The invention relates to a method for predicting the performance of
large-scale hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir floods. One embodiment of the
invention includes a method for predicting performance of a patterned
flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said
formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer
wells, comprising the steps of: determining flow-based pairs of injector
to producer wells [FIG. 4, item 78a] (first well pairs) using a
geological model [item 76]; developing a connective pore volume
distribution curve for each first well pair item [78b]; selecting at
least two first well pairs (selected well pairs) that reflect narrow and
wide connective pore volume distributions that correspond to high and
lower oil recovery levels; developing a 3-D simulation model for each
selected well pair, performing a reservoir simulation for each selected
well pair for the corresponding flooding process; and generating
prototype performance curves for each selected well pair. An alternate
embodiment of the invention includes a method for predicting the
performance of large-scale hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir floods where
injection well location, production well location, a process parameter,
or a well processing rate is modified.