SPE 56--?

The Material Balance as an Equation of a Straight Line

HUDSON'S BAY OIL & GAS CO., LTD.
D. HAVLENA
CALGARY, ALTA., CANADA
A. S. ODEH SOCONY MOBIL OIL CO., INC.
MEMBER AIME DALLAS, TEX.

ABSTRACT geological and petrophysical data of unknown accuracy.

In addition, the oil-in-place obtained by the MBE is that
The material balance equation used by reservoir engi-
oil which contributes to the pressure-production history,'
neers is arranged algebraically, resulting in an equation
while the volumetrically calculated oil-in-place refers to
of a straight line. The straight line method of annlysir
the total oil, part of which may not contribute to said
imposes an additional necessary condition that a successful
history. Because of this difference, the disagreement be-
solution of the material balance equation should meet. In
tween the two answers might he of paramount imnortanee,
addition, this algebraic arrangement attaches a dynamic
and the concordance between them should not be over-
meaning to the otherwise static material balance equation.
emphasized as the measure of correctness of either one.
'The straight line method requires the 17otting of one
In this paper, a third necessary condition of mathe-
variable group vs another variable group. The sequence
matical as well as physical significance is discussed. It is
of the plotted points as well as the general shape of the
not subject to any geological or petrophysical interxeta-
resulting plot is of utmost importance. Therefore, one can-
don, and as such, it is probably the most important nec-
not program the method entirely on a digital computer as
essary condition. It consists essentially of rearranging the
urually done in the routine solution of the material
MBE to result in an equation of a straight line. This
balance equation. If this method is applied, then plotting and
straight line method of the MBE solution has invalidated
analysis are essential.
a few long time accepted concepts. Fur instance, it has
Only the appropriate equations and the method of
always been advocated that if a water drive exists, but
analysis and interpretation with comments and discussion
one neglects to take it into account in the MBE, the
are presented in this paper. Illustrative field examples for
calculated oil-in-place should increase with time. The
the various cases treated are deferred to a subsequent straight line method shows that in some cases, depending
writing. on the size of the neglected aquifer, the calculated oil-in-
place might decrease with time.
INTRODUCTION The. straight line method requires the plotting of a
variable group vs another variable group, with the variable
One of the fundamental principles utilized in engineer-
ing work is the law of conservation of matter, The appli- group selection depending on the mechanism of produc-
cation of this principle to hydrocarbon reservoirs for the tion under which the reservoir is producing. The most
important aspect of this method of solution is that it
purpose of quantitative deductions and prediction is termed
"the material balance method of reservoir analysis". While attaches a signifi ........... to the sequence of the plotted
the construction of the material balance equation (MBE) points, the direction in which they plot, and to the shape
anti the entnputsitionS that on with its a
n
nli
rsiti nn
are not
of the resulting plot. Thus, a dynamic meaning has been
difficult tasks, the criteria that a successful solution of the introduced into the picture in arriving at the final answer.
Since the emphasis of this method is placed on the inter-
MBE should fulfill have always been a problem facing the
pretation of the sequence of the points and the shape of
reservoir engineer.
the plot, one cannot completely automate the whole
True and complete criteria should embody necessary
sequence to obtain "the best value" as normally done in
and sufficient conditions. inc criteria -which the reservoir
the routine application of the MBE. If one uses the
engineer uses possess a few necessary but no sufficient
straight line method, then plotting and analysis are musts.
conditions. Because of this, the answers obtained from the
MBE are always open to question. However, the degree of The straight line method was first recognized by van
Everdingen, et al,' but for some reason it was never fully
their acceptability should increase with the increase in
exploie-d. The advantages this. me".od
the number of the necessary conditions that they should
satisfy. can be more appreciated after a few cases are carefully
r! treated and worked out by it.
S..1W1M1 any , 1M. 403 WIMI LIU13 %.0111111vuly G
( 1 ) an unspecified consistency of the results and(2) the
agreement between the MBE results and those determined SOLUTION OF THE MATERIAL BALANCE
volumetrically. EQUATION
This second criterion is usually overemphasized. Actu- SATURATED RESERVOIRS
ally, the volumetrically determined results are based on
The MBE for saturated reservoirs written in AIME
symbols is
Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Famineers office
Feb, 4, 1968. Revised manuscript received May 22, 1963. Paper pre-
sented at the U. of Oklahoma-SPE Production Research Symposium.
April 29-80, 1903, in Norman, Okla. 'References given at end of paper.
896 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
 N,[B, + B. (R, — R.,)] + W„ — W, — Gi Big E
plot of F— — 1!- should result in a straight line with N
B„ vs

= NI(B, — (c, + S.c.) OP

1 S. being the Y intercept and G being the slope, Fig. 2a.

+ m 114 (B. B„)1++ W. (0) F = N (E. + m E.) (2b)

B„ B., _
ilt
The left hand side of Eq. 0 represents the net produc- If the as-
Assume an m and plot F vs (E. +
tion in reservoir barrels and will be denoted by F. On the B.,

right hand side, we first term includes, respectively, the sumed m is correct, the plot will be a straight line going
expansion of the oil E., the rock and connate water E,,., and through the origin with N being the slope. If the assumed
the free gas E„. The second term represents the water influx m is too small the line will gn through the origin hut will
which is given by'. curve upward. If the assumed m is too large the line will go
through the origin but will curve downward (Fig. 2b).
W. = CUPQ(44)
Several values of m are assumed until the straight line
For saturated reservoirs, one normally neglects the rock
going through the origin plot is satisfied.
and water expansion E f ,
Thus, Eq. 0 becomes
..

B, As the reader will appreciate, the SO1411014 (Eq. 2b) is

F = NE. + Nm E„ + C4pQ(At,,) . (Oa) a more powerful method than the one in Eq. 2a since it
B„
specifies that the line must go through the origin. However.
Eq. Oa is the expanded form of the MBE, where the for checking purpose it is recommended that both methods be
three mechanisms of production, i.e., oil expansion, E. = used in every case.
— R. 1 gas RIEpa mi n e , F = ( A — Ti ) and avatar

drive are included. Absence of one or two of the above

Water Driven Reservoirs, Two Unknowns
mechanisms requires deletion of the appropriate terms
from the equation. Water Drive, No Original Gas Cap:
In the figures that follow, the sequence of the individual F = N + Cl4pQ(AtD) (32)
plotted points, calculated for increasing cumulative pro- E. E.
duction, will be indicated by an arrow.
Assume an aquifer configuration, an and a dimen-
r,„
No Water Drive, No Original Gas Cap
2,ApO(Llt„) and plot vs
F = NE. (1) sionless time At.. Calculate
A plot of F vs E,, should result M a straight line going XAPQ(AtD)

through the origin with N being the slope, Fig. 1. It should be If the assumed aquifer and dimensionless
E.
noted that the origin is a must point; thus, one has a
fixed point to guide the straight line plot.

No Water Drive, A Known Gas Cap

F= N (E. + m B4,-Eg) (la)

D Oi

B,
A plot of F vs (E. + m E,) should result in a

straight line going through the origin with a slope of N.

It N
No Water Drive, N and m are Unknown
The appropriate MBE is written in two forms so as to
00 Eg /Eg
result in two methods of solution, Eqs. 2a and 2b.
F F.,
F E. 2A--E-: vs
E =N+ (2a)

B„
where G = Nm — = the original gas-cap gas in scf. A
B„

71
 00

oo
E,, E0+.41 to,
Fie. 1—F vs E.
RI i
FM. 2B--F vs (E. E,,)
mos

AUGUST. 1963 897

 ti m e are correct, the plot wi l l be a straight line wi t h N calculated and plotted vs their corresponding Atp values

being the Y intercept and C being the slope. ou a l;U M M C M graph paper. T he intersection of the t wo

Four other different plots beside the straight line ma y plots gives t h e mo s t probable value for the A t ,, . Th e o r e t -

result. These are a complete scatter; a line curved upward, ically. the t w o plots should intersect at a value of zero
a l i n e c u r v e d d o wnwa r d , a n d a n S - s h a p e d c u r v e ( F i g . 3 a ) . r,
slope. This is true because if the correct — and AG, are
Co mp l e t e random scatter of the individual points indi - r ,

cates that the calculations and/or the basic data are in chosen, and if the field data are correct, then N and C
error. A system atically u p wa r d or d o wnw a r d curved line
should not vary w ith t i m e, i.e., the N -ti m e plot as w ell as
suggests that t h e l4pQ ( 1 1 4 ) is too s ma l l or too large,
the C- t i m e plot should result in a zero slope.

r,
As it is evident fro m the foregoing, there are t wo basic
respectively. Th i s me a n s that the a s s u me d and/or the

sources of errors, systematic and r a n d o m , wh i c h could

AG, are, respectively, too sm prevent the obtention of a straight line w h en E q . 3a is

all or too large. A n S-shaped

curve indicates that a hatter fit enuld hP nhtninpri if a applied. Pr o p e r statistical analysis could indicate which
linear wa t e r i n f l u x i s a s s u me d . source causes the linearity of the plot predicted by Eq. 3a

not to be satisfied. In addition, statistical m ethods " could

Th e sequence of the plotted points as indicated by the
be used in the consistency test to deter m ine for a pre-
arr o w of Fig. 3a wi l l persist as long as the aquifer behaves
assigned degree of probability the confidence band for the
like a n infinite one. This is particularly applicable fo r

infinite or fairly large aquifers. in this case, non -steady calculated values of N and C

state w ater influx calculations are a mu s t . On the other In m any large fields it is often found that an infinite

hand, if one suspects the presence of a s ma l l aquifer, in linear w ater drive satisfactorily describes the production -

wh i c h steady-state depletion type flo w wo u l d obtain in a pressure behavior of the said fields. Fo r a unit pressure

short tim e after production c o mm e n c e s , then, it is better drop, the cu m ulative w ater influx in an infinite linear case

to start w i t h the case sho wn i n Eq. 3b. is si m p l y proportional to vr i and do es not require the

r, esti m ation of a di m e n s i o n l e s s t i m e. Th u s , the sum m a t i o n

A fter satisfactory values for — and for AG, are chosen,
term in Eq. 3a b e c o me s 1 , 4 „-vi t — t,. Because of this,
r"
it is suggested to try first the infinite linear case to deter-
the results can be refined by applying the standard devia -
mi n e if a successful solution could be obtained. Howe v e r ,
tion suggested by van FVPITiitIOPII, et al? Tha mo s t
test
even in such a case, the confidence band should be evalu -
probable values for N and C wi l l be those corresponding
ated as a nu m e r i c a l aid in judging the acceptability of
to the di m e n s i o n l e s s ti m e wh i c h gives th e m ini m u m
N and C.
standard deviation a m in.

In som e reservoirs the standard deviation a plotted vs

Very Small Aquifer: In this c a se the wa t e r influx W

log Ali, wi l l not give a sharp -"-iimum but will be "dish- could be repre esnted by either

sh a p e d " . Th i s p h e n o me n o n usually results fro m the fact W. = 1 , A p Q (A t o )

that the particular reservoir is insensitive to the changes by the apprnxim2te but simpler eqnntinn
or

of Zito. The establish m ent of t h e mo s t probable value of

W. =
where On' = p, — p, C' =
At,' becom es, in such a case, only of academ ic interest.
W is the water volume
An additional criterion used to judge the mo s t probable
in the aquifer and the assu m ption is m ade that a steady-
values for N and C is called the consistency test, w hich is
state depletion condition obtains. Th e MB E b e c o m es
411PC around the
described in the following. Several AtD A/ Ap'
min imu m po int of t h e s t a n d a r d d e v i a t i o n p l o t a r e r e a d . =N C' ( 3 b )

For every c h o s e n Atz„ N a n d C as functions of real ti m e E,,

are calculated. Plots of N vs real ti m e a n d C v s r e a l t i m e F p '

A plot of — vs -1/:1-- should result in a straight line w ith

are constructed, and by me a n s of the least square m e th od,

E E
the hest straight line a r n wn through

plot. Th e slopes of the N and

the p^ints of every N being the Y intercept a n d C ' being the s l o p e . Th e
C straight lines are then
points w ill plot backwards a s s h o wn in Fig. 3b.

T he reversal in the sequence of points is based On the

fact that E. increases faster than Ap'. Th u s , — decreases

e
e „t 66" as the pressure decreases. Since C ', the wa t e r influx con-

nP

Ass
//'.

u
me °
Onenk stant, is a l w ays

t positive and is given by the slope of the

to190
0 n I nt 1°° E A p O l A I D )
pop. •--
IL W
I E 0

t{ Y.„ApQ (AO
ILs
N
N
00 p
E0
F Ap
0,,
 Fig. 3A F vs Fic. 3 s --E—.- vs
E.

11198 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECRNOLOGY

 F Water Drive, Original Gas Cap and N Are Unknown
straight.fine plot, then of necessity -E7- should also decrease
Eq. Oa is differentiated with respect to pressure and
as the pressure decreases. Therefore, the points must move the resulting equation is used with Eq. Oa to elminate m.
in a backward sequence. The final equation is rearranged to give
Thus, in this case, if one neglects to take into account Fb' — F'b

when performing the MBE calculations, —N+ _ _ _

the water E„b' — E.'b E„b' — Ee'b
the resulting — which is equal to the apparent N will — b IMAbOt ALAI' 1
• J
decrease with time. (4)

In practical application it is often found that such a ,. _

steady-state water influx sets in after a certain period of where b = --2 . The primes denote derivatives with
B„
time the limo, of which depend. mainly on the size of respect to pressure.
the aquifer. In such a case, the plotted points, represent- Thus, a plot of the left hand side of Eq. 4 vs the
ing the early period of reservoir history during which the C—term of the right hand side should result in a straight
non-steady state water influx prevails, will plot in a line with N being the Y intercept and C being the slope,
forward sequence as in Fig. 3a. However, when the provided the correct aquifer is chosen. When N and C
effect of the boundary becomes appreciable, the plotted are determined, then Eq. Oa is used to solve for m as a
points will reverse the sequence and plot backwards. function of real time. The best value of m is then cal-
Sometimes, an appreciable change in the exploitation culated by least squares.
policy of the reservoir might temporarily reverse the se-
For greater accuracy the derivatives of the summation
quence. Even in such a case the points must remain on term UipQ((ta) should be evaluated by using the deriv-
a straight line if the correct parameters were assumed.
atives of the gt,,) function with the corresponding pres-
Having determined C', one can calculate the amount sure drops.'
of water W contained within the aquifer since C' = W e
UNDERSATURATED RESERVOIRS
Water Drive, A Known Gas Cap:. Nn Water nrive
F
—N+C (3c)
B, B. (S„c. + + cf)Ap'
E. + m --LE„m + - E_ = (5)
B„ 1 — S.,

A plot of the left hand side of Eq. 3c vs the variable B„,Ap'

A plot of N..B. vs (S,c. + S..c.. + c.l should
term of the right hand side should result in a straight I — S.,

line if the correct aquifer and dimensionless time are

result in a straight line going through the origin similar
assumed. If the line is not straight, then what was dis- to Fig. I with N being the slope. Zip — p, — p.
cussed in Eq. 3a under saturated reservoirs section applies
also here.
With Water Drive
Very Small Aquifer, A Known Gas Cap:
On' N,,B„ + W„ — W,

B, — N + C' B,
(3d)
+ +m (S,c, + S.c. + c,)
B. B„ 1 —

A plot of the left hand side of Eq. 3d versus the C' 5,'ApQ(Ato)
N +c (6)
—term should result in a straight line. The points will ,
plot backwards as shown in Fig. 3b. 0.C. 1- a.C., 1- C1)
1 —
Before closing the water drive section, it must be

pointed out that it is not necessary to know the dimen-

F + Correction for interference
r,
sionless time and/or the — of the system Any assumed
it
values that satisfy the linearity of the plot are acceptable
solutions. Thus, it is possible, at least theoretically, to
ifnd more than one set of aquifer properties which give
a sol..tinn H"wever the ►'s and W's evaluated for
such cases would be identical.

In addition to the fact that too large = or At0 will

her,' the Anwnward, interference between the reser=

voirs will result in the same effect. Thus, if interference
is suspected, one must correct for it before applying the
straight line criteria. The straight line equation to be
plotted in such a case is
 The procedure is similar to that given_ in Eq. 3a under a-Ig
X • I

saturated reservoirs section. A plot of the left-hand side A plot of G„B. vs E„ should result in a straight line
of Eq. 6 vs the C— term of the right-hand side should onino thrnnoh the nriain similar to Pie 1 with n heina
result in a straight line with N being the Y intercept and the slope.
C being the slope. If the plot is not straight, refer to the
cligelminn under F.n 1a.
With Water Drive
GAS RESERVOIRS
G „B „ + IV , — W , .'ApQ(ttD)
No Water Drive
R = /75” 111
E1SpQ(At,,) —G+C
— N + C • (8)
E. E, E,
G,,B, + W, — W, 1.; APQ(Atn)
Refs. 5 and 6 outline a method for calculating the A plot of vs should result
interference correction factor. E, E,

AUGUST, 1963 899

 in a straight line with G being the Y intercept and C being
the slope. rase ince.vitisac Of tilc amaiji-ais identis.-.al with
that advanced in Eq. 3a of the saturated reservoirs sec-
tion. If the aquifer is very small, then Eq. 3b applies.
DISCUSSION
The straight line method of solving the material balance
equation differs from the commonly used one, in that it
imparts a dynamic meaning to the individual points. The
usual method considers each calculated point separately
or some awraging technique, whci Gab the struighi line
method stresses the dynamic sequence of the plotted
points and the shape of the resulting plot. Because of
this, plotting and analyzing the calculated points are of
utmost importance for an intelligent interpretation.
Although it is theoretically possible to solve by the
straight line method for all the cases treated in this paper,
the authors have met only limited enrepont in rocas 7 and
4 under the saturated reservoirs section. This is so, be-
cause whenever a gas cap is to be solved for, an excep-
tional accuracy of basic data, mainly pressures, is required.
Furthermore, the presence of the derivatives with respect to
press, ne in Pa.,. 4 adds more to the necessity of
exceptionally accurate data.
The rest of the cases, especially when water drive
exists, have been tested on many field examples with re-
markable success. The shape of the resulting plot and
usual sequence of the plotted points have been of great
help in gaining understanding to the problem at hand.
Often it is fond that the points calculate,' for the
early history do not conform with the latter points. This
is caused either by inaccuracy of the early average pro-
duction-pressure-PVT data or because pressure-produc-
tion effectsuc
has not yet been felt by all shou
the active oil-in-
place. In h cases these early po;nts ld not be con-
sidered in drawing the best straight line. Moreover, once
the points to be excluded are decided upon, the same
points must be excluded from all subsequent analyses.
900
In conclusion, it should be stressed that the straight
hue requirement does not suffice to prove the uniqueness
of the solution, but is only one of the conditions that a
satisfactory solution should meet. The quantity and qual-
ity of the derived information will depend on the quantity
and quality of the data; and last but not least, on the
experience, judiciousness, and ingenuity of the analyst.
AricNnwr.P.TICIPMF.NT
The material presented in this paper represents the con-
tribution of many people, eSpeCiallY EVerdirigeri, CL al.,
who first recognized the straight line concept. Full credit
it due them. Part of this work was done while the authors
were employed by Mobil Oil Co. de Venezuela. Gratitude
is expressed to J. Jones-Parra of that company for useful
criticism. The authors would like also to thank the man-
agement of Socony Mobil Oil Co., Inc. for permission to
publish this paper.
REFERENCES
1. Schilthuis, R. J.: "Active Oil and Reservoir Energy", Trans.,
AIME (1936) 148, 33.
2. van Everdineen. A. F., Timmerman, E. H. and McMahon,
J. J.: "Application of the Material Balance Equation to a
Partial Water-Drive Reservoir", Trans., AIME (1953) 198, 51.
S_ 1T and Iran rvorrlingan A F: "I'he Apn linstinn of
the Laplace Transformation to Flow Problems in keservoirs",
Trans., AIME (1949) 186, 305.
r. a. u latap, tS 1•• a A AAKAI.Ill £ACfl LUWI l t W II U1151C01.1r.71.011V
Flow Problems in Reservoir Systems", Pet. Engr. (1953) 25,
No. 6, 13.
5. Mortada, M.: "A Practical Method for Treating Oil Field
Interference in Water-Driven Reserves", Trans., AIME (1955)
204, 217.
6. Robinson, M.: "Pressure Interference Correction to the Ma-
terial Balance Equation for Water-Drive Reservoirs Using a
Digital Computer", Trans., AIME (1958) 213, 418.
7. Simon L E.: An Engineer's Manual of Statistical Methods,
John W, iley and Sons, Inc., New York.
R n■-ming W v: ii..-tmer, of oat.,, rah"
and Sons, Inc., New York.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY