Recovery Methods

Objectives

Recovery Methods
Identify the types of reservoir fluid and explain
important fluid properties
List and explain reservoir drive mechanisms for
oil and gas reservoirs
Explain the objectives of reservoir management
List and describe fluid injection processes and
the types of reservoir in which each process is
appropriate

Outline

Recovery Methods
Fluid properties
Reservoir drive mechanisms
Improved recovery processes
Reservoir management

Petroleum Fluid Properties

Black Oil

Volatile Oil

The Five
Reservoir
Fluids

Retrograde Gas

Wet Gas

Dry Gas

Pressure path
in reservoir

Black Oil
90 0
8

Dewpoint line

% Liquid

790 0
6

Separator

Temperature, F

20
10

30

40

n
oi
p
e
bl
b
Bu

e
in
L
t

Critical
Point

50

Pressure, psia

Phase Diagram Typical Black Oil

Phase Diagram Typical Volatile Oil

1 Critical
point

Pressure path
in reservoir

Volatile oil

Dewpoint line

50

% Liquid

30

40

in
tl
in
e

20

Bu
bb
le
po

Pressure

90

Separator

Temperature, F

10

5
t line
n
i
o
p
Dew

Phase Diagram Typical Retrograde Gas

Pressure path
in reservoir
1
2

% Liquid

lin
e

po
in
t

15

10

De
w

20

40
30

po
in
tl

in
e

Critical
point

Bu
bb
le

Pressure

Retrograde
gas

Separator

Temperature

5
0

Phase Diagram Typical Wet Gas

Pressure path
in reservoir
1

po
int
De
w
% Liquid

30
25

oin
t

Critical
point

Bu
bb
lep

Pressure

lin
e

Wet gas

Separator

Temperature

Phase Diagram Typical Dry Gas

w
De

in
o
p

e
in
l
t

Dry gas

% Liquid

25
1

50

Pressure

Pressure path
in reservoir
1

Separator

Temperature

Differences Among Gases

Dry gas
gas at surface is same as gas in reservoir
Wet gas
recombined surface gas and condensate
represents gas in reservoir
Retrograde gas
recombined surface gas and condensate
represents the gas in the reservoir but not the
total reservoir fluid (retrograde condensate
stays in reservoir)

Oil Formation Volume Factor

Volume of reservoir oil at reservoir
conditions required to produce one
standard volume of stock tank oil
Unitsres bbl/STB
SymbolBo

Oil Changes During Production

Loses mass
gas comes out of solution on trip to
surface
Contracts
temperature decreases from
reservoir temperature to 60F
Expands
pressure decreases from reservoir
pressure to atmospheric pressure

Reservoir Pressure > Oil Bubblepoint Pressure

Separator

scf

scf

Stock
tank
STB
Bo =

res bbl

Oil

p > pb

res bbl oil

STB

Typical Shape - Oil Formation

Volume Factor
Bo, res bbl/STB

1
0

p, psig

pb

6000

Solution Gas/Oil Ratio

Volume of gas which comes out of the
oil as it moves from reservoir
temperature and pressure to standard
temperature and pressure
Units - cubic feet of total surface gas at
standard conditions per barrel of stocktank oil at standard conditions, scf/STB

Typical Shape - Solution

Gas/Oil Ratio

Rs, scf/STB

2000

0
0

p, psig

pb

6000

Reservoir Pressure > Oil Bubblepoint Pressure

Rsb =

Separator

scf

scf
STB

scf

Stock
tank
STB
Bo =

res bbl

Oil

p > pb

res bbl oil

STB

Reservoir Pressure < Oil Bubblepoint Pressure

scf

Rsb =

scf

Separator

res bbl gas

Bg =
Mscf

scf
STB

scf

Stock
tank
STB
Bo =

Gas

res bbl

res bbl

Oil

P < Pb

res bbl oil

STB

Oil Viscosity
Resistance to flow exerted by a fluid;
large values correspond to low flow
rates
Units
centipoise = (centistoke)(density g/cc)

Dependence of Oil Viscosity

on Pressure

o, cp

1.1

0.3

pb

p, psig

6000

Oil Reservoir Drive

Mechanisms
Solution-gas drive
Gas-cap drive
Water drive
Combination drive
Gravity-drainage drive

Gas Reservoir Drive

Mechanisms
Volumetric reservoir
(gas expansion drive)
Water drive

Reservoir Energy Sources

Liberation, expansion of solution gas
Influx of water from aquifer
Expansion of reservoir rock into pore
space
Expansion of original reservoir fluids
Free gas
Interstitial water
Oil, if present
Gravitational forces

Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Oil-producing wells

Oil
A. Original Conditions

Oil-producing wells

B. 50% Depleted

d
e
t
ra ion
e
t
Lib olu as
s g

Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Formation of a Secondary Gas Cap
Wellbore

n
o
i
t
u
l
so
d
te as
a
r
e g
b
i
L

s
e
v
o re
m
s uctu
a
G str
up

Secondary
gas cap

Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs

600

400

200

400

400

300
200

Gas/oil
ratio
Reservoir
pressure

200

Oil
production
100
rate

100

Production data

300

Time, years

Gas/oil ratio, SCF/STB

800

Pressure, psia

Oil production rate, STB/D

Typical Production Characteristics

Solution-Gas Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Typical Production Characteristics
Reservoir pressure, psig

Initial reservoir
pressure

Reservoir
pressure behavior

Bubblepoint
pressure

5
10
Oil recovery, % of OOIP

15

Gas-Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Oil-producing well
Oil
zone

Gas cap

Cross Section

Oil
zone

Gas-Cap Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Reservoir pressure

Gas/oil ratio

2
1

Oil

Production data

Time, years

800
600
400
200
0

Gas/oil ratio, scf/STB

1300
1200
1100
1000
900

Oil production rate,

MSTB/D

Pressure, psia

Typical Production Characteristics

Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Edgewater Drive
Oil-producing well

Oil

Zone

Water

Water
Cross Section

Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Bottomwater Drive
Oil-producing well

Oil

Zone

Water
Cross Section

Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Production data

Gas/oil ratio
Water
Oil

Time, years

2
1
0

40
30
20
10
0

Gas/oil ratio, MSCF/STB

100
80
60
40
20
0

Reservoir pressure

Water cut, %

2300
2200
2100
2000
1900

Oil production rate,

MSTB/D

Pressure, psia

Typical Production Characteristics

Water Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Reservoir pressure
Gas/oil ratio

Oil production,
MSTB/D

Water
20
15
10
5
0

Oil

2
1
0

Time, years

Production data - lower oil production rate

60
40
20
0

Water Cut, %

2000
1900
1800
1700

Gas/oil ratio, MSCF/STB

Pressure, psia

Effect of Production Rate on Pressure

Combination Drive in Oil Reservoirs

Gas cap

Oil zone
Water

Cross Section

Gravity Drainage in Oil Reservoirs

Reservoir type
Reservoir behavior characteristics
Gas
Gas
Oil
Gas

Point C

Oil
Point B

Oil
Point A

Pressure and Gas/Oil Ratio Trends

100

Water drive

Reservoir pressure,
Percent of original

80

Reservoir
pressure
trends

60

Gas-cap
drive

40

20

Solution-gas drive
0 0

20

40

60

80

100

Cumulative oil produced, percent of original oil in place

Pressure and Gas/Oil Ratio Trends

5

Solutiongas drive

Gas/oil ratio, MSCF/STB

Gas/oil
ratio trends

Gas-cap
drive

Water drive

20

40

60

80

100

Cumulative oil produced, percent of original oil in place

Gas Reservoir Drive

Mechanisms
Volumetric reservoir
(gas expansion drive)
Water drive

Volumetric Gas Reservoirs

Reservoir type
Main source(s) of reservoir energy
Typical production characteristics

Water Drive in Gas Reservoirs

Reservoir type
Main source(s) of reservoir energy
Typical production characteristics

Oil Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

Summary of Source(s) of Reservoir Energy
Solution-gas drive
Gas-cap drive
Water drive
Combination drive
Gravity-drainage drive

Gas Reservoir Drive Mechanisms

Summary of Source(s) of Reservoir Energy
Volumetric reservoir
(gas expansion drive)
Water drive

Average Recovery Factors

Oil Reservoirs
Drive Mechanism
Solution-gas drive
Gas-cap drive
Water drive
Gravity-drainage
drive

Average Oil Recovery

Factors,
% of OOIP
Range
Average
5 - 30
15
15 - 50
30
30 - 60
40
16 - 85
50

Average Recovery Factors

Gas Reservoirs
Drive Mechanism
Volumetric reservoir
(Gas expansion drive)
Water drive

Average Gas Recovery

Factors,
% of OGIP
Range
Average
70 - 90
80
35 - 65

50

Fluid Injection Processes

Fluid Injection Processes

Water injection
Gas injection
Steam injection
Combustion
Miscible fluid displacement
Water-alternating-gas (WAG) injection
Polymer injection

Primary Recovery
Hydrocarbon production resulting from
natural reservoir energy
Natural reservoir energy sources
Rock and fluid expansion
Solution gas drive
Gravity drainage
Water influx

Conventional Improved
Recovery (IR)
Injection of immiscible fluid
Water injection
Nitrogen injection
Casinghead gas reinjection
Often used in secondary recovery

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Using chemical, biological, or thermal
action to improve oil recovery
Steam, CO2, or hydrocarbon gas
injection
Polymer and/or micellar injection
Microbe solution injection
Usually used in tertiary recovery

Waterflooding
Injection of water into a reservoir
Increases reservoir energy
Sweeps oil towards producing wells
Most widely applied secondary
recovery method
Accounts for about 50% of U.S. oil
production

Goal of Waterflooding
Increase the amount of oil recovered
from the reservoir by
Maintaining reservoir pressure
Displacing (sweeping) oil with water

Water Injection
Producing well

Injection well
Water

Oil

Oil bank

Water +
residual oil

Water +
movable oil

Oil + gas + water

(Low pressure)

Applications of Waterflooding
Most applicable:
Solution-gas drive
Gas-cap drive
Weak water drive

Gravity drainage
Not applicable
Strong water drive

Injection Patterns

Two-spot

Line-drive

Four-spot

Five-spot

Irregular
Injection well

Seven-spot

Peripheral
Producing well

Effects of Gravity
Producer

Injector

Oil
Water

Barriers To Vertical Flow

Depositional
Shale streaks
Lithology changes
Evaporite streaks
Diagenesis
Cementation
Dolomitization

Lateral Pay Discontinuities

Producing
well

Injection
well

Trapped oil

Lateral Pay Discontinuities

Effect of infill drilling
Producing
well

Infill
well

Injection
well

Completion Interval Inconsistencies

Producing
well

Injection
well

Trapped oil lateral pay

discontinuities

Trapped
Oil - Completions

Attic Gas Injection

Oil

Gas

Gas injection
well

Gas
Oil

Oil

Oil

Steam Injection
Oil

Steam

Oil

Steam zone

Heat

Heat

Oil
&

Steam
water

Heated zone

Steam Injection

Steam generator
Producing
well
Injection
well

Forward Combustion
Injection well

Air

Oil

Igniter

Air

Burned
zone

Air

Oil

Combustion
front (burn)

Oil sand

Reverse Combustion
Air

Oil

Igniter

Air

Oil sand
Combustion Zone Oil

Miscible Fluid Displacement

Atmospheric conditions

Carbon dioxide (CO2) (gas)

Reservoir conditions
(high pressure)

CO2 (liquid)

Mixture (liquid)
Oil (liquid)

Oil (liquid)

Residual
oil

CO2

CO2
&
oil

Water Alternating Gas (WAG)

A gas, usually CO2, is injected usually for a
fixed period of time
Gas injection is followed by water injection
The cycle (gas, then water) is repeated as
many times as necessary
Advantages of process
Improves sweep efficiency
Reduces cost

Polymer Fluid Injection

Reservoir Management

Reservoir Management
Objective: economic optimization of oil
and gas recovery

Reservoir Life Process

Exploration
Discovery
Delineation
Development
Primary recovery
Secondary recovery
Tertiary recovery
Abandonment

Reservoir Management Team

Management
Geology and geophysics
Reservoir engineering
Economics
Drilling engineering
Design and construction engineering
Production and operation engineering

Reservoir Management Team

(Contd)

Gas and chemical engineering

Research and development
Service
Environmental
Land/legal

Data

Technology
Seismic
Geologic
Geostatistics
Engineering
Drilling and Completions
Enhanced Oil Recovery
Environmental
Computer

Geological
Geophysical
Engineering
Financial

Integration

People
Management
Geoscience
Engineers
Land/Legal
Field
Financial

Tools
Seismic Interpretation
Tomography
Data Acquisition
Logging/Coring
Completions and Facilities
Geologic Modeling
Pressure Transient Analysis
Fracturing
Reservoir Simulation
Enhanced Oil Recovery
Computer Software and
Hardware

Reservoir Simulation

What Is Reservoir Simulation?

Reservoir simulation is the
representation of petroleum reservoir
performance using a mathematical
model.
The usual model is implemented on a
computer.

Example Applications of
Reservoir Simulation
Determine the performance of an oil
reservoir under natural depletion, water
injection or other injection process and
choose the optimal recovery process.
Determine the effects of well location,
spacing and producing rate on recovery.

Steps In A Reservoir
Simulation Study

Problem definition
Data review
Data acquisition
Selection of approach
Reservoir description and model design
Programming support
History matching
Prediction with operating plans of interest
Selection of best operating plan

Summary
Recovery Methods
Fluid properties
Reservoir drive mechanisms
Improved recovery processes
Reservoir management

Exercises
Recovery Methods

Exercise 1
Sketch phase diagrams for the five
major fluid types
Note discovery conditions and the
paths followed in the reservoir to
abandonment
Note separator conditions

Exercise 1
Solution
Sketch phase diagrams for the five
major fluid types

Black Oil

Volatile Oil

The Five
Reservoir
Fluids

Retrograde Gas

Wet Gas

Dry Gas

Exercise 2
Gas/oil ratio trend
GOR

Reservoir 1

Pressure

Pressure trend

Time
GOR

Reservoir 2

Pressure

Time

Time

GOR

Reservoir 3

Pressure

Time

Time

Time

Exercise 2
Solution
Given oil reservoir producing characteristics as shown in the figures,
indicate which oil reservoir drive mechanism is likely.

Gas/oil ratio trend

GOR

Reservoir 1

Pressure

Pressure trend

Time
GOR

Reservoir 2

Pressure

Time

Time

GOR

Reservoir 3

Pressure

Time

Time

Time

Exercise 3
List and describe fluid injection
processes and the reservoirs that are
appropriate for each injection process.

Exercise 3
Solution
List and describe fluid injection
processes and what reservoirs are
appropriate for each kind of injection
process.

Exercise 4
Explain the philosophy of the reservoir
management process.
What is reservoir simulation? How is it
used in reservoir management?

Exercise 4
Solution
Explain the philosophy of the reservoir
management process.
What is reservoir simulation? How is it
used in reservoir management?