Material Balance Equation (MBE)
Case 1: Volumetric Undersaturated Reservoirs
Prepared by:
• Mohamed Al Lafi
• Abdelbadea Al hanish
• Osama Ben Issa
• Mohamed Al Mahroug
Supervised by:
• Dr. Mohand Milad
Course: petroleum Reservoir Engineering
Department: Petroleum Engineering
Material Balance Equation (MBE)
The material balance equation (MBE) has long been recognized as one of the
basic tools of reservoir engineers for:
• Estimate initial hydrocarbon volumes in place.
• Predict future reservoir performance.
• Predict ultimate hydrocarbon recovery under various types of primary driving
mechanisms.
- The equation is structured to simply keep inventory of all material entering, leaving,
and accumulating in the reservoir :
Initial Volume = volume remaining + volume removed
N(Bt - Btᵢ)/A + { Nm Btᵢ(Bg - Bgi)/Bgi }/A + {We - Wp·Bw}/A+{ NBoᵢ(1 + m)(Cw·Swi + Cf)/(1 - Swi)(Pi -
P)/A } = 1
DDI + SDI +WDI + EDI = 1
Where :
DDI = depletion - drive index
SDI = segregation (gas-cap) - drive index
WDI = water - drive index
EDI = expansion (rock and liquid) - drive index
MBE assumptionse:
1. Constant T.
2. A pressure equilibrium .
3. Reliable production data .
Note:
We use MBE after 20% of reservoir production.
Basic data required to use the MBE accurately :
1. Production Data
2. Pressure Data
3. PVT Data
4. Engineering Data
Case 1: Volumetric Under Saturated Reservoirs
- The volumetric under saturated reservoirs refer to the reservoirs with initial pressure (Pi) above the bubble point
pressure (Pb) , and no water influx and no water and gas inject so there’s no gas cap.
- The production comes only from the expansion of rock pores and oil.
-There’s no gas cap because the gas still remains
dissolved in oil.
We use this equation:
• F = N { Eo + m Eg + Ef,w } + We
when:
• We = 0 , since the reservoir is volumetric.
• m = 0 , since the reservoir is undersaturated.
• Rs = Rsi = Rp , since all produced gas is dissolved in the oil.
We : Cumulative water influx, bbl
Rsi : Initial gas solubility, scf/STB
Rp : Cumulative gas-oil ratio, scf/STB
Rs : Gas solubility, scf/STB
m : Ratio of initial gas-cap gas reservoir volume to
initial reservoir oil volume, bbl/bbl
- The equation after applying the assumptions.
N = F / { Eo +Ef,w}
Where :
• N = initial oil-in-place, STB
• Eo = expansion of oil
• Ef,w= expansion of initial water & reduction in pore volume
And where :
1- F = Np Bo + Wp Bw
2- Eo = Bo - Boi
3- Ef,w = Boi { Cw Sw + Cf / 1-Swi } dp
dp = pi – pr
pi : initial reservoir pressure
Pr : volumetric average reservoir pressure
Explanation of Curves A, B, and C:
Curve A:
Represents a reservoir with no water drive. In this case, the
value of F / (Eo + Ef,w) remains constant over time, indicating
that there is no external energy support from an aquifer.
Curve B:
Represents a reservoir with a partial water drive. The support
from the aquifer decreases over time, causing the F / (Eo + Ef,w)
ratio to decline as production continues.
Reservoir Classification Curve C:
Represents a reservoir with a strong water drive. The aquifer
This plot is used to determine the continuously provides pressure support, so F / (Eo + Ef,w)
reservoir drive mechanism by remains elevated or increasing, indicating consistent external
analyzing the relationship between energy.
production and the available
reservoir energy.
Plot:
• Y-axis: Underground Withdrawal (F)
• X-axis: Eo + Ef,w
Interpretation:
• Linear Plot → Volumetric Reservoir
→ No water influx
→ Drive: pressure depletion + fluid expansion
• Nonlinear Plot → Water-Drive Reservoir
Slope = N
→ Indicates original oil in place (OOIP)
Example :