Material Balance Equations

By : Dr. Ir. Dedy Kristanto, M.Sc

Petroleum Engineering Department UPN Veteran Yogyakarta

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Material Balance Equations

Introduction

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

Learning goals
Basic understanding of material balance

To illustrate the simplest possible model we can have

for analysis of reservoir behavior, we will start with
derivation of so-called Material Balance Equations.
This type of model excludes fluid flow inside the
reservoir, and considers fluid and rock
expansion/compression effects only, in addition, of
course, to fluid injection and production.

SUMMARY

The handout Material Balance Equations can be

downloaded from here:

This module is meant to be an extra help to the

lectures in Reservoir recovery techniques by giving
examples to the curriculum covered by the handout
Material Balance Equations.
The structure of the model is shown below.

Introduction
Application

Modelling

Summary
Block
diagram

Saturation

Material
conservation

Equations
Graph A

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Graph B

Water
influence

Plot 1

Plot 2

Initial
gascap

Plot 3
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Material Balance Equations

Block diagram of a producing reservoir

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
Block diagram
Material conservation
Graph A B
Equations
Saturation

The essence of material balance is described in the

block diagram below.

Due to change in pressure, the pore volume as well as

the fraction of the volume occupied by gas, oil & water
will change.

From the initial stage oil, gas & water is produced. At the
same time gas & water is (re)injected into the reservoir
to maintain pressure. There is also an influx from the
aquifer below the reservoir.

APPLICATION
SUMMARY

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Material Balance Equations

Principle of material conservation

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
Block diagram
Material conservation
Graph A B
Equations
Saturation

From the block diagram we get the expression below, which is the basis for the material balance formulas.

Amount of fluids present Amount of Amount of fluids remaining

in the reservoir initially fluids produced = in the reservoir finally

(st. vol.)
(st. vol.)
(st. vol.)

APPLICATION
SUMMARY

Note that fluids produced include all influence on the reservoir:

Production
Injection
Aquifer influx

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Material Balance Equations

Formation Volume Factor in the Black Oil model

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
Block diagram
Material conservation
Graph A B
Equations
Saturation

The formation volume factors (FVF) tell how much the

oil, gas and water is compressed at a given pressure.

APPLICATION

Bo = reservoir volume of oil / standard volume of oil

SUMMARY

Bg = reservoir volume of gas / standard volume of gas

The graphs below show how the FVF of oil, gas and
water develop vs pressure. Click on the buttons to show
the graphs.

Bw = reservoir volume of water / standard volume of

water

Bo vs. P

Bg vs. P

Bo

Bw vs. P

Bg

Bw

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Material Balance Equations

Solution Gas-Oil Ratio in the Black Oil model

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
Block diagram
Material conservation
Graph A B
Equations
Saturation
APPLICATION

The Rso plot shows how the solution gas ratio develops
vs pressure. When the pressure reaches the
bubblepointpressure, it is no longer possible to solve
more gas into the oil. Thus the gradient of the curve
becomes zero.

Click on the button below to see the typical pressure

dependency of the solution gas-oil ratio in the black oil
model.

SUMMARY
Rs = standard volume gas / standard volume oil

Rso vs. P

Rso

P
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Material Balance Equations

The complete black oil material balance equation

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
Block diagram
Material conservation
Graph A B
Equations
Saturation

The final material balance relationships is given below. How these expressions are derived can be
studied in the Material Balance.

F = N E o + mE g + E f ,w + (Wi + We )Bw2 + Gi Bg2

APPLICATION
SUMMARY

Where:

production terms are

) ]

F = N p Bo2 + R p Rso2 Bg2 + W p Bw2

oil and solution gas expansion terms are

E o = (Bo2 B o1 ) + (Rso1 Rso2 )B g2

gas cap expansion terms are

B g2

E g = B o1
1
B g1

and rock and water compression/expansion terms are

E f ,w = (1 + m)Bo1

C r + C w S w1
1 S w1

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Material Balance Equations

Saturation and pressure development

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
Block diagram
Material conservation
Graph A B
Equations
Saturation
APPLICATION
SUMMARY

View the animations below to see how the pressure and

oil-, gas- and water-saturation typically develops in a
reservoir initially above the bubblepoint develops versus
time. Also included is how pressure might develop
versus time.

The plot to the left shows how the saturations and the
pressure in the reservoir develop vs time in a reservoir if
there is small or no water injection.
The plot to the right shows the same for a reservoir with
large water injecton.

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Material Balance Equations

Application of Material Balance

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

In material balance calculations there are in most cases

many uncertainties with regard to reservoir parametres.
Uncertain values may for instance include the size of the
initial gascap, the initial amount of oil in the reservoir and
the influx of the aquifer.

Initial gascap
Plot 1
Plot 2
Water influence
Plot 3

The animation below shows a producing reservoir with

gas and water injection.

SUMMARY
In the following pages ways of finding some of these
values will be explained.

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Material Balance Equations

Application of Material Balance

Initial gas cap (Havlena and Odeh approach)

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

For gascap reservoirs the value of m is in most cases

uncertain. The value of N can however usually be
defined well through producing wells. In this case a good
approach will be to plot F as a function of (Eo+mEg) for
an assumed value of m. (eq. 2) For the correct value of
m the slope will be a straight line passing through origo
with a slope of N. For a too large value of m, the plot will
deviate down and for a too small value it will deviate up.

Initial gascap
Plot 1
Plot 2
Water influence
Plot 3
SUMMARY

If both the value of m and N are uncertain one should

plot F/Eo as a function of Eg/Eo. This plot should be
linear and will intercept the y axis at a value of N and
have a slope of mN. (eq. 3)

General mass balance formula:

F = N E o + mE g + E f ,w + (Wi + We )Bw2 + Gi Bg2

Assuming no water influence, gas injection and rock

or water compression/expansion.

F = N (Eo + mE g )

(2)

Eg
F
= N + mN
Eo
Eo

(3)

Large version
Plot 1
Large version
Plot 2

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(1)

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Material Balance Equations

Application of Material Balance

Initial gas cap (Havlena and Odeh approach)

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

For gascap reservoirs the value of m is in most cases

uncertain. The value of N can however usually be
defined well through producing wells. In this case a good
approach will be to plot F as a function of (Eo+mEg) for
an assumed value of m. (eq. 2) For the correct value of
m the slope will be a straight line passing through origo
with a slope of N.

Initial gascap
Plot 1
Plot 2
Water influence
Plot 3
SUMMARY

For a too large value of m, the plot will deviate down and
for a too small value it will deviate up.
Assuming no water influence, gas injection and rock
or water compression/expansion.

F = N (Eo + mE g )

(2)

Return

Large version
Plot 2

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Material Balance Equations

Application of Material Balance

Initial gas cap (Havlena and Odeh approach)

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

If both the value of m and N are uncertain one should

plot F/Eo as a function of Eg/Eo. This plot should be
linear and will intercept the y axis at a value of N and
have a slope of mN. (eq. 3)

Initial gascap
Plot 1
Plot 2
Water influence
Plot 3

Assuming no water influence, gas injection and rock

or water compression/expansion.

Eg
F
= N + mN
Eo
Eo

(3)

SUMMARY

Large version
Plot 1
Return

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Material Balance Equations

Application of Material Balance

Water influence (Havlena and Odeh approach)

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

In water drive reservoirs the biggest uncertainty is in

most cases the water influx, We. To find this we plot
F/Eo vs We/Eo. In this plot We must be calculated with a
known model. (e.g. eq. 7)

Initial gascap
Plot 1
Plot 2
Water influence
Plot 3

General mass balance formula:

F = N E o + mE g + E f ,w + (Wi + We )Bw2 + Gi Bg2

(1)

Assuming no water or gas injection and Bw=1.

For a correct model of We we will get a straight line. For
the wrong model the plot will deviate from a straight line
as shown in plot 3.

SUMMARY

F = N (Eo + mEg + E f , w ) + We

(4)

Neglecting Ef,w due to its small influence and assuming

no initial gascap.

F = NEo + We

(5)

W
F
=N+ e
Eo
Eo

(6)

Water influx model for radial aquifer shape:

We = (cw + c f ) re2 ro2 fhp

(7)

Large version
Plot 3

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Material Balance Equations

Application of Material Balance

Water influence (Havlena and Odeh approach)

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

For a correct model of We we will get a straight line. For

the wrong model the plot will deviate from a straight line
as shown in plot 3.

Initial gascap
Plot 1
Plot 2
Water influence
Plot 3

W
F
=N+ e
Eo
Eo

(6)

SUMMARY

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Material Balance Equations

Summary

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

MODELLING:
Block diagram: Material balance equations are based on a model with a know start- and
end-point. Between the two stages oil, gas & water is produced and gas & water is
(re)injected into the reservoir to maintain pressure. There is also an influx from the aquifer
below the reservoir. Due to change in pressure, the pore volume as well as the fraction of
the volume occupied by gas, oil & water will change.

SUMMARY

Material conservation: Amounts of fluids in the reservoir at stage one is equal to the
amount of fluids at stage two plus the amount of fluids produced.
Graph A: The formation volume factors (FVF) tell how much the oil, gas and water is
compressed at a given pressure.
Block diagram
Graph B: The Rso plot shows how the solution gas ratio develops vs pressure. When the
pressure reaches the bubblepointpressure, it is no longer possible to solve more gas into
the oil. Thus the gradient of the curve becomes zero.
Equations: The material balance equations consist of a general part, oil and solution gas
expansion terms, gas cap expansion terms and rock and water compression/expansion
terms
Saturation: Pressure and saturations change versus time, depending on
production/injection. See figure to the right.
APPLICATION:
Initial gascap: In a gas drive reservoirs m may be calculated by plotting F as a function of
(Eo+mEg). For the correct value of m the plot will be a straight line. Alternatively m & N
may be calculated by plotting F/Eo vs Eg/Eo. The curve will intercept the y axis at a value
of N and have a slope of mN.

Saturation & pressure

Water influence: In a water drive reservoir the water influx, We, can be recovered by
plotting F/Eo vs We/Eo. In this plot We must be calculated with a known model.

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Material Balance Equations

References

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

Jon Kleppe. Material balance. http://www.ipt.ntnu.no/~kleppe/SIG4038/02/matbal.pdf

SUMMARY
L.P. Dake 1978. Fundamentals of reservoir engineering, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 443 pp.
L.P. Dake 1994. The practice of reservoir engineering, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 534 pp.
Svein M. Skjveland (ed.) & Jon Kleppe (ed.) 1992. SPOR monograph : recent
advances in improved oil recovery methods for North Sea sandstone reservoirs
Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Stavanger. 335 pp.

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Material Balance Equations

About this module

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

Title: Material Balance Equations

SUMMARY
Author: Prof. Jon Kleppe
Assistant producer: Vidar W. Moxness
Size: 0.8 mb
Publication date: 24. July 2002
Abstract: The module describes the basics of material balance calculations.
Software required: PowerPoint XP/XP Viewer
Prerequisites: none
Level: 1 4 (four requires most experience)
Estimated time to complete: --

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Material Balance Equations

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INTRODUCTION
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Material Balance Equations

Symbols used in material balance equations

INTRODUCTION
MODELLING
APPLICATION

Bg

Formation volume factor for gas (res.vol./st.vol.)

Sg

Gas saturation

SUMMARY

Bo

Formation volume factor for oil (res.vol./st.vol.)

So

Oil saturation

Bw

Formation volume factor for water (res.vol./st.vol.)

Sw

Water saturation

Temperature

(pressure-1)

Cr

Pore compressibility

Cw

Water compressibility (pressure-1)

Vb

Bulk volume (res.vol.)

P2-P1

Vp

Pore volume (res.vol.)

Ef,w

Rock and water expansion/compression term

We

Cumulative aquifer influx (st.vol.)

Eg

Gas cap expansion term

Wi

Cumulative water injected (st.vol.)

Eo

Oil & solution gas expansion term

Wp

Cumulative water produced (st.vol.)

Gi

Cumulative gas injected (st.vol.)

Density (mass/vol.)

Gp

Cumulative gas produced (st.vol.)

Porosity

Initial gas cap size (res.vol. of gas cap)/(res.vol. of oil zone)

Original oil in place (st.vol.)

Np

Cumulative oil produced (st.vol.)

Pressure

Pb

Bubblepoint Pressure

Rp

Cumulative producing gas-oil ratio (st.vol./st.vol.) = Gp/Np

Rso

Solution gas-oil ratio (st.vol. gas/st.vol. oil)

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