Changes

Positions of initial [http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=fluid%20contact fluid contacts] are critical for field reserve estimates and for field development. Typically, the position of fluid contacts are first determined within control wells and then extrapolated to other parts of the field.

Positions of initial [http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=fluid%20contact fluid contacts] are critical for field reserve estimates and for field development. Typically, the position of fluid contacts are first determined within control wells and then extrapolated to other parts of the field.

Definitions of fluid contacts are based on comparison to [[capillary pressure]] curves ([[:file:fluid-contacts_fig1.png|Figure 1]]). The ''[[free water surface]]'' is the highest elevation at which the pressure of the hydrocarbon phase is the same as that of water. The ''hydrocarbon-water'' (''[http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=oil-water%20contact oil-water]'' or ''[http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=gas-water+contact gas-water]'') ''contact'' is the lowest elevation at which mobile hydrocarbons occur. The ''[[What is a reservoir system?#Waste and transition zones|transition zone]]'' is the elevation range in which water is coproduced with hydrocarbons. The ''[http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=gas-oil%20contact gas-oil contact]'' is the elevation above which gas is the produced hydrocarbon phase.

Definitions of fluid contacts are based on comparison to [[capillary pressure]] curves ([[:file:fluid-contacts_fig1.png|Figure 1]]). The ''[[free water level]]'' is the highest elevation at which the pressure of the hydrocarbon phase is the same as that of water. The ''hydrocarbon-water'' (''[http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=oil-water%20contact oil-water]'' or ''[http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=gas-water+contact gas-water]'') ''contact'' is the lowest elevation at which mobile hydrocarbons occur. The ''[[What is a reservoir system?#Waste and transition zones|transition zone]]'' is the elevation range in which water is coproduced with hydrocarbons. The ''[http://www.glossary.oilfield.slb.com/en/Terms.aspx?LookIn=term%20name&filter=gas-oil%20contact gas-oil contact]'' is the elevation above which gas is the produced hydrocarbon phase.

==Methods for determining fluid contacts==

==Methods for determining fluid contacts==