dependant as well.
  The results obtained from the two study cases presented, reveal that the per-formance of the approach is problem-dependent; the more complex the models are, the larger the geomechanical response is.
  One of the main aspects of this study was the limitations of the simulators. When software and hardware capacities improve, so will the results of the coupling ap-proach. Until then, more complex models should be tested, as well as more rigorous techniques, to improve the results presented here.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Geomechanics
  • Simulations
  • Streamline

• Graduation date

  Spring 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3D95K

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.