Evaluation

Volumetrics

GEOL 4233 Class

April 23, 2008

Dan Boyd
Oklahoma Geological Survey
Norman, Oklahoma
 Volumetrics

1) Definitions / Conversions (Handy Facts)

2) Assumptions (The ‘Art’ of Volumetrics)

3) Mechanics (Input Variables)

4) Reserves (Recovery Factors / Probabilistic Calculations)

 Volumetrics
Definitions / Conversions

OOIP
OGIP
RF
FVF: (Bo, Bg)
Saturations / Residual Saturations (So, Sg, Sw – Soirr, Sgirr, Swirr)
EUR

Resources (In-Place) vs. Reserves (Economically Producible)

 Definitions / Conversions (I)

14.7 psi = Atmospheric (@ S.L.)

5,280 feet per mile
43,560 sq ft per acre
640 acres per sq mile – Section (160 ac per quarter section) 247 ac/sqkm
3.281 ft per meter (39.37 inches per meter)
1.609 kilometers per mile
2.54 centimeters per inch
35.32 cubic feet per cubic meter
7,758 STBarrels per acre-foot
Specific Gravity (crude); .80-.97
Btu value for gas: avg ~1Btu / cubic foot (1000Btu/MCF), rich - higher, a lot of
non-hydrocarbons - lower
API gravity: 25=specific gravity .904, 42=specific gravity .816
BOE: 6,000 cubic feet per barrel (average)
 Definitions / Conversions (II)

To calculate pressure (if mud weight balanced precisely):

Under vs. Over Balanced

Mud Weight (in ppg) x .052(conversion factor) x depth (in feet) = (BH)Pressure (in
psi)

If mud is exactly balanced with formation pressure:

Calculated Pressure = BHP (reservoir)

Hydrostatic pressure gradient = 0.43 psi/ft (43 psi/100’)

 Volumetric Parameters
Definitions / Conversions (III)

FVFs: Bo - Oil (dead) ~ 1.0 (RSB/STB), oil moderately gassy ~1.2RSB/STB, very
gassy ~ 1.4 RSB/STB

Bg – Normally pressured (hydrostatic) FVF = Depth (in ft)/36.9

Example @ 5,000’ FVF = 136 RCF/SCF

Underpressured (Brooken Field example): .23 psi/ft (normal = .43 psi/ft)

@ 1,400’ Bgi = 28 RCF/SCF (38 RCF/SCF if normally pressured)

Overpressured
 The ‘Art’ of Volumetrics
(Assumptions)

• Wells drilled are representative of reservoir as a whole

• Average Porosity, Sw, So, and Sg are accurate
• Reservoir homogeneous and all parts will be swept
• The size, thickness and structure of the reservoir is correctly mapped
• The area is calculated precisely (planimeters +- 5%)

• The OWC and GOC are sharp and known precisely, or …. the
porosity saturation cutoffs for pay are accurate, with good sweep
above and no feed-in from below these cutoffs
Well Log of Incised Valley-Fill Sandstone
Oklahoma’s Brooken Field (Booch)

Average Porosity = ?
‘Sharp’ Fluid Contacts ?
B-184 Horizontal Lateral
(Elan Plus Interpretation)

‘Sharp’ Fluid Contacts ?

Badak-185 Horizontal Lateral
(Elan Plus
‘Sharp’ Interpretation)
Fluid Contacts ?
Pressure Gradients

‘Sharp’ Fluid Contacts ?

Here: + or – 5’

Oil rim estimate: + or – 10%

Gas cap estimate: + or – 15%
Transition Zone Transition Zone
 Volumetric Mechanics
(Equations)

GAS:
Area (Ac) x Thickness (Ft) x Avg Porosity (%) x Avg Sgi (%) x Bgi
(SCF/RCF) x 43,560 sqft/ac = OGIP (SCF)

OIL:
Area (Ac) x Thickness (Ft) x Avg Porosity (%) x Avg Soi (%) / Boi
(RB/STB) x 7758.4 Bbls/AcFt = OIIP (STB)
 Volumetric Mechanics
(Gross Reservoir Volume)

AREA: Productive area (map view), in acres

Subdivide overall area into components that are calculated (planimetered)
separately based on similar average reservoir thickness

THICKNESS: From reservoir or fluid top to contact or saturation cutoff, in feet

SUMMED (AREA(S) X THICKNESS) =

GROSS RESERVOIR VOLUME in AcreFeet

 Volumetric Mechanics
(Pore Volume)

GROSS RESERVOIR VOLUME (AcFt) x Average Porosity (%) within

productive reservoir =

GROSS STORAGE (PORE) VOLUME (AcreFeet)

 Volumetric Mechanics
(Gross Oil/Gas Volume)

GROSS STORAGE (PORE) VOLUME (AcreFeet) x

AVERAGE OIL (Soi) or GAS (Sgi) SATURATION (%) =

GROSS OIL or GAS VOLUME (AcreFeet)

===========================

Conversion to standard units of RBbls or RCF

AcreFeet x 7,758 Bbls/AcreFoot = Oil in Reservoir Barrels

AcreFeet x 43,560 Cubic Feet/AcreFoot = Gas in Reservoir Cubic Feet

 Volumetric Mechanics (Oil)
(Conversion to Stock Tank Barrels)

FORMATION VOLUME FACTOR (Bo):

Rules of Thumb

‘Dead’ Oil (no dissolved gas): Bo ~ 1.0 (RB/STB)

‘Gassy’ (deepish) Oil: Bo ~ 1.4 (RB/STB)
‘Typical’ (shallower) Oil: Bo ~ 1.2 (RB/STB)

Oil Volume (RB) / Bo (RB/STB) = OOIP (STB)

 Volumetric Mechanics (Gas)
(Conversion to Standard Cubic Feet)

FORMATION VOLUME FACTOR (Bg):

Rules of Thumb

• Bg – If normally pressured (hydrostatic)

Bg = Depth (in feet) / 36.9 Example: @ 5,000’ FVF = 136 SCF/RCF
-----------------------------
• Underpressured (Brooken Field example): .23 psi/ft (normal = .43 psi/ft)
@ 1,400’ Bgi = 28 SCF/RCF (38 SCF/RCF if normally pressured)
-----------------------
• Overpressured

Gas Volume (RCF) X Bg (SCF/RCF) = OGIP (SCF)

 Reserves
From OOIP / OGIP
(What can you take to the bank ?)

RECOVERY FACTOR (RF): Function of –

• Reservoir Quality, Depth, Pressure, Temperature
• Fluid Properties
• Drive Mechanism(s)
• Reservoir Management

Rules of Thumb

The better the reservoir, the better the recovery factor

• Even fluid movement
• Larger pore throats (better sweep, more moveable oil/gas)
• Better water support (if any to be had)
• Better effectiveness in secondary/ tertiary recovery projects
 Recovery Factors
(Ballpark Rules of Thumb)

OIL:
• Poor reservoir (low poro-perm): < 10%
• Dual Porosity (low matrix reservoir quality): ~ 20%
• Good Poro-Perm (Primary = Secondary): ~ 30%
• Excellent reservoir (good water support): ~ 40-50%
• Ideal (reservoir quality, management): ~ 60-70%
• Tar Sands (mined): ~ 100%

GAS:
• CBM, Shale Gas: < 10% (generally)
• Good Quality (depletion): ~ 70% (GOM average)
• Excellent Reservoir (depletion, + compression): 90%+ (Lake Arthur Ex.)
 Probabilistic Volumetrics
(Because there is no single answer)

• Calculate a range of values based on confidence in variables.

P = Probability Factor
P 100 – dead certainty
P 80 to 90 – high confidence
P 10 to 30 – low confidence

• For each variable with significant uncertainty

Assign P 90 , P 50, and P 10 values to create distribution
Example: Productive area – P 90 = smallest reasonable area, P 50 = most
likely area, and P 10 = maximum area (but not unreasonable)

• Qualitative (‘fudgability’ - what do you want it to be ?)

Usefulness a function of experience in area
Requires objective assessment
Most beneficial when comparing large projects in which data is sparse
 Probabilistic Reserves
(Taking Credit Now for Future Additions)
(P + P + P)

• Proved.
Highest level of certainty (assigned $ value)
PDP – Proved-Developed-Producing (decline curve)
PUD – Proved-Undeveloped (Nonproducing)

• Probable.
Undrilled, but based on known areas has high likelihood of producing
Examples:
Undrilled fault-block in area where faults do not seal
Area adjacent to existing production with quantifiable DHI

• Possible.
Higher risk, but based on incomplete information meets known requirements
for production
 Volumetric Computations
(1)

Prerequisites –

Net Pay Isopach (which requires)

Structure Map (on top of the pay)
Elevation of fluid contacts
Net Reservoir Isopach
Accurate Pay Cutoffs (Porosity, Sw, Shale Content ie: k measure)

Knowledge of Potential Flow-Barriers (each compartment calculated separately)

Structure Map - identify isolated fault blocks
Cross-Section(s) – identify potential stratigraphic barriers
 Volumetric Computations
(2)

Mechanics –
Work Station (high-tech, but still just a tool)
Log analyses, tops, net pay thicknesses are usually digital and internal
Computer-generated maps/cross-sections must be ‘truthed’ and edited
Advantage – can sift vast amounts of data and quickly analyze wide range of
possibilities
Disadvantage – GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) – but it’s nice looking garbage

Paper (much slower, but often results in better geological understanding )

PC computer aid only, interpretation on paper (hand-contouring & log analysis)
Planimeter usually used for calculating areas, or………….
Eyeball entire pay map with an average pay thickness, or box-out into bite-size chunks
Given the assumptions – the experienced eyeballer has the edge
 Reservoir Volume
Mechanics
(Work station’s crashed &/or planimeter’s been stolen)

Bite-Size Chunks Technique

• Box out areas into rectangles-triangles
• Calculate areas
• Assign each area an average thickness
• Sum the volumes calculated
 Reservoir Volume
Mechanics

Slab and Wedge Technique

(Useful in areas of shallow dip)

• Reservoir thickness ~ constant

• Area inside of where water contact is at reservoir bottom
assigned full thickness value
• Area outside of this, to the edge of the water contact, is
assigned half of the full thickness value
 Blanket 40’ Reservoir with 80’ of Closure
Slab Area + Wedge Area / 2
= Gross Reservoir Volume

In this example reservoir ~40’ thick

Slab Area

Net Pay maximum line

Wedge Area

Net Pay zero-line

Assume OWC @ Base of reservoir

 Net Oil Reservoir Isopach
(Well control good, Zero line conforms to OWC)
Planimeter 2-3 areas: ~ 0-20, 20-30, 30+
 Volumetric Map Set
Rigorous ‘By the Book’
(This is usually overkill)
Brooken Field Net Sandstone Isopach
 Reams Southeast Field
Middle Booch Structure Map

Trapping Fault
Reams Southeast Field Study
PS-0 Net Sand Isopach
Reams Southeast Field Study
PS-2 Net Sand Isopach
 Reams Southeast Field
Middle Booch Net Sandstone Isopach
(Showing Combination Trap)

Fault Contact

Water Contact
Reservoir Limits
Reams Southeast Field Study Volumetric Input
Reams Southeast Field Study Gas Volumes
Exercises
 Exercise 1a:

Calculate OGIP
 Exercise 1b:
(Alternative Interpretation)

Calculate OGIP
 Exercise 1c:
(Yet another alternative Interpretation)

Calculate OGIP
 Exercise 1
(Sparse Data)

Volumetrics Sensitivity:
• Gross Reservoir Volume - varies by a factor of 4 (at least) in 3
reasonable interpretations that honor all data. This is made possible
both by changing the productive area and the thickness within it. If the
porosity cutoff (8%) for reservoir were moved up or down, results
would vary even more.
• Porosity - for each percent the average value goes up or down, the
OGIP estimate is changed by 10%. In heterogeneous reservoirs the
porosity range can be large (8 - 18% not unusual).
 118° 40' 118° 45' 118° 50'

S B -6 -2 4
Real Life Example

S B -6
-1 3
(One penetration)

0
S B -6 -2 5

-3
-6
B
S
NYM PHE
NORTH 1

B E N R IN N E S 1
5° 50' 5° 50'

K91
SB

-4 8
-6 -
12

SB
7

-6
-2

-5
-6
B
S

NYM PHE 1

S B -6 -2 6 KUDA
TE RB AN G 1

5° 45'
5° 45' SB
-6
S p ill P o in t -4

ARCO
4
-4

NYM PHE
91

P h illip in e s
K

SO UTH 1
N ym p h e A r e a
1:50000 118° 40'
N 118° 45' T ra p p in g S tyle
0 2 4 Kilometers
T o p M 2 D e p th S t ru c t u re
0 2 4 Miles C .I. = 2 0 0 m
J W /D B Dec, 1999

Interpretation based on inferred environment of deposition and analog comparisons (in some cases seismic DHI’s can help)
With production history, the geologic model can be refined
(and then used as a template elsewhere)
 Exercise 2:

Calculate OGIP
North Dome Field
(Qatar/Iran)

North Dome Field

Ghawar Field

From Fredrick Robelius

Uppsala Universitet, 2005
Regional Location Map
 Exercise 2

North Dome Field:

Productive Area: ~ 40 x 70 mi
Average Thickness: ~ 510’
Average Porosity: ~ 20%
Average Swi: ~ 20%
DEPTH ~ 11,000’ (assume normal pressure)
Carbonate reservoir

Calculate:

OGIP_______________

Reserves (assuming 65% RF)

__________________________

Get ready for a lot of zeros

Exercise 3

Location Map
 Exercise 3

Greater Ghawar Field

Area: ~ 110 x 15 miles

Avg thickness: ~ 185’
Avg porosity: ~ 18%
Average Swi: ~ 11%
Boi – 1.32

Avg perm: ~ 350 md

API-32 degrees
GORi = 550
Depth -6600’OWC

Calculate:

OOIP________________

EUR_________________

(given various RF’s)

Get ready for a lot more zeros

 Assume: Depth ~ 8,000’ (normally pressured)
Exercise 4 Reservoir – 20’ blanket SS (no wedges)
Avg por – 15%, Avg Sw 10% (gas cap), 20% (oil rim)
Bo – 1.20 RB/STB

Calculate:
OGIP (up/downthrown)
OOIP
 Exercise 4
Schematic Cross-Section
Exercise 5
Lessons Learned:
• Outcome sensitive to reasonable changes to input
• Where data are sparse, a wide range of OGIP/OOIP values possible
• Structural Issues: attic oil, undrained fault blocks
• Stratigraphic Issues: depositionally or structurally isolated ‘pods’

• How to improve the quality of volumetrics ? (The Value of Experience)

• Mapping of analog areas where more data available
• If in rank area, may need to go far afield
• Comparison to fields with production history (material balance ?)
• Improved understanding of reservoir architecture
• Thickening rates
• Reservoir heterogeneities
• Pay cutoffs
• Recovery factors
Geological Objectivity (Ethics)
• The company needs drillable prospects / reserve adds, but……..
• The play you’re assigned is weak economically

Be Objective Without Being Pessimistic

• Understand your area as completely as possible
• Geologic history (petroleum system)
• Environments of deposition (log-core-outcrop)
• Reservoir properties (keys to pay quality)
• Successful explorationists understand and map producing fields
• Integrate geological interpretation into engineering data
• Pressures
• Drive mechanisms
• Fluid properties (do they change ?)
• Justify and document all assumptions (data mining)
• Keep an eye out for ‘upside’
• Explaining anomalies is the key to new geologic plays
• Shallower objective(s)
• Deeper objective(s)
• A different way to drill, complete (?)

Remember: Quality work will be recognized

 May Mother Nature Smile Upon You

Cushing Field