Module 3.

0: Fluid Pressure Regimes

Objectives: At the end of this topic students should be able to:

3.1 Illustrate with diagrams the fluid pressure profile in a reservoir and
explain the shape of the pressure profile.
3.2 Calculate normal hydrostatic pressure at any depth.
3.3 Calculate the depths of the gas-oil contact, oil-water contact, gas-water
contact and the pressure at these depths.
3.4 Calculate the pressure at any depth using fluid gradients.
3.5 Construct and illustrate with diagrams hypothetical reservoirs when
the following are known: types of fluids present, depth, pressure, fluid
gradient.

References:
 Fundamentals in Reservoir Engineering by Dake (Vol. 8)
o Chap 1, pgs. 3-8
 Practice of Reservoir Engineering by Dake (Vol. 36)
o Chap 2, pgs. 51 – 66

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PRESSURE-DEPTH PLOTTING

Tools:
1. RFT – Repeat formation tester
Used in:
2. MDT –Modular formation dynamic tester 1. HC columns
2. Aquifers
3. DST – Drill Stem Test

Reservoir Engineers need to, in the appraisal stage for oil and gas fields, determine:
1. The location of fluid contacts in the formation

To enable

2. The calculation of the net rock volume V appearing in equations for STOIIP and
GIIP

FLUID PRESSURE REGIMES

Fluid Equations

dP
Gas Equation: Pg = ( dD ) ∗D+C
gas

dP
Oil Equation Po =( dD ) ∗D+C
oil

dP
Water Equation Pw = ( dD )
water
∗D+14.7

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Fluid Gradients

( dDdP )
water
=0 . 45
psi/foot

( dDdP ) =0 . 35
oil psi/foot

dP
( )
dD gas
=0 . 08
psi/foot

Fluid Equations

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + C

Oil Equation Po = 0.35D + C

Water Equation Pw = 0.45D + 14.7

The Concept of Reservoir Fluid Pressure

Sea Level

Sediments were deposited in 6000 feet of seawater

Mud Line

A sand/shale sequence was formed, resulting in the seawater being sealed off top and
bottom in the sand by impermeable shale.

Thus water was sealed in the sand with a pressure of 6000 x 0.45 = 2700 psia

This is the reservoir fluid pressure.

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The overburden pressure is 6000 x 1 psi/foot = 6000 psia

The effective pressure = 6000 – 2700 = 3300 psia

Overburden Pressure

Reservoir Fluid Pressure

EXAMPLE 1

1) An exploration well was drilled and tested at a depth of 5,250 feet. Given that the
Gas-Oil Contact in the reservoir was located at a depth of 5,200 feet and the Oil-
Water Contact was located at 5,500 feet:

a) Derive the linear equations for gas, oil and water, assuming a gas gradient of 0.08
psi/ft, an oil gradient of 0.35 psi/ft and a water gradient of 0.45 psi/ft.

b) Calculate the reservoir pressure at depths of:

i) 5, 125 feet
ii) 5,350 feet
iii) 5,600 feet.

iii) Given that the top of the reservoir is at a depth of 5,000 feet, calculate
the reservoir pressure at depths of:

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 a) The top of the structure
b) 5,400 feet

iv) Draw a Pressure-Depth graph to represent the reservoir.

Exploration Well

GAS

GOC 5200'

Test Results
at 5250 ft
OIL Po = 2402 psia

OWC 5500'

WATER

i)

( dDdP )
water
=0 . 45
psi/foot

( dDdP ) =0 . 35
oil psi/foot

( dDdP ) gas
=0 . 08
psi/foot

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + C

Oil Equation Po = 0.35D + C

Water Equation Pw = 0.45D + 14.7

Water Equation: Pw = 0.45D + 14.7

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At OWC:

Pw = 0.45D + 14.7

Pw = (0.45*5500) + 14.7 = 2490 psia

AT OWC, Pw = Po

Oil Equation : Po = 0.35D + C = 2490 psia

Po = (0.35*5500) + C = 2490

1925 + C = 2490

C = 565

Oil Equation: Po = 0.35D + 565

AT GOC

Po = (0.35*5200) + 565 = 2385 psia

AT GOC, Pg = Po

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + C

Pg = (0.08*5200) + C = 2385 psia

416 + C = 2385

C = 1969

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + 1969

ii)

a) At a depth of 5125 feet:

Fluid is gas

Pg = (0.08*5125) + 1969 = 2379 psia

b) At a depth of 5350 feet:

Page 6 of 14
 Fluid is oil

Po = (0.35*5350) + 565 = 2437.5 psia

c) At a depth of 5600 feet

Fluid is water

Pw = (0.45*5600) + 14.7 = 2534.7 psia

iii)

a) At the top of the reservoir

Fluid is gas
Pg = (0.08*5000) + 1969 = 2369 psia

b) At 5,400 feet

Fluid is oil

Po = (0.35*5400) + 565 = 2455 psia

iv)

Blue line
Depth, ft Fluid Type Pressure, psia
5000 TOS – Gas 2369
5125 Gas 2379
5200 GOC 2385
5350 Oil 2438
5400 Oil 2455
5500 OWC 2490
5600 Water 2535

Pink line
Depth, ft Fluid Type Pressure, psia
5000 TOS – Water 2265
5500 OWC 2490

Page 7 of 14
 Pressure (psia)
2250 2375 2500
4900

5000
5100
Depth (feet)

5200 GOC
5300

5400
5500
OWC
5600

EXAMPLE 2

An exploration well, drilled to a depth of 5,150 feet, tested gas down to TD. An RFT
done at a depth of 5,100 feet, yielded a reservoir pressure of 2,377 psi and a gas
gradient of 0.08 psi/ft. The top of the reservoir was located at a depth of 5,000 feet.

Calculate:

a) The Deepest Possible Gas-Water Contact

b) The Deepest Possible Oil-Water Contact
c) The Maximum Possible Oil Column
d) The Maximum Possible Gas in Place for a 10-acre plot with
reservoir porosity of 30% and an irreducible water saturation of 0.24
e) The Maximum Possible Oil in Place for the reservoir listed above.

a) The Deepest Possible Gas-Water Contact

For test data:

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + C

Pg = 0.08*5100 + C = 2377

408 + C = 2377

C = 1969

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Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + 1969

CASE 1

ASSUMPTION: No oil Present

Water Equation: Pw = 0.45D + 14.7

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + 1969

At GWC, Pg = Pw

Therefore,

0.45D + 14.7 = 0.08D + 1969

0.45D - 0.08D = 1969 - 14.7

0.37D = 1954

D = 5281 feet

This is the deepest at which we will encounter gas, for if there is an oil column, the OWC
will be higher.

D is called the Deepest Possible Gas Water Contact (DPGWC)

DPGWC = 5281 feet

The Maximum gas column is the DPGWC minus the Top of the Reservoir

Maximum Gas Column = 5281 – 5000 = 281 feet.

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b) The Deepest Possible Oil-Water Contact

CASE 2

ASSUMPTION: Gas Oil Contact is at Total Depth (TD) or Gas Down To (GDT) of
the well

GOC is at 5150 feet.

AT GOC, Pg = Po

Gas Equation: Pg = 0.08D + 1969

Pg = (0.08*5150) + 1969 = 2381 psia

Oil Equation : Po = 0.35D + C = 2381 psia

(0.35*5150) + C = 2381

1802 + C = 2381

C = 579

Oil Equation : Po = 0.35D + 579

AT OWC, Po = Pw

0.35D + 579 = 0.45D + 14.7

0.45D - 0.35D = 579 – 14.7

0.10D = 564

D = 5640 feet

D is called the Deepest Possible Oil Water Contact (DPOWC)

DPOWC = 5640 feet.

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c) The Maximum Possible Oil Column

The Maximum Possible Oil Column is the DPOWC - GOC

= 5640 – 5150 = 490 feet.

d) The Maximum Possible Gas in Place

MPGIP = 43560Ahφ(1-Sw)/Bg

If Bg is not given, leave the value in cubic feet

h = Maximum Gas Column

MPGIP = 43560*A*h*φ*(1-Sw)

= 43560*10*281*0.3*(1-0.24)

= 27,908,021 cubic feet

= 27.908 MMCF

e) The Maximum Possible Oil in Place

MPOIP = 7758Ahφ(1-Sw)/Bo

If Bo is not given, leave the value in barrels

h = Maximum Oil Column

MPOIP = 7758*A*h*φ*(1-Sw)

= 7758*10*490*0.3*(1-0.24)

= 8,667,238 barrels

= 8.667 MMBO

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EXAMPLE 3

A static pressure survey on a well yields the following information:

Depth, Pressure, psig

ft
0 1709
1000 1759
2000 1810
3000 1870
4000 1920
5000 1970
6000 2190
6500 2400
7000 2600
7200 2685
7400 2770
7500 2800
7800 2920

a. Determine the gradients of the different fluids present in the wellbore.

b. Determine the point of liquid contact within the wellbore.
c. Will the well produce if opened at the surface? Why?
d. If the Kelly Bushing (KB) elevation is 90’ and the top of the producing formation is
at 7864’(KB), correct the pressure value back to the datum level at the top of the
formation.

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a. 0.05 psi/ft - Assumption gas
0.4 psi/ft - Assumption oil

b. Point of liquid contact = 5500’ +/-

c. Most unlikely. Formation pressure of 2920 psi (pressure at 7800’) cannot sustain a
fluid liquid column 7800’ high with a gradient of 0.4 psi/ft and a pressure of 0.4psi/ft
x 7800 ft = 3120 psi. May require artificial lift.

d. KB elevation = 90’

Top of formation = 7864’ KB

Top of formation = 7864 – 90 = 7774’ ss (datum)

Recorder run-depth = 7800’KB = 7800 – 90 = 7710’ ss

Pressure recorded at 7800’KB (7710’ss) = 2920 psi

Pressure gradient = 0.4 psi/ft

Pressure difference at datum = (7774’ – 7710’) x 0.4 psi/ft

= 64’ x 0.4 psi/ft
= 25.6 psi

Therefore, pressure at datum = 2920 + 25.6

= 2945.6 psi

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