Inferring interwell connectivity only from well-rate fluctuations in waterfloods

This paper presents a practical technique to quantify communication between wells in a reservoir using only production and injection rate data. The technique combines a constrained multivariate linear regression analysis with diffusivity filters to provide information about permeability trends and the presence of transmissibility barriers. The method was developed and tested using a numerical simulator and then applied to a waterflooded field in Argentina. The simulation results indicate that the connectivity between wells is described by coefficients that only depend on geology and relative position between wells; they are independent of injection/production rates. The results of this work can be used to improve the performance of an existing waterflood by suggesting how well patterns might be changed or managed. They could also be used to model flow in the reservoir.