Talk abstract:

Optimal Control of an Oilfield Reservoir under Uncertainty

Joint work with Robert Burridge, and Benoit Couet.

A model oilfield problem is considered in which oil is extracted at a central producer while water is injected at four surrounding injector wells arranged in a quincunx (inverted five-spot) pattern. The rates of oil production and water injection are controlled to optimize the net present value of the production subject to the condition that water production is inhibited. Account is taken of uncertainty in the position of the oil patch at the onset of production.