Oil production optimization of the SOLSORT reservoir

We apply optimal control to operational optimization to a model of a real oil reservoir, SOLSORT, located in the Danish North Sea. The oil reservoir model is a partial differential equation system that is simulated using a commercial oil reservoir simulator (Eclipse 300). The numerical optimization is conducted using an optimization software tool called RESOPT that is implemented in Matlab. The net present value of the reservoir model is maximized using gradient-based optimization methods. Both linear constraints on the manipulated variables and nonlinear output constraints on gas production rates are considered. We impose the nonlinear output constraints using a soft constrained penalty function. Compared to a reference case based on best practice reservoir engineering, the solution based on optimal control is able to increase the net present value by 6-13% and constrain the gas production rate.