A Quadratic Cumulative Production

Model for the Material Balance of

Abnormally-Pressured Gas Reservoirs

F.E. Gonzalez, M.S. Thesis Defense

17 October 2003
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 1

Executive Summary "p/z-Gp2" Relation

(1/4)

The rigorous relation for the material balance of a dry

gas reservoir system is given by Fetkovich, et al. as:
p
p

1 ce ( p )( pi p )
i
z
zi

pi 1
5.615

Gp Ginj W p Rsw
(W p Bw Winj Bw We )

zi G
Bg

Eliminating the water influx, water production/injection,

and gas injection terms; defining Gp=ce(p)(pi-p) and
assuming that Gp<1, then rearranging gives the following result:
p pi

z
zi

2
1
1

)
G

Gp
p
G
G

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 2

Executive Summary "p/z-Gp2" Relation

(2/4)

Simulated Dry Gas Reservoir Case Abnormal Pressure:

Volumetric, dry gas reservoir with cf(p) (from Fetkovich).
Note extrapolation to the "apparent" gas-in-place (previous approaches).
Note comparison of data and the new "Quadratic Cumulative Production" model.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 3

Executive Summary "p/z-Gp2" Relation

(3/4)

Anderson L Reservoir Case Abnormal Pressure:

South Texas (USA) gas reservoir with abnormal pressure.
Benchmark literature case.
Note performance of the new "Quadratic Cumulative Production" model.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 4

Presentation Outline
Executive Summary
Objectives and Rationale
Rigorous technique for abnormal pressure analysis.
Development of the p/z-Gp2 model
Derivation from the rigorous material balance.
Validation Field Examples
Case 1 Dry gas simulation (cf(p) from Fetkovich).
Case 3 Anderson L (South Texas, USA).
Demonstration (MS Excel Anderson L case)
Summary
Recommendations for Future Work

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 5

Objectives and Rationale

Objectives:
Develop a rigorous functional form (i.e., a model) for

the p/z vs. Gp behavior demonstrated by a typical

abnormally pressured gas reservoir.
Develop a sequence of plotting functions for the
analysis of p/zGp data (multiple plots).
Provide an exhaustive validation of this new model
using field data.
Rationale: The analysis of p/zGp data for abnormally pressured gas reservoirs has evolved from empirical models and idealized assumptions (e.g., cf(p)=
constant). We would like to establish a rigorous approach one where any approximation is based on
the observation of some characteristic behavior, not
simply a mathematical/graphical convenience.
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 6

Development of the p/z-Gp2 model

Concept:
Use the rigorous material balance relation given by

Fetkovich, et al. for the case of a reservoir where

cf(p) is NOT presumed constant.
Use some observed limiting behavior to construct a
semi-analytical relation for p/zGp behavior.

Implementation:

Develop and apply a series of data plotting functions

which clearly exhibit unique behavior relative to the

p/zGp data.
Use a "multiplot" approach which is based on the
dynamic updating of the model solution on each
data plot.
Develop a "dimensionless" type curve approach that
can be used to validate the model and estimate G.
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 7

p/z-Cumulative Model:

(1/3)

The rigorous relation for the material balance of a dry

gas reservoir system is given by Fetkovich, et al. as:
p
p

1 ce ( p )( pi p )
i
z
zi

pi 1
5.615

Gp Ginj W p Rsw
(W p Bw Winj Bw We )

zi G
Bg

Eliminating the water influx, water production/injection,

and gas injection terms, then rearranging gives the
following definition:
p i /z i
p/z
(1 Gp

Gp
1

)
G

[where Gp c e ( p)( pi p)]

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 8

p/z-Cumulative Model:

(2/3)

Considering the condition where:

D Gp 1

Then we can use a geometric series to represent the D

term in the governing material balance. The appropriate
geometric series is given by:
1/
1 x
1 x x 2 x 3 ...

(1 x 1)

or, for our problem, we have:

1
1 Gp
(1 Gp )

(1 Gp 1)

Substituting this result into the material balance relation,

we obtain:
p pi 1


1 ( ) Gp G 2p
z
zi G
G

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 9

p/z-Cumulative Model:

(3/3)

A more convenient form of the p/z-cumulative model is:

p pi
Gp G 2p
z
zi

1
)
G

pi
zi

pi

G zi

We note that these parameters presume that is constant. Presuming that is linear with Gp, we can derive
the following form:
p
p
p pi
1
a
b pi 3
( a ) i Gp ( b) i Gp2
Gp
z zi
G
zi
G
zi
G zi
where a bGp

Obviously, one of our objectives will be the study of the

behavior of vs. Gp (based on a prescribed value of G).
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 10

-Gp Performance (Case 1)

a. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Plot of

versus Gp (requires an estimate of gas-inplace). Note the apparent linear trend of the
data. Recall that Gp=ce(pp-p).

(1/2)

b. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Plot of

p/z versus Gp. The constant and linear trends
match well with the data essentially a confirmation of both models.

Simulated Dry Gas Reservoir Case Abnormal Pressure:

A linear trend of vs. Gp is reasonable and should yield an accurate model.

is approximated by a constant value within the trend.
A physical definition of is elusive Gp=ce(p)(pi-p) implies that has units of

1/volume, which suggests is a scaling variable for G.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 11

-Gp Performance (Case 3)

a. Case 3: Anderson L Reservoir Case (South

Texas, USA) Plot of versus Gp (requires an
estimate of gas-in-place). Some data scatter
exists, but a linear trend is evident (recall that
Gp=ce(p )(pi-p)).

(2/2)

b. Case 3: Anderson L Reservoir Case (South

Texas, USA) Plot of p/z versus Gp. Both
models are in strong agreement.

Anderson L Reservoir Case Abnormal Pressure:

Field data will exhibit some scatter, method is relatively tolerant of data scatter.
Constant approximation is based on the "best fit" of several data functions.
The linear approximation for is reasonable (should favor later data).

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 12

Validation of the p/z-Gp2 model: Orientation

Methodology:
All analyses are "dynamically" linked in a spread-

sheet program (MS Excel). Therefore, all analyses

are consistent should note that some functions/
plots perform better than others but the model
results are the same for every analysis plot.

Validation: Illustrative Analyses

p/z-Gp2 plotting functions based on the proposed

material balance model.

-Gp performance plots used to calibrate analysis.
Gan analysis presumes 2-straight line trends on a
p/z-Gp plot for an abnormally pressured reservoir.
pD-GpD type curve approach use p/z-Gp2 material
balance model to develop type curve solution this
approach is most useful for data validation.
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 13

p/z-Gp2 Plotting Functions: Case 1

a.

d.

pi p
( p/z ) vs. Gp

zi z

1
G 2p

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

b.

1
( p/z ) vs. Gp
Gp

1
e. ( p/z )
Gp

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

c.

1
f.
Gp

(1/5)

1
Gp

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

1
( p/z )

Gp

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

Slide 14

-Gp Plotting Functions: Case 1

a. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Plot of

ce(p)(pi-p) versus Gp (requires estimate of G).

c. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Plot of

versus Gp (requires estimate of G).

(2/5)

b. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Plot of

1/ce(p)(pi-p) versus Gp (requires estimate of G).

d. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Plot of

versus Gp/G (requires estimate of G).

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 15

-Gp Plotting Functions: Case 1

(3/5)

Simulated Dry Gas Reservoir Case Abnormal Pressure:

Summary p/zGp plot for =constant and =linear cases.
Good comparison of trends, =linear trend appears slightly conservative as it

emerges from data trend but both solutions appear to yield same G estimate.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 16

Gan-Blasingame Analysis (2001): Case 1

a. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Gan Plot 1

ce(p)(pi-p) versus (p/z)/(pi/zi) (requires est. of G).

(4/5)

b. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Gan Plot 2

(p/z)/(pi /zi ) versus (Gp/G) (requires est. of G).

Gan-Blasingame Analysis:
Approach considers the "match"

c. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Gan Plot 3

(p/z) versus Gp (results plot).

of the ce(p)(pi-p) (p/z)/(pi/zi)

data and "type curves."
Assumes that both abnormal
and normal pressure p/z trends
exist.
Straight-line extrapolation of the
"normal" p/z trend used for G.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 17

pD-GpD Type Curve Approach: Case 1

a. pD-GpD Type curve solution based on the p/z-Gp2

model. pD= [(pi/zi)-(p/z)]/(pi/zi) and GpD=Gp/G
both pD and pDi functions are plotted.

(5/5)

b. Case 1: Simulated Performance Case Type

curve analysis of (p/z)-Gp data, this case is
"force matched" to the same results as all of the
other plotting functions.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 18

p/z-Gp2 Plotting Fcns: Case 3 (Anderson L)

a.

d.

pi p
( p/z ) vs. Gp

zi z

1
G 2p

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

b.

1
( p/z ) vs. Gp
Gp

1
e. ( p/z )
Gp

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

c.

1
f.
Gp

1
Gp

(1/5)

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

1
( p/z )

Gp

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

Slide 19

-Gp Plotting Functions: Case 3

a. Case 3: Anderson L (South Texas) Plot of

ce(p)(pi-p) versus Gp (requires estimate of G).

c. Case 3: Anderson L (South Texas) Plot of

versus Gp (requires estimate of G).

(2/5)

b. Case 3: Anderson L (South Texas) Plot of

1/ce(p)(pi-p) versus Gp (requires estimate of G).

d. Case 3: Anderson L (South Texas) Plot of

versus Gp/G (requires estimate of G).

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 20

-Gp Plotting Functions: Case 3

(3/5)

Case 3 Anderson L Reservoir (South Texas (USA))

Summary p/zGp plot for =constant and =linear cases.
Good comparison of trends, =constant and =linear cases in good agreement.
Data trend is very consistent.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 21

Gan-Blasingame Analysis (2001): Case 3

a. Case 3: Anderson L Reservoir Gan Plot 1 ce(p)(pi-p)

versus (p/z)/(pi/zi) (requires est. of G).

(4/5)

b. Case 3: Anderson L Reservoir Gan Plot 2 (p/z)/(pi /zi )

versus (Gp/G) (requires est. of G).

Gan-Blasingame Analysis:
We note an excellent "match" of

c. Case 3: Anderson L Reservoir Gan Plot 3 (p/z)

versus Gp (results plot).

the ce(p)(pi-p) (p/z)/(pi/zi) data

and the "type curves."
Both the abnormal and normal
pressure p/z trends appear accurate and consistent.
Straight-line extrapolation of the
"normal" p/z trend used for G.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 22

pD-GpD Type Curve Approach: Case 3

(5/5)

Case 3 Anderson L Reservoir (South Texas (USA))

pD-GpD type curve solution matched using field data.
Note the "tail" in the pD trend for small values of GpD (common field data event).
"Force matched" to the same results as each of the other plotting functions.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 23

Example Analysis Using MS Excel: Case 3

Case 3 Anderson L (South Texas (USA))
Literature standard case.
A 3-well reservoir, delimited by faults.
Good quality data.
Evidence of overpressure from static pressure tests.
Analysis: (Implemented using MS Excel)
p/z-Gp2 plotting functions.
-Gp performance plots.
Gan analysis (2-straight line trends on a p/z-Gp plot).
pD-GpD type curve approach.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 24

Summary:

(1/3)

Developed a new p/z-Gp2 material balance model for

the analysis of abnormally pressured gas reservoirs:
p pi 1


1 ( ) Gp G 2p
z
zi G
G

where:

1
ce ( p)( pi p)
Gp

The -function is presumed (based on graphical

comparisons) to be either constant, or approximately
linear with Gp. For the =constant case, we have:
p pi
Gp G 2p
z
zi

1
)
G

pi
zi

pi

G zi

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 25

Summary:

(2/3)

Base relation: p/z-Gp2 form of the gas material balance

p pi
Gp G 2p
z
zi
a. Plotting Function 1:

1
)
G

pi

G zi

pi
zi

d. Plotting Function 4 :

(quadratic)

(linear)

p
p
( p/z ) i vs. Gp
zi z

b. Plotting Function 2:

1
G 2p

c. Plotting Function 3:

(quadratic)
1
( p/z )
Gp

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

f. Plotting Function 6:

(quadratic)
1
Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

e. Plotting Function 5 :

(linear)
1
( p/z ) vs. Gp
Gp

Gp

(linear)
1
Gp

1
( p/z )

Gp

Gp

( p/z ) dGp vs. Gp

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 26

Summary:

(3/3)

The plotting functions developed in this work have

been validated as tools for the analysis reservoir
performance data from abnormally pressured gas
reservoirs. Although the straight-line functions (PF2,
PF4, and PF6) could be used independently, but we
recommend a combined/simultaneous analysis.
The -Gp plots are useful for checking data consistency and for guiding the selection of the -value.
These plots represent a vivid and dynamic visual
balance of all of the other analyses.
The Gan analysis sequence is also useful for orienting the overall analysis particularly the ce(p)(pi-p)
versus (p/z)/(pi/zi) plot.
The pD-GpD type curve is useful for orientation
particularly for estimating the or (D ) value.
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 27

Recommendations for Future Work:

Consider the extension of this methodology for
cases of external drive energy (e.g., water influx, gas
injection, etc.).
Continue the validation of this approach by applying
the methodology to additional field cases.
Implementation into a stand alone software.

A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 28

A Quadratic Cumulative Production

Model for the Material Balance of
Abnormally-Pressured Gas Reservoirs

F.E. Gonzalez, M.S. Thesis Defense

17 October 2003
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116
A New p/z-Gp2 Material Balance for Abnormally-Pressured Reservoirs

Slide 29