A New Method for Predicting Well Pattern Connectivity in a Continental Fluvial-delta Reservoir

Abstract

The features of bad flow unit continuity and multiple layers emphesize the importance of a well pattern design for the development of a fluvial-delta reservoir. It is proposed a method to predict well pattern connectivity (WPC) based on the exploration and evaluation of wells. Moreover, the method helps evaluate the risk of well placement. This study initially establishes the parameters for characterizing the lateral and vertical flow unit distributions. Then, extensive statistics on the mature oil-field sands of synthetic geological models are obtained to generate the prediction model of WPC which will reveal the correlation among WPC, flow unit distribution, and well spacing (WS). Finally, a case study is conducted to validate the proposed method for predicting WPC. The procedure of the method is comprised of two steps. The first step is to calculate the parameters which characterize the vertical sand body distribution of the target formation by using the well drilling and logging information. The second step is to integrate the calculated parameters and designed WS into the proposed formula to forecast WPC. The new method of WPC prediction has the advantage of integrating the static and dynamic information of similar mature oil fields with each other. By utilizing the model, making an important decision on well pattern design and a reservoir production forecast in the newly discovered continental fluvial-delta reservoir would be reasonable.