"EVALUATION OF MATERIAL BALANCE ANALYSIS METHODS FOR VOLUMETRIC, GEOPRESSURED GAS RESERVOIRS" A.K.

AMBASTHA

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PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM PAPER NO. CIM 92-73 THIS IS A PREPRINT - SUBJECT TO CORRECNON Evaluation of Material Balance Analysis Methods for Volumetric, Geopressured Gas Reservoirs By A.K. Ambastha urg@ of Al@ RIGHTS RESERVED THIS PAPER IS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE CIM 1992 ANNUAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE IN CALGARY, JUNE 7-10, 1992. DISCUSSION OF THIS PAPER IS INVITED. SUCH DISCUSSION MAY BE PRESENTED AT THE TECHNICAL MEENNG AND WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR PUBLICATION IN CIM JOURNALS IF FILED IN WRITING WITH THE TECHNICAL PROGRAM CHAJRMAN PRIOR TO THE CONCLUSION OF THE MEenN rA. ABSTRACT sured gas reservoirs is emphasized. An example problem demonstrates that a small error in the initial Material balance analysis of production performance reservoir pressure can account for a typical flat portion data for an abnormally-pressured gas reservoir is corresponding to the early production data on the complicated because of water and rock compressRoach(2) plot. The preceding observation suggests ibility effects in addition to gas compressibility effects. that a hypothesis of changing formation compress- Usually, a plz vs. Gp graph for an abnormallyibility with pressure as advanced by Poston and pressured gas reservoir yields a significantly overChen(3) is not necessary to explain the shape of the estimated value of the initial gas-in-place. Several Roach(2) plot. This paper should enhance an researchers have presented material balance analysis analyst's capabilities to perform meaningful material methods to obtain reasonably accurate estimates of balance analysis of production performance data from the initial gas-in-place for abnormally-pressured gas an abnormally-pressured gas reservoir. reservoirs. These methods can be broadly grouped into two sets. The first set of methods requires a Introduction knowledge of compressibilities and analyzes produc- tion performance data to estimate the initial gas-l'nMaterial balance analysis of production performance place. The second set of methods attempts to obta!'@ data for an abnormally-pressured gas reservoir should both an effective system compressibility and the initial include water, rock, and gas compressibility effects. gas-in-place by analyzing production performance For a volumetric, abnormally-pressured gas reservoir, data. a p/z vs. Gp graph shows two straight lines of distinctly This study presents an evaluation of several material different slopes. An extrapolation based on an early balance analysis methods for volumetric, abnormallystraight line on a p/z vs. Gp graph for an abnormally- pressured gas reservoirs. The interrelationship pressured gas reservoir yields a signer icantly overesti- between the initial gas-in-place estimates from the two mated value of the initial gas-in-place. This paper methods by Hammerlindi(l) has been derived discusses and evaluates several material balance theoretically. Non-uniqueness problem in analyzing analysis methods proposed for volumetric, abnorm- production performance data of abnormally-presally-pressured gas reservoirs to obtain reasonably accurate estimates of the initial gas-in-place. 73-1