Difference between revisions of "Free water level determination using pressure"

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# Determine buoyancy pressure gradient (''P''<sub>bg</sub> ):
 
# Determine buoyancy pressure gradient (''P''<sub>bg</sub> ):
 
#*:<math>P_{\rm bg} = P_{\rm hydrostatic\ pressure\ gradient} - P_{\rm hydrocarbon\ pressure\ gradient}</math>
 
#*:<math>P_{\rm bg} = P_{\rm hydrostatic\ pressure\ gradient} - P_{\rm hydrocarbon\ pressure\ gradient}</math>
# Calculate downdip length of hydrocarbon column (''h''):
+
# Calculate downdip length of [[hydrocarbon column]] (''h''):
 
#*:<math>h = \frac{P_{\rm b}}{P_{\rm bg}}</math>
 
#*:<math>h = \frac{P_{\rm b}}{P_{\rm bg}}</math>
  
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[[Category:Critical elements of the petroleum system]]  
 
[[Category:Critical elements of the petroleum system]]  
 
[[Category:Formation fluid pressure and its application]]
 
[[Category:Formation fluid pressure and its application]]
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[[Category:Treatise Handbook 3]]

Latest revision as of 17:54, 17 February 2022

The free water level occurs where buoyancy pressure is zero in the reservoir-aquifer system. It defines the downdip limits of an accumulation. Pressure data reliability affects the resolution; however, resolution improves when it is supplemented with other petrophysical information.

Procedure: using repeat formation tester (RFT) data[edit]

Figure 1 Easy method for determining free-water level (FWL) by projecting RFT pressure data downward from a reservoir to the aquifer.

An easy method for determining free water level (FWL) is projecting RFT pressure data downward from a reservoir to the aquifer. Figure 1 illustrates the procedure.

Procedure using a single measurement[edit]

The list below outlines the procedure for determining the free water level using a single pressure buildup point in the reservoir.

  1. Determine buoyancy pressure (Pb ) at the depth of the measured pressure (Pm ) from the measured pressure:
  2. Determine buoyancy pressure gradient (Pbg ):
  3. Calculate downdip length of hydrocarbon column (h):

As an example, let's determine the downdip length of a 30°API oil column with the following givens:

Answer (tied back to steps above):

Therefore, the free water level is at depth::8167 ft.

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

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Free water level determination using pressure
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