Solution gas drive reservoirs

Oil reservoirs that do not initially contain free gas but develop free gas on pressure depletion are classified as
solution gas drives.

Stages of production
Pure solution gas drive reservoirs are subject to four stages of idealized production. In chronological order, the
four stages are:

1. Production while undersaturated

2. Production while saturated but the free gas is immobile

3. Production while saturated and the free gas is mobile and the producing gas-oil ratio(GOR) is
increasing

4. Production while saturated and the free gas is mobile and the producing GOR is decreasing

The key characteristics of each stage are outlined here.

Stage 1
No free gas

Producing GOR is equal to initial dissolved GOR

Fractional oil and gas recoveries are small and approximately equal

Reservoir pressure drops rapidly

Duration of stage depends on degree of initial undersaturation. The greater the initial undersaturation,
the longer the duration of Stage 1. The stage duration is generally short

Stage 2
Reservoir pressure is less than bubblepoint

Free gas appears, but the saturation is small and immobile

Producing GOR is slightly less than initial dissolved GOR

Rate of pressure decline is mitigated

Stage 3
Free gas becomes mobile

Producing GOR increases steadily

Fractional gas recovery exceeds fractional oil recovery

Longest of all stages; typically consumes 85 to 95% of primary recovery

Primary recovery may be terminated during this stage

Stage 4
Reservoir pressure is very low, typically less than 100 to 400 psia

Producing GOR decreases

Primary recovery often terminated before this stage is realized

Stage-1
 During Stage 1, less than 1% of the OOIP is produced. The pressure decreases from the initial pressure of
2,000 psia to the bubblepoint pressure of 1,688 psia. The producing GOR remains constant and equal to the
initial dissolved GOR of 838 scf/STB; no free gas evolves.

During Stage 2, the pressure falls below the bubblepoint; solution gas is liberated; and low, immobile gas
saturations form. The cumulative oil recovery reaches approximately 4.5% of the OOIP. The pressure
decreases from the bubblepoint to approximately 1,550 psia. The gas saturation increases to approximately 5%
PV. The producing GOR actually decreases slightly, but this change is barely noticeable.

During Stage 3, the gas saturation increases to the point at which gas is mobile. Free-gas production begins,
and the producing GOR rises steadily. By the end of Stage 3, the cumulative oil recovery is 28% of the OOIP,
the pressure has decreased to 200 psia, the gas saturation reaches approximately 35% PV, and the producing
GOR reaches approximately 6,700 scf/STB.

During Stage 4, the pressure has reached such a low level that the expansion of gas from reservoir to surface
conditions is minimal. Consequently, the producing GOR decreases. By the time the pressure reaches 50 psia,
the GOR is only 2,000 scf/STB and the total oil recovery is 32% of the OOIP.