Volumetrics

TIPS & TRICKS
Volumetrics

The Volumetrics Wizard can calculate the total volume of a structure, the contact area, and  generate area-depth pairs by using just a top (single) or a top plus a base (dual), and a flat contact.

If reservoir characteristics such as net/gross, porosity, and fluid data are entered, the wizard also calculates fluid in place and recoverable hydrocarbon volumes.

Calculations made with the Volumetrics wizard include:

  • Contact area
  • Gross rock volume (GRV)
  • Net volume
  • Pore volume
  • Hydrocarbon volume
  • Stock tank oil in place (STOIIP)
  • Recoverable oil volume
  • Oil and gas in place (OGIP)
  • Recoverable gas volume

The results are presented in a table for copying into a report, text editor or spreadsheet.

Defining Volumetrics Parameters

In the single case, the volume (shaded) is calculated between a single top surface and a flat contact.

In the dual case, the volume (shaded) is calculated between a pair of surfaces defining the top and base of the structure, and a flat contact.

  • Use Required (link) parameters to define the top and base of the structure and specify a range of contacts and an interval to output results. This will generate a table of area-depth-GRV at specific intervals throughout a structure.
  • Add Optional (link) parameters so that reservoir information such as net/gross, porosity, and fluid properties can be included to calculate in place and recoverable hydrocarbons.

Required parameters

Adjust these parameters to define the top and base of the structure and specify a range of contacts and an interval to output results. This will calculate area-depth-GRV at specific intervals throughout a structure.

  1. Top Structure: Choose a horizon or specify a constant to define the top of the structure.
  2. Base Structure: ("Dual" case only): Choose a horizon or specify a constant to define the base of the structure.
  3. Contact(s): Choose Horizon, Constant, or Multiple Constants to define the contact.
    • Horizon: a horizon with optional depth offset
    • Constant: a depth value (TVDSS)
    • Multiple Constants: one or more depth values (separated by commas) AND/OR a sequence (as min-max[step] format).
      • e.g. 1000.0 - 1400.0 [100.0]
      • e.g. 1100, 1275, 1300 - 1400 [50]
  4. Units: Choose the units to use for the output, including oil and/or gas volumes if Oil and/or Gas ratios are provided.
  5. Polygon: Constrain the area of calculation with a map polygon. If a polygon is not selected, the area is defined by the entire horizon.
    • A polygon must be selected if constants are used for the structure and contact(s).

Note: Volumetrics calculates the Gross Rock Volume (GRV) unless the following optional parameters are specified.

Optional parameters

Fill in these parameters so that reservoir information such as net/gross, porosity, and fluid properties can be used to calculate in place and recoverable hydrocarbons.

Note: For the remaining parameters, provide a single constant or a horizon to define a spatially varying value. Porosity and Water Saturation are interpreted as ratios (0 to 1) or as percentages (0 to 100) if any value in the horizon is greater that 1.

  • Provide Net/Gross Ratio to calculate net volume. Valid range: 0.0 to 1.0.
  • Provide Porosity to calculate pore volume. Valid range: 0.0 to 1.0 (or 0.0 to 100.0).
  • Provide Water Saturation to calculate hydrocarbon volume. Valid range: 0.0 to 1.0 (or 0.0 to 100.0).
  • Provide Oil Formation Volume Factor (also called shrinkage factor), to calculate stock tank oil originally/initially in place (STOOIP/STOIIP). This parameter converts the volume of oil at reservoir conditions to the volume at the surface. The value varies depending on the fluid and the temperature and pressure of the reservoir and the surface. Typical values are from 1 to 1.7.
  • Provide Oil Recovery Factor to calculate estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) volume. Valid range: 0.0 to 1.0.
  • Provide Gas Formation Volume Factor, to calculate original gas in place (OGIP/GIIP). This parameter converts the volume of gas in the reservoir into the volume at the surface. The value varies depending on the fluid and the temperature and pressure of the reservoir and the surface. Typical values are below 0.1.
  • Provide Gas Recovery Factor to calculate estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) volume. Valid range: 0.0 to 1.0.

Note: If a horizon is provided as the structure or contact, the horizons must all be consistent. For example, if a horizon has an undefined location, each horizon provided must have the same undefined location within the polygon (if selected).

Click Next to perform the volumetrics calculation.

Results

The results are calculated using the equations below:

  • Contact Area = The total area of the contact as it intersects with the volume.
  • Net Volume = GRV x Net/Gross Ratio
  • Pore Volume = Net Volume x Porosity
  • Hydrocarbon Volume = Pore Volume x (1  Water Saturation)
  • STOOIP/STOIIP = Hydrocarbon Volume / Oil Formation Volume Factor
  • Recoverable Oil Volume = STOIIP x Oil Recovery Factor
  • OGIP = Hydrocarbon Volume / Gas Formation Volume Factor
  • Recoverable Gas Volume = OGIP x Gas Recovery Factor

Note: the following constants are used to convert to Billions Cubic Feet (Bcf) and Million Barrels(MMbbl)    

  • OGIP: 1 Bcf= 28316846.592 m^3, 28.317 km^2.m, 22956.8411 acre-ft    
  • STOIIP: 1 MMbbl= 158987.295 m^3,0.158987 km^2.m,128.893 acre-ft

Copy the content to the clipboard by right-clicking anywhere in the window and selecting Copy.

Click Finish to close the Volumetrics wizard.

Example 1: Generating area-depth pairs at a specific TVD interval

In this example we’ll  create a table of area-depth pairs based off a top structure horizon and multiple contacts at a 10 m interval. This table can then be copied into a spreadsheet, text editor, or other program.

  1. Select single so that only a Top structure and contacts need to be defined.
  2. In the Required parameters, enter your horizon and specify multiple contacts
    • Enter a depth range that the structure enclose. To output a result at a specific interval, enter an increment. For this example, we’ll use a range and increment of 3000-3200 [10]
  3. Optionally add a polygon to define the closure of the structure.
  1. Click Next to generate the results.

Example 2: Generate a table of fluid volumes in place and recoverable hydrocarbon volumes using additional reservoir data.