Petroleum Engineering 324
Reservoir Performance
Diffusivity Equation
13 February 2008
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
Dilhan Ilk
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116 (USA)
+1.979.458.1499
Slide — 1/17
dilhan@tamu.edu
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Petroleum Engineering 324
Reservoir Performance

Diffusivity Equation
Development

Slide — 2/17
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Concept (1/3)
Governing Equation: Mass Continuity Equation (Mass
Balance of the system)
Control Volume (System)

Mass in Mass out

⎡Rate of mass flow ⎤ ⎡Rate of mass flow ⎤ ⎡Rate of mass accumulation ⎤

⎢into the system ⎢out of the system
⎥− ⎥ = ⎢in the system during ⎥
⎢ ⎢ ⎥ ⎥ ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣during the interval, Δt ⎥⎦ ⎢⎣ the interval, Δt
⎢⎣during the interval, Δt ⎥⎦ ⎥⎦
z Discussion: Diffusivity Equation
„ Conceptually, the diffusivity equation is obtained by applying mass
balance over a control volume.
„ Equation of motion (Darcy's Law) and equation of state (PVT relations)
are then combined with the mass balance equation to obtain the final

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form of the diffusivity equation.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Concept (2/3)
Governing Equations: (Mathematical descriptions)
∂ (φρ )
r
Mass continuity equation: ∇ • (ρ ν ) = −
∂t
r k r
Equation of motion (Darcy's ν = − (∇p + ρ g )
Law): μ
1 ∂ρ
Equation of state (isothermal c=
compressibility for a fluid): ρ ∂p
⎛ ∂f ∂f ∂f ⎞
(Gradient) ∇f ( x, y, z ) = ⎜⎜ , , ⎟⎟ (in Cartesian coordinates)
⎝ ∂x ∂y ∂z ⎠
z Discussion: Diffusivity Equation
„ Definitions for the velocity and density terms are inserted in the mass

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continuity equation.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Concept (3/3)
z Diffusivity equation for the flow of a single phase fluid
in a porous media with respect to time and distance:
■Slightly Compressible Liquid: (General Form)
2 2 φμct ∂p
c(∇p ) + ∇ p =
k ∂t
■Slightly Compressible Liquid: (Small ∇p and c form)

2 φμct ∂p
∇ p=
k ∂t
z Discussion: Diffusivity Equation
„ Diffusivity equation is a partial differential equation.
„ Solution of the diffusivity equation requires an INITIAL CONDITION and
TWO BOUNDARY CONDITIONS.
„ Diffusivity equation (above) applies for any geometric configuration.
„ Diffusivity equation (above) requires the following assumptions —

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homogeneous, isotropic formation and 100% saturated pore space.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Reservoir Models

— From: Kappa Engineering (Dynamic Flow

— Fractured well model
— Horizontal well model

Analysis, 2007)

— Horizontal well with transverse

vertical fractures
— Fully penetrating slanted well
z Discussion: Reservoir Models
„ A model is a mathematical approximation of the real system combined
with the rules of physics. The success of a model depends on
reproducibility of the main drives of the system.
„ We use ANALYTICAL models for the appropriate representation of the
physical drive mechanisms of the system.
„ ANALYTICAL model requires that the physical system should be
replaced by a set of relatively simple LINEAR equations which model
the diffusion process within a piece of rock, assume a simple shape for

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the reservoir and give the initial state of the system.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Radial Flow
z Diffusivity equation in cylindrical coordinates (radial flow
most convenient for reservoir engineering applications):
■Slightly Compressible Liquid:
2
∂ p 1 ∂p φμct ∂p
+ =
∂r 2 r ∂r k ∂t
■ φ, μ, ct and k are assumed to be constants (not a function of
pressure).

z Discussion: Diffusivity Equation

„ If the permeability (k) is larger, the pressure change will be smaller.
„ If the viscosity (μ) is larger, the pressure change will be smaller.
„ The ratio, k/μ is called the mobility ratio.
„ If the porosity (φ) is larger, the pressure change will be smaller.
„ If the total compressibility (ct) is larger, the pressure change will be

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smaller.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Black Oil — μo and Bo vs. p

z Behavior of the μo 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.,
μo and Bo constant) is not an absolute requirement, but this
assumption is fundamental for the development of "liquid" flow

Slide — 8/17
solutions in reservoir engineering.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: 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

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the gas expansion at the bubblepoint.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Solution Gas Drive — p<pb

p 1
ppo = [μo Bo ] p
n ∫ pbase μo Bo
dp

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

„ Concept: IF 1/(μoBo) ≅ constant, THEN oil pseudopressure NOT required.
„ 1/(μoBo) is NEVER "constant" — but does not vary significantly with p.

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„ Oil pseudopressure calculation straightforward, but probably not necessary.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Dry Gas Relations

z Diffusivity Equations for a "Dry Gas:"

„ General Form for Gas:
p φct p ∂p
∇ •[ ∇p] =
μg z k z ∂t
„ Diffusivity Relations:
Pseudopressure/Time:
Pseudopressure/Pseudotime:

φμ g ct ∂pp φ ∂pp
∇ 2 pp = ∇ p p = ( μ g ct ) pn
2
k ∂t k ∂ta
„ Definitions:
Pseudopressure: Pseudotime:
⎡ μg z ⎤
ppg = ⎢ ⎥ ∫
p p
dp [
t a = μ g ct t ]∫ 1
dt
pbase μ g z n
0 μ g ( p )ct ( p )

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⎣ p ⎦ pn
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: (Pseudotime Condition)

[
t a = μ g ct]∫ t 1
dt
n
0 μ g ( p )ct ( p )

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

„ Concept: IF μgcg ≅ constant, THEN pseudotime NOT required.
„ μgcg is NEVER constant — pseudotime is always required (for liquid eq.).

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„ However, can generate numerical solution for gas cases (no pseudotime).
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: p2 Condition

⎡ μg z ⎤ p p
ppg = ⎢
⎣ p ⎥
⎦ pn ∫ pbase μ g z
dp

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

„ Concept: IF (μgz) = constant, THEN p2-variable valid.
„ (μgz) ≅ constant for p<2000 psia.

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„ Even with numerical solutions, p2 formulation would not be appropriate.
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: p2 Condition

z Diffusivity Equations for a "Dry Gas:" p2 Relations

„ p2 Form — Full Formulation:
∂ φμ g ct ∂
2 2
∇ (p )− [ln(μ g z )]∇( p ) =
2 2
( p2 )
∂p 2 k ∂t
„ p2 Form — Approximation:

2 2 φμ g ct ∂
∇ (p ) = ( p2 )
k ∂t

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Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: p Relations

⎡ μg z ⎤ p p
ppg = ⎢
⎣ p ⎥
⎦ pn ∫ pbase μ g z
dp

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

„ Concept: IF p/(μgz) = constant, THEN p-variable is valid.
„ p/(μgz) is NEVER constant — pseudopressure required (for liquid eq.).

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„ p formulation is never appropriate (even if generated numerically).
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: p Relations

z Diffusivity Equations for a "Dry Gas:" p Relations

„ p Form — Full Formulation:

2 ∂ ⎡ ⎡ μ g z ⎤⎤ 2 φμ g ct ∂p
∇ p − ⎢ln ⎢ ⎥ ⎥ (∇ p ) =
∂p ⎣ ⎣ p ⎦ ⎦ k ∂t
„ p Form — Approximation:

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Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)
Diffusivity Equation: Multiphase Case
Gas Equation:
⎡⎡ k g ko kw ⎤ ⎤ ∂ ⎡ ⎡ S g So Sw ⎤⎤
∇ • ⎢⎢ + Rso + Rsw ⎥∇p ⎥ = ⎢φ ⎢ + Rso + Rsw ⎥⎥
⎢⎣ ⎢⎣ μ g Bg μo Bo μ w Bw ⎥⎦ ⎥⎦ ∂t ⎢⎣ ⎢⎣ Bg Bo Bw ⎥⎦ ⎥⎦
Oil Equation:
⎡ ko ⎤ ∂ ⎡ So ⎤ Compressibility Terms:
∇•⎢ ∇p ⎥ = ⎢φ ⎥
⎣ μ o Bo ⎦ ∂t ⎣ Bo ⎦ 1 dBo B g dRso
co = − +
Water Equation: Bo dp Bo dp
⎡ k ⎤ ∂⎡ S ⎤
∇ • ⎢ w ∇p ⎥ = ⎢φ w ⎥ 1 dBw B g dRsw
⎣ μ w Bw ⎦ ∂t ⎣ B w ⎦ cw = − +
Bw dp Bw dp
Multiphase Equation:
1 dB g
cg = −
B g dp
ct ∂p ko k g k w
∇ p =φ
2 λt = + + ct = co So + cw S w + c g S g + c f
λt ∂t μo μ g μ w

Slide — 17/17
Petroleum Engineering 324 — Reservoir Performance
Department of Petroleum Engineering — Texas A&M U.
Diffusivity Equation
Lecture 05 — T.A. Blasingame/Dilhan Ilk (13 February 2008)