The Straight-Line

Solution Method to the

MBE

MATERIAL BALANCE EXPRESSED

AS A LINEAR EQUATION
Havlena and Odeh described techniques that in
certain situations allow the material balance
Equation to be written as a linear equation and
even solved graphically.
They further stated that with their analysis
methods, the otherwise static material balance
relation attained a dynamic meaning.
This discussion has been adapted from Dake's
treatment of the work of Havlena and Odeh.

When the pore volume expressed in terms of oil saturation

only.

The most general form of Material Balance

Equation is
Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg] =
mNBoi(Bg - Bgi)

N (Bt Bti ) +
+ (We-WpBw) +

Bgi
+ (Cf +CwSw) (NBoi ) (Pi-P) (1)
(1-Swi )

Another form of general Material Balance

Equation is:
When considering both the oil and gas saturations in
calculating the pore volume.

---(2)

A more convenient form of the MBE can be determined by

introducing the concept of the total (two-phase) formation
volume factor Bt into the equation. When considering the
gas cap volume in the saturation equation the previous
equation becomes:
(3) ----

There are essentially three unknowns in the above Equation :

a. The original oil in place N
b. The cumulative water influx We
c. The original size of the gas cap as compared to the oil zone size m

In developing a methodology for determining the above

three unknowns, Havlena and Odeh expressed
:Equation (2) in the following form

(4) ---:Havlena and Odeh further expressed Equation (4) in a more condensed form as

F = N [Eo + m Eg + Ef,w] + (We + Winj Bw + Ginj Bginj)

 Assuming, for the purpose of simplicity, that no pressure

maintenance by gas or water injection is being considered,
the above relationship can be further simplified and written
as:
F = N [ Eo +m Eg + Ef,w ] + We

---- (5)

In which the terms F, Eo, Eg, and Ef w are defined by the

followingrelationships:
F represents the underground withdrawal and given by:

F = Np [Bo + (Rp - Rs) Bg] + Wp Bw

----- (6)

In terms of the two-phase formation volume factor Bt, the

underground withdrawal F can be written as:

F = Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg] + WpBw ----- (7)

Eo describes the expansion of oil and its originally dissolved gas and
isexpressed in terms of the oil formation volume factor as:

Eo = (Bo - Boi) + (Rsi - Rs) Bg

---- (8)

Or equivalently, in terms of Bt:

Eo = Bt-Bti

----- (9)

Eg is the term describing the expansion of the gas-cap

gas and is defined by the following expression:

Eg = Boi [(Bg/Bgi) - 1]

------- (10)

In terms of the two-phase formation volume factor Bt,

essentially Bti = Boi , or

Eg = Bti [(Bg/Bgi) - 1]
Ef, w represents the expansion of the initial water and
the reduction in the pore volume and is given by:

(11) --------

Havlena and Odeh examined several cases of varying

reservoir types with Equation (5) and pointed out that the
relationship can be rearranged into the form of a straight
line. For example, in the case of a reservoir which has:
no initial gas cap

m=0
no water influx

We = 0 and
negligible formation and water compressibilities

cf and cw = 0
Equation (5) reduces to:
F = N Eo
(12)
The above expression suggests that a plot of the
parameter F as a function of the oil expansion parameter
Eo would yield a straight line with a slope N and intercept
equal to zero.

The Straight-Line Solution Method

to the MBE
The straight-line solution method requires the plotting of a
variable group versus another variable group, with the
variable group selection depending on the mechanism of
production under which the reservoir is producing.
The most important aspect of this method of solution is that it
attaches significance the sequence of the plotted points,
the direction in which they plot, and to the shape of the
resulting plot.

The significance of the straight-line approach is that the

sequence of plotting is important and if the plotted data
deviates from this straight line, there is some reason for it.
This significant observation will provide the engineer with
valuable information that can be used in determining the
following unknowns:

Initial oil in place

Size of the gas cap
Water influx
Driving mechanism

N
m
We

The applications of the straight-line form of the MBE in

solving reservoir engineering problems are presented next
to illustrate the usefulness of this particular form. Six cases
of applications are presented:
Case 1: Determination of N in volumetric under-saturated
reservoirs
Case 2: Determination of N in volumetric saturated reservoirs
Case 3: Determination of N and m in gas cap drive reservoirs
Case 4: Determination of N and We in water drive reservoirs
Case 5: Determination of N, m, and We in combination drive
reservoirs
Case 6: Determination of average reservoir pressure, p

Another case of interest is a reservoir with an

initial gas cap but with negligible water
encroachment. Because of the initial gas cap,
the connate water and rock compressibilities
may be neglected with little error incurred.
Equation (5) becomes:
..(13)

For the case of a water drive reservoir with no

gas cap and negligible connate water and
rock compressibilities, Equation (5) becomes:
--------(14)

In this case, F/E0 should plot as a linear

function of We / E0. The y-intercept will be N. A
suitable function describing the water influx is
normally used in the analysis.

which concerns the expansion of the gas cap

gas.
Here , the rock and connate water expansion
is considered.
Then, the general material balance Equation
may be written as:
.(1)

---------(15)

For the reservoir with no initial gas cap,

negligible water influx, and negligible
compressibilities of connate water and rock,
equation 8-36 reduces to:

Another case of interest is a reservoir with an

initial gas cap but with negligible water
encroachment. Because of the initial gas cap,
the connate water and rock compressibilities
may be neglected with little error incurred.
Equation (1) becomes:

For the case of a water drive reservoir with no

gas cap and negligible connate water and
rock compressibilities, Equation (1) becomes:
In this case, F/E0 should plot as a linear
function of We / E0. The y-intercept will be N. A
suitable function describing the water influx is
normally used in the analysis.