Abstract

A straight-line plot of p/z vs. Gp (cumulative gas production) is widely used to estimate the original gas in place. It is known as the p/z plot technique. The linearity of that plot has been historically known to be a unique feature of a volumetric (closed) reservoir. In this paper, we show that a uniqueness problem may exist when using the p/z plot. In other words, if the reservoir is in contact with an aquifer, a straight-line may exist on that plot causing a major overestimation of original gas in place. This uniqueness problem is proved to be due solely to the unsteady state nature of aquifers.

A simulation study was performed to determine the conditions for such a misleading straight line. Several examples demonstrate that it is possible to construct a synthetic data set for a water-drive gas reservoir such that a misleading straight-line plot is obtained. This misleading straight-line is shown to be due to certain rate schedules. The conventional material balance equation is coupled with an aquifer mathematical model to obtain this schedule. In this paper, an actual field case is presented as an example of this possible overestimation of original gas in place due to a misleading linear p/z plot.

Introduction

The material balance equation is an expression of the law of the conservation of mass, which is commonly used in reservoir engineering. For reservoirs with no water influx and no water encroachment and if we neglect formation and water compressibilities, it will have the following form

$GBgi=G-GpBy$
(1)

which can be written also as

Equation (2) Available In Full Paper.

If we include all of the forces that we previously neglected, then we will have the following equation

$GBgi=G-GpBg+We-Wp+GBgi1-RM$
(3)

Equation (4) Available In Full Paper.

If we neglect the influence of the formation and water compressibility

then the Ramagost factor RM will be equal to 1, and

therefore Equation (4) will be reduced to the following

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