MATERIAL BALANCE

EQUATION
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

The material balance equation (MBE) is one of

the basic tools of reservoir engineers for
interpreting and predicting reservoir
performance. The MBE can be used to:
• Estimate initial hydrocarbon volumes in place
• Predict future reservoir performance
• Predict ultimate hydrocarbon recovery under
various types of primary driving mechanisms
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

The equation can be written on volumetric basis as:

Initial volume = volume remaining + volume removed

Before deriving the material balance, it is convenient to

denote certain terms by symbols for brevity. The
symbols used conform where possible to the standard
nomenclature adopted by the Society of Petroleum
Engineers.
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION
Terms Symbols
Initial reservoir pressure, psi Pi
Change in reservoir pressure = pi − p, psi Δp
Bubble point pressure, psi pb
Initial (original) oil in place, STB N
Cumulative oil produced, STB Np
Cumulative water produced, bbl Wp

Cumulative gas produced, scf Gp

Cumulative gas-oil ratio, scf/STB Rp
Instantaneous gas-oil ratio, scf/STB GOR
Initial gas solubility, scf/STB Rsi
Gas solubility, scf/STB Rs
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION
Terms Symbols
Initial oil formation volume factor, bbl/STB Boi
Oil formation volume factor, bbl/STB Bo
Initial gas formation volume factor, bbl/scf Bgi
Gas formation volume factor, bbl/scf Bg
Cumulative water injected, STB Winj

Cumulative gas injected, scf Ginj

Cumulative water influx, bbl We
Ratio of initial gas-cap-gas reservoir volume to initial m
reservoir oil volume , bbl/bbl
Initial gas-cap gas, scf G
Pore volume, bbl P.V
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION
Terms Symbols
Water compressibility, psi−1 cw

Formation (rock) compressibility, psi−1 cf

Gas formation volume factor of the gas cap gas ,bbl/scf Bg c

Gas formation volume factor of the solution gas ,bbl/scf Bg s

cumulative gas production from gas cap Gpc

.cumulative gas production from solution gas Gps

 Derivation of the oil MBE
:Let us define the following quantities
N= the initial oil in place(STB) = VBO (*1-Swi) /Boi
- Gas cap expansion = New gas cap volume
original gas cap
volume New gas cap volume = (G-Gpc) B gc
Original gas cap volume = G x Bgci
Gas cap expansion = (G-Gpc) B gc - G x Bgci)1(
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

– Remaining release gas = original soluble gas )2(

remaining soluble gas – cumulative produced gas
= [N Rsi -(N-Np)Rs -Gps] Bgs
(3) Remaining oil volume = (N-Np) Bo
(4) Net water influx = (We -Wp Bw)
(5) Rock and water expansion is neglected in the

presence of gas.
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION
Condition I Condition II •
• Pressure = Pi P<Pi NP
= Zero NP = +ive
• GP = Zero G P = +ive
• WP = Zero W P = +ive
Condition I Condition II •
• Pressure = Pi P<Pi NP
= Zero NP = +ive
• GP = Zero G P = +ive
• WP = Zero W P = +ive

Condition I Condition II
Pressure = Pi P<Pi
N P = Zero
N P = +ive
GP = Zero G P = +ive
WP = Zero W P = +ive
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Now, by equating the initial conditions , to the

final conditions resulting from a finite pressure
drop:
N Boi = (N-NP) Bo + [(G-GPC) Bgc -G Bgci] +[NRsi –

-(N-NP)Rs–GPS ]Bgs+(We -WPBw)

+ N Boi = NBo – NPBo + G Bgc- GPC Bgc - G Bgci
+ N RSi Bgs - N RS Bgs+ NP Rs Bgs - GPS Bgs
)We-WP Bw( +
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

NBoi-NBo-NRsi Bgs +NRsBgs=-NPBo+NPRsBgs - GPSBgs+

+GBgc-GPcBgc-GBgci+(We-WPBw)
-N[Boi-Bo-RsiBgs+RsBgs] =Np[-Bo+RsBgs]-Gps Bgs+GBgc
Gpc Bgc-GBgci+(We-
WpBw)
But : Bgc = Bgs = Bg and Bgci = Bgsi Bgi
N[Boi-Bo+(-Rsi+Rs)Bg] = Np[-Bo+RsBg]-Gps Bg+GBg
–GpcBg-GBgi+(We-WpBw)
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

+Np[Bo-RsBg]+(Gps+Gpc)Bg =N[Bo-Boi+(Rsi-Rs)Bg]
G(Bg-Bgi)+(We-+
WpBw)
But : (Gpc+Gps)Bg = GpBg and Rp = Gp/Np
and Bt = Bo+(Rsi-Rs)Bg
, Therefore
Np [ Bo - RsBg]+Gp Bg =N[(Bo-Boi)+(Rsi-Rs)Bg]
+ G(Bg-Bgi)+(We-WpBw)
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

By adding and subtracting RsiBg –RsiBg:

Np [Bo -(Rsi-Rs)Bg]- RsiBg]+Gp Bg =N[(Bo Boi)+

+ (Rsi-Rs)Bg]+ G(Bg-Bgi)+(We-WpBw)
Np[Bt-RsiBg]+Np Rp Bg =N[(Bo-Boi)+(Rsi-Rs)Bg]
+ G(Bg-Bgi)+(We-WpBw)
Np[Bt – Rsi Bg + Rp Bg]= N[(Bo - Boi)+(Rsi-Rs) Bg]

+ G(Bg-Bgi) +(We-WpBw)
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

: And finally

+ Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg] = N (Bt – Bti )

mNBoi(Bg - Bgi) + (We-WpBw) …..

(1)
Bgi
 
  
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Np [Bt +(Rp - Rsi) Bg]=N (Bt – Bti )+mNBoi(Bg - Bgi) + (We-WpBw)

Bgi
Cumulative oil Depletion Drive Gas cap drive Water drive
withdrawal mechanism mechanism
mechanism

And this is the generalized material balance equation for

combination drive reservoir neglecting the rock and
connate water expansion.
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

N ( Bt – B tI ) = D.D.I
Np[Bt+(Rp-Rsi)Bg]
 
(m N Boi/ Bgi) (Bg - Bgi) = GCDI
Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg]
 
( We- Wp Bw) = WDI
Np[Bt+(Rp-Rsi)Bg]
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Driving indices : 
The driving index of any mechanism represents
the fractional contribution of the total oil
withdrawal produced by that mechanism.
THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION
Driving indices

Driving indexes in a combination-drive

reservoir
Driving indices
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Several of the material balance calculations

require the total pore volume (P.V) as expressed
in terms of the initial oil volume N and the
volume of the gas cap.
The expression for the total pore volume can be
derived by conveniently introducing the
parameter m into the relationship as follows:
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Change in Pore Volume Due to Initial Water

:and Rock Expansion
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

where ΔV represents the net changes or

expansion of the material as a result of changes
in the pressure. Therefore, the reduction in the
pore volume due to the expansion of the
connate water in the oil zone and the gas cap is
given by:
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Connate water expansion = [(pore volume) Swi] x cw Δp

Substituting for the pore volume (P.V) with Equation 11-1
gives:
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

The total volume of the hydrocarbon system is then

given by:
Initial oil volume + initial gas cap volume = (P.V)(1− Swi)
N Boi + m N Boi = (P.V) (1 − Swi)
or
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Similarly, the reduction in the pore volume due

to the expansion of the reservoir rock is given
by:
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

The total pore volume occupied by the two injected fluids is given by:
Total volume = Ginj Bginj +Winj Bw
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

The most general form of Material Balance

Equation is

Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg] = N (Bt – Bti ) +

mNBoi(Bg - Bgi) + (We-WpBw) +

Bgi
)Pi-P( ) NBoi( )Cf +CwSw( +
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Case (1): Water drive reservoir: 

 :A-Below the bubble point pressure
 : The driving mechanisms involved are
  Water drive mechanism.1
 Depletion drive mechanism.2
 : The material balance equation is
Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg]=N(Bt – Bti ) +(We-WpBw)
………………..(3)
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

:B) Above the bubble point pressure

 : The driving mechanisms involved are
  Water drive mechanism.1
  Depletion drive mechanism and.2
 .Rock and water expansion mechanism.3
 : The material balance equation is
Np Bo = N (Bo – Boi ) + ( We –Wp Bw ) + (Cf
+CwSw) (NBoi ) (Pi-P )..................(4)
(1-Swi)
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

 . )Since Rp = Rsi = Rs = Constant( 

Effective oil compressibility :
Co = -  Vo 1 = Bo-Boi 1
Vo P Boi (Pi-P)
Bo - Boi = Co Boi (Pi-P)
Substitute this value in equation (4):
Np Bo = N Co Boi (Pi-P) + ( We –Wp Bw ) + (Cf
+CwSw) (NBoi ) (Pi-P ) ……………………….(5)
(1-Swi)
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Np Bo + Wp Bw = N Boi (Pi-P) Cf +CwSw + Co + We

-1 (
) Swi
..……………………….………………………
  )6(..………………………
Np Bo + Wp Bw = N Boi (Pi-P) Cf +CwSw +Co So
  (1-Swi )
We …....……………………………………………………...(7) +

Np Bo + Wp Bw = N Boi Ce (Pi-P) + We ……….(8)

 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Where :
Ce = Cf + Cw Sw +So So
Swi-1
Ce = effective oil compressibility.
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

 :Case (2): Gas cap drive reservoir 

The driving mechanisms involved are : 
  Gas cap drive mechanism and.1
 Depletion (solution gas) drive mechanism.2
Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg] = N (Bt – Bti ) +
+ mNBoi (Bg - Bgi)
Bgi
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Case (3): Depletion drive reservoir: 

A) Below the bubble point pressure: 
The driving mechanism involved is :
Depletion (solution gas) drive mechanism only.
:The material balance equation is
 
Np [Bt + (Rp - Rsi) Bg] = N (Bt – Bti )
 
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

B-Above the bubble point pressure

The driving mechanism involved is :
  .Rock and fluid expansion only
The material balance equation is: 
Np Bo = N(Bo-Boi) + Cf +CwSw +Co So
(1-Swi )
+N Boi ( Pi - P ) + We
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

Bo-Boi = Co Boi (Pi –P ) , finally:

 Np Bo = N Boi Ce P
If there is water production :, the equation form
becomes : 
Np Bo + Wp Bw = N Boi Ce P
This is the material balance equation for
depletion drive reservoir (DDR) producing
above the bubble point pressure (under-
saturated reservoir).
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

When the rock and water expansion mechanism

cancelled. Therefore , the equation will be as
follows:  
Np Bo = N (Bo - Boi )
 
Np Bo = N Bo - N Boi and therefore :
 
(N – Np ) Bo = N Boi
 THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION

this is the simplest form of the material balance

equation which represents a depletion drive
reservoir (DDR) producing above the bubble
point pressure (under- saturated reservoir)
neglecting the rock and water expansion
mechanism. The last equation can be driven
simply by considering the initial and remaining
oil in-place only ( of course , in addition to the
connate water).
THE MATERIAL BALANCE EQUATION