11/23/2017 Predicting hydrocarbon recovery - AAPG Wiki

Predicting hydrocarbon recovery

From AAPG Wiki

The volume of hydrocarbon

contained in a reservoir is a function Exploring for Oil and Gas Traps
of pore volume and water saturation
(Sw). Reservoir size and porosity
determine pore volume. Pore throat
size (see Pore and pore throat sizes)
distribution, pore geometry, and
hydrocarbon column height
determine Sw. Estimating
hydrocarbon volume in place before
drilling a well is a matter of
predicting pore volume and Sw. Series Treatise in Petroleum Geology
Recovery of hydrocarbons depends Part Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps
on the efficiency of the reservoir
Chapter Predicting reservoir system quality and performance
drive mechanism. Predicting
recovery depends on predicting Author Dan J. Hartmann, Edward A. Beaumont
reservoir quality and reservoir drive. Link Web page
(http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch09/ch09.htm)
Store AAPG Store (http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545)
Contents
1 Calculating oil volume in place
2 Calculating gas volume in place
3 Estimating recoverable volume of oil or gas
4 Estimating recovery factor
5 Recovery factors for different drive types
6 See also
7 External links

Calculating oil volume in place

To calculate volume of original oil in place (OOIP)in barrels from volume measured in acre-feet, use the following
formula:

where:

7758 = conversion factor from acre-ft to bbl

A = area of reservoir, acres from map data
h = thickness of reservoir pay, ft
= porosity (decimal, not percent)

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Sw = water saturation (decimal, not percent)

Boi = formation volume factor = 1.05 + (N 0.05), where N = number of ft3 of gas produced per bbl of oil
(gas-oil ratio or GOR (http://www.enggcyclopedia.com/2012/03/gas-oil-ratio-gor/)). For example, if a well
has a GOR of 1,000, then Boi = 1.05 + (10 0.05) = 1.1.

Calculating gas volume in place

To calculate volume of original gas in place (OGIP) in cubic feet from volume measured in acre-feet, use the
following formula:

where:

43,560 = conversion factor from acre-ft to ft3

Estimating recoverable volume of oil or gas

Estimating recoverable oil or gas depends on predicting reservoir quality and reservoir drive. Reservoir analogs
help narrow the range of values for variables that determine recovery factor (R.F.). Use the equation below to
estimate the recoverable oil or gas in a reservoir:

where:

OHIP = original hydrocarbons in place

Estimating recovery factor

Drive mechanism has the greatest geological impact on recovery factor. (See Drive mechanisms and recovery.)
Narrowing the range in recovery factor is a matter of estimating how much difference pore type and reservoir
heterogeneity impact the efficiency of the drive mechanism. To estimate the recovery factor, use the procedure
below:

1. Decide which drive mechanism is most likely from the geology of the prospective reservoir system and by
comparing it with reservoir systems of nearby analog fields or analog fields in other basins.
2. Multiply OOIP or OGIP by the recovery factor for the expected drive.
3. Narrow the recovery factor range by predicting the thickness of the reservoir by port type. Port type affects
recovery rate. For example, in a reservoir with strong water drive and macroporosity, recovery will be up to
60%, mesoporosity recovery will be up to 20%, and microporosity recovery will be 0%.

Recovery factors for different drive types

The table below shows recovery factor percentages for different drive mechanisms for oil vs. gas reservoirs.

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Percent ultimate recovery

Reservoir drive mechanism
Gas Oil
Strong water 3040 4560
Partial water 4050 3045
Gas expansion 5070 2030
Solution gas N/A 1525
Rock 6080 1060
Gravity drainage N/A 5070

See also
Interpreting water saturation
Interpreting Sw distribution in a reservoir
Interpreting hydrocarbon shows

External links
Original content in Datapages
find literature about
Predicting hydrocarbon recovery
(http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch09/ch09.htm)
Find the book in the AAPG Store (http://store.aapg.org/detail.aspx?id=545)
Retrieved from "http://wiki.aapg.org/index.php?title=Predicting_hydrocarbon_recovery&oldid=23607"
Categories: Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps Predicting reservoir system quality and performance

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