Water Drive

In a water drive reservoir, the oil zone is in communication with an aquifer that provides
the bulk of the reservoir's drive energy.

As oil is produced, the water in the aquifer expands and moves into the reservoir,
displacing oil.

Depending on the aquifer's strength, additional energy may be provided by solution gas
expansion.

Much less significant contributions are provided by the expansion of the reservoir rock
and its associated water.

The geometry of the aquifer determines whether it is a bottom water or an edge

water drive

In a bottom water drive, the aquifer is present below the entire reservoir and water influx
moves vertically upward into the oil zone.

In an edge water drive, the aquifer is located on the flanks of the reservoir and the water
moves upward along the reservoir dip.

In a water drive, the reservoir pressure response to production depends on the size
and permeability of the aquifer and the rate at which the reservoir is produced
 If the reservoir is produced at a low rate, the aquifer is able to replace the fluid volumes
produced and reservoir pressure remains fairly constant.

At high production rates, the aquifer is unable to keep up with withdrawals and reservoir
pressure drops. If the rate is then reduced to a low level, reservoir pressure will rise.

The magnitude of high and low production rates for a particular water drive reservoir
are determined by the size and permeability of its associated aquifer
In a strong water drive reservoir, the producing GOR remains fairly constant, reflecting
the stable reservoir pressure.

However, if the aquifer is unable to maintain reservoir pressure, the producing GOR will
rise accordingly.

Oil rates remain high under strong water drive until water breaks through in the
producing wells.

Water production usually occurs early in the field life of down structure wells, and
the water-oil ratio (WOR) continues to increase with time as the oil-water contact moves
upward.

Oil recovery from water drive reservoirs typically ranges from 35 to 75% of the original
oil in place.

The actual recovery obtained depends on the strength of the aquifer, the sweep efficiency
of the encroaching water, and the way the field is managed.

Water drive recovery can be improved by balancing production rates across the field so
that the oil-water contact moves up as uniformly as possible.

Since water drive is usually more efficient than solution gas drive, in some cases it is
possible to increase recovery by producing the reservoir at a rate low enough that the
aquifer is able to maintain a high reservoir pressure.

There are several diagnostic indicators to help identify or discount a possible active
aquifer.

the water cut history of all producing wells should be recorded and regularly monitored.

Although this is among the best indicators, it is not foolproof. For instance, an increasing
water cut might be caused by water coning instead of an active water drive.

the change in reservoir pressure also can be a helpful indicator. Strong waterdrive
reservoirs are characterized by a slow or negligible pressure decline.
 a slower-than-expected pressure decline can help indicate a waterdrive. Material-balance
calculations are important to help identify and confirm a slower-than-expected pressure
decline.

the producing gas/oil ratio (GOR) can be a helpful indicator. Strong waterdrives are
characterized by small changes in the producing GOR. The small GOR change is directly
related to the small pressure decline.