Original Gas In Place Calculator

Estimate original gas volumes from reservoir properties quickly. Switch units, compute Bg, and export reports. Compare scenarios and document decisions with consistent calculations today.

Inputs

Enter reservoir properties and choose a Bg method.
Layout adapts: 3 / 2 / 1 columns

Gross drainage area for the gas-bearing interval.
Net pay thickness, excluding non-reservoir intervals.
%
Use effective porosity if available.
%
Gas saturation is computed as 1 − Sw.
%
Ratio of net reservoir to total interval.
%
Optional: estimate recoverable gas from OGIP.
Gas formation volume factor (Bg)
Choose one method for Bg.
Reservoir pressure at the zone of interest.
Reservoir temperature (used as absolute Rankine/Kelvin).
Gas compressibility factor at P and T.
res ft³/scf
Use consistent units when entering Bg directly.
Bg approximation: Bg ≈ 0.02827 × Z × T(R) ÷ P(psia).
Reset

Example data table

Sample scenarios to validate your inputs and expected scale.
Scenario Area Thickness Porosity Sw NTG Bg Estimated OGIP
Example A 120 acres 65 ft 12% 28% 85% ~0.0050 ~4.97 Bscf
Example B 2.0 km² 18 m 15% 35% 90% 0.0042 ~14.60 Bscf
Examples are illustrative; update with reservoir-specific correlations and petrophysics.

Formula used

This calculator uses the common volumetric method for original gas in place (OGIP):

OGIP (scf) = 43560 × A(acres) × h(ft) × NTG × φ × (1 − Sw) ÷ Bg
  • A is drainage area, h is net thickness.
  • φ is porosity (fraction), Sw is water saturation (fraction).
  • NTG scales gross thickness to effective reservoir rock.
  • Bg converts reservoir gas volume to standard gas volume.

When you choose Bg calculation, an industry approximation is used: Bg ≈ 0.02827 × Z × T(R) ÷ P(psia).

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter drainage area and net thickness using your preferred units.
  2. Provide porosity, water saturation, and net-to-gross as percentages.
  3. Choose a Bg method: compute from pressure/temperature/Z or enter Bg directly.
  4. Optionally add a recovery factor to estimate recoverable volumes.
  5. Click Calculate. Results appear above the form.
  6. Use the download buttons to export a CSV or PDF report.

Reservoir inputs and data quality

Area and net thickness are the largest volume drivers. For early studies, map-based areas often range from 20 to 2,000 acres, while net pay commonly falls between 10 and 150 ft across intervals. Porosity from core or log models typically spans 6–22%. Water saturation often sits in the 20–55% band; small changes materially affect gas saturation. Net-to-gross is commonly 60–95% and should reflect cutoffs applied consistently.

Bg selection and Z-factor sensitivity

Bg converts reservoir volume to standard volume, so its accuracy is critical. When computed, Bg uses pressure, temperature, and Z. At 2,500–5,000 psia and 160–260°F, Z frequently ranges 0.75–1.05 for gas, but can deviate with rich gas or high CO₂. A 5% increase in Z increases Bg about 5%, reducing OGIP about 5%. Use a PVT report or an EOS-based correlation for final cases.

Unit discipline and conversion checkpoints

This tool normalizes area to acres and thickness to feet before applying the 43,560 ft²/acre constant. If you input 2.0 km², it becomes about 494 acres; 18 m becomes about 59.1 ft. Confirm that porosity, Sw, and NTG are entered as percentages, not fractions. If you enter Bg directly, keep it in reservoir ft³ per standard ft³. Mixed Bg units are the most common source of order-of-magnitude errors.

Uncertainty, ranges, and scenario planning

OGIP is best treated as a distribution, not a single point. Build low, base, and high cases by varying area, net thickness, porosity, and Sw within interpreted bounds. For example, ±15% on area, ±10 ft on net pay, ±2 porosity points, and ±5 saturation points can produce a wide spread. Document assumptions, then export results for peer review. If you have probabilistic inputs, run scenarios and summarize P10/P50/P90 externally.

Interpreting outputs for screening decisions

The calculator reports OGIP in scf, Bscf, and BCM, plus recoverable gas using your recovery factor. Screening recovery factors often range 60–90% for depletion drive in simple reservoirs, but can be lower with tight rock, strong water drive, or operational constraints. Use recoverable volumes to sanity-check plateau targets and facility sizing. For reserves work, integrate material balance, decline analysis, and dynamic simulation to reconcile volumetrics with performance data.

FAQs

What does OGIP represent in this tool?

OGIP is the estimated standard gas volume originally present in the mapped reservoir rock. It is calculated from area, net thickness, rock properties, saturations, and Bg.

Should I compute Bg or enter it directly?

Compute Bg when you have pressure, temperature, and a defensible Z-factor. Enter Bg directly when you already have a PVT-derived Bg at reservoir conditions and want consistent reporting.

Why does water saturation affect OGIP strongly?

The volumetric equation uses gas saturation as (1 − Sw). Increasing Sw reduces gas-filled pore volume linearly, so even a few saturation points can noticeably shift OGIP, especially in high-porosity reservoirs.

What if my thickness is gross, not net?

Use your best gross thickness and apply net-to-gross to represent pay-quality rock. If NTG is uncertain, run low/base/high NTG cases to understand its impact before committing to a single value.

Can I use metric inputs without manual conversion?

Yes. Area supports hectares and km², and thickness supports meters. The calculator converts to acres and feet internally before computing OGIP, then reports results in scf, Bscf, and BCM.

Is this suitable for reserves or booking decisions?

It is suitable for screening and early evaluation. For booking, reconcile volumetrics with PVT, material balance, decline analysis, well tests, and dynamic simulation, and document uncertainty with auditable inputs.

Notes: This tool supports screening-level estimates. For reserves reporting, apply field-validated petrophysics, PVT, net pay, and uncertainty ranges.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.