PAGES 94 // 95

Currently worldwide oil recovery from existing

elds is limited to an average of about 20-40 %
of the OOIP. Thus enhanced recovery is a topic
throughout the world. MPP installations using
complex control features are envisaged to provide
a highly dynamic tool to improve the reservoir
performance increasing the ultimate recovery and
favourably affecting project economics.
This paper presents a preliminary summary
on a research project Verbundprojekt: MPT-
Grundlagenuntersuchungen zur Mehrphasen-
technologie in Offshore und Onshorefrderung
sub-project Lagerstttenverhalten bei Mehr-
phasenfrderung (at TU Berlin) funded by
the German Government (Federal Ministry for
Economics and Technology/BMWi and Federal
Ministry for Education and Research/BMBF).
Introduction
In recent years after more than 20 years of research
and development programs on innovative pumping
solutions the Multiphase Pump Technology has
successfully entered the E & P market. Multiphase
pumps are used to dynamically lower backpressure
on producing wells with variable oil ows, water
ows, gas volume fractions and solid nes from
reservoirs under continuously changing process
conditions such as pressures and temperatures.
Multiphase pumps are capable to increase
production rates and recovery efciency for an
improved reservoir management and enable
liquid/gas/solids mixtures to be transported over
longer distances without prior phase separation at
well-heads towards gathering stations and central
separation units.
The sub project reservoir behaviour during
multiphase production covers various research
topics focusing on the subsurface, the oil and
gas reservoirs, their fundamental conditions, the
natural production processes and phenomena
and the effects of multiphase pumping during
the hydrocarbon elds life-cycle. The aim is to
develop an integrated reservoir simulator based
on the commonly applied software solutions and
reference case study data sets (e.g. Gullfaks). The
derived workow for the integrated eld models
is transferred and applied to run the reservoir
simulation on the MPT test site Rtenbrock
(Wintershall AG).
Gullfaks Case Study/Integrated eld model
The Gullfaks reservoir model is a standard/reference
Twin-Screw Multiphase Pumps as a Tool for Reservoir Engineering
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm R. Dominik
Technical University Berlin
Technische Universitt Berlin
FAKULTT VI
Planen Bauen Umwelt
Institut fr Angewandte Geowissenschaften
Fachgebiet Explorationsgeologie
TU-Berlin Sekr. BH 2
Ernst-Reuter-Platz 1
10587 Berlin
2ND INTERNATIONAL EMBT CONFERENCE // TWIN-SCREW MULTIPHASE PUMPS AS A TOOL FOR RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
geological reservoir model by Schlumberger (see
Fig 1). The model is used to design the workow of
building the proper integrated reservoir simulator. For
the wells and the surface network model PROSPER
and GAP (both Petroleum Experts/PETEX) were
applied to construct, validate and to link up with
Schlumbergers Gullfaks Reservoir ECLIPSE model;
the integrated production model to be calibrated for
the project relevant user/test system.
Fig 1 ECLIPSE - Gullfaks Reservoir model
The second integrated model (based on grids,
reservoir properties, uid properties, well data and
completion data) was tested by exporting the model
from Eclipse to Reveal (PETEX) (gure 2).
Fig 2 REVEAL - Gullfaks Reservoir model
The surface network facility model includes the
downstream elements starting at the sand face,
continues to the tubing, the well head, the ow-
lines and the pump (for example Multiphase pumps)
towards the separator. Figure 3 illustrates the well
and surface network model using PROSPER, GAP
(PETEX).
Fig 3 PROSPER/GAP - Gullfaks surface network model
The integrated reservoir and surface network
simulator is applied to evaluate impacts of
surface facility modications, expansions, and
consolidations on reservoir production proles. An
integrated subsurface-to-surface model consists
of the following main data modules:
Subsurface (Reservoir) model
PVT model
Well model
Surface production system model
To simulate the integrated production model,
third party communication software is used to link
different software package together, such as:
ECLIPSE (Schlumberger) GAP (Petroleum
Experts) by Resolve (PETEX) which is a tool
used to allow connectivity between arbitrary
petroleum engineering packages (Fig 4)
REVEAL (Petroleum Experts) GAP (Petroleum
Experts) by Resolve tool (Figure 5)

Prof. Dr. Wilhelm R. Dominik

PAGES 96 // 97
geological reservoir model by Schlumberger (see
Fig 1). The model is used to design the workow of
building the proper integrated reservoir simulator. For
the wells and the surface network model PROSPER
and GAP (both Petroleum Experts/PETEX) were
applied to construct, validate and to link up with
Schlumbergers Gullfaks Reservoir ECLIPSE model;
the integrated production model to be calibrated for
the project relevant user/test system.
Fig 1 ECLIPSE - Gullfaks Reservoir model
The second integrated model (based on grids,
reservoir properties, uid properties, well data and
completion data) was tested by exporting the model
from Eclipse to Reveal (PETEX) (gure 2).
Fig 2 REVEAL - Gullfaks Reservoir model
The surface network facility model includes the
downstream elements starting at the sand face,
continues to the tubing, the well head, the ow-
lines and the pump (for example Multiphase pumps)
towards the separator. Figure 3 illustrates the well
and surface network model using PROSPER, GAP
(PETEX).
Fig 3 PROSPER/GAP - Gullfaks surface network model
The integrated reservoir and surface network
simulator is applied to evaluate impacts of
surface facility modications, expansions, and
consolidations on reservoir production proles. An
integrated subsurface-to-surface model consists
of the following main data modules:
Subsurface (Reservoir) model
PVT model
Well model
Surface production system model
To simulate the integrated production model,
third party communication software is used to link
different software package together, such as:
ECLIPSE (Schlumberger) GAP (Petroleum
Experts) by Resolve (PETEX) which is a tool
used to allow connectivity between arbitrary
petroleum engineering packages (Fig 4)
REVEAL (Petroleum Experts) GAP (Petroleum
Experts) by Resolve tool (Figure 5)

Prof. Dr. Wilhelm R. Dominik

ECLIPSE (Schlumberger) OLGA (Scandpower)
the options to be tested.
In the designed integrated system, both the
surface network and reservoir simulator run on the
same workstation using communication software
as a message-passing communication interface.
Two protocols are available for the communication
between Eclipse and PETEX (Resolve):
PVM parallel virtual machine
MPI message passing interface
Fig 4 connecting GAP ECLIPSE models
Fig 5 connecting GAP REVEAL models

Sensitivity Study using theoretical models

To distinguish the impact of the reduction of
well head pressure, which is merely done by
the application of the multiphase pump, on the
hydrocarbon recovery of different oil and gas
reservoirs, sensitivity studies must be implemented
using theoretical models on oil and/or gas-lled
reservoirs. Each of those reservoirs have different
uid properties (PVT and SCAL) and can be
changed to recognise the impact of multiphase
pumping on various natural reservoir types. Figure
6 is a theoretical oil model. Two producers (wells)
are used to deplete the sandstone reservoir.
Firstly a normal depletion case has to be run as a
base case in order to compare the results of the
changing uid properties during the process (for
example GOR, Viscosity, Bubble Point Pressure,
SCAL properties-Corey exponents).
With respect to the gas oil ratio sensitivity
study the results of several simulation cases as
a consequence of changing the Gas Oil ratio
(GOR) demonstrate that the reduction of THP in
the highly GOR reservoir (75 -100 Sm3/ Sm3)
has a lower impact on the total recovery factor
than for reservoirs which have small GOR values
(example 5-10 Sm3/ Sm3). The improvement
is 1 to 1.5 % more for the higher GOR reservoir
values and 5 to 6% for the lower GOR reservoir
values (gure 7). Figure 8 shows the 2 cases on
the eld production rates and the improvement
of recoveries, higher in high-viscous reservoirs
compared to low viscous.
Fig 6 3D of the theoretical model
Twin-Screw Multiphase Pumps as a Tool for Reservoir Engineering
Fig 7 Total Oil Production for high and low GOR reservoir
values
Fig 8 Field oil production rate: natural depletion cases and
the onset of multiphase pumping
Fig 9 Well Head Pressure (THP) of WELL A
Fig 10 Well Head Pressure (THP) of WELL B
Fig 11 Field oil production rate: multiphase pumping on a
reservoir supported by water ooding
Figures 9 and 10 show, how THP of WELL A and
WELL B was reduced from around 8 - 10 bar in
the natural base cases to 1 bar, increasing the oil
recovery. Figure 11 is demonstrating the recovery
to be increasing in case of water-ooding the
reservoir.
Rtenbrock test site and modelling
Building the 3D geometrical model applying
PETREL (Schlumberger) is a procedure integrating
the whole range of available geological and
petrophysical reservoir and eld data by the
following stepwise approach:
1. geometrical model
- Data import
- Horizon- and fault-interpretation
- Generating the 3D grid
- Modeling the horizons and faults
- Zonation and layering / stratigraphy
2. Facies modeling
- Data analysis / Log interpretation
- Modeling petrophysical data from Logs
- Generation and simulation of different
facies models
3. Upscaling of the nal model for reservoir-geology
4. Model export to Eclipse
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm R. Dominik
2ND INTERNATIONAL EMBT CONFERENCE // TWIN-SCREW MULTIPHASE PUMPS AS A TOOL FOR RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
PAGES 98 // 99
Fig 7 Total Oil Production for high and low GOR reservoir
values
Fig 8 Field oil production rate: natural depletion cases and
the onset of multiphase pumping
Fig 9 Well Head Pressure (THP) of WELL A
Fig 10 Well Head Pressure (THP) of WELL B
Fig 11 Field oil production rate: multiphase pumping on a
reservoir supported by water ooding
Figures 9 and 10 show, how THP of WELL A and
WELL B was reduced from around 8 - 10 bar in
the natural base cases to 1 bar, increasing the oil
recovery. Figure 11 is demonstrating the recovery
to be increasing in case of water-ooding the
reservoir.
Rtenbrock test site and modelling
Building the 3D geometrical model applying
PETREL (Schlumberger) is a procedure integrating
the whole range of available geological and
petrophysical reservoir and eld data by the
following stepwise approach:
1. geometrical model
- Data import
- Horizon- and fault-interpretation
- Generating the 3D grid
- Modeling the horizons and faults
- Zonation and layering / stratigraphy
2. Facies modeling
- Data analysis / Log interpretation
- Modeling petrophysical data from Logs
- Generation and simulation of different
facies models
3. Upscaling of the nal model for reservoir-geology
4. Model export to Eclipse
Prof. Dr. Wilhelm R. Dominik
Fig. 12 Data integration on Field model Rtenbrock
Fig. 13 Perspective 3D View on Reservoir model Rtenbrock
The available eld data on the Rtenbrock test site
are integrated by various steps in a model (Figures
12 and 13), the reservoir attributes calibrated by
well information, using regional geological and
geophysical data as well as data from elds in the
vicinity for plausibility runs of the model.
The nal model will be exported to ECLIPSE and
the integrated reservoir simulator and is prepared
for an iterative model reprocessing following the
test runs of reservoir simulation.
Conclusions
The combination of various Software products
is needed for the establishment of an integrated
reservoir simulator in order to investigate for

dynamical processes and phenomena involved

in oil and gas production by MPT.
Reference case study data sets Gullfaks
(Schlumberger) are used to calibrate the
modular integrated reservoir simulator
First test-runs on integrated theoretical reservoir
models demonstrate considerable increase of
eld recoveries by the application of MPT
3D Geological model on MPT test site
Rtenbrock is demonstrated for the upcoming
reservoir simulation
Acknowledgments
The paper was generated within the scope of the
joint project (Verbundprojekt): German-Russian
cooperation MPT Fundamental Research on
Multiphase Technology in Offshore and Onshore
Production. Appreciation is expressed to MPT e.V.,
the industry partners Wintershall AG and Heinr.
Bornemann GmbH for permission to publish this
paper and to the partner institutions for their
support. Appreciation is extended in particular to
the Federal Ministry for Economics and Technology
(BMWi) and the Federal Ministry for Education and
Research (BMBF) for funding the project, further
to the software companies granting the academic
licences and to the instructors of applied software
solutions as well as to all the student and expert
members involved in the research project.
References
ECLIPSE Online Manual 2007.2, Schlumberger Geo Quest
GAP Online Manual 6.1, Petroleum Experts Ltd.
PETREL Online Manual and Release Notes Version 2007.1,
Schlumberger Information Solutions, Houston, Texas
RESOLVE Online Manual 2, Petroleum Experts Ltd.
Yarus, J.M. and R.L. Chambers (eds.), 1994: Stochastic
Modeling and Geostatistics: principles, methods and case
studies. Volume 3 of AAPG Computer Applications in
Geology, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Hamilton, D.E. and Jones, T.A, 1992: Computer Modeling
of Geologic Surfaces and Volumes, AAPG Computer
Applications in Geology, No. 1

Twin-Screw Multiphase Pumps as a Tool for Reservoir Engineering