Gas Reservoir Material Balance

Production System Modelling

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6 sections

Gas Reservoir Material Balance

Section 11.5 of 613 min5 code examples

Definition: The Gas Material Balance equation (GMBE) is based on the principle of conservation of mass. For a volumetric gas reservoir (no water drive), the relationship between reservoir pressure and cumulative production is linear when expressed as p/zp/z vs. GpG_p.

The p/z Equation

For a volumetric reservoir, the relationship is defined as:

pz=pizi(1−GpG)\frac{p}{z} = \frac{p_i}{z_i} \left( 1 - \frac{G_p}{G} \right)

Where:

  • pp = current average reservoir pressure (psia)
  • zz = gas deviation factor at pressure pp
  • pi,zip_i, z_i = initial reservoir pressure and gas deviation factor
  • GpG_p = cumulative gas production (Bscf)
  • GG = Original Gas-In-Place (OGIP) (Bscf)

Numerical Example:

Given:

  • pi=4000 psia,zi=0.91p_i = 4000 \, \text{psia}, z_i = 0.91
  • G=100 BscfG = 100 \, \text{Bscf}
  • Current Gp=20 BscfG_p = 20 \, \text{Bscf}
  • Current z=0.88z = 0.88
p0.88=40000.91(1−20100) p0.88=4395.6⋅0.8=3516.5 p=3516.5⋅0.88=3094.5,psia\frac{p}{0.88} = \frac{4000}{0.91} \left( 1 - \frac{20}{100} \right) \ \frac{p}{0.88} = 4395.6 \cdot 0.8 = 3516.5 \ p = 3516.5 \cdot 0.88 = 3094.5 , \text{psia}

Example 1C#

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Code is ready to run
OutputFrom the book
Current Reservoir Pressure (p) = 3094.51 psia

Material Balance with Water Drive

If an active aquifer is present, water influx (WeW_e) maintains reservoir pressure, causing the p/zp/z plot to deviate from a straight line.

General Equation:

GpBg+WpBw=G(Bg−Bgi)+We+BgicwW+cfVp1−SwiΔpG_p B_g + W_p B_w = G(B_g - B_{gi}) + W_e + B_{gi} \frac{c_w W + c_f V_p}{1 - S_{wi}} \Delta p

Numerical Example (Solving for OGIP with Water Influx):

Example 2C#

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OutputFrom the book
Calculated OGIP (G) = 78.85 Bscf

Drive Mechanisms and p/z Signatures

The shape of the p/zp/z curve is a diagnostic tool for identifying reservoir behavior:

Curve ShapeDrive MechanismInterpretation
Straight LineVolumetricNo water influx; depletion drive only.
Concave UpWater DriveAquifer is providing pressure support.
Concave DownGeopressuredRock/water expansion significant at high PP.

Advanced Problem

Given the following data

Example 3C#

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  • 1. Use Sutton correlation to compute, PseudoCritical Temperature and Pressure
  • 2. Implement a function to compute Z factor based on Hall and Yaborough or Dranchuk Abou Kassem
  • 3. Compute p/z
  • 4. Determine of it is linear.
  • 5. Classify the drive mechanism

Example 4C#

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Code is ready to run
OutputFrom the book
Gas_Reservoir_MB.png

Exercise

Given the production history of Gas Reservoir below

Example 5C#

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Code is ready to run
OutputFrom the book
Initial P/z = 4269.359990640227
GIIP = 85.38985191375379
Gas_Reserve_Exercise.png
  1. Determine the type of the reservoir
  2. Estimate the Initial Gas In-place
Takes a free account.