Metaheuristic algorithm integrated neural networks for well-test analyses of petroleum reservoirs

In recent years, well-test research has witnessed several works to automate reservoir model identification and characterization using computer-assisted models. Since the reservoir model identification is a classification problem, while its characterization is a regression-based task, their simultaneous accomplishment is always challenging. This work combines genetic algorithm optimization and artificial neural networks to identify and characterize homogeneous reservoir systems from well-testing data automatically. A total of eight prediction models, including two classifiers and six regressors, have been trained. The simulated well-test pressure derivatives with varying noise percentages comprise the training samples. The feature selection and hyperparameter tuning have been performed carefully using the genetic algorithm to enhance the prediction accuracy. The models were validated using nine simulated and one real-field test case. The optimized classifier identifies all the reservoir models with a classification accuracy higher than 79%. In addition, the statistical analysis approves that the optimized regressors accurately perform the reservoir characterization with mean relative errors of lower than 4.5%. The minimized manual interference reduces human bias, and the models have significant noise tolerance for practical applications.