Asymptotics,Saturation Fronts,and High Resolution Reservoir Characterization

Using an asymptotic methodology we formulate a fast, accurate algorithm for the inversion of multi-phase flow data. The approach is appropriate for many common reservoir production strategies such as CO₂ and water flooding. The technique compares well to a purely numerical method with a significant reduction in computation time. In an application to fractional flow data from the North Robertson field in West Texas, 100,000 permeability and porosity parameters are determined on a workstation. Generally, higher permeability, approaching 1milli-Darcy, is found in the eastern portion of the reservoir. The permeability estimates agree with type curve analysis for material and volumetric balances and a previous numerical pilot-point inversion.