OIL FIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

An actual example (Middle East)

Proposed solutions

By Khaled Madaoui
Question 1

RV ( 1 - Swi )
a) OOIP
Boi
1350 108 0.20 (1 - 0.25)
0.17811
1.274
2,830 109 stb
b) Under saturated oil (Pi Pb)

Most likely inactive aquifer because of its low permeability (Kaq < 5mD), regardless its size
Natural energy = (only) rock and fluid expansion

The natural depletion recovery is expected to be very low, and pressure maintenance by water
(or gas ? ) injection must be implemented .

Question 2

The material balance equation (above bubble point pressure) is :

N p Bo Ni Boi Ce (Pi - P) W e - W p Bwp

We = 0 (no water entry)
Wp = 0 (no water production)

The recovery factor at the bubble point is (in % of OOIP)

Npb
100 Ce Boi (Pi - Pb) 100
Ni Bob
Boi = 1.274
Bob = 1.329
Pi = 4425 psig
Pb = 1245 psig
Co So + Cw Swi + Cr
Ce =
1 - Swi
So = 0.75 (= 1 - Swi)
Swi = 0.25
Cw = 3.7 x 10-6 v/v/psi
Cr = 3.4 x 10-6 v/v/psi
 Bob - Boi 1.329 - 1.274 13.6 -6 v/v/psi
Co 1.274 (4425 - 1245) 10
Boi P

Ce 0.75 13.6 0.75

0.25 3.7 3.4 10-6 psi-1 19.4 10-6 psi-1

Npb
Recovery Factor at Pb 100 Ce Boi P 100
Ni Bo
19.4 10-6 1.274 (4425 - 1245) 100
1.329
5.9 %

Cumulative production at Pb : Npb = 5.9% x 2830 x 106 stb

Npb = 167 x 106 stb

Remark :

This 5.9% recovery factor at Pb is, in this case, theoretical and it is not realistic to produce by natural
energy until the average pressure reaches P b = 1245 psig . This value is too low .With P r = Pb. The
flowing pressures in the oil producers will the lower than P b, (i.e. lower than 1245 psig !) say around
1000 psig:

Pwf = Pb-qo/PI <Pb

The oil rates per well will be too low (gas phase reducing kro) and an artificial lift has to be initiated
(mid depth perforations = 8800 ft)

Practically, the production by natural depletion will continue until the average reservoir pressure will
reach a value such that:

Pr = Pwf + qo/PI = Pwf +(drawn down)

The drawdown has to be selected. Sensitivity runs must be performed to propose a reasonable
value.A drawdown of 1000psi appears to be a good compromise to allow field observation under
natural depletion and to have enough delay to prepare water injection scheme.
For D.D.=Pr-Pwf=1000psi,the natural depletion should continue until the average reservoir
pressure reaches the following level;

Pr=minimun Pwf for natural flow +drawdown=2000+1000=3000psig

Remark:between Pi and PR = 3000 psi, it is useful to estimate the average reservoir pressure decline
per million stb produced (to facilitate further calculations) :

Np 1 Bo
PR (between 4425 and 3000 psig)
Ni Ce Boi
Np = 1 x 106 stb
Ni = 2830 x 106 stb
Boi = 1.274
Bo = 1.297 at 3000 psig (see oil properties vs.pressure figure)

Co So Cw Sw Cr 1.297 - 1.274
Ce 1 - Sw
with Co 1.274 (4425 - 3000)

-1
Co 12.7 10-6 psi

Ce 0.75 12.7 0.75

0.25 3.7 3.4 10-6 18.3 10-6 psi-1

P R (for 1 million stb produced) 1 106 1 1.297

2830 106 18.3 10-6 1.274

P R 19.4 psig / 106 stb

Between Pi and the average reservoir pressure prevailing at the end of the natural depletion phase,
the average reservoir pressure will drop by 19.4 psi for each million stb of oil produced. This figure
is useful only for obtaining order of magnitudes.

Question 3

Average reservoir pressure at 1.1.80

N p Bo Ce Ni Boi (Pi - P )

N p 1 Bo
P1.180 Pi -
Ni Ce Boi
 4425 - 30 1 -6 1.297
2830 18.3 10 1.274
4425 - 586 3835 psig

Question 4

The 12 wells on activity at 1.1.1980 can sustain 30,000 stb/d naturally (without artificial lift) until the
flowing pressure reaches the minimum value for natural flow (Pwf = 2000 psig).

The wells will produce proportionally to their PI ( same draw down PR-Pwf in all producers) :
12
Qo field q oi
i 1

(PI)i (P R - P wf )
n
(P R - P wf ) (PI)i
i 1

The 12 wells will sustain 30,000 stb until the reservoir pressure reaches the following value :
Qo field
PR P wf
PI
corresponding to the minimum wf
30,000
PR 2000 20.7 3450 psig
From 1.1.1980, the average reservoir pressure can decline by :
3835 psi - 3450 385 psi

A 385 psi reservoir pressure decline corresponds to a withdrawl of :

385 psi
19.7 Millions stb
19.5 psi 106 stb
At a daily rate of 30,000 stb/d, these 19.7 x 106 millions stb will the produced in :
19.7 106 656 days or 1.8 year
30000

By end 1981, the 12 existing wells will no longer sustain 30,000 stb. The following alternatives are
then possible :
- 1 - Reduce fields rate ( Draw down)
- 2 - Install artificial lift or water injection (too late)

Decision is taken to drill first additional producers.

Question 5
5.1 - Mobility ratio oil/water

( ) o
M w/o k rw Sor
w k ro (Soi)
0.3 0.505 (o at 3000 psi)
0.34 0.8
= 0.56 < 1
the oil water mobility ratio is very favorable.

5.2 - Injectivity index (average)

0.00708 k bs k rw (Sor) h
II practical units
r
Bw w Ln e S - 0.75
rw
Pattern injector = Krw (Sor) = 0.3
Peripheral injector = Krw (Sw=1) = 1

Pattern injector :
0.00708 5 0.3 160
II = = 1.1 stbw/d/psi
3300
1 0.34 ( L n - 4 - 0.75 )
0.29

Peripheral injector :

0.00708 5 1 160
II = = 3,63 stbw/d/psi
3300
1 0.34 ( L n - 4 - 0.75 )
0.29

Note how important is the krow effect on the injectivity. The injectivity index is 3 times higher in
the periphery than in the oil pool !

5.3 Injection rates

The elevation is 350ft.The depth to be considered to calculate the injection pressure is depth subsea +
elevation, i.e.8800ft ss+350ft=9150ft.

Maximum injection pressure = corresponding to frac gradient.

0.65 psi/ft x 9150 ft = 5950psig

Minimum injection pressure = corresponding to hydro static pressure.

0.45 psi/ft x 9150 = 4120 psig

Remarks

Assuming that the average reservoir pressure is maintained at 3000 psi by water injection, the
rates of water injection are (per injector) :
 Qwi = II (Pwinj - PR)

For a Pattern injector :

1.1 (4120- 3000) Qwinj 1.1(5950 - 3000)

1.2
1230stbw/d Qwinj 3245 stbw/d

For a peripheral injector :

3.63 (4120 - 3000) Qwinj 3.63 (5950 - 3000)

4060 stbw/d Qwinj 10700 stbw/d

5.4 Displacement efficiency Volumetric efficiency-

Soi - Sorw 0.75 - 0.30 60 % or 0.6

Ed 0.75
Soi
Evertical = layered reservoir,with some restriction to cross-flow.But the layers are not isolated each
others.A cross-section numerical model is recommended for a best estimate.However,a reasonable
estimate can be made ,with an efficiency value between 1(homogeneous layer) and 0.4 (non
communicating layers)

Proposal : Evert = 0.6

1 1
Eareal (abacus for = = 1.8 and f w = 90 %) , we found
M 0.56

Eareal 0.98

Recovery by water injection E d E a E r

0.6 0.6 0.98
0.35 or 35% of the OIP at the beginning of WI.

Question 6

a) Natural depletion recovery

From Pi = 4425 psig to PR = min. fwf + Draw Down
= 2000 + 1000
= 3000 psig

By using the material balance equation (Rock/Fluid expansion), the natural depletion recovery is :

Boi ( - P)
N p Ce N i Pi
Bo
 1.274
= 18.3 10-6 2830 10+6 (4425 - 3000)
1.297

N1 or NPnd = 72.6 Millions stb

or 2.56 % of OOIP !

b) Ultimate reserves
c)
Npu = N1 (N.D) + N2 (WI)
N2 (WI) = (Ni - N1) Ed x Ea x Eu
= (2830 - 72.6) x 0.35 x 106 stb
= 965 x 106 stb
Npu = 72.6 + 965 = 1038 x 106 stb or 36.7 % OOIP

Question 7

a)Field production rate = 2 % of the reserves/year (annual depletion role)

0.02 1038 106 56 000 stb/d
Qo field
365
Qw inj field Qo Bo 56 000 1.297 73 000 stbw/d

b)Average productivity index (for an average producer)

PI 0.00708 5 0.8 160 stb/d/psi

r
1.297 0.505 Ln S 0.75
e
rw
= 1.5 stb/d/psi

Average oil rate (for an average producer)

Qo = PI x Draw Down = 1.5 x 1000 = 1500 Stb/d

In fact, the average reservoir characteristics proved better than stated initially, with an
average permeability of around 7 to 10 mD (absolute), and a productivity index of 2
stb/d/psi is more realistic

Average rate per well 2000 stb/d

No. of producers 28

No. of injectors 28 (5 spot pattern)

Question 8
Productivities and injectivities of future wells

The kh map is a kh test map derived from PBUs in the producers.

0.00708
PI = kh = 0.0024 kh
re
Bo o L n + S - 0.75
rw

The following table can be given:

(kh) = keo (Swi)h PI

mD x ft Stb/d/psi
400 0.94
600 1.41
800 1.88
1000 2.35
1400 3.30
1600 3.76

For the pattern injectors, one should take into account the (kh)water:
(kh) water = kew (Sor)x h
= kabs x krw (Sor)x h

k eo (Soi) ( ) h
= k S
k ro (Swi) rw or

II 0.00708 k rw (Sor) (kh) oil

and r k ro (Swi)
Bw w Ln e S - 0.75
rw
II = [0.0017 x (kh)oil] stbw/d/psi

With the iso-kh map,we can predict the PI and II of any future well,then its production or injection
rate associated to a choosen drawdown.

Question 9

Plan 1(early pressure maintenance)

- Pressure maintenance to be implemented when.

 Q
PR P wf (min) PIo
- The 25 producers have a P = 46.5 stb/d/psi
30,000
PR 2000 46.5 2645 psi
i.e. : 4425 - 2645 = 1780 psi reservoir pressure decline from t = 0

or 3835 - 2645 = 1190 psi PR from 1.1.80

or we can produce 1190 61 Millions stb from year 4.5

19.5

At a daily rate of 30,000 stb/d, this represents 5.5 additional years of production by natural
depletion..

The water injection should be operational 10 years (4.5+5.5) after the start of production In
fact,water injection will start 1.5 years before the predicted date and will be progressively extended
to have a fully operational process at the estimated date.Artificial lift is delayed by some 10 years
.

Question 10

Plan 2 (early Artificial lift)

Artificial lift should be operational when the 25 producers will no longer can sustain 30000stb/d
by natural depletion i.e. 5.5 years after the date of production increase to 30000stb/d or 10 years after
the start of production. (see question 9 = some action must be taken when
Q
PR P wf (min) PIo

30,000
PR 2000 46.5 2645 psi )

Then water injection should be operational when Pwf = Pb (no production below Pb)
i.e. when :
Qo
PR Pb PI
30,000
1245 1890 psi
46.5

From the production increase rate to 30000stb/d(4.5 y after the start of production), this
represents a Np such that :

3835 - 1890 99.7 106 stb

19.5
 or 99.7 millions stb/30000stb/d=9.1 years after the increase rate date.Water injection will be
implemented 4.5+9=13.5 years after the start of production.