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Journal of Australian Energy Producers
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

Rigorous gas field production data analysis

Christopher Evans A and Antony Corrie-Keilig A B
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A RISC Advisory, Level 2, 1138 Hay Street, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: antony.corrie-keilig@riscadvisory.com

The APPEA Journal 59(2) 780-784 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ18034
Accepted: 21 March 2019   Published: 17 June 2019

Abstract

With the advent of permanent downhole gauges and automated flowing tubing head pressure measurements, today’s engineers have a veritable plethora of production data on which to characterise gas reservoirs and estimate their ultimate recovery. As consultants, the authors see datasets that have not always been examined to their fullest potential. More often than not this is due to a singular approach to analysis, rather than application of a range of analyses. This paper discusses how combining traditional and more advanced production data analysis techniques has provided insight into fields ranging from tight gas reservoirs to conventional reservoirs under active waterdrive. Such insight is not obtained from brute force application of one size fits all techniques but understanding and using the appropriate combination of techniques that are likely to illuminate the underlying physics of the reservoir at hand. The authors have seen examples where basic data analysis has identified resource ranges outside the range estimated from sensitivity studies with detailed and sophisticated but effectively singular models.

Keywords: analytical model, Blasingame, Cole, conventional decline curve analysis, drive indices, flowing material balance, gas reservoir, GIIP, Havlena–Odeh, material balance, multi-tank, production data analysis, rate transient analysis.

Christopher Evans is a Consultant Reservoir Engineer with RISC Advisory. In his role he has worked on several projects involving both oil and gas assets, including technical advisements and reserve audits. Chris has experience in gas integrated production modelling using the MBAL and GAP software and production data analysis in IHS Harmony. His skills include static and flowing material balance, Rate Transient Analysis, analytical and numerical modelling and oil and gas decline curve analysis. Chris has a Degree in Petroleum Engineering (BEng Hons) from Curtin University, Western Australia and is a member of SPE and Engineers Australia.

Antony Corrie-Keilig is a Principal Petroleum Engineer with RISC Advisory. Antony has over 20 years of worldwide experience in petroleum operations, completions, production and reservoir engineering, reservoir surveillance and management, asset evaluation, competent persons reports and reserves reporting. Antony previously worked in staff positions for Gaffney, Cline & Associates and LR Senergy. Antony has a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Monash University, a Graduate Diploma in Petroleum Engineering from the University of New South Wales and an MSc in Project Management from the University of Adelaide. Antony is a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng), a Fellow of Engineers Australia (FIEAust) and is registered on the National Engineering Register in Petroleum Engineering and Engineering Management.


References

Dake, L. P. (1978). Natural water influx. In ‘Fundamentals of Reservoir Engineering’. pp. 325–328. (Elsevier BV: Amsterdam)

Dake, L. P. (2001). Gas reservoir engineering. In ‘The Practice of Reservoir Engineering (Revised Edition)’. pp. 481–487. (Elsevier BV: Amsterdam)

Doublet, L. E., Pande, P. K., McCollum, T. J., and Blasingame, T. A. (1994). Decline curve analysis using type curves—analysis of oil well production data using material balance time: application to field cases. Paper presented at the 1994 Petroleum Conference and Exhibition of Mexico, Veracruz, Mexico.