From Monday, November 26, to Thursday, November 29, Heriot-Watt University was the venue for two intensive courses focused on cutting-edge reservoir simulation tools: WinProp and CMG-GEM. These courses, aimed at advancing the skills of students in CO2 sequestration modeling, were both highly educational and practically enriching.
WinProp Course: Deep Dive into PVT Modeling
The week kicked off with an online class on WinProp, a phase behavior and PVT modeling software. Led by Alexis Gammiero, an experienced Reservoir Simulation Engineer at CMG, this session attracted over ten students eager to enhance their understanding of reservoir simulation.
The course content was meticulously designed to provide a thorough grounding in key areas of PVT modeling. Alexis guided the students through the intricacies of C7+ characterization, a critical process for accurately representing heavy hydrocarbon components in reservoir fluids. The session also covered regression techniques for matching the PVT model with experimental data, ensuring that the models used in simulations are as realistic as possible. Another significant takeaway from the course was the method for calculating the Minimum Miscibility Pressure (MMP) of CO2, an essential parameter in enhanced oil recovery and CO2 sequestration projects.
CMG-GEM Course: Advanced CO2 Storage Modeling
The subsequent three days were dedicated to an in-depth in person tutorial on CO2 storage modeling using CMG-GEM, conducted by Marco Misenta. This course saw the participation of fifteen students, all keen to delve deeper into the complexities of CO2 sequestration.
Marco’s comprehensive course covered a wide range of topics crucial for understanding and modeling CO2 storage. These included different solubility models for CO2 in water, a fundamental aspect of predicting CO2 behavior in subsurface conditions. The course also addressed changes in relative permeability during imbibition and drainage, a phenomenon known as “relative permeability hysteresis”, providing insights into the dynamic nature of reservoir properties.
In addition to these, Marco introduced the students to geomechanics, focusing on the mechanical responses of reservoir rocks under the stress changes induced by CO2 injection. Geochemistry was another key topic, examining the chemical interactions between CO2 and reservoir brine and minerals. This is important because CO2 speciation and mineralization can be one of the CO2 trapping mechanisms.
A highlight of the course was the introduction of CoFlow, a new CMG product that integrates multiple reservoirs with all surface facilities. This tool represents a significant advancement in managing complex reservoir systems, offering a more holistic approach to reservoir simulation.
To ensure the practical applicability of the knowledge gained, Marco also taught the students numerical tuning techniques in CMG-GEM. These techniques are vital for resolving convergence issues, a common challenge in reservoir simulation, thereby enhancing the reliability and accuracy of simulation results.
Acknowledgements
The successful execution of these courses would not have been possible without the expertise and dedication of Marco Misenta and Alexis Gammiero. Their ability to convey complex concepts in an understandable and engaging manner significantly enriched the students’ learning experience. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Professor Eric Mackay for his unwavering support and for facilitating these exceptional learning opportunities. His commitment to fostering professional growth and development is deeply appreciated.