Assuming initial water saturation (S_wi) as complementary to initial oil saturation (S_oi) simplifies the analysis when no free gas is present by treating the in-place fluids as a two-phase system. This is particularly valid in reservoirs where the dominant pore space is occupied by oil and water. For this problem, S_wi = 1 - S_oi = 0.28 reinforces the assumption of a two-phase equilibrium, guiding accurate calculations of OOIP and recovery metrics without needing additional data on gas or complex multiphase interactions .

Achieving low volumetric sweep efficiency implies that a smaller portion of the reservoir has been effectively contacted by the flood, indicating operational inefficiencies and the potential presence of unswept zones. Economically, this leads to poor recovery rates, increased operational costs due to the need for additional interventions, and extended project timelines. Inefficient sweep also detracts from the overall economic viability of the project by limiting cumulative recovery, necessitating re-evaluation of enhanced recovery tactics and potentially fresh capital outlays to optimize field development strategies .

The volumetric sweep efficiency (E_v) indicates the fraction of the reservoir contacted and swept by the injected water, directly impacting oil recovery. In the given example, E_v is approximately 0.383 or 38.3%, suggesting that about 38.3% of the recoverable oil in the calculated reservoir volume was displaced by the waterflood, reflecting a moderate level of effectiveness. Higher E_v values indicate more efficient recovery .

The formation volume factor (B_o) adjusts the surface volume of oil recovered to the reservoir volume, a critical step since oil expands once removed from reservoir conditions to surface. With B_o = 1.1, the oil recovered per acre-foot is adjusted from 330 STB to 300 RB/acre-ft. This shows how B_o can influence the perceived efficiency and amount of recoverable oil by accounting for volume changes between reservoir and surface levels .

Engineers calculate oil recovered in reservoir barrels (RB) because it reflects the volume under in-situ reservoir conditions, providing a true measure of extraction from the reservoir itself, independent of surface processing effects. The formation volume factor (B_o) is crucial here as it accounts for the expansion of oil from reservoir conditions to surface conditions. Accurate calculation of recovered oil in RB enables precise performance evaluation of recovery methods and resource estimates for future planning .

Residual oil saturation (S_or) is significant as it represents the fraction of oil remaining in the reservoir after waterflooding. It determines the upper limit of oil recovery since it quantifies the amount of oil that cannot be displaced by the injected water. In the provided scenario, S_or was 0.22, indicating 22% of the pore space would still contain oil following waterflooding, impacting the calculation of recoverable oil .

Porosity (φ) fundamentally determines the volume of fluids a reservoir can hold, directly influencing the original oil in place (OOIP) calculations and the potential recoverable oil. Higher porosity implies greater void space and potential for oil storage, thus elevating both volumetric estimations and the baseline efficiency calculations. In the assessment of volumetric sweep efficiency (E_v), porosity affects the size of the targeted reservoir volume and the calculated recoverable oil, thereby impacting perceived project efficiency and the feasibility of sustained recovery operations .

Calculating recoverable oil by taking the difference between initial oil saturation (S_oi) and residual oil saturation (S_or) is crucial for estimating the volume of oil that can potentially be produced during secondary recovery methods like waterflooding. This calculation allows engineers to tailor production strategies based on realistic recovery expectations and to assess the efficiency of the recovery methods being applied. Here, the recoverable oil was calculated as 0.50, highlighting the available oil after accounting for residual saturation .

Underestimating the formation volume factor (B_o) could lead to an overestimation of the actual amount of oil recovered in terms of reservoir conditions (RB), thus inflating the volumetric sweep efficiency (E_v). By failing to account for the correct expansion of oil from reservoir to surface conditions, the calculated E_v would indicate a falsely higher efficiency of the waterflood project, potentially misleading strategic decisions and affecting economic forecasts .

To determine the original oil in place (OOIP) per acre-foot, we use the formula OOIP = 7758 x φ x (1 - S_wi) x acre-ft. Porosity (φ) is a critical factor as it represents the fraction of the total reservoir volume that is capable of storing hydrocarbons. In this case, the starting data provided φ = 0.28, and using an initial water saturation S_wi = 0.28 (derived from S_oi), the calculation gives OOIP = 1565.3 STB/acre-ft .