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Abstract

Deutsch, Clayton V, 2013, Multiple-scale geologic models for heavy oil reservoir characterization, in F. J. Hein, D. Leckie, S. Larter, and J. R. Suter, eds., Heavy-oil and oil-sand petroleum systems in Alberta and beyond: AAPG Studies in Geology 64, p. 531544.

DOI:10.1306/13371592St641039

Copyright copy2013 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Multiple-scale Geologic Models for Heavy Oil Reservoir Characterization

Clayton V. Deutsch1

1School of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, University of Alberta, 200 University Ave. West, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R3, Canada (e-mail: [email protected])

ABSTRACT

Numerical geologic models are built for many purposes. Models at a cubic-millimeter resolution are required to understand how small-scale heterogeneity observed in core photographs and image logs affects vertical permeability. Models at 1 dm3 (0.001 m3) resolution are required to understand the variability of properties within the grid blocks that will be used in the flow simulator. Models at a 1000 m3 (3531 ft3) resolution are required to understand the variability between grid blocks to model specific recovery processes. Models at the 1012 m3 (3.53 times 1013 ft3) scale are required to assess resources over large areas. No single numerical geologic model is fit for all purposes. Many of the same tools are used at different scales, but notable differences related to the use of categorical and/or continuous variables, the number of variables, and conditioning to different data types exist. Three important model types and the implemented choices are described: (1) large-scale multivariate mapping for resource and/or reserve assessment, (2) reservoir-scale three-dimensional (3-D) modeling for reservoir development planning, and (3) high-resolution modeling to understand effective flow parameters at the flow-simulation scale.

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