Chapter 3 - Single Phase Fluid Flow

CGE 567: RESERVOIR
ENGINEERING I
CHAPTER 3: SINGLE PHASE FLUID FLOW
Lesson Outcome (LOs) :
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to describe briefly:
Steady state flow

Linear and radial flow of incompressible fluids
Linear and radial flow of slightly compressible fluids
Unsteady state flow
Basic transient flow equation
Radial flow of slightly compressible fluids
Pseudosteady state flow
Radial flow of slightly compressible fluids
Radial flow of compressible fluids
Types of fluids
Reservoir fluids are classified into three groups:
Incompressible fluids
Slightly compressible fluids
Compressible fluids
As previously explained in the previous lecture:
Isothermal compressibility coefficient, c:
In terms of fluid volume:
In terms of fluid density:

Incompressible Fluids
Defined as the fluid whose volume (or density) does not change with pressure,
Slightly Compressible Fluids
Exhibit small changes in volume or density, with changes in pressure.

Changes in the volumetric behavior of this fluid as a function of pressure, p
can be mathematically described by integration to give:
Slightly Compressible Fluids
Exhibit small changes in volume or density, with changes in pressure.

Changes in the volumetric behavior of this fluid as a function of pressure, p
can be mathematically described by integration to give:
Compressible fluids
Fluids that experience large changes in volume as a function of pressure

All gases are considered compressible fluids.
Isothermal compressibility of any compressible fluid:
Flow Regimes
Three flow regimes are:
Steady-state flow
Unsteady-state flow
Pseudosteady-state flow
Steady State Flow
pressure at every location in the reservoir remains constant, i.e., does not
change with time.
Unsteady State Flow
Fluid flowing condition at which the rate of change of pressure with respect to
time at any position in the reservoir is not zero or constant.
Pseudosteady State Flow
Pressure at different locations in the reservoir is declining linearly as a

function of time, i.e., at a constant declining rate
Reservoir Geometry
The shape of a reservoir has a significant effect on its flow behavior.

Actual flow geometry may be represented by :
- Radial flow
- Linear flow
- Spherical and hemispherical flow
Radial Flow
Given to characterize the flow of fluid into the wellbore.

Linear Flow
When flow paths are parallel and the fluid flows in a single direction.
Cross sectional area to flow must be constant.
NUMBER OF FLOWING FLUIDS IN THE
RESERVOIR
There are generally three cases of flowing systems:
A) Single-phase flow (oil, water, or gas)

B) Two-phase flow (oil-water, oil-gas, or gas-water)
C) Three-phase flow (oil, water, and gas)
Description of fluid flow and subsequent analysis of pressure data becomes

more difficult as the number of mobile fluids increases.
Fluid Flow Equations
By combining the conservation of mass equation with the transport equation

(Darcys equation) and various equations-of-state, the necessary flow
equations can be developed.
Darcys Law
- States that velocity of a homogeneous fluid in a porous medium is proportional to the pressure
gradient and inversely proportional to the fluid viscosity.
- Horizontal linear system:
- Horizontal radial system:

Cross sectional area at radius r usually surface area of cylinder.
This law only applies on:

- Laminar (viscous) flow
- Steady-state flow
- Incompressible fluids
- Homogeneous formation
Steady State Flow
To describe the flow behavior of several types of fluid in different reservoir
geometries are presented below.
- Linear flow of incompressible fluids
- Linear flow of slightly compressible fluids
- Linear flow of compressible fluids
- Radial flow of incompressible fluids
- Radial flow of slightly compressible fluids
- Radial flow of compressible fluids
- Multiphase flow
Linear Flow of Incompressible
Fluids
Exercise 1
Linear Flow of Slightly
Compressible Fluids
Combine:
Exercise 2
From previous Exercise 1, consider the linear system and, assuming a slightly
compressible liquid, calculate the flow rate at both ends of the linear system.
The liquid has an average compressibility of 21 105 psi1.
Linear Flow of Compressible Fluids
(Gases)
For a viscous (laminar) gas flow in a homogeneous-linear system, the real-gas
equation-of-state can be applied to calculate the number of gas moles n at
pressure p, temperature T, and volume V:
At standard condition, volume given by:

Combine both expression and assuming , gives:
In terms of flow rate,

Replacing the gas flow rate q with that of Darcys Law:
Separating variables and arranging yields:
Assuming constant z and g, rearranging and substitute Psc and Tsc:

Replacing the gas flow rate q with that of Darcys Law:
Separating variables and arranging yields:
Assuming constant z and g, rearranging and substitute Psc and Tsc:

Gas properties z and g are a very strong function of pressure, but they have been removed
from the integral to simplify the final form of the gas flow equation. (Valid for pressure < 2000
psi )
Radial Flow of Incompressible Fluids
Darcys equation as described can be used to determine the flow rate at any radius r:
As the radius increases going away from the wellbore the pressure also increases
At any point in the reservoir the cross-sectional area across which flow occurs will be the
surface area of a cylinder 2rh
Qo to represent the oil flow as expressed in STB/day :
Integrate between two radii, r1 and r2 from p1 to p2:
For incompressible system;

Performing integration; (Note in terms of wellbore radius, rw and drainage radius re)
External (drainage) radius re is usually determined from the well spacing
Equation can be re arranged to form:

Exercise 3
An oil well in the X Field is producing at a stabilized rate of 600 STB/day at a stabilized bottom-hole
flowing pressure of 1800 psi. Analysis of the pressure buildup test data indicates that the pay zone is
characterized by a permeability of 120 md and a uniform thickness of 25 ft. The well drains an area of
approximately 40 acres. The following additional data is available:
Calculate the pressure profile (distribution) and list the pressure drop
across 1 ft intervals from rw to 1.25 ft, 4 to 5 ft, 19 to 20 ft, 99 to 100 ft,
and 744 to 745 ft.
Lets do it together
Apply below equation:

Calculate pressure at designated radii
Radial Flow of Slightly Compressible
Fluids
Flow rate highly dependent on pressure
Equation of radial form Darcys Law as below:
Separate variables and integrate:

After integration:
Choosing the bottom-hole flow pressure pwf as the reference pressure

Exercise 4
The following data are available on a well in the Y Field:
Assuming a slightly compressible fluid, calculate the oil flow rate.

Compare the result with that of incompressible fluid.
Radial Flow of Compressible Gases
For a radial gas flow,

under pressure and temperature can be converted to that of standard condition
( Apply real gas equation of state)
Combine equation 2 of the above equation:

Assuming that Tsc = 520 R and psc = 14.7 psia, integrating it from wellbore condition (rw
and pwf) to any point in reservoir (r and p) to give:
Real gas potential usually represented by m(p) or .

Write equation in terms of real gas potential:
Rearrangement:
Above equation can be plotted in graph of vs. ln r/rw:
Can also obtain gas flow rate in Mscf/day:
Exercise 5
Add new column
Plot term vs pressure
Calculate numerically area under curve for each values of p.
Calculate flow rate using equation below:
Approximation of the Gas Flow
Rate
Under a pressure range of < 2000 psi, removing the term outside the
integral as a constant .
Term evaluated at average pressure defined by:
Pressure Squared
Method
(P<2000psia)
Unsteady State Flow
At Section A
-
At Section B
At Section C
So based on the scenarios in A , B
and C what can you conclude??
So based on the scenarios in A , B
and C what can you conclude??
Transient flow is that time period during which the boundary has no effect
on the pressure behavior in the reservoir and the reservoir will behave as
its infinite in size.
Basic Transient Flow Equation
a. Continuity Equation
The continuity equation is essentially a material balance equation that
accounts for every pound mass of fluid produced, injected, or remaining in the reservoir.
b. Transport Equation
The continuity equation is combined with the equation for fluid motion (transport
equation) to describe the fluid flow rate in and out of the reservoir. Basically, the
transport equation is Darcys equation in its generalized differential form.
Basic Transient Flow Equation
c. Compressibility Equation
The fluid compressibility equation (expressed in terms of density or volume) is used in
formulating the unsteady-state equation with the objective of describing the changes in
the fluid volume as a function of pressure.
d. Initial and Boundary Conditions

IC: The reservoir is at a uniform pressure when production begins, i.e., time = 0.
BC: The formation produces at a constant rate into the wellbore.
BC: There is no flow across the outer boundary and the reservoir behaves as if it were
infinite in size, i.e., re = .
Pseudo steady State Flow
Once the initial pressure perturbation produced by bringing a well onto

production has moved through the reservoir and met the boundaries, the
infinite-acting nature of the fluid changes to become finite acting.
Termed as pseudo steady state because pressure drop with time is the same at
all points around the flowing well
Shape factor CA
Ramey and Cobb (1971) introduced a correction factor that is called the shape
factor, CA, which is designed to:
- account for the deviation of the drainage area from the ideal circular form
- Determine location of the well within the drainage area
Introducing CA into Equation 6-132 and performing the solution procedure gives
the following two solutions:
-In terms of the volumetric average pressure
In terms of the initial reservoir pressure pi:

Combining both solution:
The equation can also be re-arranged to have:
If circular reservoir applied:
The previous equation will be reduced to:

Example
An oil well is producing under a constant bottom-hole flowing pressure of 1500

psi. The current average reservoir pressure pr is 3200 psi.
The well is developed in the center of a 40-acre square drilling pattern.
Given the following additional information:
Because the volumetric average pressure is given, solve for the flow rate by
applying Equation:
Ans: 416 STB/day

Chapter 3 - Single Phase Fluid Flow

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CGE 567: RESERVOIR

Steady state flow

Reservoir fluids are classified into three groups:

Isothermal compressibility coefficient, c:

In terms of fluid volume:

In terms of fluid density:

Exhibit small changes in volume or density, with changes in pressure.

Exhibit small changes in volume or density, with changes in pressure.

Fluids that experience large changes in volume as a function of pressure

Three flow regimes are:

Pressure at different locations in the reservoir is declining linearly as a

The shape of a reservoir has a significant effect on its flow behavior.

Given to characterize the flow of fluid into the wellbore.

A) Single-phase flow (oil, water, or gas)

Description of fluid flow and subsequent analysis of pressure data becomes

By combining the conservation of mass equation with the transport equation

- Horizontal radial system:

This law only applies on:

At standard condition, volume given by:

In terms of flow rate,

Separating variables and arranging yields:

Assuming constant z and g, rearranging and substitute Psc and Tsc:

Separating variables and arranging yields:

Assuming constant z and g, rearranging and substitute Psc and Tsc:

For incompressible system;

Equation can be re arranged to form:

Apply below equation:

Separate variables and integrate:

Choosing the bottom-hole flow pressure pwf as the reference pressure

The following data are available on a well in the Y Field:

Assuming a slightly compressible fluid, calculate the oil flow rate.

For a radial gas flow,

Combine equation 2 of the above equation:

Real gas potential usually represented by m(p) or .

d. Initial and Boundary Conditions

Once the initial pressure perturbation produced by bringing a well onto

In terms of the initial reservoir pressure pi:

The previous equation will be reduced to:

An oil well is producing under a constant bottom-hole flowing pressure of 1500

Ans: 416 STB/day

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