Primary Reservoir Characteristics
Primary Reservoir Characteristics
Primary Reservoir Characteristics
𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 = 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 ( 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒)𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎 Figures 1.1 and 1.2 show schematic illustrations
of the volume and density changes as a function
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 of pressure for the three types of fluids.
= 𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑖𝑑 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 ( 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒) 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎
1.1.2 Flow regimes
The exponential ℯ 𝑥 may be represented by a
series expansion as: There are basically three types of flow regimes
that must be recognized in order to describe the
𝑥2 𝑥2 𝑥𝑛 fluid flow behavior and reservoir pressure
𝑒𝑥 = 1 + 𝑥 + + + ⋯+ [1.1.4]
2! 3! 𝑛!
distribution as a function of time. These three
Because the exponent 𝑥 (which represents flow regimes are:
the term 𝑐(𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓 − 𝑝) is very small, the 𝑒 𝑥 (1) Steady-state flow;
term can be approximated by truncating (2) Unsteady-state flow;
Equation 1.1.4 to: (3) Pseudosteady-state flow.
𝑒𝑥 = 1 + 𝑥 [1.1.5]
Where:
𝑉 = 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑝
𝜌 = 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑝
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓
= 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙 ( 𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒)𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑓
with respect to time at every
position is constant, or:
Steady-state flow
The flow regime is identified as a 𝜕𝑝
steady-state flow if the pressure at ( 𝜕𝑡 ) = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 [1.1.11]
𝑖
every location in the reservoir It should be pointed out that
remains constant, i.e., does not pseudosteady-state flow and
change with time. Mathematically, quasisteady-state flow.
this condition is expressed as: Figure 1.3 shows a schematic
comparison of the pressure declines
as a function of time of the three
𝜕𝑝 flow regimes.
( 𝜕𝑡 ) = 0 [1.1.9]
𝑖
This equation states that are rate of
change of pressure with respect to
time at any location is zero. In
reservoirs, the steady-state flow
condition can only occur when the
reservoir is completely recharged
and supported by strong aquifer or
pressure maintenance operations.
Unsteady-state flow
Radial flow;
Linear flow;
Spherical and hemispherical
flow.
Radial flow
Linear flow
Where:
𝜕𝑝
( ) = 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑟
𝜕𝑟 𝑟 Radial flow of compressible fluids;
Multiphase flow.
𝑣 = 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑡 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑟
Linear flow of incompressible fluids
The cross-sectional are at radius r is
essentially the surface area of a cylinder. For In a linear system, it is assumed that the flow occurs
through a constant cross-sectional area 𝐴, where both
a fully penetrated well with a net thickness
end are entirely open to flow. It is also assumed that
of ℎ, the cross-sectional area 𝐴, is given by: no flow crosses the sides, top, or bottom as shown in
figure 1.11. I f an incompressible fluid is flowing across
𝐴𝑟 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ
the element dx, then the fluid velocity 𝑣 and the flow
Darcy`s law applies only when the following conditions rate 𝑞 are constants at all points. The flow behavior in
exist: this system can be expressed by the differential form
of Darcy`s equation, i.e., Equation 1.2.1a. Separating
Laminar ( viscous) flow; the variables of Equation 1.12.1a and integrating over
Steady-state flow; the length of the linear system:
Incompressible fluids;
Homogeneous formation. 𝑞 𝐿 𝑘 𝑝2
∫ 𝑑𝑥 = − ∫ 𝑑𝑝
𝐴 0 𝑢 𝑝1
For turbulent flow, which occurs at higher velocities,
the pressure gradient increases at a greater rate than Which results in:
does the flow rate and a special modification of Darcy`s
equation is needed. When turbulent flow exists, the
application of Darcy`s equation can result in serious
errors. Modifications for turbulent flow will be
discussed later in this chapter. 𝑘𝐴(𝑃1 − 𝑃2 )
𝑞=
𝜇𝐿
1.2.2 Steady-state flow
It is desirable to express the above relationship in
As defined previously, steady-state flow represents the customary field units, or:
condition that exists when the pressure throughout the
reservoir does not change with time. The applications 0.001127𝑘𝐴(𝑝1 − 𝑝2 )
𝑞=
of steady-state flow to describe the flow behavior of 𝜇𝐿
several types of fluid in different reservoir geometries
Where:
are presented below. These include:
𝑏𝑏𝑙
Linear flow of incompressible fluids; 𝑞 = 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒,
𝑑𝑎𝑦
Linear flow of slightly compressible fluids;
𝑘 = 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑚𝑑
Linear flow of compressible fluids;
Radial flow of incompressible fluids; 𝑝 = 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎
Radial flow of slightly compressible fluids;
𝜇 = 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦, 𝑐𝑝
𝐿 = 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑓𝑡
𝐴 = 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 − 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑓𝑡 2
𝑞 (1.6905)(5.615) 𝑓𝑡
Example 1.1 An incompressible fluid flows in a linear 𝑣= = = 0.0105
𝐴 (0.15)(6000) 𝑑𝑎𝑦
porous media with the following properties:
Equation 1.2.31 can be expressed in terms of Step 3. Calculate numerically the area under
the average reservoir pressure p, instead of the curve for each value of p. These areas
the initial reservoir pressure Pe as: correspond to the real gas pseudopressure at
each pressure. These v values are tabulated
below; notice that 2p/gZ vs p is also plotted in
To calculate the integral in. Equation 1.2.31, the figure.
the values of 2p/u Z are calculated for several
values of pressure p. Them 2p/p Z vs. p is
plotted on a Cartesian scale and the area Step 4. Calculate the flow rate by applying
under the curve is calculated either Equation 1.2.30
numerically or graph ically, where the area
In the approximation of the gas flow rate, the Solution
exact ga flow rate as expressed by the
Step 1. Calculate the arithmetic average
different forms of Darcy's las i.e., Equations
pressure:
1.2.25 through 1.2.32, can be approximated
moving the term 2/H Z outside the integral as
a constant should be pointed out that the
product of Zpg is considere constant only Step 2. Determine the gas viscosity and gas
under a pressure range of less than 2000 ps compressibility factor at 4020 psi:
Equation 1.2.31 can be rewritten as