Review of field development optimization of waterflooding, EOR, and well placement focusing on history matching and optimization algorithms

Abstract

This paper presents a review of history matching and oil field development optimization techniques with a focus on optimization algorithms. History matching algorithms are reviewed as a precursor to production optimization algorithms. Techniques for history matching and production optimization are reviewed including global and local methods. Well placement, well control, and combined well placement-control optimization using both secondary and tertiary oil production techniques are considered. Secondary and tertiary recovery techniques are commonly referred to as waterflooding and enhanced oil recovery (EOR), respectively. Benchmark models for comparison of methods are summarized while other applications of methods are discussed throughout. No single optimization method is found to be universally superior. Key areas of future work are combining optimization methods and integrating multiple optimization processes. Current challenges and future research opportunities for improved model validation and large scale optimization algorithms are also discussed.