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MATERIAL BALANCE & MODELING—RESERVOIR ENGI-

NEERING TOOLS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE

BOTTOM LINE KEY WORDS:

Material balance calculations are not frequently used because reservoir engi-
neers fail to realize their value for cost-effective reservoir analysis. Material Material Balance, Reservoir Analysis,
balance analysis, properly used, can answer many of the same questions that Reservoir Simulation, Drive Mechanism,
reservoir simulation does, but requires less data, is faster and lower cost. PVT, Black Oil Simulation,
Reservoir Life, Peng-Robinson,
PROBLEM ADDRESSED Equation of State, Bubblepoint Pressure
Use of modern software for material balance and equation of state can be Aquifer Model, Aquifer Productivity
perplexing because of the variety of packages available. Guidelines for what
Index
can be achieved with the software, how to select the right software and how
to use material balance analysis to its best advantage are addressed.

TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW nal oil-in-place, reservoir performance, oil recovery and

reservoir life. Data on API oil gravity, gas-oil ratios, reservoir
Introduction temperature and reservoir pressure should be evaluated.

Material balance analysis is often called the forgotten reser-
voir engineering tool. Data necessary for material balance
analysis are a subset of that needed for reservoir simulation.
Material balance analysis can be used to quantify the origi-
nal hydrocarbon volume and drive mechanisms in the
reservoir. With the strong software packages and enhanced
computer hardware available today, material balance analy-
sis is a fast and easy reservoir characterization tool for
understanding the reservoir. Initial data collection is the
only time consuming task. Much of the data will be used in
history-matching in reservoir simulation.
Equation of state modeling applications and case histories
are useful and provide valuable data for reservoir simula-
tion. Modeling tools can provide cost-effective alternatives
when it is not possible to obtain important fluid flow data.
Case histories with real data are used to illustrate methods
for correcting or overcoming missing data problems. Case
histories presented at the workshop look at examples of
multi-scenario separator tests, optimum separator pressure
determination, correcting PVT properties for oil-based
drilling mud contamination, phase behavior experiments
and obtaining PVT data on reservoirs where data is missing.

A variety of software packages for material balance analysis
exist, and all use Peng-Robinson equation of state. The dif-
ferences frequently lie in how the data from reservoir, wells,
flow lines and facilities are input into the model. PVT prop-
erties of interest in material balance include bubble-point
pressure, oil formation volume factor, isothermal compress-
ibility and viscosity. Correlation of these properties varies by
method and can affect the calculation of key reservoir prop-
erties. Black oil simulation reservoir models provide a
method to test PVT methods and study their impact on origi-
Material Balance: The Forgotten Reservoir
Engineering Tool (John McMullan)
Material balance analysis is used to provide an estimate of
initial hydrocarbons-in-place, to determine the degree of
aquifer influence and to estimate recoverable reserves.
Other uses for material balance analysis are as a precursor
to reservoir simulation, to identify undrained areas of
hydrocarbons, as a forecasting tool, and to screen for
enhanced recovery potential.

Based on a workshop sponsored by PTTC's Central Gulf Region and
the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Energy Institute, held in
Lafayette, Louisiana on December 7, 2005.
SPEAKERS:
John McMullan, Marathon Oil Company, Houston, TX
Dave Bergman, BP America, Houston, TX
Rob Sutton, Marathon Oil Company, Houston, TX
Toddy Guidry, PENCOR Division of Core Laboratories, Broussard, LA
606
A series of equations on gas material balance address
changes in pressure as gas expands, and expansion of water
with a drop in reservoir pressure. The data can be used to
determine when to bleed off gas or water until pressure is
equalized. Under the scenario that the actual initial pore
volume will reduce as the pressure falls, the loss in original
volume results in an additional amount of expansion from
the original volume. In the final gas material balance equa-
tion, all terms are a function of pressure, and an iterative
approach is needed to solve the equation. Gas material bal-
ance should plot as a straight line.