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Reservoir EngineeringMaterial Balance and Production

Hydrocarbon Pore Volume Occupied by Gas Cap Formula

Vgc=mNBoiBgBgiV_{gc}=\frac{mNB_{oi}B_g}{B_{gi}}

Hydrocarbon Pore Volume Occupied by Gas Cap calculates hydrocarbon pore volume occupied by gas cap for material balance and production workflows in reservoir engineering.

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How engineers use this formula

Use this formula when the listed inputs (m, N, B_oi, B_g, B_gi) are known and the assumptions behind the cited material balance and production 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, V_gc equals 312,500 bbl.

mbbl/bbl

0.2

NSTB

1000000

B_oibbl/STB

1.25

B_gbbl/SCF

0.005

B_gibbl/SCF

0.004

Inputs

m

bbl/bbl

Initial Gas-Cap to Oil-Zone Reservoir Volume Ratio

N

STB

Initial Oil in Place

B_oi

bbl/STB

Initial Oil Formation Volume Factor

B_g

bbl/SCF

Current Gas Formation Volume Factor

B_gi

bbl/SCF

Initial Gas Formation Volume Factor

Outputs

V_gc

bbl

Hydrocarbon Pore Volume Occupied by Gas Cap

m

bbl/bbl

Initial Gas-Cap to Oil-Zone Reservoir Volume Ratio

N

STB

Initial Oil in Place

B_oi

bbl/STB

Initial Oil Formation Volume Factor

B_g

bbl/SCF

Current Gas Formation Volume Factor

B_gi

bbl/SCF

Initial Gas Formation Volume Factor

Source and review

reviewed

Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Ahmed, T., McKinney, P. D. (2005)

Ahmed, T. and McKinney, P. D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering. Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter 4, Page 301.

Source

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