For most conventional reservoirs, numerical simulation is successful in forecasting and extracting valuable information regarding optimal locations for new wells. The results of numerical simulations for the Lost Hills field, however, were not successful because of the special characteristics of its diatomite reservoirs—low permeability but high porosity, weak rock strength, and strong imbibition. Machine learning (ML) has been considered because it does not require specific physical models but can provide good estimations with enough data.
Introduction
The Lost Hills field is approximately 45 miles northwest of Bakersfield, California, USA. It was discovered in 1910, and hydraulic fracturing was introduced in the late 1970s. Waterflooding was introduced in 1992 and has become the main production method.
