Artificial Neural Network Surrogate Modeling of Oil Reservoir: a Case Study

We develop a data-driven model, introducing recent advances in machine learning to reservoir simulation. We use a conventional reservoir modeling tool to generate training set and a special ensemble of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to build a predictive model. The ANN-based model allows to reproduce the time dependence of fluids and pressure distribution within the computational cells of the reservoir model. We compare the performance of the ANN-based model with conventional reservoir modeling and illustrate that ANN-based model (1) is able to capture all the output parameters of the conventional model with very high accuracy and (2) demonstrate much higher computational performance. We finally elaborate on further options for research and developments within the area of reservoir modeling.

Reconstruction of 3D Porous Media From 2D Slices

We propose a novel deep learning architecture for three-dimensional porous media structure reconstruction from two-dimensional slices. A high-level idea is that we fit a distribution on all possible three-dimensional structures of a specific type based on the given dataset of samples. Then, given partial information (central slices) we recover the three-dimensional structure that is built around such slices. Technically, it is implemented as a deep neural network with encoder, generator and discriminator modules. Numerical experiments show that this method gives a good reconstruction in terms of Minkowski functionals.

Driving Digital Rock towards Machine Learning: predicting permeability with Gradient Boosting and Deep Neural Networks

We present a research study aimed at testing of applicability of machine learning techniques for prediction of permeability of digitized rock samples. We prepare a training set containing 3D images of sandstone samples imaged with X-ray microtomography and corresponding permeability values simulated with Pore Network approach. We also use Minkowski functionals and Deep Learning-based descriptors of 3D images and 2D slices as input features for predictive model training and prediction. We compare predictive power of various feature sets and methods. The later include Gradient Boosting and various architectures of Deep Neural Networks (DNN). The results demonstrate applicability of machine learning for image-based permeability prediction and open a new area of Digital Rock research.