Improved application of linear programming optimization to non-linear reservoir simulations using a least-squares determination of the influence functions

This study addresses the problem of the optimization of field operations under a given set of technical and economic constraints. This work attempts to demonstrate that an optimum control procedure may be applied to any industrial oil and/or gas reservoir at reasonable cost and at acceptable accuracy level. Both primary and secondary recovery processes can be considered. The method proposed is presented in 2 main sections: (1) the modeling phase provides an approximately and locally linear model of the reservoir; and (2) the optimization phase is performed by using a linear programming algorithm, a procedure which is simpler than nonlinear optimization methods. The application of this method to the case of a hypothetical reservoir demonstrates the validity of the optimum control procedure. Therefore, it is possible to anticipate acceptable results when considering the case of real oil and/or gas reservoirs that feature a large number of producer and injector wells. 12 references.