TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF CRETE

SCHOOL OF MINERAL RESOURCES ENGINEERING

PVT & CORE ANALYSIS LABORATORY

Tel :+30 2821037668, Fax:+30 2821037886
e-mail:varotsis@mred.tuc.gr

MSc in Petroleum Engineering 2017-18

Reservoir Engineering Exercises (1)

Instructor : Professor Nikos Varotsis

Exercise 1 : An exploration well has hit an oil bearing formation at a depth of 4608 ft. During
a well test, an oil sample was recovered at pressure of 2100 psia and the fluid gradient was
measured to be 0.28 psi/ft. It is known that in the area around the formation, normal
hydrostatic regimes prevail. Make the best possible guess, based on calculations, about the
depth at which the oil-water contact (OWC) will be found and explain your method (average
brine density : 64 lb/cf).

Exercise 2 : An exploratory well penetrates an oil bearing formation at 5600 ft and at the
depth of 5850 ft a Well Test is conducted, where the initial oil static pressure was recorded
as 2584 psia, an oil sample was recovered and the density of the oil at bottom hole conditions
was measured to be 0.738 gr/cc. A second well also penetrates the formation and at a depth
of 5720 ft the static pressure was recorded as 2558 psia. If we assume that normal
hydrostatic regime prevails and that no flow barriers exist in the formation then ;

- Proceed with calculations to decide whether, with the information that you already
have, it seems that the reservoir has a gas cap or not
- In case that a gas cap is detected and the gas is expected to have 0.23 gr/cc density
at reservoir conditions, calculate the depth of the gas-oil contact

Exercise 3 : An exploration well is expected to hit a gas bearing formation at a depth of 4500
ft. The Chief Drilling Engineer is anxious wanting by all means to avoid a fatal blow-out. The
Reservoir Engineer in charge receives information from the Geology group that the gas-to-
water contact (GWC) is expected to be at around about 4700 ft and that the hydrostatic
regime of the area around is considered as normal. Considering that a gas at these
pressures and depths should have a density of around 200 Kg/m3 he has been asked to
provide the minimum density required for the drilling mud in order to prevent a gas kick.

Exercise 4 : An RFT test (formation pressure logging vs depth) of a wild cat gave the
following results :

Depth(ft) Pressure(psia)

6400 3210.0
6420 3212.0
6440 3215.1
6460 3217.8
6480 3220.5
6500 3229.5
6520 3238.7
6540 3247.7
6560 3256.7

Observe the above data and decide about how many and which fluid phases are present in
the formation under test and explain.

Exercise 5 : Calculate the overburden gradient for the following:

Formation type: sandstone, density = 2.65 gm/cc

Formation water: 1.03 gm/cc
For porosities 5%, 20% and 35%.

Exercise 6 : Determine the overburden gradient at various depths for the following offshore
well:

Water Depth= 500 ft

RKB/MSL= 65 ft (Rotary Kelly Bush to Mean Sea Level)
Specific gravity of sea water= 1.03 gm/cc
Rock density= 1.9 gm/cc from seabed to 1000ft, and 2.1gm/cc from 1000-3000 ft
Calculate the overburden gradient of the formations:
At seabed, 200 ft, 500 ft, 1000 ft and at 3000 ft below seabed.