[23PET413] Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery

WATERFLOODING
by
Prof. Attia Attia
Lecture # 5
 VERTICAL SWEEP EFFICIENCY
The vertical sweep efficiency, EV, is defined as
the fraction of the vertical section of the pay
zone that is the injection fluid

INJECTION PRODUCTION

EI =

2
To calculate the vertical sweep efficiency, the engineer must
be able to address the following three problems:

1. How to describe and define the permeability variation in

mathematical terms
2. How to determine the minimum number of layers that are
sufficient to model the performance of the fluid
3. How to assign the proper average rock properties for each layer
(called the zonation problem)

3
1. How to describe and define the permeability variation in
mathematical terms, (Reservoir Vertical Heterogeneity)
 Dykstra and Parsons (1950) introduced the concept of the permeability
variation V, which is designed to describe the degree of heterogeneity
within the reservoir.
 The value of this uniformity coefficient ranges between zero for a
completely homogeneous system and one for a completely
heterogeneous system.
 Steps for determining the coefficient V that is given by Equation 4-70, as:

Porosity-Permeability Cross plot

For All Wells
y = 56.367x
R2 = -0.071
10000

1000

100
Permeability, md

10

0
0.00 0.10 0.20 0.30 0.40 0.50
Porosi ty (fracti on )

4
 Vertical heterogeneity
 The following are the two most widely used to descriptors of
the vertical heterogeneity of the formation:

1. Dykstra-Parson Permeability variation V

2. Lorenz-Coefficient L

5
 1. Dykstra-Parson Permeability variation V (continue)
In 1950 Dykstra & Parson introduced the concept of the permeability variation
coefficient V which is statistical measure of non uniformity of a set of data. The
required steps for determining the coefficient V are summarized below;

6
Example, to calculate V.

7
8
9
10
11
12
Another example

13
Permeability Variation, v

14
2. How to determine the minimum number of layers that are
sufficient to model the performance of the fluid ??

 Based on a computer study, Craig (1971) The author simulated

the performance of a waterflood five-spot pattern that is
composed of 100 layers with permeability variations ranging from
0.1 to 0.8.

 The minimum number of layers required to match results of the

100-layer model was determined as a function of mobility ratio M
and permeability variation V.

 Tables 14-3 through 14-5 summarize results of these simulations

and provide a guide to selection of the number of layers for five-
spot patterns.
15
16
3. How to assign the proper average rock properties for
each layer (called the zonation problem)

 Usually , the below method is used in the industry to

assign the proper average permeability for each layer:
 the positional method

The positional method

Miller and Lents (1966) proposed that the average permeability in a selected layer
(elevation) should be calculated by applying the geometric-average permeability

17
 Example 14-19, Zonation
• Using the core analysis data given in Table 14-2 for the 10-well
system, assign the proper average permeability for each layer
if the reservoir is divided into:
a. 10 equal-thickness layers, each with a 1-ft thickness
b. 5 equal-thickness layers, each with a 2-ft thickness
Solution
a. Using the positional method approach and applying Equation 4-55,
calculate the permeability for each 1-ft layer:

Then

18
Secondary Oil Recovery in
Stratified reservoirs

19
 Calculation of Vertical Sweep Efficiency

• Basically two methods are traditionally used in calculating the vertical sweep
efficiency EV:
(1) The Stiles’ method and
(2) The Dykstra–Parsons method.

• The layered system is selected based on the permeability ordering approach

with layers arranged in order of descending permeability.

20
 The common assumptions of both methods are:
 No cross-flow between layers
 Immiscible displacement
 Linear flow
 The distance water has traveled through each layer is
proportional to the permeability of the layer
 Piston-like displacement

21
 Stiles’ Method
 Stiles (1949) proposed an approach that takes into account the
effect of permeability variations in predicting the performance
of waterfloods.
 Stiles assumes that in a layered system, the water breakthrough
occurs in a sequence that starts in the layer with the highest
permeability.
 Assuming that the reservoir is divided into n layers that are
arranged in a descending permeability order with breakthrough
occurring in a layer i, all layers from 1 to i have already been
swept by water.
 The remaining layers obviously have not reached breakthrough

22
23
• Based on the above concept, Stiles proposed that the
vertical sweep efficiency can be calculated from the
following expression:

24
If the values of the porosity vary between layers, Equation 14-
90 can be written:

25
26
Calculate the vertical sweep efficiency and
surface water-oil ratio using Stiles’method:
27
 Solution

28
29
Step 3. Calculate EV and WORs when water breakthrough
occurs in the second layer, i.e., i = 2:

30
31
• Figure 14-51 shows the resulting relationship between the vertical
sweep efficiency and producing WOR. The curve can be extended to
WOR = 0 to give the vertical sweep efficiency at breakthrough EV.

32
 The Dykstra–Parsons Method

Dykstra and Parsons (1950) correlated the vertical sweep

efficiency with the following parameters:
• Permeability variation V

• Mobility ratio M
• Water–oil ratio WORr as expressed in bbl/bbl

33
• The authors presented their correlation in a graphical form for water–oil ratios of
0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 bbl/bbl.
• Figure 14-52 shows Dykstra and Parsons’ graphical correlation for a WOR of 50
bbl/bbl.
• Using a regression analysis model, de Souza and Brigham (1981) grouped the
vertical sweep efficiency curves for 0 ≤ M ≤ 10 and 0.3 ≤ V ≤ 0.8 into one curve as
shown in Figure 14-53. The authors used a combination of WOR, V, and M to
define the correlation parameter Y of Figure 14-53:

34
35
The specific steps involved in determining the vertical
sweep efficiency as a function of water–oil ratios are
summarized below:

1. Calculate the mobility ratio M and permeability

variation V.
2. Select several values for the WOR, e.g., 1, 2, 5, 10,
and calculate the correlating parameter Y at each
selected WOR.
3. Enter Figure 14-53 with each value of Y and
determine the corresponding values of the vertical
sweep efficiency EV.
4. Plot WOR versus EV.

36
To further simplify the calculations for determining EV, Fassihi
(1986) curve-fitted the graph of Figure 14-53 and proposed the
following nonlinear function, which can be solved iteratively for
the vertical sweep efficiency EV:

37
• The Newton–Raphson method is perhaps the
appropriate technique for solving Equation 14-96. To
avoid the iterative process, the following expression
could be used to estimate the vertical sweep efficiency
using the correlating parameter Y:

38
 Example 14-22
• A layered reservoir is characterized by a permeability
variation V of 0.8. Calculate the vertical sweep efficiency
EV when the producing water–oil ratio reaches 50
bbl/bbl assuming a mobility ratio of 10.0.

39
 METHODS OF PREDICTING RECOVERY
PERFORMANCE FOR LAYERED RESERVOIRS

• To account for the reservoir vertical heterogeneity when

predicting reservoir performance, the reservoir is represented by
a series of layers with no vertical communication, i.e., no cross-
flow between layers.
• Each layer is characterized by a thickness h, permeability k, and
porosity φ.
• The heterogeneity of the entire reservoir is usually described by
the permeability variation parameter V.

40
 Simplified Dykstra–Parsons Method
• Dykstra and Parsons (1950) proposed a correlation for predicting
waterflood oil recovery that uses the mobility ratio, permeability
variation, and producing water–oil ratio as correlating parameters.

• Johnson (1956) developed a simplified graphical approach for the

Dykstra and Parsons method that is based on predicting the
overall oil recovery R at water–oil ratios of 1, 5, 25, and 100
bbl/bbl.
• Figure 14-54 shows the proposed graphical charts for the four selected
WORs. The correlating parameters shown in Figure 14-54, are:
R = overall oil recovery factor
Swi = initial water saturation
M = mobility ratio
V = permeability variation
41
R(1-Sw) = 0.05

42
 Dykstra-Parsons method

V = 0.694

Mr = 2.041
R(1-0.72Sw) = 0.158

R = 0.1894

WOR = 5
 Dykstra-Parsons method

V = 0.694

Mr = 2.041 R(1-0.4Sw) = 0.336

R = 0.37

WOR = 100