CONFIRMATION OF WATER DRIVE

Confirmation of Water drive reservoir by Volumetric Method:

As water invades the reservoir, reservoir pressure is maintained at a higher level than if there
were no water encroachment. This leads to higher abandonment pressures for water-drive
reservoirs.Recoveries, however, are lower because the main mechanism of production in gas
reservoirs is depletion or gas expansion.
This is confirmed by volumetric method.
Following is the illustration to prove this

The following data are given for the Gas Field:

Area (A) = 160 acres
Net productive thickness (h) = 40 ft
Initial reservoir pressure (pi) = 3250 psia
Porosity (φ) = 22%
Connate water (Swc) = 23%
Initial gas FVF (Bgi) = 0.00533 ft3/SCF
Gas FVF at 2500 psia = 0.00667 ft3/SCF
Gas FVF at 500 psia = 0.03623 ft3/SCF
Sgr after water invasion = 34%

Find the following:

1) Initial gas in place
2) Gas in place after volumetric depletion to 2500 psia
3) Gas in place after volumetric depletion to 500 psia
4) Gas in place after water invasion at 3250 psia
5) Gas in place after water invasion at 2500 psia
6) Gas in place after water invasion at 500 psia
7) Gas reserve by volumetric depletion to 500 psia
8) Gas reserve by full water drive; i.e. at 3250 psia
9) Gas reserve by partial water drive; i.e. at 2500 psia
Solution:

Vb = 43,560 x A x h = 43,560 x 160 x 40 = 278.784 MM cuft

1) Initial gas in place is given by:

𝑉𝑏 ∅(1 − 𝑆𝑤𝑖)
𝐺𝑖 =
𝐵𝑔𝑖
which yields:

Gi = 8860 MM SCF

2) Gas in place after volumetric depletion to 2500 psia:

G1 = 7080 MM SCF

3) Gas in place after volumetric depletion to 500 psia:

G2 = 1303 MM SCF

4) Gas in place after water invasion at 3250 psia:

G3 = 3912 MM SCF

5) Gas in place after water invasion at 2500 psia:

G4 = 3126 MM SCF

6) Gas in place after water invasion at 500 psia:

G5 = 576 MM SCF

7) Gas reserve by volumetric depletion to 500 psia:

Gi - G2 = 7557 MM SCF

RF = 7557/8860 = 85%
8) Gas reserve by water drive at 3250 psia (full water drive):
Gi – G3 = 4948 MM SCF

RF = 4948/8860 = 56%

9) Gas reserve by water drive at 2500 psia (partial water drive):

Gi – G4 = 5734 MM SCF

RF = 5734/8860 = 65%

The RF for volumetric depletion to 500 psia (no water drive) is calculated to be
85%. On the other hand, the RF for partial water drive is 65%, and for the full water
drive is 56%. This is synonymous with the above description of water drive gas reservoirs that
recoveries will keep on decreasing due to water invasion. Hence it is proved.

2) Water drive can be verified also by Unit Recovery method

Gas reservoir under water drive:
𝑆𝐶𝐹 1 − 𝑆𝑤𝑖 𝑆𝑔𝑟
𝑈𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑖𝑛 = 43560 ∅ −
𝑎𝑐𝑟𝑒 − 𝑓𝑡 𝐵𝑔𝑖 𝐵𝑔𝑎
Recovery factor will be
1 − 𝑆𝑤𝑖 𝑆𝑔𝑟
𝐵𝑔𝑖 − 𝐵𝑔𝑎
( ) × 100
1 − 𝑆𝑤𝑖
𝐵𝑔𝑖

Under strong water drive Bgi = Bga so equation becomes

1 − 𝑆𝑤𝑖 − 𝑆𝑔𝑟
( ) × 100
1 − 𝑆𝑤𝑖
Confirmation of Water drive reservoir by Material Balance Method:
There are 3 methods to detect and evaluate water drive in gas reservoirs

Water drive

Volumetric
G (Gas in
place)
Casing leak

Gp ( cumulative gas production)

1) General material balance equation includes water influx We as

Gp Bg + Wp Bw = G(Bg – Bgi) + We Bw
if values of G (initial oil in place increases with time as the production proceeds then water drive
is confirmed

2) Pressure decline curve or p/z material balance method confirms water drive as given in the
graph of p/z vs Cumulative gas production in Figure-1 & 2

3) Material balance straight line method

C= We/Bg-Bgi
G + We/Bg-Bgi

Gp
Figure-1: verification of water drive by p/z pressure decline method

Figure-2: shapes of p/z plots for various drive mechanisms

Figure-3 MBE Straight line plot for calculating water influx