PETE 343

PETROLEUM RESERVOIR
ENGINEERING - I
RESERVE DEFINITIONS

Fall 2023 – 2024 Chapter-5

 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE

We already discussed how to estimate the OOIP.

The fraction of OOIP that has technical and economic feasibility
is known as RESERVE.

The need for one universal classification and nomenclature

system for petroleum reservoirs has long been recognized by
the various technical societies, professional organizations,
governmental agencies, and the petroleum industry.

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
McKelvey BOX

The box represents the total

volume of unproduced mineral
resources and classifies such
volumes with reference to a
horizontal axis representing
degree of geologic and
engineering certainty and a
vertical axis representing the
range of economic feasibility
of mineral recovery
McKelvey, V.E., “Concepts of Reserves and Resources”, Methods of Estimating the Volume of
Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources, Ed. John D. Haun, AAPG, Tulsa, (1975), 11.

Parlaktuna & Sınayuç PETE 343 Fall 2023 – 2024 3

 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
McKelvey BOX

The box represents the total

volume of unproduced mineral
resources and classifies such
volumes with reference to a
horizontal axis representing
degree of geologic and
engineering certainty and a
vertical axis representing the
range of economic feasibility
of mineral recovery
McKelvey, V.E., “Concepts of Reserves and Resources”, Methods of Estimating the Volume of
Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources, Ed. John D. Haun, AAPG, Tulsa, (1975), 11.

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
SPE Definitions
SPE definitions are deterministic: that is, a single figure is calculated
for each reservoir category.

PROVED RESERVES represent those that can be recovered with

reasonable certainty under prevailing economic conditions.

The reasonable certainty test is not quantified, but is left to the

evaluator’s professional judgment.

“Proved Reserves Definitions”, JPT, (Nov. 1981), 2113-2114.

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
SPE Definitions
PROBABLE and POSSIBLE reserves are defined by SPE, but such
definitions are so vague, they are of little consistent quantitative
value.
Probable reserves are defined as being less certain than proved but
likely to be recovered, and possible reserves are less certain than
probable reserves.
A fundamentalist approach to these statements would imply that 50
% certainty separates probable from possible reserves and that
proved reserves (reasonable certainty) are bounded by 100 %
certainty at the top end, but with the boundary between proved and
probable not formally quantified by a certainty level of probability.
“Proved Reserves Definitions”, JPT, (Nov. 1981), 2113-2114.

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions

WPC definitions are probabilistic: the range of potential reserves in a

reservoir is determined as a distribution and that distribution is
sampled at defined levels of cumulative probability (certainty) to
become the defined reserves values.

Monte Carlo techniques are used to construct the initial distribution

of potential reserves in a reservoir.

“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,

1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions
Although definitions and
use vary,
• Proven reserves (1P)
represents a 90 %
certainty level;
• Proven + probable (2P), a
50 % certainty level; and

• Proven + probable +
possible (3P), a 10 %
certainty level

“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,

1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

Parlaktuna & Sınayuç PETE 343 Fall 2023 – 2024 8

 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions

The area of a reservoir considered proven includes:

1. that portion delineated by drilling and defined by fluid
contacts, if any, and
2. the adjoining portions not yet drilled that reasonably can
be judged economically productive on the basis of
available geological and engineering data (frequently
limited to direct offset locations).

“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,

1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions
Probable reserves include:
• reserves that appear to exist a reasonable distance beyond the
proved limits of productive reservoirs, where water contacts have
not been determined, and proved limits are established only by the
lowest known structural occurrence of hydrocarbons,
• reserves in formations that appear to be productive from log
characteristics only but lack definitive tests or core analyses data,
• reserves in a portion of a formation that has been proved
productive in other areas in a field but is separated from the
proved area by sealing faults, provided that the geologic
interpretation indicates the probable area is related favorably to
the proved portion of the formation,
“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,
1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions

Probable reserves include

• reserves obtainable by improved recovery where an improved
recovery program, which has yet to be established through
repeated economically successful operations, is planned but is
not yet in operation and a successful pilot test has not been
performed, but reservoir and formation characteristics appear
favorable for its success,
• reserves in the same reservoir as proved reserves that would be
recoverable if a more efficient recovery mechanism develops
than was assumed in estimating the proved reserves,

“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,

1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

Parlaktuna & Sınayuç PETE 343 Fall 2023 – 2024 11

 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions

Probable reserves include

• reserves that depend on a successful workover, treatment,
retreatment, change of equipment, or other mechanical
procedures for recovery, unless such procedures have been
proven successful in wells exhibiting similar behavior in the same
reservoir.

“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,

1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

Parlaktuna & Sınayuç PETE 343 Fall 2023 – 2024 12

 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions

Possible reserves include:

• reserves that might be found if certain geologic conditions exist
that are indicated by structural extrapolation from developed
areas,
• reserves that might be found if reasonably definitive geophysical
interpretations indicate a productive area larger than could be
included within the proved and probable limits,
• reserves that might be found in formations that have somewhat
favorable log characteristics but leave a reasonable doubt as to
their certainty,
“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,
1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
WPC Definitions

Possible reserves include:

• reserves that might exist in untested fault segments adjacent to
proved reservoirs where a reasonable doubt exists as to whether
such fault segment contains recoverable hydrocarbons,
• reserves that might result from a planned improved recovery
program that is not in operation and that is in a field in which
formation fluid or reservoir characteristics are such that a
reasonable doubt exist as to its success.

“Classification and Nomenclature Systems for Petroleum and Petroleum Reserves”,

1933 and 1983 Study Group report, 11th World Petroleum Congress, London (1984).

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 RESERVE CLASSIFICATION AND NOMENCLATURE
EXAMPLE

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