Fig.

1
Predictions with reference model and corresponding model with full-field
grid size (after Jerauld[1]).
There also are some additional data requirements for predicting solvent trapping
and solvent relative permeability hysteresis that are not found in black-oil wa
terflood simulations.
Fine-grid reference models
Fine-grid reference models are used to reduce the grid refinement sensitivity pr
oblems in compositional simulators.Grid-refinement sensitivity is an extremely t
roublesome problem in many compositionally enhanced solvent simulations. The pro
blem manifests itself by the predicted behavior changing as the grid is refined
(i.e., as the gridblocks become smaller and smaller). This behavior can be cause
d by truncation error or numerical dispersion that results from representing der
ivatives by finite differences; by the inability to accurately resolve the size
of solvent tongues or fingers with large gridblocks; and by the inability to rep
resent with large gridblocks some features of reservoir description that have an
important effect on solvent sweep, such as discontinuous shales, thin high-perm
eability strata, or thief zones.
Importance of minimizing grid refinement error
Fig. 2 shows the incremental recovery computed for two different 3D models, one
representing one-eighth of a nine-spot pattern, the other representing one-fourt
h of a nine-spot. Each model had a different geostatistical distribution of corr
elated permeability with scattered, discontinuous shales represented by zero ver
tical permeability between gridblocks. Permeability and porosity were scaled up
by the renormalization method from the model with the smallest gridblocks to the
other models.[2]

Fig. 2

Example of grid-refinement sensitivity.

The base model for the one-eighth nine-spot has a grid of 202040. Gridblocks were
93 ft on a side and 1 ft thick. The gridding of the one-fourth nine-spot model w
as 202080, with gridblocks also 93 ft on a side and 1 ft thick.
Incremental recovery in this figure is plotted vs. 1/NX, where 1/NX is the dimen
sionless x-direction gridblock size. However, in this problem the dimensionless
gridblock sizes in the other two directions also vary directly with the x-direct
ion gridblock size. It is apparent that as the gridblock size is refined, the pr
edicted incremental recovery decreases for what is supposed to be the same reser
voir problem.
Fig. 2 illustrates the importance of minimizing grid-refinement error and explic
itly including reservoir-description details that affect flow in an important wa
y. Generally, minimizing the error from grid refinement and accounting for impor

tant reservoir-description details adequately requires small gridblocks. Layers

that are 1 ft or no more than a few feet thick and have at least 20 to 40 latera
l gridblocks between wells are desirable. Unfortunately, such fine gridding is n
ot feasible for full-field simulations, for most 3D simulations of a single patt
ern, or perhaps even for some 3D repeating elements of a pattern. Because of thi
s, field predictions need to be made in two steps with reference models that can b
e gridded finely enough to accomplish the objectives summarized above, and with
scaleup models that incorporate the information derived from reference models in
to field predictions that account for fieldwide reservoir description, multiple
patterns, and operating realities and constraints.
Although it is desirable to make 3D reference-model simulations gridded so finel
y that the computed answer is adequately close to the converged answer, the disc
ussion above shows that in general, it may not be feasible to do this. A reasona
ble alternative may be to make finely gridded 2D cross-section simulations to st
udy the grid-refinement issue because for many problems, grid refinement has a l
arger effect on the computed outcome than the areal effects captured by a coarse
r-gridded 3D model. Variable-width 2D cross sections sometimes adequately repres
ent the behavior of 3D pattern-segment models with the same fine gridding. In th
ese cross sections, the width is smaller near the injector and producer and incr
eases in the interwell region. This causes flow rate to be greatest near the wel
ls and lowest midway between wells, as it would in a 3D displacement. Even when
a fine-grid cross section does not realistically model a fine-grid 3D displaceme
nt, it still may predict incremental recovery better than a simulation in a more
coarsely gridded 3D model. Moreover, 2D cross-section simulations are well suit
ed for scaleup with the segment and streamline/streamtube models discussed in th
e next section.
A potential procedure for developing a 3D reference model is first to make a 3D
simulation of a pattern element with the finest-grid refinement that is practica
l. Then, well-to-well cross sections are taken from this model, and the cross se
ctions are refined further. Pseudoproperties are developed for the original cros
s sections that predict the performance of the more finely gridded cross section
s. Then, these pseudoproperties are used in the moderately gridded 3D model to a
pproximate the effect of further grid refinement.[1]
Scaleup to the full field from a fine grid model is the next step in understandi
ng the behavior of a miscible flood.
References
1.? 1.0 1.1 1.2 Jerauld, G.R. 1998. A Case Study in Scaleup for Multicontact Mis
cible Hydrocarbon Gas Injection. SPE Res Eval & Eng 1 (6): 575 582. SPE-53006-PA.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/53006-PA
2.? Christie, M.A., Mansfield, M., King, P.R. et al. 1995. A Renormalisation-Bas
ed Upscaling Technique for WAG Floods in Heterogeneous Reservoirs. Presented at
the SPE Reservoir Simulation Symposium, San Antonio, Texas, 12-15 February 1995.
SPE-29127-MS. http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/29127-MS
Noteworthy papers in OnePetro
Adepoju, O. O., Lake, L. W., & Johns, R. T. (2013, January 30). Investigation of
Anisotropic Mixing in Miscible Displacements. Society of Petroleum Engineers. d
oi:10.2118/159557-PA
Johns, R. T., & Garmeh, G. (2010, October 1). Upscaling of Miscible Floods in He
terogeneous Reservoirs Considering Reservoir Mixing. Society of Petroleum Engine
ers. doi:10.2118/124000-PA
Johns, R. T., Sah, P., & Solano, R. (2002, February 1). Effect of Dispersion on
Local Displacement Efficiency for Multicomponent Enriched-Gas Floods Above the M

inimum Miscibility Enrichment. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2118/75806

-PA
Johns, R. T., Fayers, F. J., & Orr, F. M. (1994, April 1). Effect of Gas Enrichm
ent and Dispersion on Nearly Miscible Displacements in Condensing/Vaporizing Dri
ves. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2118/24938-PA
Li, Y., & Johns, R. T. (2006, October 1). Rapid Flash Calculations for Compositi
onal Simulation. Society of Petroleum Engineers. doi:10.2118/95732