Aquifers

Water Encroachment
 Water Influx from Aquifers

Accounting for Aquifer Water Encroachment

Why is it important?

ƒ Account for Additional Drive Energy

ƒ Match Historical Reservoir Pressure

ƒ Predict Future Pressure-Production Performance

ƒ Estimate Oil-Water Contact Movement

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.2
 Water Influx from Aquifers

Accounting for Aquifer Water Encroachment

Why is it difficult?

ƒ Aquifer Size

ƒ Aquifer Porosity and Permeability

ƒ Location of Wells Relative to Aquifer and Water

Movement

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.3
 From Material Balance
ƒ Material Balance Expression Includes Water Influx:

ƒ No Gas Cap Present Equation

N*Boi = (N-Np)*Bo + [N*Rsi – (N-Np)*Rs – Gps]*Bg +

(Cf + Cw*Sw)*(Pi-P)*N*Boi / (1-Sw) + We

ƒ One Equation with Two Unknowns: N (stb) and We

(rb)
ƒ If Know N, then Solve for We,mb, Otherwise
ƒ Need Another Equation to Describe Aquifer Behavior

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.4
 Water Influx Mechanism

ƒ Pressure Drop in the Reservoir

ƒ Water Flows from Aquifer to Reservoir
ƒ Pressure Drops in the Aquifer
ƒ Rock and Water Expansion in the Aquifer
Balances Aquifer Voidage
ƒ Aquifer Pressure at Outer Boundary
– Initial Until Transient Reaches Boundary
– Declines With Continuing Water Influx
– Pressure May be Maintained if Aquifer Outcrops

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.5
 Aquifer Expansion

ƒ Water Encroachment, We,aq

(
We,aq = (c f + cw )∗ (PVaq )∗ piaq − p aq )
ƒ Function of,
– Aquifer Size (PVaq = Aquifer Pore Volume)
– Permeability
– Connection of Reservoir and Aquifer

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.1.6
 Water Influx Models

ƒ Pot Aquifer

ƒ Schilthuis Steady-State

ƒ van Everdingen and Hurst

ƒ Carter-Tracy

ƒ Fetkovich Semi-Steady-State

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.7
 Pot Aquifer

ƒ Assumes Instantaneous Response, No Time Dimension

ƒ Quick and Simple
ƒ Calculates Maximum Water Influx For Given Δp

Pi P

We = (c f + cw ) ⋅ PVaq ⋅ Δp
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.8
Behavior of a Large Aquifer

RESERVOIR 1 2 3 4

AQUIFER

RESERVOIR 1 2 3 4

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.9
 Behavior of a Large Aquifer

ƒ Unsteady State Performance (Transient)

P4 P3 P2 P1

P production

aquifer reservoir

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.10
 Behavior of a Large Aquifer
ƒ Pressure Profile Including Initial and Average
Reservoir and Aquifer Pressures
Reservoir Aquifer

pi
p3
p2
pa
p1

rw ro re
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.11
 van Everdingen and Hurst

ƒ Transient and Bounded Aquifer Flow

ƒ Solution to Hydraulic Diffusivity Equation

ƒ Most Comprehensive Approach to Water

Influx
ƒ Requires Superposition

ƒ Defines Aquifer Characteristics

ƒ Implemented in Material Balance Programs,

including MBAL.

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.12
 van Everdingen and Hurst
ƒ Based upon the diffusivity equation:

∂ p 1 ∂p φμc ∂p
2
+ =
∂r 2
r ∂r k ∂t
Where: p = pressure
φ = porosity
c = compressibility
k = permeability
μ = viscosity
r = radius
t = time

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.13
Reservoir/Aquifer Boundaries

ra

ro

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.14
 Aquifer Pressure Distribution

ƒ Profiles for Constant Boundary Pressure at ro

t=0
Pi
t=1
P t=10
t=100
r
e t=1000
s
s
u
r P
t=infinite
e

ro Radius ra
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.15
van Everdingen Hurst Solution (Field Units)

We = (1.119φ h c r f ) Δp Qd e o
2

Where:
We = cumulative water influx, reservoir bbls
φ = porosity, fraction
h = effective aquifer thickness, ft
ce = total compressibility of the aquifer, cw + cf, psi-1
ro = radius of the hydrocarbon reservoir, ft
f = fraction of the reservoir boundary exposed to
the aquifer (0 < f < 1)
Δp = pressure drop across the original reservoir/aquifer
boundary, psi
Qd = dimensionless cumulative influx term
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.16
 Dimensionless Influx, Qd

Function of two dimensionless terms:

ra
rd =
ro
Where:
ra = radius of the aquifer, ft or m
ro = radius of the original reservoir/aquifer
interface, ft or m
and
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.17
 Dimensionless Influx, Qd

0.00633 * k t
td =
φ μ w ce ro2

Where:
k = aquifer permeability, md
t = time, days

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.18
 Dimensionless Influx, Qd (1)
rd=ra/ro
DIMENSIONLESS WATER INFLUX, Qd

DIMENSIONLESS TIME, td

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.19
 Dimensionless Influx, Qd (2)
rd=ra/ro
DIMENSIONLESS WATER INFLUX, Qd

DIMENSIONLESS TIME, td

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.20
 Calculation Procedure

1. Assume a Dimensionless Radius rd

2. Calculate a Dimensionless Times td Based

Upon Aquifer Properties and Real Time
3. Determine Dimensionless Water Influx, Qd
as a function of rd and td
4. Calculate ΔP

5. Calculate Water Influx for the Time Period

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.21
 Superposition

ƒ van Everdingen Hurst Equations Based on a Constant

Pressure Drop at Reservoir-Aquifer Boundary

However, the rate of change in pressure drop in a

reservoir varies significantly over the producing life.

∴ Must use superposition with time to

account for the combined effects of
multiple pressure drops

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.22
Calculating Δp For Each Time Increment

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.23
Δp is the Difference in the Average Pressures

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.24
 Application of Superposition
Water Influx Calculations Let:
0.00633kt (E-constant)
td = = Et
φμ wce ro2

We = (1.119φhcero2f) Σ (ΔpQd )=C Σ (ΔpQd ) (C-constant)

rd = ra/ro

For Example: rd = 10, E = 0.01 days-1, C = 150 rb/psi

Time, yrs p, psi p Δp, psi

0 4500 -- --
1 4250 4375 125
2 3900 4075 300
3 3500 3700 375

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.25
 Application of Superposition Example

Δp1 Δp2 Δp3 ΣW e, Mrb

Time Time Time
Time, yrs Active, yrs td Qd W e, Mrb Active, yrs td Qd W e, Mrb Active, yrs td Qd W e, Mrb
1 1 =0.01*365 = 3.65 3.65 =150*125*3.65/1000 = 68.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 68.4
2 2 =0.01*730 = 7.30 5.91 =150*125*5.91/1000 = 110.8 1 3.65 3.65 164.3 0 0 0 275.1
3 3 =0.01*1095 = 10.95 7.90 =150*125*7.90/1000 = 148.1 2 7.30 5.91 266.0 1 3.65 3.65 205.3 619.4

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.26
 Characterizing the Aquifer
ƒ Conventional Method:
ƒ Use Historical Pressure and Production Data
ƒ Assume N and Calculate We From Material Balance
ƒ Assume rd and E (td Constant) to Calculate Σ(ΔpQd )
ƒ Use Previous Calculations to Determine Effective
Aquifer Constant C
– C = We,mb / Σ(ΔpQd )
ƒ Plot Calculated C With Time
– Is C Constant?
ƒ Adjust N, rd and td Factors Until C is Constant

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.27
 Characterizing the Aquifer
ƒ Conventional Method, Example:

West Texas Oil Field

Aquifer Constant versus Time

4,000

3,500
rb/psi
Aquifer Constant (B/psi)

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0
Jan-66 Jan-70 Jan-74 Jan-78 Jan-82 Jan-86 Jan-90 Jan-94 Jan-98 Jan-02

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.28
 Characterizing the Aquifer
ƒ Havlena and Odeh Method:
F = N (Eo + mEg ) + We

F = W + N(E + mE )
We too small Slope = 1
e o g
F
Eo + mEg We too big
F We
= +N
Eo + mEg Eo + mEg N

Still Need to Find

“Correct” Aquifer
We
Model rd, td, C
Eo + mEg
We = C Σ(ΔpQd)
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.29
 Predicting Aquifer Pressure

ƒ Aquifer Constant, C, Known

ƒ Select Time Increment, Δt
ƒ Estimate ΔNp, ΔWp, ΔGp Æ Np, Wp, Gp at t+ Δt
ƒ Estimate Pressure, p, at t+ Δt
ƒ Calculate We,mb From Material Balance Eqn.
ƒ Calculate We,aq From Aquifer Eqn.
ƒ If We,mb ≠ We,aq, Re-Estimate Pressure, p
ƒ Repeat Until We Values Equal
ƒ Check Reasonableness of ΔNp, ΔWp, ΔGp
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.30
Predicting Aquifer Pressure

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.31
 Fetkovich Finite Aquifer

ƒ Used for finite aquifers

ƒ Does not require superposition

ƒ Closely approximates van Everdingen-Hurst

under pseudosteady state conditions

ƒ Based upon productivity index concepts

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.32
 Productivity Index Analog

ƒ Water influx rate is directly proportional to

the pressure drop between the average
aquifer pressure and the reservoir/aquifer
interface pressure.

– Neglects any transient effects.

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.33
 Based Upon Two Equations

Productivity Index for the aquifer:

dWe
= qw = J ( pa − pr )
Where:
dt
qw = water influx rate from aquifer; rbbl/d
J = productivity index for the aquifer, rbbl/d/psi
pa = average aquifer pressure, psi
pr = pressure at the aquifer-reservoir boundary, psi

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.34
 Based Upon Two Equations

Aquifer material balance:

⎛ pi ⎞
pa = −⎜⎜ ⎟⎟We + pi
⎝ Wei ⎠

Where:
pi = initial aquifer pressure, psi
Wei = encroachable water-in-place at pi, rbbls
We = cumulative water influx, rbbls

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.35
 Combine Two Equations

Solved Over n Repeated Time Increments

Wei ⎡ ⎛ Jpi Δtn ⎞⎤

ΔWe ,n = ( pa ,n −1 − pr ,n ) ⎢1 − exp⎜⎜ − ⎟⎟⎥
pi ⎣ ⎝ Wei ⎠⎦
Where:

⎛ We ⎞ pr ,n + pr ,n −1
pa ,n −1 = pi ⎜⎜1 − ⎟⎟ pr , n = We = ∑ ΔWe ,n
⎝ Wei ⎠ 2

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.36
 Fetkovich Method

h = aquifer thickness, ft

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.37
 Aquifers in Numerical Simulation

1. Analytical
– Carter-Tracy, Fetkovich, etc.
– Coupled to edge or bottom of grid

2. Numerical
– Aquifer represented with discrete grid cells
– Each cell can have its own unique properties

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.38
 Aquifers in Numerical Simulation

ƒ Analytical Representation - Advantage

– Time - model will run faster

ƒ Analytical Representation - Disadvantages

– Aquifer must assume uniform properties
– Difficult to vary influence from one point to
another in reservoir
– Doesn’t work very well in reverse (injection later in
field life)

Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.39
 Aquifers Summary
dW e
“Pot Aquifer”: We = ct PVaqΔp “Fetkovitch”: = J ( pa − p r )
dt
ƒ Assumes Instantaneous ƒ Assumes PSS relationship
response (no time dimension) ƒ Not applicable for transient
ƒ Quick and simple response
ƒ Calculates maximum influx
ƒ Avoids superposition calculations

“Hurst and Van Everdingen” : “Carter - Tracy” :

Constant terminal pressure solution Constant terminal rate solution
We = C ∑(Δ pQ ) d ƒ Applicable to transient, late
transient and PSS flow
ƒ Most comprehensive approach
ƒ Avoids extensive superposition
ƒ Time based (superposition
principle) calculations
ƒ Applicable to transient, late ƒ Often preferred analytical model
transient and PSS flow for numerical simulators
ƒ Tedious calculation procedure
Reservoir Engineering
Aquifers 8.40