Application problems of Applied

Numerical Methods:
1. Applications problems of equally spaced interpolation
(Newton forward and Newton backward Interpolation):

1. Oil production is taking place and due to pressure reduction its

GOR is also changing. In the tabular data, pressure is shown in
1000 of psia and GOR in 100 of SCF/STB as shown below:
Pressure (x) 1 2 3 4
GOR f(x) 2 5 10 16

Use the above data and find out GOR (approximate) at 5000 psia at x=5.
2. Lab engineer collected the data through experiment on PVT cell by
increasing pressure. He concluded that with increasing Pressure
the Solubility of gas in crude oil increases and vice versa. The data
shown below:
Pressure 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000
(p)
Gas 666 1332 1998 2664 3330
solubility

Find the gas solubility at 5500 psi.

3. The pressure of LPG is recorded at different temperatures:

temperature 40 50 60 70 80 90
pressure 184 204 226 250 276 304
What will be the pressure of LPG at 43 C. The pressure is calculated in
advance to ensure to ensure safe transportation of LPG.
4. During a drilling process, Drill off test (DOT) was performed at
constant RPM, when WOB was increased, ROP was also increasing
in direct relation given below:
WOB 40 60 80 100 120
RPM 250 370 470 540 590

Being a driller engineer, calculate ROP at WOB= 70.

5. The oil production of unknown field is as follows:
Year (x) 1941 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991
Production 20 24 29 36 46 51
in million
barrels: (y)

Estimate the production increase at x=1946 and x=1976.

6. Find the viscosity of oil when it is transferred into storage tank if
the temperature is kept constant at T=60f, the condition of
temperature and viscosity are given below:
temperature 40 45 50 55
viscosity 0.025 0.022 0.02 0.018

Use Newton backward interpolation formula.

7. The data of every field is recorded in the data sheet. It is known
that ROP depends upon the consolidation of formation.
consolidation 80 120 160 200
ROP 24 40 66 80
Find the ROP (y) at consolidation of 180.
8. During drilling a well it is important to know the pressure gradient
of the formation. As log is maintained which shows the following
data:
depth 5 10 15 20 25
pressure 21 91 161 231 301

Find the pressure change at depth of 305. Using Newton backward

interpolation.
9. The data of every field is recorded in the log book. It is known fact
that the rate of penetration depends upon the rigidity of
formation. The log book of certain field is shown the following
data:
Rigidity (k) 200 160 120 80
in N/m
ROP (Y) in 66.44 53.11 39.77 26.44
ft/hr

Find the ROP in ft/hr if rigidity is 180. Using NF interpolation formula.

10. A Certain refinery has installed a desalting unit. The chemical
engineer conducts a test on the unit to check the effect of electric
current on the de-emulsification of salt from oil.
Electric 150 160 170 180
current in
mega ampere
De- 95 100 105 110
emulsification
rate per min.
Find the relation f(x) between current and de-emulsification rate. Use
Newton forward interpolation formula.
11. The viscosity of Gasoline obtained from the atmospheric
distillation is 7.1 at 90c. Find the viscosity of gasoline at t=100c and
T=200c from the following data. Use N.F.I.F and N.B.I.F
Temp(*c): 90 110 130 150 170
Viscosity 7.1 6.5 5.8 5.2 4.8
(cp):

12. At the transmission line, the engineer needs to inject

methanol in order to prevent gas hydrate formation and blockage
of pipe. The engineer select the following points (0,1), (1,2), (2,1),
(3,10) in the transmission for methanol injection. Find the cubic
equation of methanol and after that find f(4) of methanol injection
in barrels. Use N.F.I.F.
13. The area of round storage tanks of various wet gas and
condensates of diameter “d” are given:
Diameter: 80 85 90 95 100
Area: 5026 5674 6362 7088 7854

Find the area of storage tank of diameter 105 and use N.B.I.F.
14. During the drilling operation, the bit parameters have
been optimized for efficient drilling, the data of which is
given below.
 WOB 1 1.4 1.8 2.2
(x):
ROP (y): 3.49 4.82 5.96 6.5
Determine the rate of penetration (ROP) when the applied
weight on bit (WOB) is 1.6tonnes. Use N.F.I.F.
15. A number of samples of crude oil have been taken
from different wells and tested in the lab, from the data
obtained an inverse relation have been observed between
API gravity and viscosity of fluid. Determine the viscosity at
46’ API gravity. Use N.F.I.F.
API: 45 50 55 60 65
Viscosity: 114.84 96.16 83.32 74.48 68.48

16. In a high temperature and high pressure well, a log has

been run to determine the temperature gradient of the well
along with its corresponding pressure, determine the
pressure in the well at t=105c. Use N.B.I.F.
Temp: 80 85 90 95 100
Pressure: 5026 5674 6362 7088 7854

17. A reservoir with a water drive mechanism is

maintained at a pressure above the bubble point, the rate
 sensitivity of water as obtained from reservoir simulation is
given as under, determine how much water encroaches as
oil is produced at 3.8bbls. Use N.B.I.F.
Oil Produced (bbls): 0 1 2 3 4
Water Influx(bbls): 1 1.5 2.2 3.1 4.6

2. Applications problems of Un-equally spaced interpolation

(Lagrange formula):

1. Using Langrange’s method, estimate the porosity of the

rock (in %) for the corresponding 10% saturation of rock.
The data retrieved from well log is as follows.
Saturation (%): 5 6 9 11
Porosity (%): 12 13 14 16

2. Using Langrange’s method, estimate the profit in the year

2000 of the Attock Refinery from the given statistical data.
Year: 1997 1999 2001 2002
Rupees(millions): 43 65 159 248

3. The geologist carries out seismic survey in order to check the

presence of aquifer in various distance (points) by vibros trucks.
The data of the previous record are given below,
Distance: 0 1 2 5
 Depth: 2 3 12 147
Use the above data and find the presence of aquifer at the distance of 3.
Use langrage’s formula.
4. The authority of expenditure has given the task for finding the
profit of installation of production facilities and plant installation.
Use langrage’s method to calculate the profit in the year 2000 from
the following data.
Year: 1997 1999 2001 2002
Rupees(millions): 43 65 159 248

5. The production of crude oil is taking place and due to change in

pressure, gas is released by which oil formation volume factor is
changing. The following data shows depth in 1000 of feet and oil
formation volume factor in bbl/stb.
Depth (x) 2 3 5 8
Oil 1.21 1.26 1.36 1.47
formation
volume
factor f(x)

What will be the oil formation volume factor at surface?

6. Bit is moving with a certain ROP, WOB and RPM. A table shows the
distance it has travelled in a certain amount of time.
t 0 2 3 5
F(t) 0 14 21 32

t is given in hours and distance is feet. Take t=2.5, find the distance by
using lagrange formula.
 7. Power required for draw works to release in/ out to move the drill
string is shown as:
Power (KW) 2 3 5 8
Drill time 10 15 25 40
(min)

Find the drill time at 1 KW by using lagrange formula.

8. The production site data shows the Cumulative production as
follows:
years 2 5 7 10
Gp (MMSTB) 3.5 8 10.6 12

Find the GP for 3 years using lagrange formula.

9. The Weatherford Company is performing a cementing job in UEP
Pakistan. Time taken by cement to hard or to get enough
compressive strength is mentioned below. Find the compressive
strength after 2 hours of pumping.
X (time) 1 3 3.5 4.5
F(x) 200 320 350 400
compressive
strength

10. At the south Gambat field, three phase separator separates

the oil from gas and water on the basis of density and setting time,
the amount of oil after separation is noted w.r.t setting time is
noted as:
X (time) 1 3 10 45
F(x) volume 5 10 30 100

Find f (15) by using lagrange formula.

11. Geological and geophysical data are presented to reservoir
engineer. He wants to interrelate the flowrate and drainage radius
of reservoir rock. He finds out that flow rate decreases as drainage
radius increases:
Drainage 745 1053 1489 2980
radius (re)
Flow rate in 1189.6 1138.6 1091.8 1008.7
ft3/day

Find the flow rate at 640 drainage radius.

12. The hydrostatic pressure applied by mud increase as depth of
well increases. The following data about hydrostatic pressure and
depth is recorded.
Depth(km) X 5 6 9 11
HSP (Psi) Y 12 13 14 16

Using langrange’s interpolation formula, find hydrostatic pressure

at 10 km i.e y(10) .

13. A naturally fractured formation is encountered at a certain

depth that formation pressure is very low with respect to depth.
Depth (km) 7 8 9 10
F.P (Psi) 3 1 1 9

Find formation pressure at 9.5km by using langrange’s formula.

 3. Applications problems of Numerical differentiation (Newton
forward and backward derivative interpolation formula):

1. Given that:
Velocity (m/sec): 0 5 10 15 20
Time(sec): 0 3 14 69 228

Find the initial acceleration of oil migration from the carrier rocks to the
point of accumulation (trap). Use N.F.I.F Differentiation.
2. Find the velocity and acceleration of oil moving from sub-surface
to surface production facilities at t=1sec and t=5seconds when
perforation are installed. The data obtained are given as,
Time: 0 1 2 3 4
Distance: 5 6 11 26 57

3. The distance covered by the oil from the boundary of reservoir to

the well perforations (from where we take production) is given in
the following table:-
Time(s): 0 1 2 3 4 5
Distance(m): 0 2.5 8.5 15.5 24.5 36.5

Determine the velocity of oil at T=5seconds.

4. The following table shows the velocity of drilling mud penetrates
the uninvaded zone during the specific time t. Find its acceleration
at t=1.1 seconds
Time: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Velocity: 43.1 47.7 52.1 56.4 60.8
 5. The oil obtained from the well moves towards the separator and
from the separator to stock tank where the oil is kept. Find the
velocity and acceleration of oil tanker at any time from the
following data to reach at refinery
Time: -1 0 1 2 3
Distance: 4 5 8 19 44

Find the velocity at t=5seconds and t=1second.

6. During the production, as the fluids are produced with increasing
solubility of oil, determine the rate of change of Viscosity wrt
solubility at 2.03. The data is given as follows.
Use N.F.I.F Differentiation.
Solubility scf/stb: 1.96 1.98 2.00 2.02 2.04
Viscosity(cp): 0.7825 0.7739 0.7651 0.7563 0.7473

7. While producing a reservoir with a Gas Cap and depletion drive,

determine the rate of change of oil production with respect to
increasing gas-oil ratio at 2scf/stb from the given well data. Use
N.F.I.F Differentiation.
Gas oil ratio(sfc/stb): 2 4 6 8 10
Stock tank barrels: 105 42.7 25.3 16.7 13

8. In a core lab, a rock has been assessed for its flow potential,
determine the acceleration of the flowing fluid in core’s capillaries
at t=1.5secs from the following obtained data. Use N.B.I.F
Differentiation.
Time(s): 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
Velocity: 43.1 47.7 52.1 56.4 60.8

9. A well data has been obtained of a flowing wellbore at varying time

and distances, estimate the velocity of flowing fluid at
t=2.0seconds. Use N.B.I.F Differentiation.
Time(s): 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0
Distance(m): 0 0.128 0.544 1.296 2.432 4.000

10. Gas is flowing in pipeline and some tabular data is given

below:
t 0 1 2 3 4
F(t) 0 9 19 28 36

t is given in hours. Find its velocity in km/h. Take t=1.8 by using NF

differentiation formula.
11. Oil is flowing from wellbore to surface. A table shown below:
t 2 4 6 8 10
F(t) 4 10 18 29 40

t is given in minutes. It is required to find out the velocity and

acceleration of oil at t=4 by using NF differentiation formula.
12. Hydrogen gas is being injected and it’s flowing continuously
with an increased acceleration in a hydrocracking plant in order to
obtain diesel. Some tabular data shown below:
t 0 2 4 6 8
F(t) 0 6 13 21 32
t is given in minutes and f(t) in meters. Find out the acceleration after
10 minutes.
13. Lean amine is being injected in amine sweetening tower in
order to remove impurities from natural gas stream. Some tabular
data is given below:
t 1 2 3 4 5
v(t) 12 21 32 44 57

Find out the flow rate at t=4.5 seconds.

14. The Natural gas production of certain field is given below.
Find out the rate of growth in production of natural gas in 1931 and
1941.
Year (x) 1931 1941 1951 1961 1971
Production 40.62 60.80 79.95 103.56 132.65
of N.Gas in
MMSCF (y)

15. The table given below reveals the footage (number of feet) f
of a drilling bit during specified time “t” in a certain formation. Find
the rate of change of bit penetrating into that formation at t=1.1
hour.
t (hour) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
S(Feet) 43.1 47.7 52.1 56.4 60.8
 16. The drilling engineer wants to trip down the drill string into
2000 feet deep well. Find out the velocity and acceleration at any
time from the given data:
Time in 12 18 24 30 36
sec
Distance 123 291 531 843 1127
in meter.

17. Water content must be removed to prevent the gas hydrates

formation in pipeline during gas transmission. For this purpose
methanol is injected:
Time (sec) 100 150 200 250 300
Methanol 10.63 13.03 15.04 16.81 18.42
(ml)

Find out the discharge of methanol injection at f’(100).

18. The geologist perform seismic survey in order to find out the
presence of oil in the reservoir rock. He gets the readings from the
seismic graph given as:
t 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6
s(t) 3.989 8.403 8.781 9.129 9.451 9.750 10.031

Find out the velocity and acceleration at t=1.1 and t=1.6 seconds.
19. The PVT test is conducted on a core sample. Following data
shows time and velocity of fluid:
T 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
v(t) 43.1 47.7 52.1 56.4 60.8
Find out the acceleration of core sample at t=1.5 seconds.

Applications of Numerical Integration (Trapezoidal rule, Simpson

one-third rule and Simpson three-eighth rule):

1. From the following table find the area covered by the seismic
waves for the exploration of oil and natural gas and the x-axis from
7.47 to 7.52 by using trapezoidal Rule:
X 7.47 7.48 7.49 7.50 7.51 7.52
Y=F(x) 1.93 1.95 1.98 2.01 2.03 2.06

2. A vibros Truck is generating seismic waves, their velocity is

recorded as
t 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
V 10 18 25 29 32 20 11 5 2 0

Find the depth Covered by the waves into the formation at 20 seconds
by using Simpson rule.
3. In the beginning of drilling operation when rotary table rotates drill
string with specified velocity recorded by gauge of a monitoring
system in a drilling console room. The data given below:
t 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
V 0 12 25 49 80 122 195 260 390 510 680

Find the distance covered by the drill string by using trapezoidal rule.
 4. In reservoir modelling a bottom hole pressure (BHP) survey is
10 𝑑𝑥
conducted. Evaluate ∫0 to determine the pressure at sub
𝑥 2 +1
surface by using 1) Trapezoidal rule
2) Simpson’s 1/3rd rule.
3) Simpson’s 3/8th rule.
Also find the exact solution and compare the pressure obtained
from the numerical result with the exact result.

5. A rock sample is examined by the geologist to measure the

saturation of oil and water present in the reservoir rock.
6 𝑑𝑥
Evaluate ∫0 1+𝑥2 to determine the saturation of oil present in the rock
by using trapezoidal rule, Simpson’s 1/3rd and Simpson’s 3/8th Rule.
6. In a laboratory analysis of reservoir sample, a PVT cell has
generated the equation which gives off the saturation pressure of
2 2
reservoir rocks in psia. The equation is ∫0 𝑒 𝑥 dx. Use trapezoidal
rule estimate the above integral by taking 10 intervals and also find
the exact solution and compare the result obtained from the both
of them.
7. National refining is refining highly corrosive crude oil and facing a
lot of problem in atmospheric distillation. Corrosive engineer
provides them a remedy of injecting a corrosive resistive material
in the tower. The minimum required is given by the following
0.6 2
integral: ∫0 𝑒 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 . Use Simpson 1/3rd rule to find the minimum
corrosion can be eliminated in atmospheric distillation by taking
seven intervals.
8. In Vacuum distillation, steam is injected to lower down the
pressure of crude oil. The required steam for the injection is given
by the following integral:
 6
∫ 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑥 𝑑𝑥
0

Use trapezoidal rule to estimate the following integral by taking eight

interval and write the conclusion.
9. A drilling bit according to the formation type and ROP has been
selected to drill the formation for the extraction of oil. The drill bit
starts from the rest is given at fixed interval of time (t) in minutes
given as follows:
T (min) 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
V 10 18 25 29 32 20 11 5 2 0
(km/min)

Estimate the distance covered by the drill bit in 20 minutes by using

Simpson’s 1/3rd rule.
10. A solid of revolution of drill stem is formed by rotating x-axis
x=0 and x=1 and curve has the following co-ordinates:
X 0.00 0.25 0.50 0.75 1.00
y 1.0000 0.9896 0.9589 0.9089 0.8415

Estimate the volume of solid of drill stem by Simpson’s 1/3rd rule.

Applications of Numerical solution of ordinary differential
equations (Taylor Series method and Euler’s method also known
as Runge kutta of order 1):

1. Fractionating column is the key equipment which effectively

separates the hydrocarbons w.r.t their boiling points. The equation
for the functioning of fractionating column is given below:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑥 2 𝑦 , y (1) =1.
𝑑𝑥

Solve the above equation of fractionating column by Taylor Series

method at Y=1.1 and also find the exact solution of above equation and
compare the result of equation of fractionating column from the both
Numerical and exact solution.
2. In processing facility, Amine sweetening tower is separating H2S
(poisonous gas) from the crude oil. The equation of the efficiency
of Amine sweetening tower is given below:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑥 + 𝑦, y (0) =1.
𝑑𝑥

Find the efficiency of Amine Sweetening tower at y (0.1) by Taylor series

method. Also find the exact solution and compare.
3. At the transmission line, the engineer need to maintain the BTU
level and increase the pressure of gas to sell the gas to their
consumer. The equation for increasing the pressure of gas is given
as below:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 , y (0) =0
𝑑𝑥
Find y (0.2) by Taylor series method and also find the exact solution and
compare the result to determine error increasing the pressure from the
both solutions.
4. In a high temperature and high pressure well, a log has been run to
determine the temperature gradient of the well. Find the Taylor
series method the value of y (temperature) at depth x=0.1 meter
and x=0.2 from the following:
𝑑𝑦
= 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 1 , Y (0) =1.
𝑑𝑥

5. During natural gas production, the gas produce from the reservoir
to surface. As the pressure is sudden reduced, it produce the gas
hydrates which block the drill pipe. Employ the Taylor series
method to obtain the approximate value of y (pressure) at x
𝑑𝑦
(height) =0.2 for the following Equation: 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝑦 + 3𝑒 𝑥 , Y (0)=0.

Also compare the Numerical solution obtained with exact solution.

6. In a shallow well, RPM changes with respect to time.
𝑑𝑦
Solve 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 , y (0) =1.

Find y (0.4) by Euler’s Method where y is RPM and x is time. Also

find the exact solution and compare the result.
7. In offshore well, temperature gradient changes w.r.t depth.
𝑑𝑦
Solve𝑑𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑥+𝑦 , y (0) =0.

Find y (0.4) by Euler’s Method where y is temperature and x is depth. Also

compare the Numerical solution obtained with exact solution.
8. The volume of oil is flowing in a certain amount of time from the
𝑑𝑦
relief well. Solve 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 by Euler’s method where y (0) =1. Find
y (0.4) by taking h=0.05 where y is volume and x is time. Also
compare the Numerical solution obtained with exact solution.