Formulas and Calculations For Petroleum Engineering 1St Edition Edition Cenk Temizel Full Chapter
Formulas and Calculations For Petroleum Engineering 1St Edition Edition Cenk Temizel Full Chapter
Formulas and Calculations For Petroleum Engineering 1St Edition Edition Cenk Temizel Full Chapter
Cenk Temizel
Tayfun Tuna
Mehmet Melih Oskay
Luigi A. Saputelli
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Notices
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Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods,
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or ideas contained in the material herein.
ISBN: 978-0-12-816508-9
Cenk Temizel is a reservoir engineer with 15 years of international experience in the industry with expertise in reservoir
simulation, smart fields, heavy oil, optimization, unconventionals and enhanced oil recovery. He was a teaching/research
assistant at the University of Southern California and Stanford University before joining the industry. He won the 2nd place
at SPE Global R&D Competition at SPE ATCE 2014 in Amsterdam and the 2nd place in Technical Excellence Awards at
22nd World Petroleum Congress in 2017 in Istanbul. He received the Halliburton Award in Innovation in 2012. He serves as
a technical reviewer for petroleum engineering journals. His interests include reaction kinetics/dynamics of fluid flow in
porous media and enhanced oil recovery processes. He served as a session chair and member of organizing committees for
several SPE conferences. He has published around 100 publications in the area of reservoir management, production opti-
mization, enhanced oil recovery processes and smart fields along with US patents. He holds a BS degree (Honors) from
Middle East Technical University—Ankara (2003) and an MS degree (2005) from University of Southern California
(USC), Los Angeles, CA both in petroleum engineering.
Tayfun Tuna is a data scientist and software developer who holds a MS and a PhD degree in computer science from the
University of Houston. His graduate research focus was on text mining; applying machine learning techniques to lecture
videos in order to segment video content for a better learning experience. He is a cofounder of Videopoints LLC, previously
known as ICS Video Project, an interactive educational video platform which have been used more than 50K users across
multiple university campuses. While he was the chief operating officer and principal investigator, his project is rewarded by
National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (NSF SBIR) Phase I Grant.
In his professional career, he has worked with Halliburton to develop a patented machine learning-based web-based
interface that predicts chance of getting of stuck while drilling for oil. He has two patents and 20 research paper publications
on educational technology, social networks, and oil&gas field.
Mehmet Melih Oskay earned his PhD from UT Austin, and he has been in academia and industry as advisors and
managerial positions for more than 30 years at several major operators.
He has represented operators at Joint Operations Committee and Joint Operations Tender Committees.
He has taught at University of Texas—Austin, TX; Louisiana Tech University-Ruston, Louisiana; Middle East Tech-
nical University—Ankara, Turkey; and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
He has participated in several Organizing Committees and Session Chairmanship positions at many SPE Oil Show and
Technical Conferences.
Luigi A. Saputelli is a reservoir engineering senior advisor with over 28 years of experience. He worked in various
operators and services companies around the world. He is a founding member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers’
Real-time Optimization Technical Interest Group and the Petroleum Data-driven Analytics technical section. He is the
recipient of the 2015 SPE International Production and Operations Award.
He has published more than 90 industry papers on applied technologies related to reservoir management, real-time opti-
mization, and production operations. He holds a BSc. in electronic engineer from Universidad Simon Bolivar (1990), with a
master in petroleum engineering from Imperial College (1996), and a PhD in chemical engineering from University of
Houston (2003). He also serves as managing partner for, a petroleum engineering services firm based in Houston.
xxv
Foreword
Formulas and Calculations for Petroleum Engineering unlocks the capability for any petroleum engineering individual,
experienced or not, to solve problems and locate quick answers, eliminating nonproductive time spent searching for that
right calculation. Enhanced with lab data experiments, practice examples, and a complimentary online software toolbox,
the book presents the most convenient and practical reference for all oil and gas phases of a given project. Covering the full
spectrum, this reference gives single-point reference to all critical modules, including drilling, production, reservoir engi-
neering, well testing, well logging, enhanced oil recovery, well completion, fracturing, fluid flow, and even petroleum
economics.
ptlbx.com provides access to calculations of these formulas.
xxvii
Acknowledgement
Authors
This book is dedicated to my wife, my love, Saule who has supported me unconditionally in my endeavors and has been an
inspiration for me in life with her love, care, and understanding and to my daughter Ada Ayca who has brought joy and
happiness to our life and to my parents Yuksel and Rasim Temizel and my brother Efe for their continuous support and love.
Cenk Temizel
I am indebted to my wife Suhendan and to my daughter Ceyda for their unflagging support to finish this book.
Mehmet Melih Oskay
I dedicate this book to my parents Julia and Emilio, who are eternal symbols of unconditional love and true parenthood,
from whom I learned what exemplary human values.
Luigi A. Saputelli
Reviewers
My effort that went into the completion of this book is dedicated to my wife Ezgi who assisted me with her love and
patience, to Serkan who made me feel lucky to have an honest brother like him, and also to my beloved parents Fusun
and Kaya Canbaz who gave their true love without any expectations and supported me with patience in any circumstances.
Celal Hakan Canbaz
I would like to express my deepest love and respect to especially my beloved parents and wife Elif who always has sup-
ported and inspired me to contribute to this book and my self-improvement in terms of both professional and personal ways
during all my life.
Yildiray Palabiyik
xxix
Chapter 1
Chapter Outline
1.1 API gravity 3 1.31 Effective wellbore radius of a horizontal well—van
1.2 Average permeability for linear flow—Layered beds 3 der Vlis et al. method 16
1.3 Average permeability for linear flow—Series beds 4 1.32 Effective wellbore radius of a well in presence of
1.4 Average permeability for parallel-layered systems 4 uniform-flux fractures 16
1.5 Average permeability in radial systems 4 1.33 Effective wellbore radius to calculate slant well
1.6 Average temperature of a gas column 5 productivity—van der Vlis et al. 16
1.7 Calculation of fractional flow curve 5 1.34 Estimation of average reservoir pressure—MDH
1.8 Capillary number 6 method 17
1.9 Capillary pressure 6 1.35 Formation temperature for a given gradient 17
1.10 Characteristic time for linear diffusion in reservoirs 6 1.36 Fraction of the total solution gas retained in the
1.11 Cole plot 7 reservoir as free gas 17
1.12 Communication between compartments in tight gas 1.37 Fractional gas recovery below the critical
reservoirs 7 desorption pressure in coal bed methane reservoirs 18
1.13 Communication factor in a compartment in tight gas 1.38 Free gas in place 18
reservoirs 7 1.39 Gas adsorbed in coal bed methane reservoirs 19
1.14 Compressibility drive in gas reservoirs 8 1.40 Gas bubble radius 19
1.15 Correction factor—Hammerlindl 8 1.41 Gas cap ratio 19
1.16 Critical rate for horizontal wells in edge-water drive 1.42 Gas cap shrinkage 20
reservoirs 8 1.43 Gas drive index in gas reservoirs 20
1.17 Crossflow index 9 1.44 Gas expansion factor 20
1.18 Cumulative effective compressibility—Fetkovich 10 1.45 Gas expansion term in gas reservoirs 21
1.19 Cumulative gas production—Tarner’s method 10 1.46 Gas flow rate into the wellbore 21
1.20 Cumulative oil production—Undersaturated oil 1.47 Gas flow under laminar viscous conditions 22
reservoirs 11 1.48 Gas formation volume factor 22
1.21 Deliverability equation for shallow gas reservoirs 11 1.49 Gas hydrate dissociation pressure 22
1.22 Dimensionless pressure—Kamal and Brigham 11 1.50 Gas material balance equation 23
1.23 Dimensionless radius of radial flow—Constant-rate 1.51 Gas produced by gas expansion 23
production 12 1.52 Gas saturation—Water-drive gas reservoirs 24
1.24 Dimensionless time—Myhill and Stegemeier’s method 12 1.53 Gas solubility in coalbed methane reservoirs 24
1.25 Dimensionless time for interference testing in 1.54 Geertsma’s model for porosity/transit-time
homogeneous reservoirs—Earlougher 13 relationship 25
1.26 Dimensionless vertical well critical rate 1.55 Geothermal gradient 25
correlations—Hoyland, Papatzacos, 1.56 Hagen Poiseuille equation 26
and Skjaeveland 13 1.57 Hagoort and Hoogstra gas flow in tight reservoirs 26
1.27 Dimensionless wellbore storage coefficient of 1.58 Hammerlindl method for gas in place 26
radial flow—Constant-rate production 13 1.59 High-pressure region gas flow rate 27
1.28 Effective compressibility in undersaturated oil 1.60 Horizontal well breakthrough time—With gas cap
reservoirs—Hawkins 14 or bottom water 27
1.29 Effective wellbore radius of a horizontal 1.61 Horizontal well critical rate correlation—Chaperon 28
well—Method 1—Anisotropic reservoirs 14 1.62 Horizontal well critical rate correlations—Efros 28
1.30 Effective wellbore radius of a horizontal 1.63 Horizontal well critical rate correlations—Giger
well—Method 1—Isotropic reservoirs 15 and Karcher 29
1.64 Horizontal well critical rate correlations—Joshi 1.108 Porosity determination—IES and FDC logs 47
method for gas coning 29 1.109 Produced gas-oil ratio 47
1.65 Hydrocarbon pore volume occupied by evolved 1.110 Productivity index for a gas well 48
solution gas 30 1.111 Pseudo-steady state productivity of horizontal
1.66 Hydrocarbon pore volume occupied by gas cap 30 wells—Method 1 48
1.67 Hydrocarbon pore volume occupied by remaining oil 31 1.112 Pseudo-steady state productivity of horizontal
1.68 Hydrostatic pressure 31 wells—Method 2 49
1.69 Incremental cumulative oil production in 1.113 Pseudo-steady state productivity of horizontal
undersaturated reservoirs 31 wells—Method 3 50
1.70 Ineffective porosity 32 1.114 Pseudo-steady state radial flow equation 50
1.71 Initial gas cap 32 1.115 Relative permeability—Corey exponents 51
1.72 Initial gas in place for water-drive gas reservoirs 32 1.116 Remaining gas in place in coalbed methane
1.73 Injectivity index 33 reservoirs 51
1.74 Instantaneous gas-oil ratio 33 1.117 Roach plot for abnormally pressured gas reservoirs 52
1.75 Interporosity flow coefficient 34 1.118 Rock expansion term in abnormally pressured gas
1.76 Interstitial velocity 34 reservoirs 52
1.77 Isothermal compressibility of oil—Vasquez-Beggs 1.119 Shape factor—Earlougher 52
correlation—p > pb 34 1.120 Solution gas oil ratio—Beggs-Standing
1.78 Isothermal compressibility of oil—villena-Lanzi correlation—p < pb 53
correlation—p < pb 35 1.121 Solution gas oil ratio—Standing’s correlation 53
1.79 Isothermal compressibility of water—Osif correlation 35 1.122 Solution gas water ratio 54
1.80 Kerns method for gas flow in a fracture 35 1.123 Somerton method for formation permeability in
1.81 Klinkenberg gas effect 36 coalbed methane reservoirs 54
1.82 Kozeny equation 36 1.124 Specific gravity of gas hydrate forming components 54
1.83 Kozeny-Carman relationship 36 1.125 Time to reach the semi-steady state for a gas well
1.84 Leverett J-function 37 in a circular or square drainage area 55
1.85 Line-source solution for damaged or stimulated 1.126 Time to the end of infinite-acting period for a well
wells 37 in a circular reservoir 55
1.86 Low-pressure region gas flow rate for non-circular 1.127 Torcaso and Wyllie’s correlation for relative
drainage area 38 permeability ratio prediction 55
1.87 Material balance for cumulative water 1.128 Total compressibility 56
influx—Havlena and Odeh 38 1.129 Total pore volume compressibility 56
1.88 Maximum height of oil column in cap rock 39 1.130 Transmissibility between compartments 57
1.89 Modified Cole plot 39 1.131 Transmissibility of a compartment 57
1.90 Modified Kozeny-carman relationship 39 1.132 Transmissivity 57
1.91 Normalized saturation 40 1.133 Trapped gas volume in water-invaded zones 58
1.92 Oil bubble radius of the drainage area of each well 1.134 Two-phase formation volume factor 58
represented by a circle 40 1.135 Underground fluid withdrawal—Havlena and Odeh 59
1.93 Oil density—Standing’s correlation 41 1.136 Vertical well critical rate correlations—Craft
1.94 Oil formation volume factor—Standing’s correlation 41 and Hawkins method 59
1.95 Oil formation volume factor—Beggs-standing 1.137 Vertical well critical rate correlations—Hoyland,
correlation—p < pb 41 Papatzacos, and Skjaeveland—Isotropic reservoirs 60
1.41 Oil formation volume factor—Beggs-standing 1.138 Vertical well critical rate correlations—Meyer,
correlation—p > pb 42 Gardner, and Pirson—Simultaneous gas and water
1.42 Oil in place for undersaturated oil reservoirs coning 60
without fluid injection 42 1.139 Vertical well critical rate correlations—Meyer,
1.98 Oil in place in saturated oil reservoirs 43 Gardner, and Pirson—Water coning 61
1.99 Oil lost in migration 43 1.140 Vertical well critical rate correlations—Meyer,
1.100 Oil saturation at any depletion state below the Gardner, and Pirson—Gas coning 61
bubble point pressure 44 1.141 Viscosibility 62
1.101 Original gas in place 44 1.142 Viscosity of crude oil through API 62
1.102 Payne method for intercompartmental flow in 1.143 Viscosity of dead oil—Standing’s correlation 62
tight gas reservoirs 44 1.144 Viscosity of dead-oil—Egbogah correlation—p < pb 63
1.103 Performance coefficient for shallow gas reservoirs 45 1.145 Viscosity of live oil—Beggs/Robinson correlation 63
1.104 Poisson’s ratio 45 1.146 Viscosity of oil—Vasquez/Beggs correlation—p > pb 63
1.105 Pore throat sorting 46 1.147 Viscosity of water at atmospheric pressure—McCain
1.106 Pore volume occupied by injection of gas and water 46 correlation 64
1.107 Pore volume through squared method in tight gas 1.148 Viscosity of water at reservoir pressure—McCain
reservoirs 46 correlation 64
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 3
1.149 Volume of gas adsorbed in coalbed methane reservoirs 64 1.156 Water-drive recovery 68
1.150 Volumetric heat capacity of a reservoir 65 1.157 Water expansion term in gas reservoirs 68
1.151 Water breakthrough correlation in vertical 1.158 Water formation volume factor—McCain correlation 68
wells—Bournazel and Jeanson 65 1.159 Water influx—Pot aquifer model 69
1.152 Water breakthrough correlations in vertical 1.160 Water influx constant for the van Everdingen
wells—Sobocinski and Cornelius 66 and Hurst unsteady-state model 69
1.153 Water content of sour gas 66 1.161 Water two-phase formation volume factor 70
1.154 Water cut—Stiles 67 1.162 Waxman and smits model—Clean sands 70
1.155 Water-drive index for gas reservoirs 67 1.163 Welge extension—Fractional flow 70
Output(s)
API: API Gravity (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
141:5
API ¼ 131:5
SGo
roil
Notes: SGo ¼ r at 60 F.
water
Reference: Wikipedia.org.
Output(s)
kavg: Average Permeability in Linear Systems when there is no crossflow between layers (mD)
Formula(s)
k1 A1 + k2 A2 + k3 A3
kavg ¼
A1 + A 2 + A 3
Output(s)
kavg: Average Permeability in Linear Systems Series (mD)
Formula(s)
L1 + L2 + L3
kavg ¼
L1 L2 L3
+ +
k1 k2 k3
Output(s)
kavg: Average Permeability for Parallel-layered Systems (mD)
Formula(s)
k 1 h 1 + k 2 h 2 + k 3 h3
kavg ¼
h1 + h2 + h3
Output(s)
kavg: Average Permeability in Radial Systems Series (mD)
Formula(s)
r
ka ke ln e
rw
kavg ¼
re r
ka ln
+ ke ln a
ra rw
Reference: Applied Reservoir Engineering Vol. 1, Smith, Tracy & Farrar, Equation 7–7.
Output(s)
T: Arithmetic Average Temperature (°R)
Formula(s)
Tt + Tb
T¼
2
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D.2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 199.
Output(s)
fw: Fraction of Total Flowing Stream Composed of Water (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
1
fw ¼
mw kro
1+
krw mo
Reference: Craig Jr. F. F., 2004, the Reservoir Engineering Aspects of Waterflooding, Vol. 3. Richardson, Texas:
Monograph Series, SPE, Page: 112.
6 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Output(s)
N c: Capillary Number (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
mw V
Nc ¼
sow
Reference: Wikipedia.org.
Output(s)
PC : Capillary Pressure (dyn/cm)
Formula(s)
2 s cos ðyÞ
PC ¼
r
Reference: Wikipedia.org.
Output(s)
τ: Time (s)
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 7
Formula(s)
F bf + br m I 2
τ¼
k
Reference: Zoback, M. D. Reservoir Geomechanics, Cambridge University Express, UK, Page: 41.
Output(s)
F: Underground Water Withdrawal (bbl)
Formula(s)
F ¼ G Eg + W e
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P. D. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing House, Burlington, MA, 2015.
Output(s)
F: Underground Fluid Withdrawal (bbl)
Formula(s)
F ¼ G Eg + W e
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 209.
Output(s)
C: Communication Factor (SCF/d/psi2/cP)
8 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
0:111924 k A
C¼
T L
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 235.
Output(s)
CI: Compressibility Index (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
G Ef
CI ¼
Bg GP
Reference: Ahmed, T. & McKinney, P. D. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing House, Burlington, MA, 2015.
Output(s)
CDI: Compressibility Drive Index (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
G Ef , w
CDI ¼
Gp Bg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 211.
Output(s)
c1: Dimensionless Constant for calculation (dimensionless)
c2: Dimensionless Constant for calculation (dimensionless)
c3: Dimensionless Constant for calculation (dimensionless)
c4: Dimensionless Constant for calculation (dimensionless)
qc : Dimensionless Critical Rate per Unit length (STB/day/ft)
qo : Critical Rate (STB/day)
zc: Critical Height Representing the Difference between the Apex of the Gas/Water Crest from the Well
Elevation (ft)
Formula(s)
c1 ¼ 1:4426 + e1
c2 ¼ 0:9439 + e2
c3 ¼ 0:4812 + e3
c4 ¼ 0:9534 + e4
0 1c 2
B C
B xe C
qc ¼ c1 B 0:5 C
@ k A
h h
kv
q
qo ¼ 4:888 104 Dr h ðkh *kv Þ0:5 L c
mo
0 1 c4
B C
B xe C
zc ¼ c3 h B 0:5 C
@ k A
h h
kv
Reference: Joshi, S.D. 1991, Horizontal Well Technology. Tulsa, Oklahoma: PennWell Publishing Company. Chapter: 7,
Page: 309, 310.
Output(s)
CI: Crossflow Index (dimensionless)
10 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
Npcf Npncf
CI ¼
Npu Npncf
Reference: Willhite, G.P. 1986. Waterflooding, Vol. 3. Richardson, Texas: Textbook Series, SPE, Chapter: 2, Page: 166.
Output(s)
ce : Effective Compressibility (1/psi)
Formula(s)
Swi cw + M cf + cw + cf
ce ¼
1 Swi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 215,216.
Output(s)
Gp: Cumulative Gas Production (SCF)
Formula(s)
" !# " #
Boi Bo B
Gp ¼ N Rsi Rs N p o Rs
Bg Bg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 5,
Page: 340.
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 11
Output(s)
Np: Cumulative Oil Production (STB)
Formula(s)
Bo
N p ¼ N ce DP
Boi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 5,
Page: 333.
Output(s)
C: Performance Coefficient (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
kh
C¼
re
1422 T mg Z ln 0:5
rw
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 287.
Output(s)
DPd: Dimensionless Pressure (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
k h DP
DPd ¼
141:2 Q m B
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 1,
Page: 125.
Output(s)
r d: Dimensionless Radius (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
r
rd ¼
rw
Reference: Lee, J., Rollins, J. B., & Spivey, J. P. (2003). Pressure Transient Testing (Vol. 9). Richardson, Texas: Society of
Petroleum Engineers, Page: 8.
Output(s)
tD: Dimensionless Time (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
2
Ms a
tD ¼ 4 2s t
MR ht
Reference: Prats, M. 1986. Thermal Recovery. Society of Petroleum Engineers, New York, Chapter: 5, Page: 44.
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 13
Output(s)
tD: Dimensionless Time (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
0:0002637 k t
tD ¼
ø ct m r2w
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 1,
Page: 117.
Output(s)
QoD: Dimensionless Critical Rate (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
qo
QoD ¼ 651:4 mo Bo
h2 ðrw ro Þ kh
Ø: Porosity (fraction)
ct: Total Compressibility (1/psi)
rw: Wellbore Radius (ft)
Output(s)
Cd: Dimensionless Wellbore-Storage Coefficient (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
0:8936 C
Cd ¼
Ø ct h r2w
Reference: Lee, J., Rollins, J. B., & Spivey, J. P. (2003). Pressure Transient Testing (Vol. 9). Richardson, Texas: Society of
Petroleum Engineer, Page: 8.
Output(s)
c e: Effective Compressibility (1/psi)
Formula(s)
Soi co + Swi cw + cf
ce ¼
1 Swi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 5,
Page: 334.
Output(s)
reh: Effective Drainage Radius (ft)
a: Horizontal wellbore variable from Joshi (dimensionless)
b: Permeability Ratio constant (dimensionless)
rwd: Effective Wellbore Radius (ft)
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 15
Formula(s)
43560
reh ¼ sqrt A
3:14
4 !!
L reh
a¼ sqrt :5 + sqrt 0:25 + 2
2 L
kh
b ¼ sqrt
kv
L
rwd ¼ reh 0 2 1
2 !! b h
L b L
a @ 1 + sqrt 1 h* A
2a 2 rw
Output(s)
reh: Effective Drainage Radius (ft)
a: Horizontal wellbore variable from Joshi (dimensionless)
rwd: Effective Wellbore Radius (ft)
Formula(s)
43560
reh ¼ sqrt A
3:14
4 !!
L reh
a¼ sqrt :5 + sqrt 0:25 + 2
2 L
L
rwd ¼ reh 0 2 1
2 !! h
L h L
a @ 1 + sqrt 1 A
2a 2 rw
1.31 Effective wellbore radius of a horizontal well—van der Vlis et al. method
Input(s)
h: Pay Zone Thickness (ft)
rw: Wellbore Radius (ft)
a: Slant Angle (degrees)
Output(s)
L: Length of Slant Wellbore (ft)
rw: Effective Wellbore Radius (ft)
Formula(s)
h
L¼
cos ðaÞ
L h r i h
rw ¼ 0:454* sin 360 w
L
4 h
Reference: Joshi, S. D. 1991, Horizontal Well Technology. Tulsa, Oklahoma: PennWell Publishing Company. Chapter: 3,
Page: 96.
Output(s)
rw: Effective Wellbore Radius (ft)
Formula(s)
xf
rw ¼
e
Reference: Joshi, S. D. 1991, Horizontal Well Technology. Tulsa, Oklahoma: PennWell Publishing Company. Chapter: 5,
Page: 135.
1.33 Effective wellbore radius to calculate slant well productivity—van der Vlis et al.
Input(s)
h: Pay Zone Thickness (ft)
rw: Wellbore Radius (ft)
a: Slant Angle (degrees)
Output(s)
L: Length of Slant Wellbore (ft)
rw: Effective Wellbore Radius (ft)
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 17
Formula(s)
h
L¼
cos ðaÞ
r i h
L h
rw ¼ 0:454* sin 360
w L
4 h
Reference: Joshi, S. D. 1991, Horizontal Well Technology. Tulsa, Oklahoma: PennWell Publishing Company. Chapter: 3,
Page: 96.
Output(s)
Pr: Average Reservoir Pressure (psi)
Formula(s)
pDMDH
Pr ¼ pws + m
1:1513
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 1,
Page: 59.
Output(s)
Tf: Formation Temperature (degree °F)
Formula(s)
D
Tf ¼ Ts + gG
100
Reference: Bassiouni, Z., 1994, Theory, Measurement, and Interpretation of Well Logs. SPE Textbook Series Vol. 4.
Chapter 4, Page: 75.
1.36 Fraction of the total solution gas retained in the reservoir as free gas
Input(s)
N: Oil in Place (STB)
Rp: Produced Gas-Oil Ratio (SCF/STB)
Np: Cumulative Oil Production (STB)
Rsi: Initial Gas Solubility (SCF/STB)
Rs : Gas Solubility (SCF/STB)
18 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Output(s)
ag: Retained Gas Volume of the Total Gas (fraction)
Formula(s)
0 1
Np Rp
ag ¼ 1 @ A
N Rsi N Np Rs
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 4,
Page: 314.
1.37 Fractional gas recovery below the critical desorption pressure in coal
bed methane reservoirs
Input(s)
V m: Langmuir (constant)
G c: Gas Content at Critical Desorption Pressure (SCF/ton)
b: Langmuir (constant)
P: Pressure of Reservoir (psi)
a: Recovery Exponent (dimensionless)
Output(s)
RF: Recovery Factor (fraction)
Formula(s)
a
Vm bP
RF ¼ 1 *
Gc 1+bP
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 223.
Output(s)
Gf: Original Free Gas-in-Place (SCF)
Formula(s)
Gf ¼ 7758 A h Ø ð1 Swi Þ Egi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 227.
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 19
Output(s)
Ga: Gas Adsorbed (SCF)
Formula(s)
Ga ¼ 1359:7 A h rb V
Reference: Ahmed, T. & McKinney, P.D. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing House, Burlington, MA, 2015.
Output(s)
G: Gas-in-Place (SCF)
Formula(s)
G ¼ 1359:7 A h sB Gc
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 227.
Output(s)
m: Gas Cap Ratio (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
G Bgi
m¼
N Boi
Reference: Ahmed,T., McKinney,P. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing House, Burlington, MA, 2015,
Chapter: 4, Page: 317.
20 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Output(s)
Gs: Gas Cap Shrinkage (bbl)
Formula(s)
! !
Bg
Gs ¼ Gpc Bg m N Boi 1
Bgi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D.2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 5,
Page: 333.
Output(s)
GDI: Gas (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
! !
G Bgi
GDI ¼ 1
Gp Bg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 211.
Output(s)
Eg: Gas Expansion Factor (SCF/bbl)
Formula(s)
1
Eg ¼ Egi Gp
43560 A h Ø ð1 Swi Þ
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D.2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 202.
Output(s)
Eg: Gas Expansion Term (ft3/SCF)
Formula(s)
Eg ¼ Bg Bgi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D.2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 209.
Output(s)
Q: Flow Rate (bbl/min)
Formula(s)
0:007 k ð ∂PÞ L
Q¼
Re
u ln 1440
Rw
Reference: Lapeyrouse, N. J., 2002, Formulas and Calculations for Drilling, Production and Workover, Second Edition,
Gulf Professional Publishing, Page: 136.
22 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Output(s)
Qg: Gas Flow Rate (MSCF/d)
Formula(s)
k h ’r ’wf
Qg ¼
4A
1422 T 0:5 ln +S
1:781 CA rw2
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 188.
Output(s)
Bg: Gas Formation Volume Factor (bbl/SCF)
Formula(s)
0:005035 z T
Bg ¼
P
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 1,
Page: 15.
Output(s)
p h: Disassociation Pressure (psi)
Formula(s)
(" #
2:50744 103
ph ¼ 0:1450377 exp + Fm 1:214644 102 + 4:676111 104 F2m + 0:0720122
ðgh + 0:46852Þ3
)
3:6625 104 3
T + + Fm ð5:44376Þ + Fm 2
3:89 10 + ð29:9351Þ
ðgh + ð0:485054ÞÞ3
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 274.
Output(s)
P
z: Ratio of Pressure to Compressibility Factor at Current Conditions for P/z vs Gp plot (psi)
Formula(s)
P Pi PSC T
¼ Gp
z zi TSC V
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D.2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 203.
Output(s)
Gp: Gas Produced (SCF)
24 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
!
1 1
Gp ¼ 43560 A h Ø ð1 Swi Þ
Bgi Bg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 202.
Output(s)
Sg: Gas Saturation (fraction)
Formula(s)
We Wp Bw
G Gp Bg S
1 Swi Sgrw grw
Sg ¼ !
G Bgi We Wp Bw
1 Swi 1 Swi Sgrw
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 208.
Output(s)
Rs: Equivalent Gas Solubility (dimensionless)
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 25
Formula(s)
0:17525 rB
Rs ¼ V
Øm Som
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 222.
Output(s)
Vb: Acoustic Velocity in Bulk Formation (m/s)
Vma: Acoustic Velocity in Matrix (m/s)
Formula(s)
0:5
Kb 1 mb
Vb ¼ 3 *
sb 1 + mb
0:5
Kma 1 mma
Vma ¼ 3 *
sma 1 + mma
Reference: Bassiouni, Z., 1994, Theory, Measurement, and Interpretation of Well Logs. SPE Textbook Series Vol. 4.
Chapter 3, Page: 55.
Output(s)
gG: Geothermal Gradient (degree °F/100 ft)
Formula(s)
Tbh Ts
gG ¼ 100
Dbh
Reference: Bassiouni, Z., 1994, Theory, Measurement, and Interpretation of Well Logs. SPE Textbook Series Vol. 4.
Chapter 4, Page: 75.
26 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Output(s)
m: Viscosity (cP)
Formula(s)
ð P o PL Þ p ð R 4 Þ r
m¼
8wL
Reference: Bird, R.B., Stewart, W.E. and Lightfoot, E.N. (2002). Transport Phenomena (Second Ed.). John Wiley & Sons,
Chapter: 2, Page: 51.
Output(s)
Q: Gas Flow (MSCF/d)
Formula(s)
G P21 P22
Q¼
2 P1 mgavg Bgavg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 236.
Output(s)
G: Gas in Place (SCF)
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 27
Formula(s)
Gapp
G¼
R
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 216.
Output(s)
Qg: Gas Flow Rate (MSCF/d)
Formula(s)
7:08 106 k h Pr Pwf
Qg ¼
re
mgavg Bgavg ln 0:75 + S
rw
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 189.
Output(s)
tdbt: Breakthrough Time if breakthrough time is given (days)
qd : Dimensionless Flow Rate (dimensionless)
28 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
tbt
tdbt ¼ kv ro rg
364:72h ø mo
Bo
qd ¼ 325:86 mo qo
ðkv *kh Þ 0:5
h ro rg
Output(s)
Q c: Critical Oil Rate (m3/h)
Formula(s)
L F
Qc ¼ 3:486 105 h2 ðrw ro Þ
xA kh mo
Reference: Chaperon, I. 1986. Theoretical Study of Coning Toward Horizontal and Vertical in Anisotropic Formations:
Subcritical and Critical Rates. SPE ATCE, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Output(s)
q o: Critical Oil Rate (STB/day)
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 29
Formula(s)
L
qo ¼ 4:888 104 kh h2 ðrw ro Þ !
2 h2 0:5
B o mo 2*ye + 2*ye +
3
Output(s)
q c: Critical Oil Rate (m3/day)
Formula(s)
2 !!
kh h2 g Dr 1 h
qc ¼ 1
BmL 6 L
Reference: B.J. Karcher, E.F. Aquitaine, F.M. Giger, Some Practical Formulas to Predict Horizontal Well Behavior.1986.
SPE ATCE, New Orleans, Louisiana.
1.64 Horizontal well critical rate correlations—Joshi method for gas coning
Input(s)
ro: Oil Density (g/cc)
rg : Gas Density (g/cc)
re: Effective Radius of drainage (ft)
rw: Radius of Wellbore (ft)
lv: Distance between Gas/Oil interphase and perforated top of Vertical Well (ft)
h: Oil Column Thickness (ft)
mo : Oil Viscosity (cP)
B o: Oil Formation Volume Factor (RB/STB)
kh: Horizontal Permeability (mD)
Output(s)
q o: Critical Oil Rate (STB/day)
30 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
h2 ð h l v Þ 2
qo ¼ 1:535 103 ro rg kh
r
Bo mo ln e
rw
Output(s)
V: Volume of the Evolved Gas that Remains in the PV (PV)
Formula(s)
V ¼ N Rsi Np Rp N Np Rs Bg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 4,
Page: 301.
Output(s)
V: Volume of the Gas Cap at Current Pressure (bbl)
Formula(s)
m N Boi Bg
V¼
Bgi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 4,
Page: 301.
Reservoir engineering formulas and calculations Chapter 1 31
Output(s)
Vro: Volume of the Remaining Oil (bbl)
Formula(s)
Vro ¼ N Np Bo
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 4,
Page: 301.
Output(s)
HP: Hydrostatic Pressure (psi)
Formula(s)
HP ¼ mw 0:052 TVD
Reference: Wikipedia.org.
Output(s)
DNp: Incremental Oil Produced (STB)
32 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
1 Np øo Gp øg
DNp ¼
ð øo Þ + GOR øg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 5,
Page: 335.
Output(s)
Øin: Ineffective Porosity (fraction)
Formula(s)
Vdis
Øin ¼
Vb
Reference: Dandekar, A. Y. 2006. Petroleum Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press Taylor &
Francis Group, Chapter: 3, Page: 15.
Output(s)
G: Initial Gas Cap Gas (SCF)
Formula(s)
m N Boi
G¼
Bgi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 4,
Page: 300.
Output(s)
G: Gas Initially in Place (MSCF)
Formula(s)
Gp Bg We Wp Bw
G¼
Bg Bgi
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 207.
Output(s)
I: Injectivity Index (STB/day/psi)
Formula(s)
q
I¼
pwf p
Output(s)
GOR: Gas Oil Ratio (SCF/bbl)
Formula(s)
krg mo Bo
GOR ¼ Rs +
kro mg Bg
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 1,
Page: 16.
34 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Output(s)
a: Block-Shape Parameter (1/ft2)
l: Interporosity Flow Coefficient (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
A
a¼
Vx
a km r2w
l¼
kf
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 1,
Page: 82.
Output(s)
V: Interstitial Velocity (cm/s)
Formula(s)
q
V¼
ØA
Reference: Civan, F. Reservoir Formation Damage: Fundamentals, Modeling, Assessment, and Mitigation. Gulf Pub-
lishing Company, Houston, Texas, Page: 493.
Output(s)
co: Isothermal Compressibility of Oil (/psi)
Formula(s)
5 Rsob + 17:2 T 1180 gg + 12:61 r 1433
co ¼
p 105
Reference: Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, Second Edition, Craft & Hawkins, Page: 39.
Output(s)
lco: Isothermal Compressibility of Oil (/psi)
Formula(s)
lco ¼ 0:664 1:430 ln ðpÞ 0:395 ln ðpb Þ + 0:39 ln ðT Þ + 0:455 ln ðRsobÞ + 0:262 ln ðrÞ
Reference: Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, Second Edition, Craft & Hawkins, Page: 39.
Output(s)
cw: Isothermal Compressibility of Water (Osif Correlation) (SCF/STB)
Formula(s)
1
cw ¼
7:033 p + 541:5 CNaCl 537:0 T + 403300
Reference: Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, Second Edition, Craft & Hawkins, Page: 46.
Output(s)
Vg: Gas Velocity (cc)
Formula(s)
k P2
Vg ¼
2m
Reference: Ahmed, T. & McKinney, P.D. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing House, Burlington, MA, 2015.
Output(s)
k g: Apparent permeability of gas (mD)
Formula(s)
b
kg ¼ kl 1 +
p
Reference: Wikipedia.org.
Output(s)
k: Permeability (cm2)
Formula(s)
Ø
k¼
kz S2p
Reference: Dandekar, A. Y. 2006. Petroleum Reservoir Rock and Fluid Properties. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press Taylor &
Francis Group, Page: 52.
Output(s)
k: Permeability (mD)
Formula(s)
B Ø 3 d2
k¼
τ
Reference: Mark D. Zoback, Reservoir Geomechanics, Cambridge University Express, UK, Page: 41.
Output(s)
J: Leverett J-function (dimensionless)
Formula(s)
0:5
Pc k
J¼
s cos ðyÞ ø
Output(s)
Pwf: Line-Source Solution for Damaged or Stimulated Wells (psi)
38 Formulas and calculations for petroleum engineering
Formula(s)
1688 Ø m ct r 2
ln 2s
kt
Pwf ¼ Pi + 70:6 q B m
kh
Reference: Pressure Transient Testing, Lee, Rollins & Spivey, Page: 11.
1.86 Low-pressure region gas flow rate for non-circular drainage area
Input(s)
k: Permeability (mD)
h: Thickness (ft)
Pr : Average Reservoir Pressure (psi)
Pwr: Well Flowing Pressure (psi)
mgavg: Average Gas Viscosity (cP)
Zavg: Average Gas Compressibility Factor (Dimensionless) A: Drainage Area (ft2)
CA : Shape Factor (dimensionless)
r w: Wellbore Radius (ft)
S: Skin (dimensionless)
T: Temperature (R)
Output(s)
Qg: Gas Flow Rate (MSCF/day)
Formula(s)
2
kh P2r Pwf
Qg ¼ ! !
4A
1422 mgavg T Zavg 0:5 ln +S
1:781 CA rw2
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney, P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 189.
Output(s)
F: Fluid Withdrawal (bbl)
Formula(s)
F ¼ G EG + We
Reference: Ahmed, T., McKinney P.D. 2005. Advanced Reservoir Engineering, Gulf Publishing of Elsevier, Chapter: 3,
Page: 209.
Another random document with
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"To complete the purchase of the yacht for Gwendolen. I wanted to give
it to her absolutely unencumbered. Mr. Tracy was selling some capital for
me and said I must wait till the following settling day for the cash, and I
asked Melville to lend me the hundred I needed until the matter was
completed. But he didn't send it. He never even answered my letter."
"He tells me he sent you a hundred pounds in notes," Sir Geoffrey said
distinctly. "Isn't that true?"
"No," said Ralph indignantly; "it's an absolute lie." He paced the room
in angry impatience. It seemed incredible that his own brother could be
capable of such an utterly unworthy trick. Sir Geoffrey closed his book with
a snap and pressed his lips together.
"I ought to have known you both better," he said; "but Melville's story
was so circumstantial, and there was the evidence of your letter, too. I was
completely taken in. But now I know what to do."
"Our relationship to him is our misfortune," said Sir Geoffrey, "not our
fault. I shall do what I say."
"Look here, Uncle Geoffrey," said Ralph excitedly, "after all, this is
largely my affair. I will give you back the hundred pounds—I've got the
money now—and I will go to town at once and square accounts with
Melville. Did he tell you where he was staying?"
"No," said his uncle; "I did not enquire."
"Well, I'm sure to get news of him at Jermyn Street, if he isn't actually
there. Promise to abandon all idea of prosecution, and leave this in my
hands. Promise?"
Sir Geoffrey looked with pleasure at his nephew as he stood erect before
him, glowing with just indignation, but with chivalrous desire to spare his
brother this crowning shame.
Sir Geoffrey shook his head doubtfully, but the mellow roar of the gong
reverberated through the house announcing luncheon, and he welcomed the
interruption.
"Shake hands, my boy," he said. "I'm sorry I misjudged you, even for a
moment. And now come along, or Gwen will think I've frightened away
your appetite."
He linked his arm within his nephew's, and went into the dining-room
with all his wonted cheerfulness restored.
CHAPTER V.
A refresher, in the shape of a sherry and bitters at the club, was followed
by a delicate but entirely adequate luncheon at the Dieu-donnée, and
Melville's enjoyment of it was not diminished by the fact that, happening to
meet a casual acquaintance there, he lunched at the same table, and
suggested that they should toss to decide which of the twain should pay the
joint account, with the result that the casual acquaintance lost. Evidently the
fickle jade was smiling on Melville; a couple of games of billiards followed
the luncheon, and another refresher the billiards, and in high good humour
Melville sauntered down the Ladies' Mile, preparatory to driving from
Albert Gate to The Vale.
"Sorry I can't ask you to come with me, old man," he said genially, "but
I'm obliged to pay a duty visit to an aged aunt."
"It's a very little flaw in an otherwise perfect day. You must lunch with
me next time, and I will give you your revenge at billiards," and carefully
choosing a well-appointed hansom he drove away.
"The old lady does herself pretty well," thought Melville to himself as
he walked up the gravelled path and noticed the close-cropped lawn and the
blaze of geraniums and petunias. "I wonder what she knows about me, and
what line I'd better take! The interesting musician might be diplomatic
perhaps."
He thought that the maid who opened the door looked curiously at him
as he enquired whether Lady Holt was at home, but, after all, that was a
trifling matter, capable of bearing many interpretations. His interest was,
however, more fully aroused by the drawing-room into which he was shown
to await his aunt's coming, for it was not at all the sort of environment in
which he had imagined he would find Sir Geoffrey's wife. It was essentially
the drawing-room of a worldly woman of the world, furnished with taste,
but evidently at great cost; photographs and silver boxes, enamels and
ivories were scattered in profusion over the many tables, water colours by
rising artists covered the walls, cushions and flowers were everywhere.
Then the door opened, and at the rustle of silk petticoats he turned to
make a formal bow to his aunt. But as he turned, an exclamation of surprise
escaped his lips and his single eye-glass dropped upon the floor, for the
woman who entered was no precise and ringletted old lady, but the one who
had asked him for his card at Monte Carlo, and who had expressed such
sympathy with him when he was reduced to the necessity of applying for
the viaticum. It was indeed no other than the charming Mrs. Sinclair.
"Not the last you wanted to see, I hope," she replied, "but I confess
delight is not the predominant expression upon your face at the moment.
Won't you sit down?"
"I can't quite sort things," Melville said apologetically. "To begin with,
you see, I had never heard until last night that there was a Lady Holt, and
when I got her note asking me to call here to-day I tried to picture what she
would be like."
"I like her very much," Mrs. Sinclair said. "Mr. Melville, it isn't quite
fair, perhaps, to lay snares for young men, and you evidently don't grasp the
situation. You remember your last night at Monte Carlo?"
"It was not the sort of night to forget readily," Melville replied grimly. "I
never had such monstrous bad luck at the tables before."
"I have kept my promise," said Mrs. Sinclair. "I wrote to you yesterday
and asked you to come to see me. I am Lady Holt."
"I never thought to see you so taken aback," she said. "What I like so
much about English gentlemen is that they are so imperturbable, and now
you are gazing at me as if I were a freak."
"Really, I beg your pardon," Melville said. "but to think how grossly I
have misjudged Sir Geoffrey!"
"Come, that's much better," Mrs. Sinclair replied. "Yes, Mr. Ashley, the
confession has to be made; I am your aunt."
"I'm uncommonly delighted to hear it," Melville said heartily, "and I've
only one regret in learning the fact."
"I perceive you are not expert in drawing inferences," Mrs. Sinclair
said; "one does not associate the particularly goody-goody type of young
man with Monte Carlo, and that is where I saw you first."
"That is true," Melville admitted. "I must plead guilty to not being
goody-goody. By the way, am I to call you 'aunt'?"
"Then you are old enough to call me Lavender when we are alone," she
said. "Out of doors it had better be Mrs. Sinclair, I suppose. It is a
censorious world."
She leaned back in her chair and surveyed her nephew critically; the
scrutiny was satisfactory, and she was glad of the impulse that had
prompted her to disclose her identity to him. Yet, shrewd and clever woman
as she was, she had taken a step which, while it could never be retraced,
was the first towards the undoing of them both. There were other things in
her life which in her hours of reflection she regretted, not least among them
being her separation from a husband whose good qualities she fully
recognised, but nothing in the past had been so fraught with peril to herself
as this alliance with her husband's nephew, which she owed to a single
moment of caprice.
"Confess now," she said presently, "you are burning with curiosity to
know all about everything?"
"The only thing that is necessary," Mrs. Sinclair replied, "is that I
actually am Sir Geoffrey Holt's wife. I married him years ago, when I was
too young to realise all that marriage means, especially marriage to a man
many years older than oneself. And—it didn't answer. That is really all."
She had no intention of telling Melville very much about herself, and, of
course, he could not cross-examine her. "He had not come into the title
then," she went on, "and indeed there was no reason for supposing he ever
would, for his brother was quite young enough to have married and had
sons. Perhaps——" She paused, and Melville took advantage of the pause
to give expression to the thought that was uppermost in his mind.
"I wonder that his marriage has been so completely forgotten. I never
heard of it, and I'm quite sure my brother never has, yet he has been like a
son to Sir Geoffrey, and knows a lot about his affairs."
"Sir Geoffrey is a very proud man. He always was; indeed, that had a
great deal to do with our mutual incompatibility, and proud men are apt to
hold their tongues about their failures. Oh, yes!" she said, laughing, though
there was no mirth in her laughter, "it was a dismal failure, and so we
agreed to separate and never trouble each other again."
"Sir Geoffrey is a very rich man," Melville remarked, following the line
of his own thoughts.
"I believe he is," said Mrs. Sinclair indifferently. "All the money in the
world doesn't make some things worth while."
"I wouldn't touch a penny of his money," said Mrs. Sinclair vehemently.
Melville, of course, dropped the subject, but noted her reply for future
use. What he wanted to ascertain most at the moment was Lady Holt's
feeling for her husband, but she gave him no opportunity.
"And he's like a son to Sir Geoffrey?" said Mrs. Sinclair. "Is he to be his
heir?"
"I don't know," Melville answered moodily. "I suppose so; but, as a
matter of fact, Sir Geoffrey hasn't made his will, so I don't know what he
will do with his money."
Mrs. Sinclair yawned. The conversation really did not interest her much,
and she had her own reasons for not wishing to let it get too intimate. She
had taken a fancy to Melville when she first saw him in the Riviera; he
belonged to the type of man in whose company she was most at home, and
she foresaw a certain amount of pleasurable excitement in which she could
participate with him without being worried by demonstrations of a more
affectionate interest, which men not related to her were apt to make. A
nephew is safer than a cousin.
"You must ask me to dine with you," she said, "and we will develop our
acquaintance gradually. I hate finding out all about people at once and
having nothing left to learn."
"All right," said Melville with alacrity. He liked her point of view and
felt amazingly sympathetic already. Moreover, he recognised as clearly as
she did the value of their relationship as a preventative of mutual
misunderstandings. "I will go and fix it up. 'Pon my honour, I'm awfully
delighted about this."
Mrs. Sinclair was satisfied. She rang the bell for the maid to open the
door, and smiled graciously upon her nephew.
"I hope you're going to be a great success," she said, as he rose to go.
"There is an element of romance in the way fate has brought us together
that is fascinating, and really you are a very creditable nephew."
BRAVADO.
Looking delightfully cool and well-bred in his grey flannel suit and
straw hat, with a turn-down collar that seemed to suggest an innocent
simplicity of character, Melville walked slowly down the hill from the
station and presented himself at the Austens' door. The ladies were in the
garden, the servant informed him, and there Melville sought them,
confident of a friendly greeting from them both.
Mrs. Austen was unaffectedly glad to see him. She had a tolerant feeling
for nearly all young men, and Melville's marvellous gift as a musician had
an especial charm for her. To Gwendolen he was Ralph's brother, and
hitherto Ralph had championed Melville's cause, with the result that the girl
was disposed to regard him as a somewhat maligned young man. So to-day
they made much of him, and, under the influence of their warm welcome
and gentle refinement, Melville was at his best.
"I've been sowing wild oats at Monte Carlo," he said gently, "and I
found it vanity. So I've come home. No, I had no adventures and met
nobody I knew. I lost all my money, and I'm very sorry for myself."
"I was thinking of Ralph and myself," he said. "Of course, Sir Geoffrey
has been equally generous to us both, but I notice that Ralph gets all the
affection. He was always Uncle Geoffrey's favourite, and now he is
engaged to Gwen." He sighed pathetically, and Mrs. Austen considered.
"I think your uncle is just as fond of you as he is of Ralph," she said,
"but you're not a home bird and your brother is. Really, I don't think Sir
Geoffrey could have been kinder to you if you had been his own son."
"Not kinder," Melville said, "but fonder, more affectionate. You have
known him a long time, Mrs. Austen. Why do you suppose he never
married?"
"I have often wondered," Mrs. Austen said, "but I never met him until
he came into the title and estates, and he was not a young man then. He may
never have wanted to marry, or he may have had some disappointment. At
all events, it's an excellent thing for you boys that he never did."
At last Melville rose to go, and with alacrity Ralph rose too.
"What the deuce do you mean by coming here like this?" he said
angrily.
"My dear Ralph," said Melville coolly, "The Grange doesn't belong to
you, nor does the Manor House—yet. I've been to The Grange because I
wanted to see the Austens, and now I'm going to the Manor House because
I want to see Sir Geoffrey."
"I wonder you have the audacity to look him in the face again," said
Ralph hotly. "You are a liar and a thief."
"Go slow, Ralph," said Melville, "go slow. It seems to me you're off
your chump. If your engagement hasn't turned your brain, tell me what all
this pother is about, and leave mud-slinging till afterwards. What do you
mean?"
Ralph was almost deceived by his brother's calmness; at any rate, it had
the effect of making him struggle to regain command of his own temper.
"I wrote to you when you were at Monte Carlo," he said more quietly,
"and asked you to lend me a hundred pounds."
"That's so," said Melville. "Sorry I couldn't oblige you, but I didn't even
read your letter till I was on my way home, and then I was broke myself."
"But you got a hundred pounds out of Sir Geoffrey," spluttered Ralph.
"I did," said Melville. "I hope you did the same."
"Good heavens, man!" cried Ralph, as angrily as before; "don't try your
vile swindles on me too. You told Sir Geoffrey you lent me that hundred
pounds and got him to hand you over an open cheque for the amount in
repayment of what you said was my debt, leaving him to get explanations
from me afterwards."
"I hope the old man wasn't very crusty," said Melville sweetly.
"But your whole story was an infernal lie," roared Ralph, "and you got
that money by a vulgar, low-down swindle. You are a liar, Melville, and a
thief. I wish to heaven Sir Geoffrey had kicked you out of the house before
he parted with the cheque."
"I daresay you do," Melville replied, unmoved; "but really, Ralph,
you've had your whack out of the old buck, and now you're going to marry
the Austen money you needn't grudge me a bit, need you? It's not exactly
brotherly."
"You can thank me that you've not been arrested already for getting that
money under false pretences," he said, livid with passion. "If Sir Geoffrey
had had his own way you would have been, and 'pon my word, I'm
beginning to be sorry I begged you off."
"Perhaps it isn't too late even yet," said Melville, no less calmly than
before, "but I fancy you are exaggerating. Sir Geoffrey is always
intemperate in his language, but I can't believe he would adopt such
extremely unpleasant measures as the prosecution of his own nephew.
However, I'll talk to him about it. I came down with the intention of doing
so after I left The Grange."
"I think it was a mean and dirty trick," he said, "to make out that I owed
you anything when I didn't, but that part of the business you can settle with
your own conscience. What are you going to do now about the money?"
"Well," said Ralph, "I persuaded Sir Geoffrey to drop the idea of legal
proceedings by saying that as you had used my name the matter ought to be
left in my hands. I've been to town to get the money, and I repaid him this
morning."
"That's really awfully good of you," Melville said effusively. "I am
infinitely obliged to you, but I'm afraid I shall have to owe it to you for a
little while."
"It's simple waste of time to talk to you," said Ralph with scorn, "but
there's one more remark I have to make, and you may as well remember it,
for I mean what I say. I can't undo the fact that you are my brother, but I can
do a good deal to prevent it from being forced on my attention, and one way
is to avoid seeing you. Now, in future I'll trouble you to keep away from
The Grange."
Melville coloured. This was a contingency he had not foreseen, and for
a moment he lost his judgment.
"You are a contemptible swindler, and if you only have rope enough
you'll hang yourself in the end. I'm quits with Sir Geoffrey over your last
fraud, and it's worth every penny of the money to have learnt to know you
as you are; but now I do know you I'll take jolly good care that you don't
hang about my friends. Sir Geoffrey has ordered you out of the Manor
House, and I order you out of The Grange. Go there again, and I'll tell Mrs.
Austen all about this business and twist your neck into the bargain."
"It will be time enough for you to order me out of houses when you
possess any. When you are master of The Grange I shall keep clear of the
place, you may be sure. Until then I shall call upon Mrs. Austen whenever I
choose."
"If you go to The Grange I shall tell Mrs. Austen what has happened,"
Ralph repeated, "and she will order you out then herself."
"I dare you to do it," said Melville. In reality the idea filled him with
uneasiness, but he was too shrewd to show it. Instead, he remarked
reflectively, as if considering Ralph's interests only, "Mrs. Austen might
begin to think she was allowing her daughter to marry into a queer family,
supposing for the moment that she took everything you said for gospel."
Ralph drove his hands deep into his pockets. Honesty such as his often
seems very stupid when confronted with the cleverness of a knave, and he
felt unequal to a discussion with his brother. But he wished he had been less
loyal to him in the past, less sturdy an advocate for his defence when Sir
Geoffrey arraigned him. It was humiliating to think how completely
Melville had taken him in. They walked in silence to the Manor House, and
Ralph paused by the gate.
"I'm not going to argue with you, and I have nothing to add to what I
said about The Grange. Go there and you'll see. Here is the Manor House. If
you take my advice you will leave me here and get back to town by the next
train."
"When I ask your advice I'll consider about taking it," Melville
answered gently; he saw how his own coolness angered and flurried Ralph.
"As for The Grange, Mrs. Austen has kindly invited me to dine there and
bring my violin, and I need scarcely say I have accepted. And as for Sir
Geoffrey, I have come down to see him, and if he's at home I will see him
now; if he is out I shall wait."
"You are beyond me," Ralph said hopelessly. "Well, I don't want to keep
you away from Sir Geoffrey if you are anxious to see him, but if I were in
your shoes, which, thank heaven, I am not, I would blow out my brains
rather than face him. I don't believe you have any shame left."
He opened the gate and, with Melville, walked up the drive. As they
came in sight of the house, however, his mind shrank from the prospect of
having to be present at so painful an interview between his uncle and
brother as he felt sure this one must be. He stopped abruptly.
"You will probably find Sir Geoffrey in the library," he said. "I am
going down to the houseboat."
"All right," said Melville unconcernedly. "I dare say I shall see you
again later. If Sir Geoffrey asks me to stay, I will. By-bye," and noting with
amusement the incredulous surprise written on Ralph's countenance he
nodded cheerfully to him and walked in through the open doorway of the
Manor House.
CHAPTER VII.
Melville turned from the hall into the dining-room and rang the bell. It
was cool and shady in this room, and Melville was conscious of a pang of
regret at the knowledge that the place would never be his. His life had been
full of variety and excitement, but it had cost him all chance of ever being
master of the Manor House. Already he was an unwelcome visitor, and
when in course of time it passed into Ralph's possession, its doors would
very probably be closed to him altogether.
"Ralph is a stupid clown," he muttered, "but I'm not sure that he hasn't
done better for himself than I have. To own this place and be Gwen's
husband should be good enough for anyone."
The sigh that escaped him was born of sincerity, but he turned briskly to
face his immediate task as the butler came in answer to the ring. Melville
shook hands with him, making no reference to his previous evening visit to
his uncle.
"Yes," said Melville; "same old racket, same old place, same old luck."
"That's rude," said Melville, "seeing that I've just come from there. How
is Sir Geoffrey?"
"Pretty well, sir," the butler replied; "I may say very well."
"He's a wonderful old chap," said Melville. "He'll be marrying soon and
having a family of his own; see if he doesn't."
"Sir Geoffrey never took any account of the ladies," Martin remarked.
"It's a pity, in some ways; but, bless you, sir, he's got all the family a man
needs in Master Ralph and yourself."
"Too much, perhaps," said Melville. "Go and tell him I'm here, Martin,
will you."