Research Frontiers and Progress in Dynamic Reserve Evaluation Using the Material Balance Method

Dynamic reserve evaluation is an important basis for formulating oil and gas reservoir development policies. The material balance (MB) method is widely used for dynamic reserve calculation, but there are many difficulties, such as the determination of key calculation parameters like compressibility coefficient, the impact of water influx on dynamic reserve evaluation, and the applicability of conventional MB equations to heterogeneous reservoirs. It is necessary to deeply analyze these problems and provide solutions to reserve evaluation. This paper firstly introduces the background of dynamic reserve calculation using the MB method. Then, with the help of various forms of the MB equation, research is conducted on the water influx identification methods and water influx models, the calculation schemes for abnormal pressure reservoirs, the methods for obtaining compressibility coefficient and its variation laws, and the difference in MB methods for different formation media, etc. The research results show that, although the MB-based dynamic reserve evaluation method has a strong theoretical foundation, it’s still necessary to select and modify the form of mathematical calculation models depending on various complex factors such as reservoir types, formation conditions, and water influx. Furthermore, there is also a need for obtaining the calculation parameters to combine the means of measurement experiments, theoretical models, and software predictions for improving the calculation accuracy. It is expected that the mathematical model schemes varying with specific conditions and the further research prospect presented in this paper can provide important references for the rational evaluation of dynamic reserves in oil and gas reservoirs.