Program Overview

Computational optimization, history matching (data assimilation), uncertainty quantification, and data interpretation are important technologies for modern reservoir management and carbon storage operations. The Stanford Smart Fields Consortium is a multidisciplinary program that performs state-of-the-art research in these important areas. We investigate a wide variety of approaches, algorithms and enabling technologies for optimization and history matching. A key SFC focus is the extension and application of computational methodologies developed for oil/gas production to carbon storage (and eventually hydrogen storage) operations. Several of our projects involve the development of deep-neural-network surrogate models to greatly reduce the computation required for Smart Fields applications. Many of our optimization and constraint-handling treatments are incorporated into a modular code base called the Unified Optimization Framework.

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Smart Fields current and recent research areas include:

• Wide variety of optimization techniques for well placement, well control, history matching, and
  closed-loop modeling of subsurface operations
• Development of deep-learning-based surrogate models for flow simulation, with application to
  history matching and optimization
• Deep-learning-based surrogate models for coupled flow-geomechanical simulation, with application to CO₂ storage
• Deep-reinforcement-learning for closed-loop reservoir management
• Data science methods for interpreting permanent downhole gauges
• Multifidelity approaches and error modeling for optimization and uncertainty quantification
• Optimization of monitoring well location and type for CO₂ storage
• Treatments for handling constraints in CO₂ storage optimization
• Optimization under geological uncertainty
• Data-space inversion for history matching and uncertainty quantification
• Deep learning for geological parameterization for efficient/realistic history matching
• Development of treatments for model error in history matching
• Application of Smart Fields methodologies to practical CO₂ storage operations

Recent Publications

Louis Durlofsky's Publications
Roland Horne's Publications

Please contact Samantha Mickens with any questions regarding SFC or the website.