Dimensionless Steam Heat-Capacity Ratio Formula
Dimensionless Steam Heat-Capacity Ratio calculates dimensionless steam heat-capacity ratio for waterflooding and eor workflows in reservoir engineering.
How engineers use this formula
Use this formula when the listed inputs (rho_w, C_w, dT, f_s, L_v, M_r) are known and the assumptions behind the cited waterflooding and eor relationship match the engineering case being checked.
Assumptions
- Input values are representative for the well, reservoir, fluid, or equipment case being evaluated.
- The declared units match the field-unit constants used in the formula.
- The cited formula applies to the selected petroleum engineering workflow.
Limitations
- The calculation does not replace a full engineering model or operating procedure.
- Accuracy depends on the source correlation, assumptions, input quality, and unit consistency.
Common mistakes
- Mixing unit systems without converting the inputs.
- Using default example values as field recommendations.
- Applying the formula outside the source assumptions.
Default example
Using the default inputs, F_dh equals 6.061714 dimensionless.
62.4
1
300
0.8
900
35
Inputs
rho_w
lbm/ft^3Water Density
C_w
BTU/lbm-FSpecific Heat of Water
dT
FTemperature Differential
f_s
fractionSteam Quality
L_v
BTU/lbmLatent Heat of Vaporization
M_r
BTU/ft^3-FVolumetric Heat Capacity of Reservoir
Outputs
F_dh
Dimensionless Steam Heat-Capacity Ratio
rho_w
Water Density
C_w
Specific Heat of Water
dT
Temperature Differential
f_s
Steam Quality
L_v
Latent Heat of Vaporization
M_r
Volumetric Heat Capacity of Reservoir
Source and review
reviewedThermal Recovery, Prats, M. (1986)
Prats, M. 1986. Thermal Recovery. Society of Petroleum Engineers, New York, Chapter 12, Page 164.