Author(s)

Cesar A. Mantilla, Sanjay Srinivasan, Quoc P. Nguyen

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This study investigated the feasibility of updating prior uncertain geologic models using Ensemble Kalman filter for controlling water coning problems in horizontal wells. Current downhole data acquisition technol-ogy allows continuous updating of the reservoir models and real-time control of well operations. Ensemble Kalman Filter is a model updating algorithm that permits rapid assimilation of production response for res-ervoir model updating and uncertainty assessment. The effect of the type and amount of production data on the updated geologic models was investigated first through a synthetic reservoir model, and then imple-mented on a laboratory experiment that simulated the production of a horizontal well affected by water con-ing. The worth of periodic model updating for optimized production and oil recovery is demonstrated.

Ensemble Kalman Filter, Reservoir Model Updating, Oil Production Optimization

C. Mantilla, S. Srinivasan and Q. Nguyen, "Updating Geologic Models using Ensemble Kalman Filter for Water Coning Control," Engineering, Vol. 3 No. 5, 2011, pp. 538-548. doi: 10.4236/eng.2011.35063.