[volume of the free gas in scf] = NR si – (N-Np) Rs – Np Rp

However, the total volume of the liberated gas at any depletion

pressure is given by:

[total volume of the liberated gas, in scf] = NR si – (N – Np) Rs

Therefore, the fraction of the total solution gas that has been
retained in the reservoir as a free gas, or ag , at any depletion stage
is then given by:

NRsi ( N N p ) Rs N p Rp
g
NRsi ( N N p ) Rs

N p Rp
1
NRsi ( N N p ) Rs

Alternatively, this can be expressed as a fraction of the total initial

gas-in-solution, by:
NRsi (N N p ) Rs N p Rp
gi
NRsi

N N p Rs N p Rp
1
NRsi

The calculation of the changes in the fluid saturations with

declining reservoir pressure is an integral part of using the MBE.
The remaining volume of each phase can be determined by
calculating different phase saturation, recalling:
 oil volume
oil saturation S o
pore volume

water volume
water saturation S w
pore volume

gas volume
Gas saturaiton S g
pore volume

and:

So + Sw + Sg = 1.0
If we consider a volumetric saturated oil reservoir that contains N
stock-tank barrels of oil at the initial reservoir pressure p i, i.e., pb,
the initial oil saturation at the bubble point pressure is given by:

Soi = 1 – Swi

From the definition of oil saturation:

oil volume NBoi
1 S wi
pore volume pore volume

or:
NBoi
pore volume
1 S wi

If the reservoir has produced N p stock-tank barrels of oil, the

remaining oil volume is given by:

Re maining oil volume ( N N p ) Bo

This indicates that for a volumetric-type oil reservoir, the oil
saturation at any depletion state below the bubble point pressure
can be represented by:

oil volume ( N N p ) Bo
So
pore volume NBoi
( )
1 S wi

Rearranging:
N p Bo
So (1 S wi )(1 )
N Boi

As the solution gas evolves from the oil with declining reservoir
pressure, the gas saturation (assuming constant water saturation
Swi ) is simply given by:

Sg = 1- Swi - So

or:

N p Bo
S g 1 Swi (1 Swi ) 1
N Boi

Simplifying:

N p Bo
S g (1 Swi ) 1 1
N Boi

Another important function of the MBE is history matching the

production-pressure data of individual wells. Once the reservoir
pressure declines below the bubble point pressure, it is essential
to perform the following tasks:
 Generate, the pseudo-relative permeability ratio Krg/Kro for
the entire reservoir or for individual wells drainage area.
Asses the solution gas driving efficiency.
Examine the field gas-oil-ratio as compared to the laboratory
solution gas solubility R s to define the bubble point pressure
and critical gas saturation.
The instantaneous gas-oil ratio (GOR), as discussed in detail
earlier given by:
Qg K rg g Bo
GOR Rs
Qo K ro g Bg

This can be arranged to solve for the relative permeability ratio

krg/Kro to give:

K rg g Bg
(GOR Rs )
K ro o Bo

One of the most practical applications of the MBE is its ability to

generate the field relative permeability ratio as a function of gas
saturation that can be used to adjust the laboratory core relative
permeability data. The main advantage of the field-or well-
generated relative permeability ratio is that it incorporates some
of the complexities of reservoir heterogeneity and degree of
segregation of the oil and the evolved gas.
It should be noted that the laboratory relative permeability data
applies to an unsegregated reservoir, i.e., no change in fluid
saturation with height. The laboratory relative permeability is
most suitable for applications with the zero-dimensional tank
model. For reservoirs with complete gravity segregation, it is
possible to generate a pseudo-relative permeability ratio Krg/Kro. A
complete segregation means that the upper part of the reservoir
contains gas and immobile oil, i.e., residual oil Sor, while the lower
part contains oil and immobile gas that exists at it critical
saturation Sgc. Vertical communication implies that as the gas
evolves in the lower region, any gas with saturation above S gc
moves rapidly upward and leaves that region, while in the upper
region any oil above Sor drains downward and moves into the
lower region. On the basis of these assumption, Poston (1987)
proposed the following two relationships:

krg (S g S gc ) (krg )or

kro ( So Sor ) (kro ) gc

So Sor (krg ) or
kro ( K ro ) gc
1 S w S gc Sor

Where:

(kro)gc = relative permeability to oil at critical gas saturation

(kgo)or = relative permeability to gas at residual oil saturation

If the reservoir is initially undersaturated, i.e., Pi > Pb, the reservoir
pressure will continue to decline with production until it
eventually reaches the bubble point pressure. It is recommended
that the material calculations should be performed in two stages:
first from Pi to Pb, and second from Pb to different depletion
pressure P. As the pressure declines from P i to Pb, the following
changes will occur as a result:
 Based on the water compressibility Cw, the connate water
will expand with a resulting increase in the connate water
saturation (providing that there is no water production).
Based on the formation compressibility Cf, a reduction
(compaction) in the entire reservoir pore volume.
Therefore, there are several volumetric calculations that must be
performed to reflect the reservoir condition at the bubble point
pressure. These calculations are based on defining the following
parameters:

Initial oil-in-place at P i, Ni, with initial oil and water

saturations of Soi and S woi .
Cumulative oil produced at the bubble point pressure N pb.
Oil remaining at the bubble pressure, i.e., initial oil at the
bubble point:
Nb = N i - Np
Total pore volume at the bubble point pressure, (PV)b:
(PV)b = remaining oil volume + connate water volume
+ connate water expansion
- reduction in PV due to compaction
N i Boi
( PV ) b ( N i N pb ) Bob \
S \ wi
1 S wi
N i Boi ( b)
i
Cf C w S \ wi
1 S wi
Simplifying:
Ni Boi
( PV )b ( N i N pb ) Bob
1 S \ wi

S \ wi (Pi Pb ) ( C f CwS \ wi )

Initial oil and water saturation at the bubble point pressure,

i.e., and Soi and Swi are:
( N i N pb ) Bob
Soi
( PV )b
( N i N pb ) Bob
N i Boi
( Ni N pb )Bob \
S \ wi Pi Pb ( C f Cw S \ wi )
1 S wi
Swi =
N i Boi
\
S \ wi Pi Pb ( C f C w S \ wi )
1 S wi

N i Boi
(Ni N pb )Bob \
S \ wi Pi Pb ( C f C w S \ wi )
1 S wi

= 1- Soi
Oil saturation So at any pressure below Pb is given by:
( N i N p ) Bo
So
( PV )b
( N i Np) Bo
N i Boi
(Ni N pb )Bob \
S \ wi Pi Pb ( C f C w S \ wi )
1 S wi

Gas saturation Sg at any pressure below Pb, assuming no

water production, is given by:

Sg = 1 – So - Swi
Where:

Ni = initial oil-in-place at P i, i.e., P i >Pb, STB

Nb = initial oil-in-place at the bubble point pressure, STB

Npb = cumulative oil produced at the bubble point pressure, STB

S\oi = oil saturation at Pi, Pi >Pb

Soi = initial oil saturation at Pb

S\wi = water saturation at P i, Pi >Pb

Swi = initial water saturation at Pb