Kasdi Merbah University

Hydrocarbons Faculty
Production departmaent

Re-evaluation of oil reserves

using MBE (Software)

Directed by : Ikram Azouzi

Chouaib Chouakri
Riad Kechid
Supervisor : Dr. DJEBBAS Fayçal

2024/2025
 Introduction

This presentation highlights the re-evaluation of oil reserves. We will use

MBAL Equation for the estimation (MBAL Software for greater accuracy).
 Firstly, we will learn about the two terms ‘reserve’ and ‘resource’,
explain the difference between them, how can a resource become a
reserve and the classification of resources and reserves.
 Secondly, we will touch on the reserves estimation methods espicially
the MBE (Material Balance Equation).
 Finally, We will talk about Havlena-Odeh Theory and different MBE
solutions (plots).
Part 1 : What is a reserve ?

 The terms "reserve" and "resource" have specific meaning in petroleum

qualification and therefore distinguishing between them is essential.
Every reserve is indeed a resource, but not every resource is a
reserve.
 Resources are include quantities that are potentially recoverable but
not yet marketable or discovered. Reserves are defined as the quantities
recoverable from known deposits, under current economic and technical
conditions.
 Two requirements determine whether a resource becomes a reserve.
1- The degree of certainty that it exists.
2- The economic feasibility of accessing and extracting the
resource.
Resourses and Reseves classification

Figure I : Recourses Classification systems Framework

Part 2 : Reserves Estimation Methods

 Reserves estimation can be categorized relating to

pre- and post production stages i.e. (static and
dynamic). The static methods indicate the analogy
and volumetric calculation that are used before
production process in the reservoir and generally use
geologic and engineering data; while dynamic
methods involve performance techniques applied
after production started in the field and typically need
production data and pressure of the wells.
I - Volumetric method

 The volumetric method is based on the assumption that the tank is a

closed system, meaning that no fluid enters or leaves the tank.
OIL
N = 𝑉𝑟 ∗ (𝐻u / 𝐻𝑡) ∗ 𝜙𝑚𝑜𝑦 ∗ (1 −
𝑆𝑤𝑚𝑜𝑦) / 𝐵o

N : Reserves in place (m3).

Hu : Average usable height of the rock (m).
Ht : Total average height of the rock (m).
Vr : Volume of rock containing hydrocarbons (m3).
Ømoy : Average porosity of the rock (fraction).
Swmoy : Average water saturation (fraction).
Bo : Oil volumetric factor (rb/stb).
NATURAL GAS
Natural gas resources may be classified as follows:
• Solution gas
• Associated gas (gas cap)
• Non associated gas
 Solution gas
For calculation of initial solution gas in place, Gs, the folIowing equation is used:

Where Gs = solution gas in place (m3)

N = oil in place (m3)
Rsi = gas in solution at Pi (m3/m3) / Pi = original reservoir pressure (kPa)
 Associated gas (Gas Cap) / Non associated gas
For the calculation of non associated and gas cap in-place volumes, the folIowing
equation is used:

Where G = raw gas in place (m3)

Vr = rock volume () = * A * h
A = drainage area (ha) (1ha = )
h = average net pay thickness (m)
Φ = porosity (fraction of pore volume)
Sw = water saturation
Tsc = standard base temperature (°K)
Psc = standard base pressure (kPa)
Tf = formation temperature (°K)
Pi = original reservoir pressure (kPa)
Zi = gas compressibility factor at Pi and Tf
II - Material Balance method

1 - Concept of material balance :

The material balance equation is one of the fundamental equations a reservoir
engineer for :
 Determining the initial hydrocarbon in place.
 Predicting an overall recovery factor.
 Determining reservoir drive mechanism.
Material balance simply compares the original volumes at initial reservoir
pressure to the current volumes at a lower pressure. It is zero dimensional,
meaning that it compares the initial state to the current state and nothing else.
The concept of material balance is easy to understand if viewed as an
expanding piston. A conceptual view of material balance is presented in the
figure below :
Figure II : The concept of material balance equation
2 - The derivation of the Material Balance Equation:

Before starting for driving material balance equation (MBE) it is necessary to identify some
expressions:

 Defining the ratio m as:

 Solving the volume of the gas cap gives:

Initial volume of the gas cap = G 𝐵𝑔𝑖 = m N 𝐵𝑜𝑖

 The total volume of the hydrocarbon system is then given by:

Initial oil volume + initial gas cap volume = N 𝐵𝑜i + G 𝐵𝑔𝑖 = PV (1 –

𝑆𝑤𝑖)

it can be written as follows:

N Boi + m N Boi = PV (1 - Swi) or (II-1)

Then, the general form of MBE can be written as follows:
The above nine terms formulate the MBE as follows:
 Pore volume occupied by the Initial oil in place:
Volume occupied by initial oil in place = N 𝐵𝑜𝑖 (II-2)
 volume occupied by the Initial Gas in the Gas Cap:
Volume of gas cap = m N 𝐵𝑜𝑖 (II-3)
 Pore volume occupied by the remaining oil:
Volume of the remaining oil = (N – 𝑁𝑝) Bo (II-4)
 Pore volume occupied by the gas in the cas cap at P :
As the reservoir pressure (pi) decreases to a lower pressure (p) because of the production, the gas
in the gas cap enlarges and fills a large space. Assuming no gas produced from the gas cap during
the pressure drop from pi to p, then the gas cap volume can be calculated as:
(II-5)
 Pore Volume occupied by the Evolved Solution Gas at P:
This term can be calculated by using the material balance on the solution gas:
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 v𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑔𝑎𝑠
( Tℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑 solution gas ) = (𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 in solution) - (𝑔𝑎𝑠 produced ) - ( 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 )

Volume of the evolved solution gas = [𝑁 𝑅𝑠𝑖 − 𝑁𝑝 𝑅𝑝 − (𝑁 − 𝑁𝑝) 𝑅𝑠] B𝑔

(II.6)
 Volume occupied by the Net Water Influx:
Net water influx = 𝑊𝑒 – 𝑊𝑝 𝐵𝑤 (II.7)

 Reduction in Pore Volume due to Initial Water and Rock Expansion:

of initial water and reservoir matrix are the water compressibility (𝐶𝑤) and rock compressibility
The components describing the change in hydrocarbon pore volume (HCPV) due to the expansion

(𝐶𝑓) which of the same significance as the compressibility of oil.

The compressibility coefficient c, which identify the change in the volume of the reservoir fluid or
formation matrix with changing pressure is based on the general expression of law isothermal
compressibility:

Connate water expansion = [(𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒) 𝑆𝑤𝑖] 𝐶𝑤 ∆𝑝

Then, by substitute in pore volume PV equation (2-2) gives:
(II-8)

Similarly, the reduction in the pore volume due to the expansion of the reservoir rock is given by:
(II-9)

-1
 By combining the connate water and the formation rock in equation (II.8) and (II-9) it
gives:
(II-10)

 Pore Volume occupied by the Injection Gas and Water:

Assuming that 𝐺𝑖𝑛𝑗 and 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑗 are the volume of gas and water respectively, that have
been injected for pressure problems, then the total pore volume occupied by the two fluids
is given by:
Total volume = 𝐺𝑖𝑛𝑗 𝐵𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑗 + 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑗 𝐵𝑤 (II-11)

Linking equations from (II-4) to (II-11) and solving for N after rearranging them

(II.12)
This expression is known as The Material Balance Equation (MBE).
3 - Material Balance Expressed as an Equation of Straight line :

The straight line equation begins with the Oil Material Balance Equation (OMBE) expression written
as:

(II-13)

Havlena and Odeh expressed Equation (II-13) in straight line equation form as:
F = N [E𝑜 + 𝑚 𝐸𝑔 + 𝐸𝑓,w] + (𝑊𝑒 + 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑗 𝐵𝑤 + 𝐺𝑖𝑛𝑗 𝐵𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑗)
(II-14)

The terms F, 𝐸𝑜, 𝐸𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐸𝑓, are identified by the following relationships illustrated below:
 F expresses the underground withdrawal (production term).
F = Np [Bo + (Rp − Rs) Bg] + Wp Bw
(II-15)
 𝐸𝑜 is the term which represent the expansion of oil and its originally dissolved gas and it is
defined in terms of oil formation volume factor.
𝐸𝑜 = (Bo − Boi) + (Rsi − Rs) Bg
(II-16)
 𝐸𝑓,𝑤 identify the expansion of the initial water and change in the pore volume as given
below:
(II.18)
4 - Different applications of Havlena-Odeh Method
• Havlena-Odeh (All Reservoir Types)

The equation can be organized to show linear behaviour. Based on the rearrangement below, the large
combinations of terms are used as x and y while G is the slope and N is the intercept.

An example of the plot is shown below. The scatter shown in the data points demonstrates the difficulty in
determining trends in the reservoir behaviour.
• F – We vs. Et (No Initial Gas Cap)

If the reservoir to be analyzed has no initial free gas, the free gas terms of the equation can
be eliminated. This equation is now much simpler to linearize. In the equation shown below,
the total expansion term is split into the oil and water / formation expansion terms. Once
again, the inclusion of water influx is such that it is assumed to be known.

F – We Bw = N ( Eo + Boi Ef,w )

An example of the plot is shown below:

• (F - We) / Et vs F – Campbell Method
The (F - We) / Et vs F graph, also known as the Campbell method, is a graphical approach
used in reservoir engineering to analyze field performance by applying the material balance
equation.
The general material balance equation can be rearranged as follows:

where (F - We) / Et is plotted as a function of F.

This graphical method is used to identify the primary reservoir energy drive mechanism
(expansion, aquifer influx, etc.).
The shape and slope of the curve indicate whether the aquifer influx is significant or not.
Graph interpretation
If the curve is linear with a constant slope, this indicates uniform fluid and rock
expansion without significant water influx.
If the curve deviates from a straight line, it suggests that the aquifer is contributing to the
reservoir’s energy.
A decreasing slope indicates an increase in aquifer support.
• F/Et​vs F – Campbell Method (Without Aquifer Influence)
When applied without aquifer influence, it assumes that the reservoir energy comes only from
fluid and rock expansion, without additional water influx.
• Analytical method

Analytical method is used to assess the regression match between observed/measured data
used to construct this model. The value of this match is represented by the standard deviation
between model obtained by MBAL software and measured used data. Figure (II-3) illustrates
Analytical approach for X oil field, the red line clarifies the simulator running without aquifer
influx while the blue line represents the simulator running with water influx support it is matches
about 100%.
From Analytical plot, it could be understand the water influx the main reservoir energy
supporting.

Figure II.3 : Analytical Plot for an X field

• Energy plot
Drive Indices
Drive indices for oil reservoirs indicate the relative magnitude of the various energy sources
acting in the reservoir. A simple description of a drive index is the ratio of a particular expansion
term to the net withdrawal (hydrocarbon voidage). These drive indices are cumulative and will
change as the reservoir is produced. A plot of drive indices and the details of specific drive indices
are shown below.
Summary of Drive
Indices
 Figure (II.4) describes the fractional contributions of drive mechanisms of the recovery of an X
oil field. From this plot, it can be noticed that there are three energy sources are affecting the
recovery of oil which are water influx illustrated in pink colour section, pore volume
compressibility represented in green colour section and the impact of fluid expansion clarified in
blue colour section.
We can see that the water influx expansion is the prominent energy source in the reservoir. In
addition, it is corresponding with the water influx simulator running approach

Figure II.4 : Energy Plot of an X field

• WD Function plot
The WD Function Plot is used in reservoir engineering to analyze the water influx behavior in
a petroleum reservoir supported by an aquifer. It is based on the aquifer models and helps
engineers determine the strength of an aquifer’s contribution to reservoir energy.
· X-Axis: Dimensionless time (tD) (logarithmic scale)
This shows how long the reservoir has been producing. (Higher values indicate later production
times).
· Y-Axis: Q (tD) – Water Influx Function
Represents the cumulative water influx normalized by reservoir parameters. (Higher values
mean stronger aquifer support).
Figure (II.6) describes the water influx behavior for an X field:

Figure II.6 :
WD Function
Plot of an X
field
Thank You For
Your Attention