Abstract: A subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir with horizontal or multiple vertical wells is simulated by sequential solution of reservoir and well equations to simulate fluid flow inside the reservoir and well production rates. Sequential solution of reservoir and well equations treats wells as specified bottom hole pressure wells. This avoids solving large matrices resulting from the simultaneous solution of the reservoir and well equations which can be computationally very expensive for large number of unknowns and require special sparse matrix solvers. Such sequential solution involves regular reservoir system solvers complemented by a small matrix for the numerical solution of the well bottom hole pressures.

Abstract: A subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir with wells is simulated by simultaneous solution of reservoir and well equations which simulate flow profiles along a well without requiring an unstructured coefficient matrix for reservoir unknowns. An analytical model of the reservoir is formed using the known or measured bottom hole pressure. Where several layers in an interval in the reservoir are present between vertical flow barriers in the reservoir, and communicate vertically with others, the communicating layers are combined for analytical modeling into a single layer for that interval for simulation purposes. The matrix of equations defining the unknown pressures and saturations of the intervals of combined layers in the reservoir are solved in the computer, and a perforation rate determined for each such interval of combined layers. Rates for the intervals in the reservoir are then combined to determine total well rate.

Abstract: Unstructured grids are automatically constructed in a domain containing complex internal boundaries. Simulation grids are constructed for reservoirs or fields which contain complex fault planes. Reconciling among generated fault grid-points and other reservoir/field grid-points is performed, enabling the use of unconstrained Delaunay triangulation. High-quality orthogonal unstructured grids are provided with good convergence properties for reservoir simulation.

Abstract: Orthogonal unstructured grids are automatically constructed for a field or reservoir model with two types of internal boundaries: complex wells and faults, or other discontinuities. The methodology is used to constructed simulation grids for reservoirs or fields which contains both complex fault planes and multi-lateral wells. A hierarchical grid point generation, prioritization, conflict point removal system is provided enabling the use of unconstrained Delaunay triangulation. High-quality orthogonal unstructured grids are produced with good convergence properties for reservoir simulation.

Abstract: A hyper-dimensional simulator performs petroleum reservoir engineering and geosciences in a spatial volume operating environment. The entire spatial volume is ‘active’ for reservoir and geosciences applications. Although points in 3-D space are available for reservoir engineering and geosciences functions, it is conceptually easier to work with virtual, that is hyper dimensional surfaces and media. Limitations of single channel input using the mouse and/or keyboard imposed by prior art methods.

Abstract: A computer-based system performs iterative linear solution of giant systems of linear equations with the computational acceleration capabilities of GPU's (Graphical Processing Units). Processing is performed in a heterogeneous (hybrid) computer environment composed of both computer data processing units (CPU's) and GPU's. The computational acceleration in processing provides an order of magnitude speed improvement over other methodology which utilizes only CPU's. The present invention enables reservoir studies to be carried out within time constraints, and real-time reservoir simulations to be made while keeping pace with online data acquisition.

Abstract: A computer system analyzes data from giant subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs which are organized into a number of component cells and simulates the conditions in the reservoirs based on determination of thermodynamic phase equilibrium using equation of state (EOS) modeling. The computer system takes the form of a heterogeneous (hybrid) computer environment which includes computer processor units (or CPU's) and graphical processing units (or GPU's). The system takes advantage of computational acceleration capabilities of the graphical processing units while utilizing the computer processing units for execution control, input/output of data and memory. Processing time requirements are reduced by more than an order of magnitude speed improvement over existing methods.

Abstract: A subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir with wells is simulated by simultaneous solution of reservoir and well equations which simulate flow profiles along a well without requiring an unstructured coefficient matrix for reservoir unknowns. An analytical model of the reservoir is formed using the known or measured bottom hole pressure. Where several layers in an interval in the reservoir are present between vertical flow barriers in the reservoir, and communicate vertically with others, the communicating layers are combined for analytical modeling into a single layer for that interval for simulation purposes. The matrix of equations defining the unknown pressures and saturations of the intervals of combined layers in the reservoir are solved in the computer, and a perforation rate determined for each such interval of combined layers. Rates for the intervals in the reservoir are then combined to determine total well rate.

Abstract: A computer-based system performs iterative linear solution of giant systems of linear equations with the computational acceleration capabilities of GPU's (Graphical Processing Units). Processing is performed in a heterogeneous (hybrid) computer environment composed of both computer data processing units (CPU's) and GPU's. The computational acceleration in processing provides an order of magnitude speed improvement over other methodology which utilizes only CPU's. The present invention enables reservoir studies to be carried out within time constraints, and real-time reservoir simulations to be made while keeping pace with online data acquisition.

Abstract: A computer system analyzes data from giant subsurface hydrocarbon reservoirs which are organized into a number of component cells and simulates the conditions in the reservoirs based on determination of thermodynamic phase equilibrium using equation of state (EOS) modeling. The computer system takes the form of a heterogeneous (hybrid) computer environment which includes computer processor units (or CPU's) and graphical processing units (or CPU's). The system takes advantage of computational acceleration capabilities of the graphical processing units while utilizing the computer processing units for execution control, input/output of data and memory. Processing time requirements are reduced by more than an order of magnitude speed improvement over existing methods.

Abstract: A computer-based system analyzes reservoir simulation results with a rule-based event monitor to trigger appropriate warnings in the event any of a number of applicable reservoir operation conditions is detected as likely to occur. The conditions may be automatically analyzed on multi-dimensional data during successive time steps to detect events indicated as needing attention or analysis and thus to alert reservoir engineers about operating conditions in the reservoir so that the engineers may make appropriate operational or simulation changes. The conditions may also be automatically analyzed in a batch processing mode of a set or subset of available time steps to detect and generate a log of events encountered that are indicated as needing attention or analysis.

Abstract: A computer-based system generates digital and audio responses to changes in fluid and rock properties of a producing hydrocarbon reservoir for surveillance analysis. The system calibrates observed changes against directly-measured field data in order to optimize the reservoir model. The changes may include, for example, stress changes in rock, impedance changes in rock, and fluid density changes.

Abstract: A fully-parallelized, highly-efficient compositional implicit hydrocarbon reservoir simulator is provided. The simulator is capable of solving giant reservoir models, of the type frequently encountered in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, with fast turnaround time. The simulator may be implemented in a variety of computer platforms ranging from shared-memory and distributed-memory supercomputers to commercial and self-made clusters of personal computers. The performance capabilities enable analysis of reservoir models in full detail, using both fine geological characterization and detailed individual definition of the hydrocarbon components present in the reservoir fluids.

Abstract: A core sample from a subterranean reservoir is placed in a pressure cell holder and the core pressure is measured at a plurality of pressure points along the core before and during fluid flooding. A computed tomography (CT) scanning system provides images of the density distribution within the core sample during such waterflooding. Fluid saturation, determined from these CT images, and pressure gradients, determined from the pressure measurements are used to determine the relative permeability of the subterranean reservoir.