Case Study: California Resources Corporation improves thermal recovery economics with Computer Modelling Group simulation

California Resources Corporation saves $10M-$15M with Computer Modelling Group

California Resources Corporation (CRC) faced the challenge of improving oil recovery from a heavy oil reservoir in Bakersfield, California, where historical primary production and thermal processes had seen mixed success. To understand the reservoir's characteristics before making a major development investment, CRC worked with Computer Modelling Group, utilizing their STARS™ thermal simulator and CMOST™ AI.

Computer Modelling Group's solution involved creating a calibrated full-field model to evaluate development plans. Using CMOST AI for automated history matching and sensitivity studies, CRC optimized well spacing and recovery processes. The results confirmed thermal recovery was superior, identifying an optimal plan that saved an estimated $10-$15 million USD in the first five years and yielded a 185x cost/benefit ratio for the simulation project.

California Resources Corporation