A Leading SAGD Operator Adopts tNavigator for Dynamic Thermal Simulations of SAGD Models
Rock Flow Dynamics (RFD) is excited to announce that after an extensive and in-depth thermal technical evaluation, a leading SAGD operator in Canada has added tNavigator to its reservoir engineering tools for modeling and dynamic simulation of its world-class thermal oil sands assets.
This is an important step forward that reflects the operator’s commitment to continuous innovation and testament to the unparalleled strength of tNavigator. It is one of the leading operators in Canada’s oil sands and a global benchmark in the application of Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).
tNavigator was extensively benchmarked against a legacy commercial thermal reservoir simulator in close to 35 different models. The initial testing phase included mostly SAGD models, but some other non-thermal models were also included later as part of this extensive testing.
Feedback from the operator company can be summed up that this evaluation turned out to be much better than its expectations.
Evaluation criteria and requirements set by the client included;
- Modeling results’ accuracy such as wellbore temperature and pressure gradients, well-to-reservoir heat transfer rates, steam chamber size and shape, injection and production rates, and cumulative volumes of steam, oil, water and gas over short and long term
- Detailed wellbore modeling and testing of various well configurations and injected fluids
- tNavigator’s ability to simulate models of varying sizes — from single well pairs to full SAGD pads
- Runtime/speed tests for pad models
- Ease of existing models’ conversion to tNavigator format using our automatic model convertor
In addition, tNavigator’s automatic model convertor was extensively used and tested for all models with excellent results. Compared to the legacy thermal simulator, tNavigator repeatedly proved to be faster by up to 10 times, without compromising on the quality or accuracy of its results.
tNavigator not only met but exceeded all the evaluation criteria and requirements set by the client and clearly proved to be demonstrably superior to the legacy thermal simulator.
Shahryar Ali Khan, Senior Reservoir Engineer with RFD in Calgary, who worked on this thermal evaluation and technically represented RFD, had this to say:
The depth and detail of the client’s technical evaluation makes this a significant milestone for RFD. Across a wide range of complex thermal and SAGD models, tNavigator demonstrated the accuracy, performance and flexibility required for modeling assets of this scale. We’re delighted that the client has chosen tNavigator and look forward to supporting their technical teams as they continue to optimise their portfolio.
We welcome the client to our growing group of users in Canada and sincerely appreciate their trust in our software. We are excited to support their journey and look forward to achieving great results together.
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