Oil Recovery Mechanisms and
Material Balance Equation Case 2
Analytical Study of Mechanisms and Equations Used in Reservoir
Engineering
Prepared by:
Mohammed Ohida
Moad alshhomi
Ibrahim alousta Supervised by: Muhanned Milad
Taha alhatab
Reservoir Engineering Basics
Oil Reservoir
Types of Oil Reservoirs
Characteristics
Porosity:
Undersaturated Oil Reservoirs:
The ratio of void space to the total rock volume, typically Contain only oil at pressure above bubble point.
ranges between 5-35%.
Permeability: Oil Reservoirs with Gas Cap:Layer of free gas above oil.
The ability of rock to allow fluids to flow through it, Dry Gas Reservoirs:Contain only natural gas.
measured in Darcy units.
Pressure: Condensate Reservoirs:
Contain gas and light hydrocarbon liquids.
Affects fluid behavior and flow capability within the
reservoir.
Factors Affecting
Production
Temperature:Affects oil viscosity and flow capability.
Rock Composition:
Determines ease of oil recovery from the reservoir.
Fluid Properties:Viscosity, density, compressibility.
Mohammed Ohida | Supervisor: Muhanned Milad
Oil Recovery Stages
Primary Recovery Recovery Factor Comparison
Uses natural reservoir energy to drive oil production:
Fluid expansion The recovery factor is the percentage of Original Oil In
Gas cap expansion Place (OOIP) that can be extracted.
Natural water drive
Combined recovery methods can extract up to 35-65% of
Rock and connate water expansion
OOIP under optimal conditions.
Recovery factor: 5-15% of OOIP
Secondary Recovery
Maintains reservoir pressure through external fluid injection:
Water injection (waterflooding)
Gas injection
Recovery factor: Additional 10-30% of OOIP
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
Alters oil properties or rock-fluid interactions:
Thermal methods
Chemical flooding
Fluid Expansion Mechanism
Principle of Fluid
Expansion
As reservoir pressure decreases during production, fluids
(oil, dissolved gas, and water) expand in volume, creating a
driving force that pushes oil toward production wells.
Most effective in
where pressure is above bubble point.
Effectiveness
Factors
Oil compressibility Pressure drawdown rate Mathematical
Initial reservoir pressure Reservoir volume Expression
The volume change due to fluid expansion:
Recovery
Efficiency ΔV = Vo × c o × ΔP + V w × c w × ΔP + V r × c r × ΔP
Fluid expansion alone typically recovers 1-5% Where: ΔV = Volume change, V = Volumes (oil, water, rock), c
of Original Oil In Place (OOIP), depending on fluid = Compressibilities, ΔP = Pressure change
properties, rock compressibility, and reservoir geometry.
Mohammed Ohida | Supervisor: Muhanned Milad
Material Balance Equation Concept
Conceptual
Basic Principle
Representation
The Material Balance Equation (MBE) is based on the conservation
of mass principle:
Initial Volume = Current Volume + Produced Volume
It accounts for all fluids entering, leaving, and remaining in the
reservoir at any point during production.
General Form
The general form of the MBE can be expressed as:
F=N⋅(Eo+m⋅Eg)+We
Expansion of Gas Cap + Water Influx + Advantages &
Expansion of Water + Reduction in Pore Volume
Limitations
This equation balances the volume of fluids produced against the Advantages: Limitations:
volume changes within the reservoir.
Assumes uniform pressure
Simple mathematical approach
No spatial resolution
Applications Requires minimal data Requires accurate PVT data
Quick reservoir assessment Limited for heterogeneous
Estimating original oil in place (OOIP) Applicable to various reservoir reservoirs
Determining reservoir drive mechanisms types
Predicting future reservoir performance
Case2 : Volumetric Saturated OIL-Reservoir
Definition:
A volumetric saturated oil reservoir is a reservoir where the initial pressure is equal to the
bubble point pressure (Pb).
As production begins and pressure drops below Pb, solution gas is released and becomes the
primary drive mechanism.
Primary Drive Mechanism
Gas expansion from solution (as pressure drops below Pb)
Minimal or negligible water and rock expansion
No active water influx (volumetric system)
.
Definition Importance
Practical Example:
Oil Recovery Mechanisms &
Material Balance Equation
Case Study: Volumetric Oil Reservoir XYZ-
123
Case Study: Reservoir Properties
Reservoir
PVT Data
Characteristics
Property Value Units Parameter Initial (4,500 psia) Current (2,800 psia)
Reservoir Type Volumetric Oil - Oil FVF (Bo) 1.35 1.28
Initial Pressure (Pi) 4,500 psia Solution GOR (Rs) 750 600
Current Pressure (P) 2,800 psia Gas FVF (Bg) 0.0008 0.0012
Bubble Point Pressure (Pb) 3,200 psia Water FVF (Bw) 1.05 1.04
Reservoir Temperature 180 °F Oil Viscosity (μo) 0.8 1.2
Porosity (φ) 18 %
Average Net Pay 45 ft
Reservoir Area 5,000 acres
Production History
Cumulative oil production (Np ): 10 MMSTB
Cumulative gas production (Gp ): 8 Bscf
Cumulative water production (W
OOIP Calculation Using MBE
Material Balance
Equation 3 Total F):
F=12.8×106+2.4×106=15.2×106 RB
Verify Applicability of Case :
:𝐹=𝑁⋅𝐸𝑜⇒𝑁=𝐹𝐸𝑜
Apply MBE (Case2)
ReservoirType: Volumetric Oil ✅
No water influx → 𝑊𝑒=0W e=0 ✅
No gas cap → 𝑚 =0m=0 ✅ =15.2×1060.11
Reservoir pressure < bubble point → reservoir is =N⋅E o⇒
=138.18×106 STBF
saturated ✅ N= E oF= 0.1115.2×10 6 =138.18×10 6 STB
Rock/water expansion ignored (implicit) ✅
Case 2 MBE applies:𝐹=𝑁⋅𝐸𝑜F=N⋅E o
So:✅
Calculation Steps
Known Data:
1
Assume:
Initial Rs = 750 scf/STB
Current Rs = 600 scf/STB
Initial Bo = 1.35 RB/STB
Current Bo = 1.28 RB/STB
Bg = 0.0012 RB/scf (at 2800 psi)
2 Calculate F:
F=NpBo
⋅ +(Gp−NpRs
⋅ )⋅BgWhere:
•Np=10N_p = 10Np=10 MMSTB
•Gp=8G_p = 8Gp=8 Bscf
•Rs=600R_s = 600Rs=600 scf/STB (current)
•Bo=1.28B_o = 1.28Bo=1.28 RB/STB
•Bg=0.0012B_g = 0.0012Bg=0.0012 RB/scf
Conclusion
Oil Recovery Material Balance
Mechanisms Equation
Primary Recovery: Powerful Tool:
Utilizes natural reservoir energy through fluid expansion, gas cap The MBE provides a simple yet effective method for reservoir
expansion, and water drive mechanisms, typically recovering 5- analysis, OOIP estimation, and performance prediction.
30% of OOIP.
Secondary Recovery: Data Requirements:
Involves water and gas injection to maintain reservoir pressure Accurate production data, PVT properties, and pressure
and improve displacement efficiency, adding 10-30% to recovery. measurements are essential for reliable MBE analysis.
Optimization: Applications:
Understanding the dominant drive mechanism is crucial for
MBE helps identify drive mechanisms, validate simulation
selecting appropriate production strategies and maximizing
models, and make informed decisions about secondary
recovery efficiency.
recovery implementation.
Thank You
