Machine-Learning-Based Approach to Optimize CO2-WAG Flooding in Low Permeability Oil Reservoirs

Abstract

One of the main applications of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology in the industry is carbon-dioxide-enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR). However, accurately and rapidly assessing their application potential remains a major challenge. In this study, a numerical model of the CO2-WAG technique was developed using the reservoir numerical simulation software CMG (Version 2021), which is widely used in the field of reservoir engineering. Then, 10,000 different reservoir models were randomly generated using the Monte Carlo method for numerical simulations, with each having different formation physical parameters, fluid parameters, initial conditions, and injection and production parameters. Among them, 70% were used as the training set and 30% as the test set. A comprehensive analysis was conducted using eight different machine learning regression methods to train and evaluate the dataset. After evaluation, the XGBoost algorithm emerged as the top-performing method and was selected as the optimal approach for the prediction and optimization. By integrating the production prediction model with a particle swarm optimizer (PSO), a workflow for optimizing the CO2-EOR parameters was developed. This process enables the rapid optimization of the CO2-EOR parameters and the prediction of the production for each period based on cumulative production under different geological conditions. The proposed XGBoost-PSO proxy model accurately, reliably, and efficiently predicts production, thereby making it an important tool for optimizing CO2-EOR design.