State-of-the-art petroleum reservoir simulation

Today practically all aspects of reservoir engineering problems are solved with a reservoir simulator. The use of the simulators is so extensive that it will be no exaggeration to describe them as the standard. The simulators enable us to predict reservoir performance, although this task becomes immensely difficult when dealing with complex reservoirs. The complexity can arise from variation in formation and fluid properties. The complexity of the reservoirs has always been handled with increasingly advanced approaches. This article presents some of the latest advancements in petroleum reservoir simulation. Also discussed is the framework of a futuristic reservoir simulator. It is predicted that in the near future, the coupling of 3-D imaging with comprehensive reservoir models will enable one to use drilling data as input information for the simulator creating a real-time reservoir monitoring system. The time is also not far off when a virtual reservoir will be a reality and will be able to undergo various modes of production schemes. The coupling of ultra-fast data acquisition system with digital/analog converters transforming signals into tangible sensations will make use of the capability of virtual reality incorporated into the state-of-the-art reservoir models. In their finest form, the reservoir simulators must be intelligent enough to integrate environmental impacts of enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes into the technical and economical feasibility of different EORs. The economics, however, should respect both short-term and long-term impacts of oil production in order to claim ensure technical accuracy as well as rendering petroleum production schemes truly sustainable.