Diffusivity Equations

(Governing Flow Relations)

Thomas A. Blasingame, Ph.D., P.E.

Department of Petroleum Engineering Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116 (USA)
+1.979.845.2292
t-blasingame@tamu.edu
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 1
 Diffusivity Equations
(Governing Flow Relations)
z Diffusivity Equations:
"Black Oil" (p>pb)
"Solution-Gas Drive" (valid for all p, referenced for p<pb)
"Dry Gas" (p>pd)
Multiphase Flow

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 2

 Diffusivity Equations
Black Oil (p>pb)

zDiffusivity Equations for a Black Oil:

Slightly Compressible Liquid: (General Form)
2 2 ct p
c(p) + p =
k t
Slightly Compressible Liquid: (Small p and c form)
2 ct p
p=
k t

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 3

 Diffusivity Equations
Black Oil o and Bo vs. p

z Behavior of the o and Bo variables as functions of pressure for

an example black oil case. Note behavior for p>pb both vari-
ables should be considered to be "approximately constant" for
the sake of developing flow relations. Such an assumption (i.e.,
o and Bo constant) is not an absolute requirement, but this
assumption is fundamental for the development of "liquid" flow
solutions in reservoir engineering.
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 4
 Diffusivity Equations
Black Oil co vs. p

z Behavior of the co variable as a function of pressure example

black oil case. Note the "jump" at p=pb, this behavior is due to
the gas expansion at the bubblepoint.
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 5
 Diffusivity Equations
Solution-Gas Drive (p<pb)

zDiffusivity Equations for Solution-Gas Drive: (p<pb)

Oil Pseudopressure Form: (Accounts for o and Bo)

2 ct ppo
ppo =
k t
Oil Pseudopressure Definition: (pn is any reference pressure)
p 1
ppo = [o Bo ] p
n pbase o Bo
dp

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 6

 Diffusivity Equation
Solution-Gas Drive 1/(oBo) vs. p (pb=5000 psia, T=175 Deg F)

p 1
ppo = [o Bo ] p
n pbase o Bo
dp

z "Solution-Gas Drive" Pseudopressure Condition: (1/(oBo) vs. p)

Concept: IF 1/(oBo) constant, THEN oil pseudopressure NOT required.
1/(oBo) is NEVER "constant" but does not vary significantly with p.
Oil pseudopressure calculation straightforward, but probably not necessary.
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 7
 Diffusivity Equations
Solution-Gas Drive (oco) vs. p (pb=5000 psia, T=175 Deg F)

1
ta ,o = [oct ]n t
0 o ( p)ct ( p)
dt

z "Solution-Gas Drive" Pseudopressure Condition: ((oco) vs. p)

Concept: IF (oco) constant, THEN oil pseudotime NOT required.
(oco) is NEVER "constant" BUT, oil pseudotime would be very difficult.
Other evidence suggests that ignoring (oco) variance is acceptable.
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 8
 Diffusivity Equations
Solution-Gas Drive Mobility/Compressibility (Camacho)
Dominated Flow in Solution-Gas-Drive Reservoirs,"
z Camacho-V., R.G. and Raghavan, R.: "Boundary-
SPERE (November 1989) 503-512.

z "Solution-Gas Drive" Behavior: ((ct/t) vs. time)

Observation: (ct/t) constant for p>pb and later, for p<pb.
pwf = constant but probably valid for any production/pressure scenario.
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 9
 Diffusivity Equations
Historical Note Evinger-Muskat Concept (1942)

zWhy not use liquid pseudopressure?

zEvinger and Muskat (1942) note that:

The indefinite integral may be evaluated, as was done for
the two-phase system, and the pressure distribution may
be determined. However, it will be sufficient for the
calculation of the productivity factor to consider only the
limiting form ... (i.e., the constant property liquid relation).

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 10

 Diffusivity Equations
Dry Gas Relations (Base Relations)

zDiffusivity Equations for a "Dry Gas:"

General Form for Gas:
p ct p p
[ p] =
g z k z t
Diffusivity Relations:
Pseudopressure/Time: Pseudopressure/Pseudotime:

g ct pp pp
2
pp = p p = ( g ct ) pn
2
k t k ta
Definitions:
Pseudopressure: Pseudotime:

g z
ppg =
p

p
dp [
ta = g ct ]
t 1
dt
p pn pbase g z
n
0 g ( p )ct ( p )

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 11

 Diffusivity Equations
Dry Gas Pseudotime Condition (gcg vs. p, T=200 Deg F)

[
ta = g ct ]t 1
dt
n
0 g ( p )ct ( p )

z "Dry Gas" Pseudotime Condition: (gcg vs. p)

Concept: IF gcg constant, THEN pseudotime NOT required.
gcg is NEVER constant pseudotime is always required (for liquid eq.).
However, can generate numerical solution for gas cases (no pseudotime).
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 12
 Diffusivity Equations
Dry Gas p2 Relations

zDiffusivity Equations for a "Dry Gas:" p2 Relations

p2 Form Full Formulation:
g ct
2
(p ) 2
[ln( g z )]( p ) =
2 2
( p2 )
p 2 k t
p2 Form Approximation:

2 2 g ct
(p ) = ( p2 )
k t

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 13

 Diffusivity Equations
Dry Gas p2 Condition (gz vs. p, T=200 Deg F)

g z p p
ppg =
p pn pbase g z
dp

z "Dry Gas" PVT Properties: (gz vs. p)

Concept: IF (gz) = constant, THEN p2-variable valid.
(gz) constant for p<2000 psia.
Even with numerical solutions, p2 formulation would not be appropriate.
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 14
 Diffusivity Equations
Dry Gas p Relations

zDiffusivity Equations for a "Dry Gas:" p Relations

p Form Full Formulation:

2 g z 2 g ct p
p ln (p ) =
p p k t
p Form Approximation:

2 g ct p
p=
k t

Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 15

 Diffusivity Equations
Dry Gas p Condition (p/(gz) vs. p, T=200 Deg F)

g z p p
ppg =
p pn pbase g z
dp

z "Dry Gas" PVT Properties: (p/(gz) vs. p)

Concept: IF p/(gz) = constant, THEN p-variable is valid.
p/(gz) is NEVER constant pseudopressure required (for liquid eq.).
p formulation is never appropriate (even if generated numerically).
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 16
 Diffusivity Equations
Multiphase Case p-Form Relations (Perrine-Martin)

Gas Equation:
k g ko kw S g So Sw
+ Rso + Rsw p = + Rso + Rsw

g g
B B
o o w w
B t g
B Bo Bw

Oil Equation:
k S Compressibility Terms:
o p = o
o Bo t Bo 1 dBo Bg dRso
co = +
Water Equation: Bo dp Bo dp

kw Sw 1 dBw Bg dRsw
p = cw = +
w Bw t Bw Bw dp Bw dp
Multiphase Equation: 1 dBg
cg =
Bg dp
ct p ko k g k w
p =
2 t = + + ct = co So + cwS w + cg S g + c f
t t o g w
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 17
 Diffusivity Equations
(Governing Flow Relations)

End of Module

Thomas A. Blasingame, Ph.D., P.E.

Department of Petroleum Engineering Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116 (USA)
+1.979.845.2292
t-blasingame@tamu.edu
Orientation Diffusivity Equations (oil, gas, multiphase flow) Slide 18