Challenges and Solutions in Stochastic Reservoir Modelling - Geostatistics, Machine Learning, Uncertainty Prediction

Course description

Reservoir prediction modelling is subject to many uncertainties associated with the knowledge about the reservoir and the way they are incorporated into the model. Modern reservoir modelling workflows, which are commonly based on geostatistical algorithms, aim to support development decisions by providing adequate reservoir description and predict its performance. Uncertainty about reservoir description needs to be accounted for in modelling workflows to quantify the spread of reservoir predictions and its impact development decisions.

The course aims to build awareness of the impact the modelling choices on the reservoir predictions and their relation to the way uncertainty is incorporated into reservoir modelling workflows. The course addresses the problem of tying the workflow with the expected geological vision of a reservoir subject to uncertainty. This is associated with one of the common issues, when standard assumptions of a workflow are not consistent with the model geology or do not reflect possible variations due to existing uncertainty.

The course demonstrates the implementation of geostatistical concepts and algorithms in geomodelling workflows and the ways uncertainty is accounted for in reservoir description and predictions. The course includes an overview of the state-of-the art conventional techniques and some novel approaches, in particular machine learning for reservoir description.

Machine learning provides new opportunities in data integration and the model control to tackle the modelling challenges related to non-stationary multi-scale correlation structure and complex connectivity patterns in reservoirs. Novel machine learning techniques are good at capturing dependencies from data, when their parametric description is difficult; and controlling the impact of noisy and ad-hoc data.

Course objectives

The objectives of the course are:

• Provide a practical overview of geostatistical concepts used on modelling workflows and their impact on reservoir models.
  
• Explain how uncetainty is accounted for and propagated through gemodelling workflows.
  
• Introduce some novel machine learning approaches in geomodelling.
  
• Demonstrate integration of geomodelling techniques for uncertainty quantification of reservoir predictions.
  

The outcome of the course is the practical understanding the key geostatistical concepts and their implementation in reservoir modelling. The course participants will get familiar with a variety of conventional and advanced stochastic modelling algorithms and become aware of the impact from different modelling assumptions. The participants will gain a practical experience in assessing the impact of uncertainty on reservoir development decisions through a hands-on team exercise. 

Course outline

• Concepts and assumptions of geostatistics
  
• Modelling spatial continuity
  
• Stochastic simulation vs interpolation
  
• Multi-point geostatistics
  
• Machine learning techniques for spatial reservoir modelling
  
• Data driven integration of relevant data and knowledge
  
• Uncertainty quantification workflow for reservoir prediction
  
• Reservoir development decision-making under uncertainty – Team exercise 
  

Prerequisites

Participants should have a basic knowledge of reservoir modelling and numerical analysis. 

Participants' profile

The course is designed for a wide audience of reservoir modellers, geologists and engineers with range of experience from novices to experienced practitioners.