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Drive Mechanisms
Adrian C Todd
Definition
A reservoir drive mechanism is a source of
energy for driving the fluids out through the
wellbore
It is not necessarily the energy lifting the fluids
to the surface, although in many cases, the
same energy is capable of lifting the fluids to
the surface
Depletion drive
Water drive
Compaction drive
Combination drive
Key issue-relative
size of aquifer to
hydrocarbon
accumulation
1 V
c
V P
Artesian Flow
Key issues:
Mobility of
water in
aquifer
Barriers to flow
Compaction Drive
Compaction Drive
Oil
Water
Pore space
Compressibility drive
Two types
Combination Drive
Reservoir Performance
Oil-gas ratio
pressure decline
water production
Gas is a non-wetting
phase.
Gas permeability is
zero until a critical gas
saturation is reached.
Production Phases
By definition should be no
water production.
Due to rapid pressure drop
artificial lift required in early
years.
Expected oil recovery, low, 530% STOIIP.
Well locations low to
encourage vertical gas
migration
Pressure
Production of fluids
largely due to high
compressibility of gas
cap.
Pressure declines
slowly depending on
gas cap size.
Gas-Oil Ratio
Early stages GOR
steady.
Slowly impact of
solution gas drive
increases Rp
Low gas viscosity>high
gas mobility
Gas by-passing oil
Water Production
Like solution gas
drive negligible
water production.
Well behaviour
Longer, depends on
gas cap size
Recovery
20-40% STOIIP
Well Locations
Away from gas oil
contact
Not too close to
water oil contact
Water Drive
GOR increases
Solution gas drive-combination drive
Water Drive
Size and geometry of the aquifer and its permeability and compressibility
characteristics are required for aquifer calculations
Characteristics often only determined after production started.
Pressure support from aquifer calculated from pressure -production
data.
History matching.
Uncertainty over natural water drive often results in artificial water drive.
Characteristics
Trend
Reservoir pressure
Declines rapidly
Gas-Oil Ratio
Production rate
Water production
None
Well behaviour
Expected recovery
5-30% STOIIP
Characteristics
Trend
Reservoir pressure
Gas-Oil Ratio
Rises continuously
Production rate
Water production
Absent or negligible
Well behaviour
Expected recovery
20-40% STOIIP
Water Drive
Characteristics
Trend
Reservoir pressure
Remains high
Gas-Oil Ratio
Steady
Water production
Well behaviour
Expected recovery
up to 60% STOIIP
Recovery
GOR