The effects of the volatile oil-gas ratio on reserve estimation (GMBE versus CMBE) in undersaturated volumetric reservoirs

Abstract

This work presents a general, straight-line method to estimate the original oil and gas in-place in a reservoir without restrictions on fluid composition. All past efforts are applicable to only restricted ranges of reservoir fluids. The work supersedes these and it is applicable to the full range of reservoir fluids-including volatile-oils and gas-condensates. The work is based on the new generalized materialbalance equation recently introduced by Walsh. The superiority of the new method is illustrated by showing the error incurred by preexisting calculation methods; guidelines are offered to help identify when preexisting calculation methods must be abandoned and when the new methods featured herein must be employed. Empirical correlations for the volatile oil-gas ratio Rv for volatile-oils and gascondensates have been introduced to accurately define how much fluid volatility a reservoir oil can exhibit before one can no longer justifiably use the CMBE and one must apply the generalized material balance equation (GMBE). Thus, if there is interest in applying the conventional material-balance equation (CMBE) and its applicability is in question, we recommend measuring the fluid's volatile oilgas ratio Rv at its saturation pressure and comparing it to the critical value offered herein.