An integrated approach for a computer assisted underground gas storage management system

The CARE software is an effective assistant for optimal management of an underground gas storage facility that is customized to the specific characteristics of each reservoir and customer's requirements. Developed from many years of practical experience of the storage operation, reservoir determination and well parameters, CARE ensures an optimal operation mode, which increases the storage performance and permit a longer durability of each well completion. Apart from cost saving effects the operation risk can be reduced by early recognition of failures. The program is modular developed and can be arranged according to customer's specifications. The most comprehensive tool is the process control module, which enables the evaluation and analysis of all relevant data, determination of target and limiting values as well as advanced prognosis function. Therefore with the assistance of CARE the underground storage facility could be operated almost automatically. All relevant technical and geological data as well as available historical measured values are stored in a module-spreading data base, which is currently updated. The report generator creates templates in accordance with the customer's requirements, which can be converted into standard documents or diagrams for the use of management reports or authorities. Moreover there is a package of further high-capacity applications. Interactive coupling with 3-D reservoir simulation is also possible. In this report exemplary of the realisation of well pass and well test are performed. The well pass module provides quick access to all specific geological and well data. The survey over the entire well is just as possible as the zoom in to a special section. The evaluation of well parameters and reservoir properties can be conducted in the well test section with the current methods and compared with previous tests or other wells. Furthermore a gas compositional analysis is available to determine the PVT-properties. A fast evaluation can take place locally, since CARE can be installed on every notebook. For the data transfer an interface is realised within the process control system. The implementation of CARE goes along with accurate adaptation to the local conditions of the underground storage facility. As the accuracy of measurements increases, the effectiveness of the system increases.