Problem 2

RESERVOIR MECHANISMS

PRESSURE EFFECTS ON WATERFLOODING

Shrinkage losses are reductions in the oil recovery that result from oil displacement ocurring at lower
rather than higher pressures. These losses arise because, due to oil shrinkage, a fixed volume of residual
oil will represent more stock tank oil at the lower pressure than at the higher pressure. (note the contrast with gas !)

In a waterflood it is assumed that oil is swept at a flood front pressure pf , immediately becoming trapped
behind the front at a residual oil saturation Sor. If the volumetric sweep efficiency is E, calculate the oil
recovery factor for P flood = 2756 psi and P flood = 1740 psi.

Assume that oil in the unswept part of the reservoir is also trapped at P flood, but that here its saturation
is reduced by the critical gas saturation to (1- Swc - Sgc )

Use the attached PVT data with:

Pi = 3220 psi, Swc = 0.25, Sor = 0.25, Sgc = 0.05, E = 0.70

How much loss of recovery will be suffered due to shrinkage by waterflooding at 1740 psi rather than 2756 psi?

Hint:
First find an expression for the original pore volume and the oil volume remaining after flood, assuming
a sweep efficiency E in the flooded part of the reservoir. Then calculate the oil recovery factor Np/N.
RESERVOIR MECHANISMS

PRESSURE EFFECTS ON WATERFLOODING

Fluid Properties:

Reservoir Temperature (deg F) 150

Oil Gravity (deg API) 33.3
Initial Pressure (psia) 3220
Separator Gas Gravity (SG air=1) 0.85
Separator Temperature (deg F) 105
Separator Pressure (psia) 75

Dissolved Gas-Oil-Ratio (scf/STB) 880

Bubble Point Pressure (psia) 2900

Oil
Pressure Bo Rs Viscosity
(psia) (RB/STB) (scf/STB) (cp)

500 1.0891 111 1.88

1000 1.1554 249 1.27
1500 1.2339 402 0.96
1740 1.2754 479 0.86
2000 1.3228 565 0.78
2500 1.4206 738 0.66
2756 1.4738 829 0.61
2900 1.5043 880 0.59
3220 1.4962 880 0.60