MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION OF THE

RUSSIAN

FEDERATION

Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education

KAZAN (VOLGA) FEDERAL UNIVERSITY

Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies

research work

Institute of Geology and Petroleum Technologies

Department of _Paleontology and stratigraphy

Direction of training (specialty) __Geology_

Name of the professional educational program _Complex data analysis in

petroleum geosciences

Reservoir Simulation Modeling

Workflow Report

Name: MAMOUDOU BOUBACAR HAMZA

course masters, group 03-417

Starting year of preparation: 2025

Practice Supervisors: Usmanov Sergey Anatolevich

 Introduction

Reservoir simulation modeling is a fundamental technique used in petroleum engineering

to predict fluid flow in subsurface formations. This report outlines a comprehensive
workflow for constructing a reservoir simulation model (RSM) of a Lower Carboniferous
oil field in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, using Schlumberger’s Petrel 2015 software
for geological model refinement and tNavigator for dynamic simulation and initialization.
The main goals were to transform a static geological model into a fully functional
dynamic RSM, simulate fluid flow based on realistic rock and fluid properties, establish
accurate initial conditions for production forecasting, and align the simulation outputs
with historical production data. The modeling process incorporated key components of
reservoir simulation, including structural framework and grid design, assignment of
petrophysical properties such as porosity and permeability, implementation of fluid and
rock-fluid interaction functions, definition of pressure and saturation conditions, and
integration of well data and production history. Special attention was given to the
reservoir’s stratigraphic complexity, regional variation in oil-water contacts,
representation of aquifer support, and calibration to actual well performance. This report
documents each step in the process, from data preparation and model setup in Petrel to
simulation case export and model initialization in tNavigator, and serves as a technical
reference for the development and validation of a reservoir simulation model.

I. Methodology
1. Data Preparation and Model Setup

Data preparation is the foundational stage of reservoir simulation, involving the

systematic organization of geological, petrophysical, and structural datasets to ensure
accurate and consistent model input. A well-prepared dataset minimizes the risk of
simulation artifacts and enhances the reliability of fluid flow predictions. In this project,
the Petrel project file (ResSim_1.pet) was opened to visualize and validate the available
data. Key elements included structural surfaces (BB_Cor, Turne_Cor), property cubes
(such as Zones, PERM_initial, KP_initial, and SOIL), and region identifiers (FIPNUM
and OWC_region).

-BB_corr structural surfaces in 2D window

-BB_corr and Turne_corr structural surfaces in 3D windows

Filters were applied to exclude non-reservoir facies, thereby focusing the model on
productive units such as sandstone and reservoir-grade limestone.

For the construction of the simulation grid, lateral permeability components (PERMX
and PERMY) were derived from the PERM_initial cube. The vertical permeability
(PERMZ), which was initially missing, was calculated using the Petrel Property
Calculator with the expression PERMZ = PERM_initial / 10, a common practice
reflecting vertical-to-horizontal permeability anisotropy observed in subsurface
formations.
 2. Fluid and Rock Properties

Fluid and rock properties are critical to simulate multiphase flow behavior within the
reservoir. These include relative permeability (RP) and capillary pressure (Pc) functions,
which characterize how oil, water, and gas phases interact with the reservoir rock.

In the reservoir model, relative permeability (RP) and capillary pressure (Pc)
functions were defined using two approaches, tailored to the specific characteristics of
each stratigraphic unit. For the Bobrikovian horizon, standard “Sand” presets were
utilized to generate RP and Pc curves, providing a generic but representative behavior of
sandstone reservoirs. In contrast, the Tournaisian deposits required a more customized
approach, and corresponding RP and Pc functions were imported from laboratory-
derived SCAL data (SCAL_tur.GRDECL), ensuring the curves reflected field-specific
rock-fluid interactions.

-graph of the Oil-Water relative permeability . (Bobrikovian Zones)

-Graph of the Water-oil capillary pressure ( Bobrikovian Zones)

-Graph of the Water-oil capillary pressure (Tournaisian zones)

To account for rock deformation under pressure changes, rock compressibility was
assigned using geological presets: Consolidated Sandstone for Bobrikovian and
Consolidated Limestone for Tournaisian. These presets were calibrated by integrating
average porosity values calculated from the KP_initial cube, enhancing the physical
reliability of the compressibility functions.

3. Initialization and Contacts

Initialization defines the reservoir’s starting conditions by specifying the distribution of

pressure, fluid saturations, and fluid contacts, such as the oil-water contact (OWC), which
delineate the phase boundaries within the reservoir. Accurate definition of region-specific
OWCs is essential in stratified and compartmentalized reservoirs to ensure that fluid
distributions reflect the geological structure. In this project, OWCs were set at -940
meters for region 1 and -952 meters for region 2, corresponding to distinct structural
highs.
 A Dead Oil fluid model was selected, appropriate for undersaturated reservoirs where
pressure remains above the bubble point, and was characterized by an oil density of 878
kg/m³, a bubble point pressure of 25 bar, and a reservoir temperature of 40°C. These
configurations ensure that the simulation starts from a physically meaningful and
geologically valid state, facilitating accurate forecasting and future history matching.

In addition to setting initial pressures and saturations, aquifer systems were incorporated
to model the natural water drive mechanisms that support reservoir pressure over time.
Aquifers were modeled analytically using the Carter-Tracy method, a simplified yet
effective approach for simulating water influx based on equilibrium assumptions. Two
distinct aquifer systems were configured: a boundary aquifer surrounding the lateral
edges of the Bobrikovian formation, and a bottom-connected aquifer at the base of the
Tournaisian horizon. These aquifers were parameterized using average reservoir
properties, such as porosity, permeability, and thickness, derived from geological
interpretation. Proper representation of aquifer support is critical to achieving realistic
reservoir pressure behavior during simulation and enhances the reliability of future
production forecasts by accounting for dynamic fluid movements induced by external
pressure systems.

-Aquifer BB_corr
-Aquifer Turne_BOT

4. Well Data and Historical Operations

This phase involved the integration of well architecture and production history into the
reservoir simulation model. The objective was to ensure that the model accurately reflects
historical field behavior, providing a solid basis for calibration and forecasting.

Well trajectories and perforation intervals were imported from the perf_1.ev file.

These data were essential for defining the spatial connection between wells and reservoir
zones. To capture production from different stratigraphic intervals, ghost wells were
created—each representing a specific producing layer (e.g., Bobrikovian or Tournaisian),
despite sharing the same physical trajectory.

Historical production data were sourced from the hist.vol file and included key
performance indicators such as bottomhole pressure (BHP), oil, gas, and water
production rates over time. This data was used to define development strategies within
Petrel, applying specific control modes:

 Production wells were regulated by liquid rate control,

 Injection wells were governed by surface rate control,
 BHP constraints were implemented to ensure operational safety and realism,
ranging from 25 bar (minimum) to 250 bar (maximum).
The initialized pressure field demonstrated a natural gradient from injection points to
production wells, consistent with expected flow behavior in the reservoir. This
alignment confirms that fluid movement responds accurately to structural and
permeability trends. Furthermore, saturation maps reflected oil displacement fronts
and water encroachment, in accordance with the physical layout of the reservoir and
historical injection patterns.

The simulation output provided key volumetric metrics:

 OOIP (Original Oil in Place) represents the total oil volume initially present in
the reservoir.
 Mobile oil reserves indicate the fraction of oil that is potentially recoverable
under current reservoir conditions.

These figures validated the underlying property cubes (e.g., porosity, saturation) and
supported the estimation of recovery factors. The combined influence of hydrocarbon
contacts, permeability distributions, and well placement shaped the initialization
results. Moreover, the use of realistic relative permeability and capillary pressure
(RP/Pc) functions was evident in the smooth, geologically plausible saturation
transitions between oil and water.
 5. Simulation Case Export

Once the property cubes and initial conditions were finalized, a complete simulation
case named MODEL1 was created in Petrel to prepare the model for dynamic simulation
in tNavigator.

The simulation case was configured with the following essential property assignments:

 Permeability components: PERMX, PERMY, PERMZ (derived from

PERM_initial and calculated using anisotropy assumptions);
 Porosity: KP_initial cube;
 Initial water saturation: SWATINIT, calculated as 1-SOIL, used for scaling
capillary pressure curves.
To accurately reflect heterogeneity within the reservoir, regional assignments were made
for:

 Relative permeability (RP) curves,

 Fluid models (Dead Oil) based on region-specific OWCs,
 Rock compressibility, using zone-dependent presets (Consolidated Sandstone
and Limestone).

The entire case was then exported in EGRID format, which is compatible with
tNavigator and includes all grid geometry, property distributions, and boundary
conditions.
Additionally, manual adjustments were applied to the exported simulation data:

 The file MODEL1_PROPS.INC was edited to replace default PVT and SWOF
data with more accurate, lab-derived values from PVT_BB.GRDECL and
SWOF_BB.txt.
 This ensured consistency between field measurements and the dynamic behavior
of the simulation.
 II. Results and Interpretation
Following the successful export of the simulation case from Petrel, the model was loaded
and initialized in tNavigator. Upon initialization, several key dynamic properties—
particularly oil saturation and pressure distribution—were automatically calculated
and analyzed.

The resulting spatial distributions were evaluated for geological consistency. The
pressure field aligned with the structural framework and well placements, exhibiting
expected gradients from injection to production wells. Similarly, the oil saturation maps
showed a realistic distribution of hydrocarbons, with displacement patterns reflecting the
influence of both aquifer support and production history.

Quantitative validation was performed using the REPORT.REG file, which contains
critical volumetric results:

 Original Oil in Place (OOIP): The total volume of oil originally presents in the
reservoir model.
 Mobile Oil Reserves: The portion of OOIP that is recoverable, based on fluid
properties and saturation thresholds.

These values were used to assess the accuracy of input property models (e.g., porosity,
permeability, and fluid contacts) and to estimate potential recovery factors under current
reservoir conditions.
 Conclusion
The reservoir simulation model was successfully built and initialized. It accurately
represents geological heterogeneity, integrates production history, and generates reliable
initial results. This model forms a strong base for history matching and production
forecasting.

Key accomplishments:
- Integration of stratified property data and contact zones
- Application of realistic RP/Pc relationships and PVT data
- Consistent initialization aligned with historical well performance