Material Balance Based Development Plan for an Asphaltenic Reservoir Fluid Field

Abstract Sound development plans are based on complex 3-D 3-Phase multimillion grid reservoir simulation models. These models are used to run different scenarios where probability distributions are included to understand the impact of uncertainties and mitigate main risks that could raise during the life of the field. With today's available dominant supercomputers, reservoir engineers have the tendency to undervalue the power of classical reservoir engineering. However, in a fully connected reservoir tank that honors the basis of the material balance equation, material balance technique has been long recognized as a powerful tool for interpreting and predicting reservoir performance by estimating initial hydrocarbon in place and ultimate hydrocarbon recovery under various depletion scenarios. In brief, under the right conditions, material balance technique is a suitable tool for field development planning. The power of material balance to predict long term performance is undisputable, especially in the case of a prevailing uncertainty. This is the case of the Magwa-Marrat field, where the development plan has historically been driven by the potential risk of asphaltene deposition in the reservoir. The objective of this paper is to show a step by step process to integrate data to build a reliable model using material balance and how this model is utilized to progress a field development plan capable of managing uncertainty and provide the tools to mitigate risk. Pressure data is obtained from repeat formation tester (RFT), static data from shut-in pressures and reservoir superposition pressures from pressure transient analysis. The average reservoir fluids properties are retrieved from a compositional equation of state based on circa 20 PVT studies. The material balance model was successfully completed, and the resulting stock tank oil initially in place (STOOP) was compared to volumetric calculations. Solution gas, rock compaction and aquifer influx were determined as drive mechanisms. The Campbell Plot, diagnostic tool, was proven to be prevailing defining early energy to determine STOOIP and the aquifer properties were calculated by matching the distal energy The material balance model was then used to run different development strategies. This methodology captured the impact of depleting the reservoir down to Asphaltene Onset Pressure (AOP) as well as below AOP. The model was also used to define the requirements for water injection rates and startup of a water flooding project for pressure support. Additionally, the material balance work was implemented to support reservoir management and to maximize recovery factor. This paper presents an innovative approach of integrating asphaltene behavior from laboratory tests and fluid studies, combined with material balance to screen development scenarios for an efficient depletion plan including water injection to manage asphaltene risks and optimize ultimate recovery. Finally, a fully ground-breaking strategy, not reported earlier to the knowledge of the authors, has been established to manage the perceived main risk in the Magwa-Marrat reservoir.