JOGMEC-TRC

Reservoir Engineering Course

Lecture Notes

Reservoir Engineering (3)

March, 2022

Lecturer: K. Funatsu
Japan Oil Engineering Co., Ltd.

1
Fractional flow theory (1)
injector producer

water oil

Water injection is the most common recovery method in oil fields. To

understand the mechanism of oil displacement by water, learning
fractional flow theory equation and Buckley-Leverett theory are really
helpful.

How is the movement of water front?

2
Fractional flow theory (2)
𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝐴 𝑑𝑝𝑤 𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝐴 𝑑𝑝𝑜
𝑄𝑤 = − 𝑄𝑜 = −
𝜇𝑤 𝑑𝑥 𝜇𝑜 𝑑𝑥
𝑄𝑤 𝜇𝑤 𝑄𝑜 𝜇𝑜 𝑑𝑝𝑤 𝑑𝑝𝑜
− = − +
𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝐴 𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝐴 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝜇𝑜 𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝜇𝑤 𝜕 𝑝𝑜 − 𝑝𝑤 𝜕𝑃𝑐
𝑄 − 𝑄𝑜 = = water fractional flow
𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝐴 𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝜇𝑜 𝑤 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
1
𝜇𝑜 𝑄𝑡 𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝜇𝑤 𝑄𝑤 𝜕𝑃𝑐 𝑓𝑤 =
𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝐴 𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝜇𝑜
+1
𝑄𝑡
−1 =
𝜕𝑥 𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝜇𝑤
+1
negligible except the front region
𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝜇𝑜
𝑘𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝐴 𝜕𝑃𝑐
𝑄𝑤 𝑄𝑤 1 + Assuming viscosities are
𝜇𝑜 𝑄𝑡 𝜕𝑥
𝑓𝑤 = = = constant, fw is a function
𝑄𝑜 + 𝑄𝑤 𝑄𝑡 𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝜇𝑤
+1 of Sw.
𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝜇𝑜

3
Fractional flow theory (3)

1
fw 
  w kro 
  1 

 o rw
k 
kro
If we know
𝜇𝑤 𝜇𝑜

krw

Swir Sor Swir Sor

4
Buckley-Leverett theory (1)
injector producer

water oil

When 0.1 PV of water is injected, the

Sor xd where Sw is 0.6 is given as 0.05

Swir

dimensionless position
5
 Buckley-Leverett theory (2)
Position of an arbitrary Sw higher than a shock front Sw at time t is given as
follows,
total water injection volume

𝑥|𝑆𝑤 𝑄𝑤 𝑡 𝜕𝑓𝑤 𝜕𝑓𝑤

𝑥𝑑 |𝑆𝑤 = = = 𝑃𝑉𝐼 fw 
1
𝐿 𝐴𝜙𝐿 𝜕𝑆𝑤 𝜕𝑆𝑤   w kro


 1 
total pore volume  o krw 

When 0.1 PV of water is injected, the

xd where Sw is 0.6 is given as 0.05
𝜕𝑓𝑤
𝑃𝑉𝐼 = 0.1 ∗ 0.5
𝜕𝑆𝑤

Swir 0.5
0.6

6
Buckley-Leverett theory (3)
Mass Balance Equation
From mass balance equation of water, we can derive the
following equation (1).
S w  Qw _ in Qw _ out 
A  Ax
t
 Qw _ in  Qw _ out  Qt    
  Qt f w _ out  f w _ in  Qt f w
 Qt Qt 
x, t  0
𝜟𝑺𝒘
S w f f S w S w S w Q f
A  Qt w  Qt w  t w (1)
t x S w x t x  A S w

Frontal Advance Equation

x
Since Sw is a function of time and position (=Sw(t, x)), we can
Porous volume of this small section
write the saturation change as follows,
= 𝜙𝐴𝛥𝑥 S w S
dS w  dt  w dx
Water volume change of this t x
small section =  AxS w In Buckley-Leverett theory, we follow the water movement at
constant saturation.
S S
dS w  0
0  w dt  w dx (2)
t x
From the equation (1) and (2), we can finally obtain the following equation.

dx Qt f w Qt f w x Q t f w
 x t  t
dt  A S w  A S w L  AL S w

7
Buckley-Leverett theory (4)
If we follow the Buckley-Leverett equation shown left, two saturation have the
same velocity. Judging from the equation, more than one saturation seem to
appear at the same location. But, of course, it is un-physical.
x Q t f w
 t 1

L  AL S w 0.9
Residual Oil

8.0
0.8 Saturation
0.2PV
fw

7.0
0.7

6.0
Sw (fraction)
0.6
)noitcarf( noitarutas retaW
5.0
0.5
4.0
0.4

f w
3.0

0.3

S w
2.0

0.2
Swir Sor Irreducible Water
1.0

0.1
Saturation
0
0
0

6
Fractional flow (fraction)
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1
Xd
Instead of multiple saturation values, water saturation suddenly becomes
irreducible water saturation in front of the water advancement front.

8
 Buckley-Leverett theory (5)
Time = t Time = t+Δt

Qwf Qwf
Swf

Swi

(front position from Buckley-Leverett

x x+Δx x x+Δx equation)


Qwf t  Qt f wf t  xA S wf  S wi  xd 
x Q t f w
 t
f wf L  AL S w
x Qt f wf x, t  0 dx Qt



t A S wf  S wi  
dt A S wf  S wi 
f wf f w
x Qt f wf

 Swf  Swi 
xd   t

L A L S wf  S wi  (front position from mass balance
equation) S w

9
Buckley-Leverett theory (6)
f wf f w

f wf
 Swf  Swi  S w
fw
Shock front water
saturation can be
obtained by drawing
tangent line from Swi to
fw.
S wi S wf
f w
Swf = 0.52
S w

10
 Buckley-Leverett theory (7)
Water Saturation Distribution at 0.2 PV injected
fw and dfw/dSw
1 10

0.9 40 cp 9
Relative permeability, Fractional flow

0.8 8

0.7
4 cp 7

0.6 6
fw: viso=40.0

dfw/dsw
0.5
0.4 cp 5
fw: viso=4.0 Low viscosity oil is
fw: viso=0.4
0.4 4 fw': viso=40.0 more piston-likely
0.3 3
fw': viso=4.0
fw': viso=0.4
pushed.
0.2 2

0.1 1
Cumulatie Oil Recovery
0 0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Water saturation (fraction)
0.6 0.7 0.8
Low viscosity oil is
more efficiently
1 recovered by water
𝑓𝑤 = injection.
𝑘𝑟𝑜 𝜇𝑤
+1
𝑘𝑟𝑤 𝜇𝑜
11
Fluid property (1)

 Petroleum fluids are mixture of different

hydrocarbon components. They are typically
classified into five types.
 black oil, volatile oil, and
 retrograde condensate, wet gas, dry gas
 During production, phase condition could change.
(ex. liquid to liquid + gas)

12
Fluid property (2)
P-T Diagram (Single Component)
③ critical region

Critical Point
(Tc, Pc)
①

phase boundary
solid + liquid
④
phase boundary
liquid + gas ②

Triple Point

13
Fluid property (3) wider liquid region
decreasing increasing

component MW normal boiling Pc (MPa) Tc (K)

point (K)
methane 16.043 111.63 4.595 19.55
ethane 30.07 184.52 4.872 305.33
propane 44.096 231.185 4.301 369.9
iso-butane 58.12 261.4 3.647 408.1
n-butane 58.12 272.66 3.796 425.16
isopentane 72.151 300.93 3.38 460.4
n-pentane 72.151 309.2 3.369 469.6
n-hexane 86.178 341.88 3.031 507.44
n-heptane 100.198 371.6 2.736 540.61
n-octane 114.224 398.8 2.486 568.8

14
Fluid property (4)

multi component P-T diagram

liquid
bubble point curve

2 phase
region
vapor

dew point curve

15
Fluid property (5)
(dissolved gas volume @std)
 Rs: solution gas oil ratio / (oil volume @ std)

 Bo: formation volume factor of oil (oil volume @res)

/ (oil volume @ std)
reservoir condition standard condition
(15.6 C, 1 atm)

gas

oil

oil

16
Fluid property (6)
Pb: bubble point pressure
saturated curve

saturated curve
Rs Bo
constant
decreasing

pressure pressure

oil density @ reservoir condition

𝑀𝑜.𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑉𝑜.𝑠𝑡𝑑 𝜌𝑜.𝑠𝑡𝑑 + 𝑉𝑔.𝑠𝑡𝑑 𝜌𝑔.𝑠𝑡𝑑 𝜌𝑜.𝑠𝑡𝑑 + 𝑅𝑠 𝜌𝑔.𝑠𝑡𝑑

𝜌𝑜.𝑟𝑒𝑠 = = =
𝑉𝑜.𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑉𝑜.𝑠𝑡𝑑 𝐵𝑜 𝐵𝑜

17
Fluid property (7)
Pb: bubble point pressure

Dead-oil viscosity:
viscosity of crude oil at
atmospheric pressure (no gas o
increasing
in solution) and system
temperature

Saturated-oil viscosity: pressure

viscosity of crude oil at the
bubble-point pressure and
reservoir temperature

Undersaturated-oil viscosity:
viscosity of crude oil at a
pressure above the bubble-
point pressure and reservoir
temperature

18
Fluid property (8)
(gas volume @res)
 Bg: formation volume factor of gas / (gas volume @ std)

reservoir condition standard condition

(15.6 C, 1 atm)

g
gas gas Bg

gas density @ reservoir condition

pressure
𝑀𝑔.𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝜌𝑔.𝑠𝑡𝑑
𝜌𝑔.𝑟𝑒𝑠 = =
𝑉𝑔.𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝐵𝑔

19
Fluid property (9)
(water volume @res)
 Bw: formation volume factor of water / (water volume @ std)

reservoir condition standard condition

(15.6 C, 1 atm)

water water
w

water density @ reservoir condition

pressure
𝑀𝑤.𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝜌𝑤.𝑠𝑡𝑑
𝜌𝑤.𝑟𝑒𝑠 = =
𝑉𝑤.𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝐵𝑤

20