The management of oil and gas fields is a complex activity with many challenges, involving decisions to be made in uncertain scenarios and a high number of decision variables to be considered. Therefore, it is important to have techniques and tools to assist such processes, involving detailed and complete analyzes to avoid making suboptimal decisions and, consequently, improving the production and economy of oil fields. In this context, simulation models are often used for long-term decision making.

However, due to the complexity of the oil fields treated in this project (whether pre- or post-salt), numerical simulations can become very time-consuming, which is a challenge for decision analysis procedures. Therefore, developing and improving techniques to reduce computational effort without losing precision in results, and also speeding up decisions, is one of the main objectives of this research line. Furthermore, in this phase of the project we intend to provide solutions to increase production and recovery with a low carbon emission profile and considering the energy efficiency of the platforms.

Therefore, this research line's main focus is to support and improve management and decision-making processes in oil fields. To achieve this, this line is divided into five subprojects:

SP1: Ensemble-based modeling, data assimilation and optimization

The focus of SP1 is on the decision-making, data assimilation and optimization process to support and improve oil field development and management. The main goal is to generate methodologies and tools to be applied in the control and management of complex fields.

Contact: Vinicius Eduardo Botechia (botechia@unicamp.br)

SP2: Digitalization and visualization techniques

There is a tendency to forward some tasks regarding reservoir management into a digitalization point of view. Thus, the main goals of SP2 are: (1) improvements in visualization for ensemble-based approaches in data assimilation and decision-making support, (2) improvements and development of tool to select representative models and (3) model-based reservoir prediction combined with data-driven/machine learning approaches.

Contact: Vinicius Eduardo Botechia (botechia@unicamp.br)

SP3: Numerical modeling of multiphase flow in porous media

This subproject aims to improve numerical modeling of complex static and dynamic characteristics of pre-salt carbonate fields and to advance in high performance computing for OPM-Flow (an open-source reservoir simulator).

Contact: Vinicius Eduardo Botechia (botechia@unicamp.br)

SP4: Energy efficiency and IOR

This subproject aims to solve the following question: how can we improve oil and gas recovery in oil companies’ assets and be energy efficient? In this context, the main objective is to take the most value of the flexibility brought by production systems and enhanced oil recovery mechanisms (intelligent wells, ICV, AICD, WAG, polymer flooding, WAG or other) to increase production and recovery with efficient carbon profile and considering energy demands.

Contact: Davi Éber Sanches de Menezes (menezes@unicamp.br)

SP5: Development team - workflows, tools, guides, and IT support

The main objective is to support all other SPs with the necessary tools for the research development, with a close follow-up to also identify, implement and maintain mature workflows and solutions to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer.

Contact: Antônio Alberto de Souza dos Santos (aalberto@unicamp.br)