World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology

International Journal of Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Vol:6, No:12, 2012

Analysis Fraction Flow of Water versus Cumulative

Oil Recoveries Using Buckley Leverett Method
Reza Cheraghi Kootiani, and Ariffin Bin Samsuri

visualization and achievement of more accurate results. From

Abstract—To derive the fractional flow equation oil field technique it is clear that the technique is subject to errors,
displacement will be assumed to take place under the so-called since it is difficult to determine the exact point at which the
diffusive flow condition. The constraints are that fluid saturations at tangent to the fractional-flow curve intersects the curve [7]-
any point in the linear displacement path are uniformly distributed
[9].
with respect to thickness; this allows the displacement to be described
mathematically in one dimension. The simultaneous flow of oil and
water can be modeled using thickness averaged relative permeability, II. FRACTIONAL FLOW THEORY
along the centerline of the reservoir. The condition for fluid potential To derive the fractional flow equation oil displacement will
equilibrium is simply that of hydrostatic equilibrium for which the be assumed to take place under the so-called diffusive flow
Open Science Index, Physical and Mathematical Sciences Vol:6, No:12, 2012 waset.org/Publication/15839

saturation distribution can be determined as a function of capillary condition [1], [4]. The constraints are that fluid saturations at
pressure and therefore, height. That is the fluids are distributed in
any point in the linear displacement path are uniformly
accordance with capillary-gravity equilibrium.
This paper focused on the fraction flow of water versus distributed with respect to thickness; this allows the
cumulative oil recoveries using Buckley Leverett method. Several displacement to be described mathematically in one
field cases have been developed to aid in analysis. Producing water- dimension. The simultaneous flow of oil and water can be
cut (at surface conditions) will be compared with the cumulative oil modeled using thickness averaged relative permeability, along
recovery at breakthrough for the flowing fluid. the centerline of the reservoir. The condition for fluid potential
equilibrium is simply that of hydrostatic equilibrium for which
Keywords—Fractional Flow, Fluid Saturations, Permeability, the saturation distribution can be determined as a function of
Cumulative Oil Recoveries, Buckley Leverett Method. capillary pressure and therefore, height. That is the fluids are
distributed in accordance with capillary-gravity equilibrium
I. INTRODUCTION [7].

C ONSIDERING how important it is for reservoir engineer The condition of vertical equilibrium will be favored by:
to properly estimate water flooding project parameters 1. A large vertical permeability
such as: the volume of oil displaced at any time, the rate of oil 2. Small reservoir thickness
production, and the volume of water that must be handled per 3. Large density difference between the fluids
volume of oil once water production begins; models and aids 4. High capillary forces meaning large capillary transition
predicting displacement performance have been presented in zone (H)
5. Low fluid viscosities low injection rates
literature [1]-[6]. Some of the prediction tools used by
6. Low injection rates
engineers consist of graphical aids.
The diffuse flow condition occurs when:
Graphical methods are still useful to petroleum engineers
1. The displacement occurs at very high injection rates so that
because in some cases it is possible to obtain comparable the effects of capillary and gravity forces are negligible. The
accuracies in a shorter time as compared to computer methods. vertical equilibrium condition is not satisfied.
On the other hand, due to the increased knowledge in fluid 2. The displacement is at low injection rates in reservoirs for
mechanics through porous media, advent of high-speed which the measured capillary transition zone greatly exceeds
computer and better simulation software, it is now possible to the reservoir thickness and the vertical equilibrium condition
use fewer and better assumptions to adjust models to real word applies.
scenarios. For many years, consultants, professors, students The second condition visualized by observing Fig. 1. Since
and engineers have used the intersection of the tangent to the the transition zone (H) is much larger than the reservoir
fractional-flow water saturation curve, , vs. , to thickness, the water saturation can be considered uniformly
calculate the average water saturation after breakthrough. In distributed with respect to the reservoir thickness. Fig. 2
recent years, new technology has been used to expand the represents a small transition curve [8], [10].
scale of this , vs. , plot after breakthrough, for better

R. C. Kootiani is with the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM

Johor Bahru, Malaysia (corresponding author to provide phone:
0060108946936; e-mail: [email protected]).
Ariffin Bin Samsuri is with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM
Johor Bahru, Malaysia (e-mail: [email protected]).

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 World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
International Journal of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Vol:6, No:12, 2012

 
Fig. 1 Approximation to the diffuse flow condition for H >>h 

Fig. 4 Linear prototype reservoir mode 1-D displacement. Cross

section 
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The objective in this study is to describe the fluid saturation

distributions in the y-direction as the fluid moves through the
x-direction.
Considering oil displacement in the tilted reservoir of Fig.
4, Darcy’s equation, is applied for linear flow. The 1-D
equations for the simultaneous flow of oil and water are:

(1)

Fig. 2 An example of a capillary curve with a small transition zone

(2)
Fig. 3 shows schematics of the top view of a linear reservoir
which has uniform cross sectional area A. Displacement will  
be considered in this prototype reservoir model which can be where the potential is defined as
tilted as indicated in Fig. 4. Both injection and production
wells are considered to be perforated across the entire,
formation thickness, in the dip-normal direction [1].
+ gz= +gxsin (3)

Thus, the flow rate for oil is

(4) 
.
 
and the flow rate of water is

(5)
.

Subtract Equation (4) from Equation (5) and recall

 
Fig. 3 Linear prototype reservoir model 1-D

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International Journal of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Vol:6, No:12, 2012

injected (a trivial result). But there is a need to evaluate the oil

(6)
. recovery after breakthrough as well.
After breakthrough at producing well =L
If in (Equation 6), the oil flow rate was substituted in terms
of water and total flow rate, therefore [8], = dimensionless number of pore volumes of
injected water
∆ 1PV= LA
(7)
. Fig. 5 shows water saturation distributions at two different
times; one is at breakthrough and the other at a later time in a
Define fractional water flow in the reservoir as linear waterflood [1].

(8)

Substitute Equation (8) in Equation (7),

∆
.
(9)
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Or in field units

. . ∆γ
(10)

For horizontal flow and neglecting the capillary pressure

gradient we have:
Fig. 5 Water saturation distributions at breakthrough and
subsequently, in a linear water flood
(11)

At breakthrough, = water saturation at breakthrough =

Then expressed Equation (10) as front reaches production well. And the reservoir water
production increases suddenly from zero to . This
confirms existence of shock [8], [10].
. . ∆
1 (12)
(14)

Or
Dimensionless oil production at breakthrough

1 (13)
= .
= Capillary number, dimensionless (15)
= Gravity number, dimensionless
After breakthrough, both oil and water will be produced
III. APPLICATION OF FRACTIONAL FLOW THEORY IN OIL
RECOVERY CALCULATIONS
= (16)
There are different methods for calculating the oil recovery
depending on the type of reservoir, either homogeneous or
layered [2, 3].
At this stage to evaluate oil recoveries
A. Homogeneous Reservoirs - Buckley-Leverett Method
Before water breakthrough it is easily obtained the
saturation profiles and the oil recovery is equal to the water

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International Journal of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Vol:6, No:12, 2012

1 (17)
(21)

Or Combining the above two Equations leads to an expression

for the surface water-cut as:
1 . (18)
(22)
Subtract from both sides of the equation
The fractional flow in the reservoir for the three cases can
- 1 be calculated as follows:
(19)
Case 1 is 0.01
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Oil is being displaced by water in a horizontal, direct line Case 2 is 0.1
drive under the diffuse flow condition. The rock relative
permeability functions for water and oil are listed in Table I. Case 3 is 2.5
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TABLE I TABLE III

RELATIVE PERMEABILITY SATURATION DATA FOR BUCKLEY- LEVERET EVALUATION OF FRACTIONAL FLOW EQUATION FOR CASES 1 TO 3
METHOD (FROM DAKE 1988) Fractional Flow ( )
Case 1 Case 2 Case 3
0.20 0 0.800 0.20 0 0.800 ∞ 0 0 0
0.25 0.002 0.610 0.25 0.002 0.610 305.000 0.247 0.032 0.001
0.30 0.009 0.470 0.30 0.009 0.470 52.222 0.657 0.161 0.008
0.35 0.020 0.370 0.35 0.020 0.370 18.500 0.844 0.354 0.021
0.40 0.033 0.285 0.40 0.033 0.285 8.636 0.921 0.537 0.044
0.45 0.051 0.220 0.45 0.051 0.220 4.314 0.959 0.699 0.085
0.50 0.075 0.163 0.50 0.075 0.163 2.173 0.979 0.821 0.155
0.55 0.100 0.120 0.55 0.100 0.120 1.200 0.988 0.893 0.250
0.60 0.132 0.081 0.60 0.132 0.081 0.614 0.994 0.942 0.394
0.65 0.170 0.050 0.65 0.170 0.050 0.294 0.997 0.971 0.576
0.70 0.208 0.027 0.70 0.208 0.027 0.130 0.999 0.987 0.755
0.75 0.251 0.010 0.75 0.251 0.010 0.040 0.999 0.996 0.909
0.80 0.300 0 0.80 0.300 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000

TABLE II Fractional flow plots for the three cases are shown in Fig. 6
CASES TO ANALYZE THE DIFFERENT FRACTIONAL FLOW RESULTS FOR and the results obtained by applying Welge's graphical
BUCKLEY- LEVERETT METHOD
technique, at breakthrough, are listed below:
Case Oil viscosity Water viscosity
1 50 cp 0.5 cp
2 5 cp 0.5 cp TABLE IV
3 0.4 cp 1.0 cp OIL RECOVERIES AND SATURATION AT BREAKTHROUGH FOR
BUCKLEY- LEVERETT METHOD
CASE
Pressure is being maintained at its initial value for which,
(SURFACE)
(RESERVOIR) (PV)
1.3 and =1.0 1 0.28 0.55 0.61 0.34 0.14

The producing water-cut (at surface conditions) was 2 0.45 0.70 0.75 0.55 0.35
compared with the cumulative oil recovery at breakthrough.
3 0.80 1.00 1.00 0.80 0.60
Assume that the relative permeability and PVT data are
relevant for all three cases.
For horizontal flow the fractional flow in the reservoir is:

(20)
.

while the producing water-cut at the surface, , is:

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International Journal of Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Vol:6, No:12, 2012

Using these data the results of the study can be analyzed as

follows:
Case 1 - this displacement is unstable due to the very high
value of the oil/water viscosity ratio. This results in the by-
passing of oil and consequently the premature breakthrough of
water. The oil recovery at breakthrough is very small and
many pore volumes of water will have to be injected to
recover all the movable oil. Under these circumstances oil
recovery by water injection is hardly feasible and
consideration should be given to the application of thermal
recovery methods with the aim of reducing the viscosity ratio.
Case 2 - the oil/water viscosity ratio is an order of
magnitude lower than in Case 1, which leads to a stable and
much more favorable type of displacement 1
Case 3 - for the displacement of this very low viscosity oil
Fig. 6 Fractional flow plots for different oil-water viscosity ratios 0.4 both the end point and shock front mobility
ratios are less than unity and piston like displacement occurs
An important parameter in determining the effectiveness of The tangent to the fractional flow curve, from ,
a waterflood is the end point mobility ratio defined as: 0 meets the curve at the point 1 ,
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=1 and therefore . The total oil

(23) recovery at breakthrough is 1 ,
which the total movable oil volume is.
And, for horizontal flow, stable, piston-like displacement
V. CONCLUSION
will occur for M 1. An even more significant parameter for
characterizing the stability of Buckley-Leverett displacement Following conclusions can be drawn from this work: The
values of the producing water- cut (at surface conditions) and
is the shock front mobility ratio, , defined as: the cumulative oil recovery at breakthrough using Buckley-
Leverett method are compared. Buckley- Leverett method
shows that Buckley- Leverett displacement could be regarded
as stable for the less restrictive condition that 1. If this
(24) condition is not satisfied, there will be severe viscous
channeling of water through the oil and breakthrough. When
the mobility ratio is unfavorable, the Buckley- Leverett
In which the relative permeabilities in the numerator are method is no longer applied. The relative permeability and
fractional flow profiles are controlled by rock type, and it’s
evaluated for the shock front water saturation, . Hagoort
appropriate description helps engineers to make confident
has shown, using a theoretical argument backed by predictions from waterflooding project calculation. The new
experiment, that Buckley-Leverett displacement could be technique, based on this general function, allows the
regarded as stable for the less restrictive condition that determination of average water saturation after breakthrough
1. If this condition is not satisfied, there will be severe and provides more accurate estimation of waterflood
viscous channeling of water through the oil and breakthrough performance parameters.
will occur even earlier than predicted using the Welge
technique. Values of M and for the three cases defined in NOMENCLATURE
Table V.
A : Cross- sectional area available for flow, sq ft
TABLE V [ ]
VALUES OF THE SHOCK FRONT AND END POINT RELATIVE PERMEABILITIES A : Pore volume
CALCULATED USING THE DATA (FRACTIONAL FLOW)
: Slope of the curve of fractional flow
CASE M
NO.
: Fractional flow
: Producing water cut at producing well
1 100 0.28 0.006 0.520 1.40 37.40 breakthrough, fraction
: Porosity, fraction
2 10 0.45 0.051 0.220 0.91 3.75
: Relative Permeability to oil phase
3 0.4 0.80 0.300 0 0.15 0.15
: Relative Permeability to water phase
: Water Viscosity, cp

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Vol:6, No:12, 2012

: Oil Viscosity, cp
: Pore volume of cumulative injected fluid
: Initial water saturation, fraction
: Water saturation, fraction
: Water saturation at breakthrough, fraction
: Cumulative injected water volume, bbl [ ]
: Oil formation volume factor
: Water formation volume factor
M : Mobility ratio
: Cumulative barrels of oil produced
PV : Pore volume
⁄ : Reservoir barrels per stock tank barrel
STB : Stock tank barrels of oil
: Oil saturation
: Average water saturation
: Average water saturation behind the waterflood
front
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: Connate water saturation

: Initial water saturation

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia is highly appreciated for
their continual support during the course of this paper. Special
thanks go to the author’s supervisor Prof. Dr. Ariffin Bin
Samsuri for his support in the publication of this paper.

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