ESCUELA POLITECNICA NACIONAL

INGENIERIA EN PETROLEOS

BALANCE DE MATERIALES

YACIMIENTOS II
 Reservoir Engineering Tasks
 Be able to make dependable estimates of
initial hydrocarbons in place.
 Predict the future reservoir performance.
 Ultimate hydrocarbon recovery.
 Material Balance Equation

 Basic tool in reservoir engineering.

 Many reservoir engineering techniques involve
some application of the material balance.
 Principle of conservation of mass underlies the
MB equation
 It is however written on a volumetric basis.
 Mass of fluids originally in place = fluids produced
+ remaining reserves
Material Balance Equation

 First presented by Schilthuis 1936

 Relates volumes to pressures
 Limited in application since no time dependant
terms.
 Provides relationship with reservoir cumulative
production and its average pressure
 Material Balance Equation
 Scope of the analysis depends on the Reservoir
simulators apply material balance approach within
each ‘cell’
 MB equation enables one to get a ‘feel’ of the
reservoir and the contribution of various processes.
 A danger of the blind use of the reservoir simulator
is one might not be aware of the various
contributions to fluid production.
 Material Balance Equation
 Basic ‘material balance’ equation

The reservoir volume of original

fluids in place = reservoir
volume of fluids produced +
volume of remaining reserves
 Material Balance Equation
As a consequence of pressure depletion in a
reservoir a number of things will happen.
 The pore volume of reservoir will decrease
 Connate water will expand
 Undersaturated oil will expand
 Saturated oil will shrink as gas comes out of
solution.
 Free gas will expand.
 Water may start flowing into reservoir.
LIST OF SYMBOLS
LIST OF SYMBOLS
 MB for GAS RESERVOIRS
 Simplest MB equation is applied to gas reservoirs
 Gas compressibility is very significant. Compared
to reservoir volume compressibility.
 If no water drive and pore volume changes
insignificant.
 GpBg = G(Bg – Bgi)
G Bgi = (G – Gp)Bg
 Dry Gas Reservoir with Water Drive
 If gas reservoir supported by water then as gas
produced water encroaches into pore space, some
MAY BE also produced
 However because of very high mobility of gas
compared to water. Water production delayed.
 Water support evidenced by pressure support

GBgi   G  Gp  Bg  We  Wp
 Gas Reservoirs Graphical MB
GBgi   G  Gp  Bg
From equation in gas properties
czT
Bg 
G   G  Gp 
p zi 
G zi z
 G  Gp
z
pi p

pi p

 p   Gzi 
Gp  G     
 z   Pi 
Hence a plot of Gp vs. p/z will give a straight line.
 Gas Reservoirs Graphical MB

If gas ideal then Gp vs. p would be a straight line

-when p/z = 0. Then Gp = G the original gas in place
-When Gp = Then p/z =pi/zi

Often used in predicting gas reserves.

Often water drive neglected.

Often used as a history matching tool to compare reserves based

on production data with those from exploration methods.
 Gas Reservoirs Graphical MB
 Great caution to be taken when using this method
 Water drive is considered to be zero.
 Gas compressibility is only pressure support.
 If the plot deviates from straight line then this
gives evidence of other pressure support
Dry Gas Reservoir with Water Drive

GBgi   G  Gp  Bg  We  Wp
Dry Gas Reservoir with Water Drive
Solving for p/z yields
Wet Gas Reservoirs

 These reservoirs produce liquids as well as gas.

 Important to convert liquids to gas equivalent figures
to add to the gas production.
 For condensate systems Gp produced should include
produced condensate and produced water (originally
dissolved in gas ).
 Wet Gas Reservoirs
Volume of 1STB of condensate of molecular weight
Mo and specific gravity go.
znRT
V
P
z=1 at p= 14.7 psia and T= 520 oR

psia.SCF 520o R lb.mole lb cu.ft.

V / STB  10.73 o
x x x62.4go x5.615
lb.mol. R 14.7psia Molb cu.ft. STB

g o SCF
v  133,000
Mo STB
Development of General MB Eqn.
Gas cap Expansion
Gas cap attached to an oil reservoir
Gpc

GBgi (G-Gpc)Bg
  G  Gpc  Bg  GBgi
Gas cap exp.
Oil
Oil
Pi P

Change in gas cap volume due to gas production from

gas cap is:

  G  Gpc  Bg  GBgi
 MB for Oil Reservoirs Above Bubble Point
Np

NBoi (N-Np)Bo

Pi P

 Above the bubble point, the undersaturated condition,

production is due to expansion of liquids, oil and
water and reduction in pore volume.
 Assuming oil production only due to oil expansion.

NBoi   N  Np  Bo
Then:
MB for Oil Reservoirs Below Bubble Point

 Below bubble point gas liberated in the

reservoir. The mechanism of Solution Gas
Drive
 Produced fluids: oil plus its dissolved gas, gas
which has come out of solution in reservoir
and produced and free gas which has come
out of solution in reservoir and remains there.
MB for Oil Reservoirs Below Bubble Point
Free gas in reservoir = original gas in solution –
remaining gas in solution – produced gas Gps

 NRsi   N  Np  Rs  Gps SCF


 NR si   N  Np  R s  G ps Bg
NBoi  N  Np  NR si  N  Np R s  G ps Bg

rbbl rbbl

Original volume oil = remaining oil volume + volume of

free gas
MB for Oil Reservoirs Below Bubble Point
Equation in terms of original stock-tank volume in reservoir

Np Bo   G ps  Np R s  Bg
N
Bo  Boi   R si  R s  Bg
Np Gps

Free gas
(NRsi-(N-Np)Rs-
NBoi Gps)Bg

Oil (N-Np)Bo

Pi P
MB with gas cap and water drive
So far no volume change in reservoir considered.
If gas cap expands or water encroaches there will be a
loss to reservoir volume
Change in volume due to gas cap expansion:
  G  Gpc  Bg  GBgi

Change in volume due to water encroachment:

  We  Wp 

Total change in volume = original oil volume – (remaining

oil volume + free solution gas)
 MB with gas cap and water drive
Np Gpc Gps Wp

NBoi

Pi P We

 W  W   G  G  B  GB
e p pc g gi

 NB    N  N  B   NR   N  N  R
oi p o si p s  
 Gps Bg
 MB with gas cap and water drive
Np Gpc Gps Wp

NBoi

Pi P We

N
 
Np Bo   G ps  Np R s  Bg   G  G pc  Bg  GBgi   We  Wp 
Bo  Boi   R si  R s  Bg

Gp = Gpc+Gps

Np Bo   G p  Np R s  Bg  G  Bg  Bgi    We  Wp 
N
Bo  Boi   R si  R s  Bg
Effect of Pore Volume Changes
 Water and rock pore compressibility although low can
contribute to overall pore volume changes.
Impact of pore volume changes due to rock.
As pressure falls bulk volume reduces ( increased nett
overburden stress )
and increase in volume of grains.

Nett effect reduction in porosity

Compressibility of rock cf

1 Vpr
cf 
Vp p

Vpr  cf pVp
Vp is the volume of the pores
Effect of Pore Volume Changes
Impact of pore volume changes due to connate water.
Expansion of water can contribute to reduction in pore volume for
the hydrocarbons.
1 Vpw
Compressibility of water: cw 
Vpw p
Vpw  VpSwc Vpw is the volume of water in the pores

Vpw  cw pSwcVp
Total Pore Volume Change due to rock & water:
Vp  Vpr  Vpw

Vp   cf  cwSwc  pVp

Effect of Pore Volume Changes
This term can be added to MB equation and
expressed in terms of oil (and gas) in place.

NBoi
If we neglect a gas cap then the pore volume = Vp 
1  Swc
Compressibility of water and rock
NBoi
Vp   c wc S  cf  p
1  Swc
If we also include gas cap then
NBoi
Vp  1  m  c wc S  cf  p m is ratio of gas
1  Swc to oil in place

If free gas present then errors in gas compressibility effects greater

than absolute pore compressibility effects, so m ignored.
 General Material Balance Equation
Net water influx + gas cap expansion + pore volume reduction =

 cf  cwSwc 
 We  WpBw    G  Gpc  Bg  GBgi  1  S  pNBoi
wc

 
 NBoi   N  Np  Bo  NR si   N  Np  R s  Gps Bg  
Original oil volume – volume of remaining oil and free solution gas.
General Material Balance Equation
 Other forms of the MB Equation
Equation sometimes presented using total formation volume
factor.Bt.
Bt  Bo   Rsi  Rs  Bg

GBgi
Using m, where m Using Gp where Gp  NpR p
NBoi
Modifications to the General MB Eqn.
 All of the parameters not significant over the life of a
reservoir.
 Above bubble point some terms go to zero.
 Above Pb, Rs is constant. Gp-NpRs =0. Only solution
gas produced.
 Above Pb no gas cap, G or m = 0
 Below Pb, gas related terms have significance. Some
consider pore & water compressibility terms can be
neglected when compared to the errors associated
with the free gas terms.
 As well as water influx, We, the equation can be used
for artificial drive, e.g. gas injection, Gi and water
injection, Wi.
 Alternative
method for
deriving MB eqn.
According to Dake,
Underground withdrawal =
expansion of the system +
cumulative water influx.

Reservoir volume at pressure P

of the produced fluids
= expansion of primary gas cap
+ expansion of oil plus originally
dissolved gas
+ expansion of connate water
+ water influx
+reduction of total pore volume
 Assumptions in MB Equation
 Pressure
– the MB equation is tank model. Pressure constant
throughout the reservoir at any time. An average pressure
has to be selected to be represent fluid properties.
 Temperature
– Changes in a reservoir take place at constant temperature,
isothermal.
 Production rate
– Time has no part within MBE.
 Representative PVT data
– PVT measurements should be made or calculated to reflect
behaviour in the reservoir
 Good production data essential
 Significance and use of MBE
 MBE is a relation between;
– Oil & gas in place, N & G
– Production,Np,Gp, & Wp
– Water influx, We
– Average reservoir pressure, PVT parameters and in
compressibility terms
 If three of these are known the fourth can be
calculated.
– If production and pressure data available and oil & gas
in place known, then water influx can be determined.
– If no water drive then can history match reserves.
– For a known oil in place, the pressure at future dates
can be determined for a proposed production plan
 Significance and use of MB(Dake)

 Should be known  Potential unknown

 Np  N
 Rp  We
 Wp  P
 Cw  Bo,Bg,Rs
 Swc  M
 Bw  cf

6 known and 8 unknowns – need more independent equations

Significance and use of MB(Dake)

 6 known and 8 unknowns – need more

independent equations
 In reservoir simulation more unknowns re.
Reservoir description, porosity, relative
permeabilities etc.
 Np & Rp generally best known except when
good productions records not available.
 Petrophysical data is generally good.
 Significance and use of MB
 Unknowns
 Once production starts MB provides useful route to
upgrade STOIIP estimate, N.
 MB provides opportunity to determine water drive,
We.
 Size of gas cap if not drilled may be difficult to
determine.
 Important to determine rock & water compressibility.
 MB zero dimensional. Requires average pressure.
Can be obtained from range of pressures from wells
in drainage area.
 Sources of Data for use in MBE
 PVT data  Water Compressibility
– From PVT reports – Should be measured
 Production data  Pore Compressibility
– Well and reservoir – Should be measured
records
 Reservoir Pressures
 Oil & Gas in Place
– From pressure surveys
– From volumetric
estimates  Water Influx
 Connate Water – Calculation or history
match
Saturation
– From petrophysics
 Limitations of MBE
 Zero dimensional
– fluid properties averaged over entire reservoir.

 Saturations distributions cannot be

determined.
 No time parameter.
– It will calculate what will happen but not when.
 MB Quotation – Muskatt 1947
The material balance equation method is by no means a
universal tool for estimating reserves. In some cases it is
excellent. In others it may be grossly misleading. It is always
instructive to try it, if only to find out that it does not work,
and why. It should be a part of the stock in trade of all
reservoir engineers. It will boomerang if applied blindly as a
mystic hocus- pocus to evade the admission of ignorance.
The algebraic symbolism may impress the old timer and help
convince a Corporation Commission, BUT it will not fool the
reservoir. Reservoirs pay little heed to either wishful
thinking or libellous misinterpretation. Reservoirs always do
what they aught to do. They continually unfold a past which
inevitably defies all man-made laws. To predict this past
while it is still the futures is the business of the reservoir
Zhengmengengineer. But whether the engineer is clever or
stupid, honest or dishonest, right or wrong, the reservoir is
always right.