Parallel Interactive Reservoir Simulator

A bold advance in reservoir simulation performance

The industry first integrated modeling and data analysis framework centered on dynamic reservoir simulations combining interactive 3D graphics and supercomputer parallel performance with no extra per core charge.

Major reasons to apply tnavigator®

Universal software: from sector waterflood and history matching to running giant models on cluster

Computational performance• Turns your workstation into an interactive desktop

supercomputer with 10–20 times parallel perform-ance boost.

• The license price is per computer and does not depend on the number of CPUs, cores used.

• Clusters: Revolutionary Hybrid technology.• Record breaking parallel scalability: from x 100 to

x 1300+ acceleration factor.• Clouds: scalable ‘pay-per-use’ solutions.

All basic simulation model features including• Multi-component, fully-implicit calculations, dual

porosity, dual permeability.• Corner point, general mesh formulation (NNC, LGR,

faults, pinchouts, etc.), unstructured grids.• THP, drawdown well controls; unlimited hierarchic

group structure and controls.• Multiple flow, PVT (including multibranching), equi-

librium regions.• Vertical, deviated, horizontal, multi-segmented

wells, fractures.• Aquifers (Fetkovich, Carter Tracy, constant flux,

constant head pressure, numerical).• Simulation of tracers. • Numerically efficient EOR modeling toolbox: alka-

lines, surfactants, polymers.• Surface network option, compressors, chokes, VFP

lifting tables.• Flux options for sector modeling.• Full field thermal simulations: steam injections,

SAGD.

New technologies• Fractured well model.• Quantitative estimate of waterflood efficiency.• Fully-automatic split/merge models.• Smart loading routines for “sparse” models.• Wise approach to dual porosity/permeability simu-

lation speed-up.

• Desalination for collectors with salt.• Interactive tracers with activation conditions for

injection of chemicals.

Fully Interactive Simulations• Monitor all 3D dynamic reservoir & well data at run-

time.• Add wells, patterns, restart runs, generate forecasts

interactively at runtime.• Pre-, post-processing, monitoring through one

intuitive multiplatform GUI.• Runtime analytics, 3D streamlines, waterflood opti-

mization.

Uncertainty quantification and assist-ed history matching

• Part of the simulation package. Easy workflow set up.

• Experimental design methods.• Optimization algorithms.• Analytic toolbox.

Seamless support of the existing industry standard input formats

• Converts E100, E300, Tempest MORE, IMEX, STARS input deck formats “on the fly”.

• The simulation results can be saved as E100 binaries to link the simulator with the software in your work-flow.

Basic geological modeling features• Handling of well log data. • Arithmetics on the grid.• Reservoir properties interpolation in the interwell

space. • Deterministic and stochastic approaches. • Kriging. Sequential Gaussian simulation method.• Voronoi grids. • Flexible well data format.

Comprehensively benchmarked against industry standard packages. Corporately used by international oil and gascompanies.

Black-oil Compositional Thermal Compositional

Parallel Interactive Reservoir Simulations

tNavigator is the industry leading parallel dynamic reservoir simulator that efficiently utilizes all available computational resources.

Based on the recent hardware developments, tNavi-gator provides record boost to reservoir simulation performance. Smart balancing of the computational resources of multi-CPU multicore systems allowed breaking through the existing industry standard ac-celeration limits, and reaching almost an order of the magnitude improvement in cluster performance.

• All elements of the simulator are parallel.• System thread parallelization for multicore work-

stations.• MPI algorithms for clusters.• Superscalable hybrid technology for multicore CPU

clusters.• Efficient memory utilization.• Uniform load distribution between the cores.• Non-uniform memory access.

No additional fee for multicore computations. tNavigator software uses power of all the avail-able CPU cores of the workstation.

We do not tax your hardware!

Maximize your reservoir simulation performance for free!

tNavigator offers reservoir engineers and geolo-gists unique runtime monitoring of the simulation runs, advanced field development planning and water-flood optimization functionality interactively with a 3D graphical user interface:

• Run dynamic reservoir simulations 10–20 times faster with modern multicore computers.

• No painful data migration, since tNavigator directly loads and exports industry standard ASCII and binary formats.

• Monitor every dynamic grid property and well data live at runtime, while running simulations on work-stations or clusters.

• Easily handles small sector and large full-field mod-els with minimum or no upscaling.

• Run full finite difference simulations, perform 3D streamline-based waterflood analysis in the same interface with no additional software to buy.

• Create and run forecast models instantly from any time step, right after the history matching is com-pleted.

• Load your well log data directly from LAS files and plot it against the well production profiles

• Update your grid parameters based on 3D interpo-lation or kriging directly in the simulator without going back to the geological package

• Novel hydraulic fracture simulations for full-field models applied for generic, shale gas, and oil reser-voirs.

• Efficient sidetrack optimization modeling.• Split and merge dynamic reservoir model grids with

no additional geological packages needed.• Visualize dynamic well production and injection

profiles perforation by perforation, at runtime.• Switch wells from production to injection, add new

wells and well patterns, plan new horizontal well trajectories, inject tracers with a few mouse clicks.

• Include simulations of near well bore treatments into full-field modeling.

InteractIve reservoIr sIMUlatIon tools

tNavigator Hybrid uses a conceptually new ap-proach to parallel computations on clusters (SPE 162090, 163090). The main idea of the hybrid algo-rithm is to adopt different parallel algorithms for every stage.

• Cluster level: model is loaded into cluster and its grid is divided between the cluster nodes according to an equal number of active grid blocks.

• Node level: the parallelization between CPU cores is done on the level of matrix.

• Simulator solver software integrates both MPI and thread system calls.

• The number of MPI processes is limited to the number of cluster nodes, not the number of cores.

The approach in tNavigator Hybrid

removes the bottlenecks in parallel scalability!

Direct thread based parallel algorithms are the most efficient approach for workstations with multicore CPUs. With minimal computation costs for data ex-change between the cores, this technology takes full advantage of CPU evolution.

Software & Hardware hand-in-hand: fast CPU cache, Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA), Hyper-threading, all parts of tNavigator are parallel (not just linear solv-er), special compiler settings, and many other tricks to maximize the computational efficiency.

Parallel acceleration versus number of cores used for different generations of CPU’s (including hyperthreading)

From days to hours!

Hybrid technologies for Multicore cpU clusters

CPU computational efficiency grows rapidly today due to an increase in the number of cores. At the same time, the cost of high-performance computational systems is constantly decreasing. Taking into account the availability of computational power, there is a growing demand for efficient software, which would be able to utilize all the computational resources in hand with a wise approach to parallel reservoir simulations. We know how to make it efficient.

shared Memory thread Based parallelization

tnavigator® provides fantastic scalability on shared memory workstations and high-performance clusters

Over the last few years, the cluster system archi-tecture has changed dramatically. These changes rep-resent the most significant advance over the last 20 years. Every computational node of a cluster is now a multicore computer with non-uniform access to RAM. Losing sight of these changes during software develop-ment leads to a dramatic loss of efficiency and poor CPU utilization.

Parallel Interactive Reservoir Simulations

processors, which sums to 4096 simulation cores.A real field three-phase model with 39 wells and 10

years of history was chosen as the study test object. The model contained 21.8 million active grid blocks.

The model calculation time was reduced from 2.5 weeks down to 19 minutes. The resulting speed-up coefficient compared to one calculation core is equal to 1 328! This can be called the world record for commercial solutions in this field!

From days to minutes!

Cloud SimulationsIf you need to run more model realizations or get

the results sooner, you simply need to add more CPUs. One way is to get new servers installed locally in your company.

Another alternative is to rent the computational power available in clouds. RFD has recently implement-ed a cloud simulation system available for all compa-nies running the simulations. All it takes to run the model from the user side is to upload the input data via encrypted channels (similar to the banking online sys-tems), chose the number of CPU’s to be rented and press run. The simulation results can be observed remotely at runtime from the user terminal located anywhere in the company. The encryption key can only be used in the company network, so the data is 100% secured when simulating in remote clusters within the cloud.

This makes the reservoir modeling solutions much more scalable in terms of time, money, human and com-putational resource.

Giant Field ChallengeThe algorithm performance was studied on the RFD

cluster with 20 nodes, 40 Xeon 5650 CPUs, 240 cores, 480 Gb DDR3 1333MHz RAM, QDR 4x Infiniband (40 Gb/s). This is a portable cluster which can be placed in a small server room.

The three phase black-oil model for one of the world’s largest oil fields was used for tNavigator Hybrid performance tests. It contains 43 million active blocks, nearly 14 000 wells, and covers 42 years of production history.

The huge number of well perforations used in this reservoir model presents a very big challenge for par-allel simulations. But even in this extreme environ-ment, the hybrid algorithm shows excellent scaling results, and exhibits continuous growth of efficiency.

The total simulation time for this model was 39 minutes compared to 61 hours with one CPU core demonstrating a parallel acceleration factor of 94! The acceleration factors for the less complex dynamic res-ervoir models on that cluster are found in the range of 80–120.

tNavigator Hybrid algorithm has been successfully applied to a number of giant models with up to 400 million active grid blocks and 1.4 million well con-nections (SPE 171225).

Extreme Scalability ChallengeWe have not seen algorithm saturation in any of the

calculation series. To check the limitations we applied a more powerful 512 node cluster. Each cluster node consisted of two four-core Intel® Xeon 5570 Nehalem

Hybrid performance results

runtime 3D visualization package

• Preprocessing, run monitoring, and the simula-tion result post processing are done using a single multi-window graphical interface working under Windows and Linux.

• Start, pause, restart simulation runs and configure multiple forecast models with a few mouse clicks.

• Every static and dynamic reservoir property in the model can be viewed as 2D, 3D maps, histograms, and user defined vertical profiles.

• Multifunctional 2D bubble maps to display well production and injection instant and accumulated rates, historical data and mismatches.

• Runtime graphs of rates and property changes with time for each model grid block, for each well perfo-ration.

• Dynamic contour lines of any 2D property map.• Dynamic well production and injection profiles can

be visualized at the perforation level at runtime.• Waterflood optimization tools: 3D and 2D stream-

lines are calculated on each time step from the current pressure distribution, drainage matrix and injection efficiency graphs, user arithmetic, etc.

• Flow maps on the grid: accumulated flux in the gridblocks, influx through the faces at each time step.

• Interactive tracer simulations.• Advanced comparison tables and graphs for effi-

cient history matching.• Advanced user map calculator.• Well log data comparison with production profiles

along the wellbore• Well log correlation maps.• Static model update in the GUI without going back

to geological software.• Click of the button comparison of multiple simula-

tion results.

Simulation in progress!

The package allows interactive adjusting of the dy-namic model in the GUI with immediate visualization on maps and plots. All visualization features are avail-able during the run for results monitoring. tNavigator offers various options for results interpretation, e. g. tables, graphs, bubble maps, contours, 1D and 2D histo-grams, well profiles, and various reports. The GUI pro-vides an unlimited number of windows with different types of data synchronized for detailed results moni-toring.

Available for cluster as client-server application. All simulation results for individual models or simulation queues can be monitored in real time from a remote terminal.

Dramatic boost to cluster usage efficiency!

Parallel Interactive Reservoir Simulations

tNavigator introduces a new approach to hydraulic fracture simulation. The fracture is considered as part of the well. To simulate fractures, a network of new “vir-tual” perforations is generated in the grid blocks inter-sected by the assumed fracture surfaces. The fracture efficiency is modeled through the individual virtual perforation efficiencies and proppant properties (SPE 138071).

This approach provides the most realistic calcula-tion of fluid inflow to the well. This new technology was successfully tested on large full-field models of gi-ant Western Siberia reservoirs with a large number of hydraulic fractures.

Hydraulic fracturing in tNavigator can be defined quickly via the graphical interface. User defines frac-ture parameters in the dialogue (azimuth angle, length, width, proppant type etc.). The fracture is immediately visualized in the 3D map as a plane. Fracture geometry can be any shape.

The main benefits of such an approach include a more realistic description of fracture physics featur-ing more direct coupling of the well and the parts of the reservoir connected through the fracture. This ap-proach offers a simple way to define various complex fracture properties as a function of time, and a high

degree of flexibility in the definition and re-configura-tion of fracture networks. The orientation and shape of fractures can be easily changed by modification of the few keywords in the model stack file.

The new technology of fracture modeling can be easily extended from single to multiple fractures per well. The approach is found to be very efficient for sim-ulation of shale reservoirs with multistage fractured wells (SPE 147021).

Multiple hydraulic fractures changing pressure distribution

Multiple realizations of fractures and reservoir prop-erties can be applied for uncertainty quantification of the reservoir performance.

Hydraulic Fracture Modeling

Well trajectory optimization

• Well path definition with a mouse.• Run multiple simulations and compare results ob-

tained with different sets of trajectories and input parameters.

• Well trajectories can be visualized directly on the maps.

Users can define several alternatives for horizontal well trajectories on 2D and 3D maps and user-defined vertical profiles or cross-sections.

• tNavigator also allows direct definition of well pa-rameters by including trajectories, events, history in the DATA-file.

• No well section revision is required when you change the grid. As the well definitions are given in absolute coordinates it is common for all realiza-tions of the model.

• Production optimization applications can change the trajectories and well controls directly in the tables without any additional scripting.

This unique feature in tNavigator provides the user with tools for automatic splitting of large models with single and dual porosity/permeability into self-con-sistent sector models and merging them back together again after updates. The input decks for sector models are generated automatically, and include all features and keywords from the initial model applied to the small model grid. • Efficient framework for project teams.• Reduced overall simulation time.• Simplified history matching and production optimi-

zation problems on sector models. • Reduced project time frames. • No painful data preparation work.

The model can be split using any trajectory: a spe-cific region of the model, or via an arbitrary user map. After running the large model one time before split-ting, the flux boundary conditions are applied to all fragments and used in the calculations. Model updates recorded in the fragments are then merged back into the large model.

The technology was applied to a number of giant models in West Siberia (SPE 162090).

sector modeling tools. automatic model split/merge

Parallel Interactive Reservoir Simulations

Runtime graph of injection efficiency for all the injector wells in the model. The amount of water injected — X axis, effective

oil production rate associated with a given injector — Y

• Introduce tracers interactively to mark the water component based on its origin. See how water front moves from the injectors and examine the reservoir water flow explicitly with maps and production plots.

Tracer maps and plots

Production profiles along the well completion intervals

• Add 2D, 3D streamline visualization and analytics, while running full finite difference dynamic reser-voir simulations.

• Generate tables of injector-producer cross couplings and respective water, oil production allocation fac-tors.

Runtime table of injector-producer couplings calculated via 3D streamlines

• Interactively adjust the production plan: shut wells, change the injection/production controls, switch wells from production to injection, add new wells, well patterns.

• Restart the run with a new production plan interac-tively, see the changes in the production rates and their effective allocations, pressure distribution, and watercuts.

• Check for underperforming injectors in the injec-tion efficiency graphs.

advanced waterflood optimization

tNavigator proposes an elegant method for chemi-cal injection simulations based on active tracers. The particles of chemicals in the water phase can be fully traced in the reservoir from the injection date, and can induce changes in reservoir properties when the acti-vation conditions are fulfilled. Based on user defined tables the tracers can change reservoir properties, such as permeability, porosity, relative permeability etc. The model can be applied directly to the data available from the laboratory core measurements.

tNavigator has been successfully applied to projects with various EOR methods:

• Alkalines• Surfactants• Polymers• BrightWater® nano-polymers

A similar mathematical approach is applied to wa-terflood problems, where the injected water salinity is different from formation water salinity. A new math-ematical model is proposed, taking into account basic physical parameters of the undergoing process, such as maximal salt concentration (saturated solution con-centration), viscosity and water density dependence on salt concentration, porosity, and permeability changes with fresh water flooding (SPE 162091).

Modeling thermal processes has posed many chal-lenges as it requires very fine grid systems to capture the heat transfer phenomena, the heterogeneity of po-rous media, and the complexity of fluid and heat flow in multi-segmented wellbores.

The challenges in the simulation of thermal models have been addressed in tNavigator. The advancement in software and hardware technologies delivers the scal-ability of several orders of magnitude as compared to single core simulation and the results are benchmarked against industry simulators. The capability of handling finer scaled models within practical time frame allows running simulation with more precise prediction of thermal processes and oil production. This opens the door to tackling much larger and more detailed reser-voir model resolution up to geological scale.

Thermal models such as steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steam flooding and cyclic steam in-jection can be simulated with tNavigator.

tNavigator is a full reservoir thermal simulator with capability of handling:

• Dual porosity/ Dual permeability• Steam control for wells• Thermal aquifers• Streamline visualization• Electrical heaters• Multi-segmented wellbores• E300 and STARS input keywords

eor modeling tools

thermal modeling

Parallel Interactive Reservoir Simulations

• Software for building static models from scratch • Using tNavigator platform for parallel computa-

tions and visualizations of large volume of data• Very fast even on large models• User friendly intuitive workflow manager• Loading well trajectories, markers, horizons and

well log data in conventional formats

• Creating mesh using seismic trends• Various methods for reservoir property interpola-

tion from the well logs:• 3D interpolation of reservoir maps• Kriging• Sequential Gaussian simulation method

• Flexible reservoir property calculator• Export to dynamic model• Basic correlations of fluid properties

• Corey functions for relative permeability parameters• Standing’s PVT correlations

• Internal queuing system for distributing multiple simulation runs locally or on remote clusters

• Various experimental design methods for sensitiv-ity analysis

• Iterative algorithms for automatic history match-ing and production optimization

• Analysis toolbox: plots, histograms, tornado charts, correlation analysis

• Direct variable definitions in the data files• Workflow wizards• Well trajectories, perforation intervals, fracture

geometry can be adjusted directly• Variable LGR’s along well paths and fractures• Corey functions for relative permeability modifica-

tions• Reservoir property correlations with keywords• Flexible user arithmetic for complex cases — no

external scripting required• Local adjustments on sector models with flux

boundary conditions

Uncertainty quantification and assisted history matching

Geological modeling

Full modeling workflow with tnavigator® all modules are implemented on the same platform. easy setup for integrated workflows involving static and dynamic modeling

Website: www.rfdyn.comEmail: info-rfd@rfdyn.com

“The tNavigator technology represents a game-changer for us compared to other reservoir simulation software in our organization. We not only can tackle far more complex reservoir models with the software, but we are also able to fully exploit the exceptional speed of tNavigator in combination with our assisted history matching software to significantly reduce project cycle times. This in turn has made reservoir simulation a much more valuable tool to our organization.”

- Larry Murray. Manager, Waterflood Modeling, Occidental Oil and Gas California Operations

“Having been a user of reservoir simulation for over 30 years, I was looking for the next step change in technology that allowed us to do the things we wanted to do, at the resolution we wanted, in an acceptable timeframe and at reasonable cost. RFD achieved this, and I’m sure will achieve a significant part of the reservoir simulation marketplace as others realise that this is a step change in the performance/price value driver.”

- Steve Flew. Technical Director, Petrofac Malaysia

“I would like to express my appreciation for RFD’s outstanding support and thank your development team for adding surfactant modeling capabilities to tNavigator. Use of this feature in our simulation work has advanced our understanding of sur-factant flooding potential in the Spraberry oil field in West Texas.“

- oil and gas exploration and production company

“With tNavigator we managed to reduce the simulation time of the Samotlor field model from one day to 39 minutes. It completely changes the approach to develop-ment planning and waterflood optimization of this huge brown field.”“RFD reduced the complexity of routine operations with the models to the general PC user level”

- Vladislav Dzyuba. Director of Reservoir Modeling, TNK-BP

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