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Complex Construction vs. Simple Deconstruction: Alternative Workflows and the Role of ‘Ultimate Truth’ Models
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018, Jun 2018, Volume 2018, p.1 - 5
Abstract
In our submission we challenge the assumption that complex problems always demand complex model solutions. Currently, much time is invested in building complex reservoir and simulation models and many ultimately disappoint when it comes to forecasting. We believe that workflow choice, poor model design, is the root cause. The issue comes down to the choices made for handling complex problems: are we better to build complex model constructions or is it better to deconstruct the problem into simpler pieces? Our experience is that the latter approach — deconstruction - is generally advantageous and can increase learning cycle time on the way to a decision, as well as build a stronger understanding of the subsurface in the process.
We illustrate this using a case of high resolution ‘ultimate truth’ modelling of a single reservoir layer as a means of understanding the impact of small-scale heterogeneities on flow and also quantifying the value of a full physics representation in the simulation of the layer.
We conclude by supporting the distinction between ‘resource models’ and ‘decision models’, with resource models as the complex construction carrying the full-field data base but generally smaller-scale deconstructions being used for detailed understanding and for supporting near-term decision-making.