Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Objective
At the end of this section students will be able to
Understand the challenges in multiphase flow simulation
Develop the equations necessary to simulate a two
phase oil-water reservoir system
Clearly identify the challenge in solving the equation.
Practice IMPES solution method for two phase oil-water
reservoir system
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Introduction
We are interested in flow of three phases in the reservoir.
Oil Phase - liquid hydrocarbons
Gas Phase -hydrocarbon vapor
Aqueous Phase - water
Volume of Oil (STB)

xyzS o
5.615Bo

xyzS w
Volume of Water (STB)
5.615Bw
xyz
Volume of Gas (Scf )
5.615

Free gas

Sg
So
Rs
Bo
Bg

Oil component only in

Oil phase
Water component only in
water phase
Gas component exists
In both oil and gas phases

Dissolved gas

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Exercise
Drive the partial differential Flow equation
for oil-water system in a 1D-horizontal
block of reservoir rock.

Mass_in

Mass_Out

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

MULTI-PHASE SIMULATION (GENERAL)

Previously you have developed the one phase flow equation for
one-dimensional, horizontal flow in a layer of constant cross
sectional area. Similarly the continuity equation for multiphase
flow is:

l ul l Sl , l o, w, g
x
t
and corresponding Darcy equations for each phase:

kk rl Pl
ul
,l o, w, g
l x

Pcow Po Pw

where

Pcog Pg Po

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

i o , w, g

OIL-WATER SIMULATION
flow equations for the two phases flow after substitution of
Darcy's equations:

k.k rw Pw
S w

q w

x w Bw x
t Bw

Where:

Pw Po Pcow

k.k ro Po
S o

qo

x o Bo x
t Bo

and

So S w 1

Relative permeability and capillary pressure are functions of water

saturation, and
Formation volume factors, viscosity and solution gas-oil ratio are
functions of pressures.
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Typical pressure dependencies

Bg

Bw

Bo

Rso

Pb

Pb

B=

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Review of Oil-Water Relative Permeability

and Capillary Pressure
most processes of interest, involve displacement of oil by water
in a water wet environment, or imbibition.
the initial saturations present in the rock will normally be the
result of a drainage process at the time of oil accumulation.

Drainage process:

Imbibition process:

SW = 1

oil

water

Pc

Pc

Kr

Kr

water

water

oil

Swir

oil

Pcd

Sw

SW =SWir

Swir

Sw

Swir

Sw

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

1-Sor

Swir

1-Sor

Sw

Discretization of Flow Equations

The right side of the flow equation is of the following form

where f ( x) includes permeability, mobility and flow area.

+1/2

/2

/2
=
+

+

1!

2!

+
2

and

1/2

/2

/2
=
+

+

1!

2!

Which yields
+1/2

1/2

+ 2

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

+
2

Similarly we may obtain the following expressions

+1/2

+1
=
+
+1 + /2

and

1/2

1
=
+
+ 1 /2

As we can see, due to the different block sizes, the error terms for the last two
approximations are again of first order only.

By inserting these expressions into the previous equation, we get the following
approximation for the flow term:

2
=

+1/2

+1
2
+1 +

1/2

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

1
+ 1

The multiphase flow term, is of the form

= , ,

Therefore

=

+1/2

+1

2

+1 +

1/2

1
+ 1

Recall the definition of Transmissibility

= +1/2 +1 1/2 1 +

Transmissibility in positive direction

Transmissibility in minus direction

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Using Txli +1/ 2 as example, the transmissibility consists of three

groups of parameters

Two Phase

One Phase

2
+1 +

+1/2 = =

+1/2 = =
1

+1/2

+1 +

1
=
=

+1/2

=
= ,

We therefore need to determine the forms of the latter two

groups before proceeding to the numerical solution
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Starting with Darcy's equation: one phase

We will assume that the flow is steady state, i.e. q=constant, and that
k is dependent on position. The equation may be rewritten as:

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Permeability
integrating the equation in previous slide between
block centers:
The left side may be integrated in parts
over the two blocks in our discrete
system, each having constant
permeability:

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

which is the harmonic average of the two permeabilities. In

terms of our grid block system, we then have the following
expressions for the harmonic averages:

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Fluid Mobility Term

Integrating the right hand side
Let

Assuming the pressure gradient

between the block centers to be
constant, we find that the
weighted average of the blocks
mobility terms is representative of
the average
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

and

Discretization of Flow Equations

We will use similar approximations for the two-phase equations as we did
for one phase flow.
Left side flow terms:

Where:
Oil transmissibility:

k.k ro Po

Txo i 1 ( Po i 1 Po i ) Txo i 1 ( Po i 1 Po i )
2
2
x o Bo x i

k.k rw Pw

Txw i 1 ( Pw i 1 Pw i ) Txw i 1 ( Pw i 1 Pw i )
2
2
x w Bw x i

Txoi 1
2

Oil mobility:

2o i 1

x
xi

xi i 1
ki
ki 1

k ro
o
o Bo

The mobility term is now a function of saturation in addition to pressure. This will
have significance for the evaluation of the term in discrete form.
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Upstream mobility term

Because of the strong saturation dependencies of the
two-phase mobility terms, the solution of the equations
will be much more influenced by the evaluation of this
term than in the case of one phase flow.
QW
Sw

Buckley-Leverett solution:

1-Sor
B.L with PC = 0
Swir
x

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

 In simulating this process, using a discrete grid block

system, the results are very much dependent upon the
way the mobility term is approximated.
Flow of oil between blocks i and i+1:
Upstream selection:

i i
o

weighted average selection:

1
2

o i

1
2

xi o i xi 1o i 1

xi xi1

QW
Sw
1
1-Sor
B.L (PC = 0)
Upstream
Weighted average
Swir
x

In reservoir simulation, upstream mobilities are normally used.

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

 The deviation from the exact solution depends on the grid block sizes
used.

For very small grid blocks, the differences between the solutions may
become negligible.
Sw
1
1-Sor
B.L (PC = 0)
Small grid blocks
Large grid blocks
Swir
x

The flow rate of oil out of any grid block depends primarily on the relative permeability to oil
in that grid block.
If the mobility selection is the weighted average, the block i may actually have reached
residual oil saturation, while the mobility of block i+1 still is greater than zero.

For small grid block sizes, the error involved may be small, but for blocks of practical sizes, it
becomes a significant problem.
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Expansion of Discretized equations

The right hand side of the oil equation:

So So

So
t Bo Bo t
t Bo

By:
Replacing oil saturation by water saturation.( = 1 )
Use a standard backward approximation of the time derivative.
the right hand side of the oil equation thus may be written as:

So

Cpooi ( Poi Poit ) Cswoi (Swi Swit )

t Bo i
Where:

i (1 Swi ) cr d (1 / Bo)
Cpooi

t
dPo i
Bo
Cswoi

i
Boi ti

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

 The right hand side of the water equation:

S w Sw

Sw
t Bw Bw t
t Bw

By:
Expansion of the second term
Since capillary pressure is a function of water saturation only
Using the one phase terms and standard difference approximations for the
derivatives
the right side of the water equation becomes:

S w

Cpowi ( Poi Poit ) Cswwi ( Swi Swit )

t Bw i
Where:

Cpowi

i Swi cr

d (1 / Bw )

t Bw
dPw i

C swwi

dPcow
C powi

Bwi t i dS w i

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

The discrete forms of the oil and water

equations
Oil equation:

Txoi 1 Poi 1 Poi Txoi 1 Poi 1 Poi qoi Cpooi Poi Poit Cswoi Swi Swit
2

Where:

Txoi 1
2

oi

1
2

2oi 1

x
x
xi i 1 i
ki
ki 1

oi 1 if Poi 1 Poi

oi if Poi 1 Poi

Txoi 1
2

o i

1
2

Water equation:

2oi 1

x
x
xi i 1 i
ki
ki 1

o i 1 if Po i 1 Po i

o i if Po i 1 Po i

Txwi 1 Po i 1 Po i Pcowi 1 Pcowi Txwi 1 Po i 1 Po i Pcowi 1 Pcowi q wi

2

Cpowi Po i Po it Cswwi Swi Swit

Transmissibility and mobility terms are the same as for oil equation, except the
subtitles are changed from o for oil to w for water.
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
1. Constant water injection rate
2. Injection at constant bottom hole pressure

3. Constant oil production rate

4. Constant liquid production rate

5. Production at Constant reservoir voidage rate

6. Production at Constant bottom hole pressure

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Boundary Conditions
1.

Constant water injection rate

the simplest condition to handle

for a constant surface water injection rate of Qwi (negative) in a well in

grid block i:

Qwi
qwi
Axi

At the end of a time step, the bottom hole injection pressure

may theoretically be calculated using the well equation:

Qwi WCi oi Pwi Pbhi

where:

Well constant

WCi

2ki h
re
ln
rw

Drainage radius

re

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

yxi

 The fluid injected in a well meets resistance from the fluids it

displaces also.
As a better approximation, it is normally accepted to use the sum of the
mobilities of the fluids present in the injection block in the well equation.
Well equation which is often used for the injection of water in an
oil-water system:
Boi

k roi k rwi

Qwi WCi
oi wi ( Pwi Pbhi )
or
Qwi Bwi WCi

B
(Pwi Pbhi )

oi

oi

wi

qinj

Injection wells are frequently constrained

by a maximum bottom hole pressure, to
avoid fracturing of the formation.
This should be checked, and if
necessary, reduce the injection rate, or
convert it to a constant bottom hole
pressure injection well.

Time

Pbh
Pmax

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Pbp

Time

2.

Injection at constant bottom hole pressure

Injection of water at constant bottom hole pressure is achieved by:

Having constant pressure at the injection pump at the surface.

Letting the hydrostatic pressure caused by the well filled with

water control the injection pressure.

The well equation:

Boi

Qwi WCi
oi wi ( Pwi Pbhi )
Bwi

If Capillary pressure
is neglected

Boi

Qwi WCi
oi wi ( Po i Pbhi )
Bwi

At the end of the time step, the above equation may be used to compute
the actual water injection rate for the step.

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

3.

Constant oil production rate

for a constant surface oil production rate of Qoi (positive) in a

well in grid block i:

qoi

Qoi
Axi

in this case oil production will generally be accompanied by water production.

The water equation will have a water production term given by:

wi (Pwi Pbhi )
qwi
qoi
oi (Po i Pbhi )

If Capillary pressure is neglected

Around the production well

wi
qwi
qoi
o i

the bottom hole production pressure for the well may be calculated using the
well equation for oil:

Qoi WCi oi Poi Pbhi

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

 Production wells are normally

constrained by a minimum
bottom hole pressure, for lifting
purposes in the well. If this is
reached, the well should be
converted to a constant bottom
hole pressure well.

qprod

Time

Pbh

WC(%) vs. Time(year)

80

Pmin

70

Pbp

60

Time

50

40

If a maximum water cut level is

exceeded for well, the highest
water cut grid block may be shut
in, or the production rate may
have to be reduced.

As the limitation for water

cut was 75%, so at this point
gridblocks that exceeded
allowable water cut had been
closed in order to keep the
limit.

30

20

10

0
0

10

12

14

16

18

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

4.

Constant liquid production rate

Total constant surface liquid production rate of QLi (positive):

QLi Qoi Qwi

If capillary pressure is neglected:

oi
QLi
qoi
oi wi Axi

and

wi
QLi
q wi
oi wi Axi

qprod
Total liquid
Oil
Water

Time

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

5.

Production at Constant reservoir voidage rate

A case of constant surface water injection rate of Qwinj in some grid block.

total production of liquids from a well in block i is to match the reservoir

injection volume so that the reservoir pressure remains approximately
constant.

QoiBoi Qwi Bwi QwinjBwinj

If capillary pressure is neglected:

Qwinj Bwinj
oi

qoi
oi Boi wi Bwi Axi
and

Qwinj Bwinj
wi

q wi
oi Boi wi Bwi Axi
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

6.

Production at Constant bottom hole pressure

Production well in grid block i with constant bottom hole pressure, Pbhi:

Qoi WCi oi (Poi Pbhi )

and

Qwi WCi wi (Pwi Pbhi )

Substituting the flow terms in the flow equations:

WCi
qoi
oi(Poi Pbhi )
Axi

and

WCi
qwi

wi (Pwi Pbhi )
Axi

The rate terms contain unknown block pressures, these will have to
be appropriately included in the matrix coefficients when solving
for pressures.
At the end of each time step, actual rates are computed by these
equations, and water cut is computed.

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

IMPES Method
Discretized form of flow equations:

Txoi 1 Poi 1 Poi Txoi 1 Poi 1 Poi qoi Cpooi Poi Poit Cswoi Swi Swit
2

Txwi 1 Po i 1 Po i Pcowi 1 Pcowi Txwi 1 Po i 1 Po i Pcowi 1 Pcowi q wi

2

Cpowi Po i Po it Cswwi Swi Swit

i=1, , N
Where
: equations are:
the primary variables and unknowns to be solved for

Oil pressures Poi, Poi-1, Poi+1

Water saturation Swi
Assumption:
All coefficients and capillary pressures are evaluated at time=t.
t
xo

t
xw

t
so

t
sw

t
po

t
pw

t
Cow

T ,T , C , C , C , C , P
Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

 The two equations are combined so that the saturation terms are
eliminated. The resulting equation is the pressure equation:

ai Poi 1 bi Poi ci Poi 1 di

i=1, , N

This equation may be solved for pressures implicitly in all grid blocks by
Gaussian Elimination Method or some other methods such as Thomas
Algorithm.
The saturations may be solved explicitly by using one of the
equations.
Using the oil equation yields:

Swi Swit

1
t
swoi

xo

t
i 12

Poi 1 Poi Txoit Poi 1 Poi qoi Cpooit Poi Poit

1
2

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

 Having obtained oil pressures and water saturations for a

given time step, well rates or bottom hole pressures may be
computed as qwi, qoi and Pbh.
The surface production well water cut may be computed as:

fwsi

qwi

qwi qoi

Required adjustments in well rates and well pressures, if constrained by

upper or lower limits are made at the end of each time step, before all
coefficients are updated and before we can proceed to the next time
step.

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Limitations of the IMPES method

The evaluation of coefficients at old time level when solving for pressures and
saturations at a new time level, puts restrictions on the solution which sometimes
may be severe.
IMPES is mainly used for simulation of field scale systems, with relatively large grid
blocks and slow rates of change.
It is normally not suited for simulation of rapid changes close to wells, such as
coning studies, or other systems of rapid changes.
When time steps are kept small, IMPES provides accurate and stable solutions to a
long range of reservoir problems.

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053

Reservoir Simulation PCB 3053