Reservoir Management

Under Water Injection

Contact us:
 Why Inject Water?
A. Maintain Reservoir Pressure –
Pressure Maintenance
B. Increase Reservoir Pressure –
Waterflooding
C. Supplement Natural Water Influx

But . . .
A, B & C are Displacement Processes and the
Goal is to Displace Oil to a Production Well
Worldwide Reminders When Managing
Waterflood Activities

▪ Pressure Depletion Stops

▪ Volumetric Sweep

▪ Net Pay Cutoffs

▪ Decline Curve Analysis

▪ WOR Analysis

▪ Waterflood Quarterback

▪ Keep the Ax Sharp

What are the Key Factors that Drive the
Outcome of a Water Injection Project?

Np ≈ N*EA*EV*ED
Np = Cumulative Waterflood Recovery, BBL.
N = Oil in Place at Start of Injection, BBL.
EA = Areal Sweep Efficiency, Fraction
EV = Vertical Sweep Efficiency, Fraction
ED = Displacement Efficiency, Fraction
 Waterflood Recovery Factor
Np RF = E A * EV * ED
= RF 
 
N EVOL
EA = f (Mobility Ratio, Pattern, Directional
Permeability, Pressure Distribution,
Cumulative Injection & Operations)
EV = f (Rock Property variation between
different flow units)
EVOL = Volumetric Sweep of the Reservoir by
Injected Water
ED = f (Primary Depletion, Krw & Kro, μo & μw)
 Traditional Waterflood Volumetric
Sweep Efficiency Calculation

▪ Uses Net Cumulative Water Injected (Wi-Wp)

▪ Does not Account for Injection losses out of
zone
▪ Does not Account for Natural Water Influx
 Compute Volumetric Sweep Based
on Oil Production Data
Oil in place at start of waterflooding = Produced oil since the start of injection
+ Oil currently in reservoir

Where: V p So
Oil in place at start of waterflood = , STBO
Bo

Produced oil since the start of injection = N p ,STBO

Oil currently in reservoir = Oil in water bank + oil in oil bank

V p Evw (1.0 − S w )
Oil in water bank = ,STBO
Bo

V p (1.0 − Evw )(1.0 − S wc )

Oil in oil bank = ,STBO
Bo
 Volumetric Sweep Based on Oil
Production Data

N p Bo
+ 1.0 − So − S wc
Vp
Evw =
S w − S wc

SPE-38902
 Example
Waterflood Statistics
Conditions at Start of Waterflood
Connate Water Saturation = 22 percent
Gas Saturation = 8 percent
Oil Saturation = 70 percent
Residual Oil Saturation = 31 percent
Oil Viscosity = 0.3
centipoise
Oil Formation Volume Factor = 1.57
RB/STB
 Example (con’t.)
Total Unit
Pore Volume = 350,000
MB
Cumulative Oil Production Since Start of = 40,000
Injection MSTB
Current Volumetric Sweep Efficiency = 0.552
Remaining Oil Production under Current = 5,000 MB
Operations
Estimated Waterflood Ultimate Recovery = 45,000
MSTB
Ultimate Volumetric Sweep Efficiency = 0.600
under Current Operations
 Volumetric Sweep Efficiency for Waterflood Project
(Pore Volume Based on 6.0% Porosity Cutoff)

26.0 MMSTB
Evw = 0.85
0.8

0.6

Evw
0.4

Cumulative Oil Production = 40.0 MMSTB

Remaining Oil Production = 5.0 MMSTB
Estimated Ultimate Recovery = 45.0 MMSTB
0.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Production Since Start of Waterflood, Np, MMSTB
 Volumetric Sweep Efficiency for Waterflood Project
(Pore Volume Based on 6.0% and 10.0% Porosity Cutoff)

1
26.0 MMSTB

8.4
Evw = 0.85 MMSTB
0.8

0.6
10% Porosity Cutoff
Evw
6% Porosity Cutoff
0.4

Cumulative Oil Production = 40.0 MMSTB

Remaining Oil Production = 5.0 MMSTB
Estimated Ultimate Recovery = 45.0 MMSTB
0.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Production Since Start of Waterflood, Np, MMST B

 What’s the Secret for
Maximizing EA and EV (and EVOL)?
IT’S THE INJECTION WELL!
– Properly Locate the Injection Well
– Develop an Appropriate Pattern!
– Inject Water where You Find the Oil!
– Measure and Manage Injection Profiles
– Keep Fluid Levels in a Pumped Off Condition
– Balance Injection and Withdrawals
Remember the Quarterback!
SHIFTING
GEARS
 Net Pay
▪ Static OOIP
▪ Dynamic OOIP
▪ Drive Mechanism
▪ Controlled by Cutoffs
▪ Permeability Distribution between Flow Units
(Dykstra-Parson Coefficient)
▪ Oil/Water Relative Permeability
▪ Mobility Ratio (Oil and Water Viscosity)
▪ Fluid Saturations at Start of Injection (So, Sg, Swc)
▪ Water Cut Economic Limit
 Permeability Cutoff Using the
Watercut Method at a 95 Percent
Watercut Economic Limit
80 Acre Pattern
k50 = 20md
Dykstra-Parsons, V Sg = 0% Sg = 10%
0.6 0.24 1.10
0.7 0.71 3.30
0.8 1.20 5.60

SPE-48952
 Decline Curve Analysis

Assume
✓Gas Fillup has been Achieved (Reservoir contains oil
and water
✓Reservoir Pressure is Approximately Constant (Bo is
constant)
✓Steady State Flow Prevails (Approximately)

Conclusion
✓Water Injection = Liquid Production (at Reservoir
Conditions)
 Decline Curve Analysis

Fact:
iw * Einj * f o iw * Einj * (1 − f w )
qo = =
Bo Bo

iw * Einj * f w
qw =
Bw
Conculsion:
Oil and Water Production Rates are directly related to
injection rates. Therefore, DCA of qo vs t or qo vs Np
must be evaluated only after giving consideration to
historical and projected water injection rates.
 Latin American Waterflood

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500
BOPD

2,000 BOPD

1,500

1,000

500

0
10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000 22,000 24,000 26,000 28,000 30,000
Cum. Oil - MBO
 Latin American Waterflood

4,000 20

3,500

3,000 15

Water Injection - MBWPD

2,500
BOPD

BOPD
2,000 10
MBWiPD

1,500

1,000 5

500

0 0
10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000 22,000 24,000 26,000 28,000 30,000
Cum. Oil - MBO
 Latin American Waterflood

4,000 20

3,500

3,000 15

Water Injection - MBWPD

2,500
BOPD

BOPD
2,000 10
MBWiPD

1,500

1,000 5

500

0 0
10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000 18,000 20,000 22,000 24,000 26,000 28,000 30,000
Cum. Oil - MBO
 WOR is Independent of Injection Rate
qw
WOR =
q0
iw * Einj * f w
WOR =
iw * Einj * (1 − f w )
fw
WOR =
(1 − f w )
fw Bo
(WOR ) STD .COND . = *
(1 − f w ) Bw
Conclusion:
✓WOR is independent of injection rate
✓WOR should be applied to individual wells and not
field
✓WOR should be applied using values greater than 2.0
 Latin American Waterflood

100
Producing WOR

10 WOR

1
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000
Cum. Oil - MBO
Production Centered 5-Spot Pattern
N-Well

80 Acres

W-Well E-Well
C-Well

S-Well
 MONUMENT BUTTE UNIT-MB FED 10-35 - Production
North American Waterflood – Pattern 35-10
8.0 32000
Oil
Wtr
Wtr Inj
7.0 GOR 28000

6.0 24000
MBBL/MONTH

5.0 20000

GOR, SCF/BO
4.0 16000

3.0 12000

2.0 8000

1.0 4000

0.0 0
1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004
 MONUMENT BUTTE UNIT-MB FED 10-35 - Oil Rate vs. Cumulative Oil
North American Waterflood – Pattern 35-10
7.0

6.0

5.0
Oil Rate, MBO/Month

4.0

3.0

2.0

S-i
1.0 E-i
N-i

W-i
0.0
0.0 50.0 100.0 150.0 200.0 250.0 300.0 350.0 400.0 450.0 500.0

Cumulative Oil, MBO

 MONUMENT BUTTE
North UNIT-MB
American FED 10-35
Waterflood – Pattern
- WOR vs Cumulative Oil
35-10
10.0
WOR

1.0

0.1
0.0 50.0 100.0 150.0 200.0 250.0 300.0 350.0 400.0 450.0 500.0
Cumulative Oil, MBO
 A Friendly Reminder
Waterflood Operations

• Cartesian Plots of Oil Rate versus Cumulative

Oil Production Should Be Prepared on A Well
Basis

• Semi-log Plots of WOR versus Cumulative Oil

Production Should Be Prepared on A Well basis

• Preparation of the Above Two Plots For The

Entire Field Gives an Average Result Which May
be Optimistic or Pessimistic
Have there been Recent Developments
in Waterflooding Technology??
• NO !
& YES ! ? ? ? ?
BUT . . .
• Improved application of old principles
leads to better recovery
 What Are the Key Elements
of a Successful Waterflood?
• High Moveable Oil Saturation
• Moderate to Low Oil Viscosity
• Favorable Relative Permeability
• Low Permeability Variation
• Symmetrical Patterns
• Ability to Inject Large Volumes of Water
• Ability to Lift Large Volumes of Produced Water
• Pumped Off Producing Wells
 What are the Pitfalls of
Waterflooding Practices?
• Failure to keep producing wells in pumped off
condition
• Failure to clearly distinguish between Static OOIP
and Dynamic OOIP (Primary vs Secondary)
• Failure to collect sufficient quantity and quality of
reservoir data
• Failure to timely convert oil wells to injection wells
• Failure to monitor injection water quality
• Failure to keep the Ax sharp
 Summary of
New Waterflood Paradigms
• Remember the Quarterback
(The Injector)

• Keep the End in Mind

(Maximize Volumetric Sweep)

• Keep the Ax Sharp

(SPE meetings, SPE-TIGS, and SPE.org
provide great opportunities to sharpen the mind!)
 Oil (BOPD); Water (BWPD); Gas (MCFPD); WC%
1/
1/

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
80
1/
1/
81
1/
1/
82
1/
1/
83
1/
1/
84
1/
1/
85
1/
1/
86
1/
1/
87
1/
1/
88
1/
1/
89

BOPD
1/
Field

1/
90
1/
1/
91

BWPD
1/
1/
92
1/
1/
93
1/

MCFPD
1/
94
1/
1/
95
1/
1/

WCUT
96
One Well Field - Latin America

1/
1/
97
1/
1/
GOR
98
Analysis – Latin America

1/
1/
99
1/
1/
00
1/
1/
01
1/
1/
02
1/
1/
03
1/
1/
04
1/
1/
05
0
1

0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
1.4

GOR
 Oil Production, BOPD
1/
1/

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100

0
80

1/
1/
82

1/
1/
84

1/
1/
86

1/
1/
88

1/
1/
90

1/
1/
92

BOPD
1/
1/
94

1/
1/
96
One Well Field - Latin America
Field Analysis – Latin America

1/
1/
98

1/
1/
00

1/
1/
02

1/
1/
04
 Water Production, BPD
1/
1/

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100

0
80

1/
1/
82

1/
1/
84

1/
1/
86

1/
One

1/
88
Field
Well

1/
1/
90
Analysis

1/
1/
92
Field - –Latin

1/

BWPD
1/
Latin

94

1/
1/
96
America
America

1/
1/
98

1/
1/
00

1/
1/
02

1/
1/
04
 Water Production, BPD
1/
1/

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
80

1/
1/
82

1/
1/
84

1/
1/
86

1/
One

1/
88
Field
Well

1/
1/

BOPD
90
Analysis

1/
1/
92
Field - –Latin

1/

BWPD
1/
Latin

94

1/
1/
96
America
America

BWPD 1/
1/
98

1/
1/
00

1/
1/
02

1/
1/
04
 GOR, MSCF/BO
1/
1/

0
0.5
1
1.5
80 2

1/
1/
82

1/
1/
84

1/
1/
86

1/
1/
One

88

1/
FieldWell

1/
90

1/
Analysis

1/
92

GOR
1/
1/
Field -–Latin

94

1/
1/
96
LatinAmerica

1/
America

1/
98

1/
1/
00

1/
1/
02

1/
1/
04
 Oil Production, BOPD
1/
1/

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100

0
80

1/
1/
82

1/
1/
84

1/
1/
86

1/
1/
88
One
Field

1/
1/
90
Well

BOPD
1/
1/
92
Analysis

1/
1/
94
Field - –Latin
Latin

1/
1/

GOR
96

1/
1/
America

98
America

1/
1/
00

1/
1/
02

1/
1/
04
0
1
2

0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8

GOR, MSCF/BO
 Oil Production, BOPD
1/
1/

10
100

1
80
1/
1/
82
1/
1/
84
1/
1/
86
1/
1/
88
1/
1/
90
1/
1/
92
1/
1/
One

94
1/
Field

1/
96
Well

1/
1/
98
1/
1/
00
Analysis

1/
1/
02
1/

BOPD
1/
04
Field - –Latin

1/
1/
Latin

06
1/
1/
08
1/
1/
America

10
1/
America

1/
12
1/
1/
14
1/
1/
16
1/
1/
18
1/
1/
20
1/
1/
22
1/
1/
24
 One Well
Field Field - –Latin
Analysis LatinAmerica
America

100

90

80
Oil Production, BOPD

70

60

50

40 EUR @ 10 BOPD = 625MBO

30

20

10

0
0

0
10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80
Cum Oil - MBO