Sweep Efficiency Calculator

Model fluid sweep performance across layered reservoir zones. Tune inputs for patterns, mobility, and thickness. Export tables and reports, then optimize recovery confidently now.

Inputs
Choose a method, enter parameters, then calculate.
Engineering How to use Formula
Composite is common for injection and displacement projects.
Pattern coverage from mobility and well spacing.
Thickness coverage impacted by layering and conformance.
Microscopic displacement within contacted zones.
When enabled, EA and EV are calculated from mobility ratio and heterogeneity. Provide ED manually.
M > 1 may reduce sweep due to fingering.
Higher VDP implies stronger heterogeneity.
Used only for the estimator factor.
Total reservoir segment or pattern volume.
Estimated contacted volume by injected fluid.
Units are carried through to reporting only.
Example data
Use these values to validate your workflow and exports.
Scenario EA (%) EV (%) ED (%) ES (%)
Moderate mobility, layered zone 65 75 55 26.81
Improved conformance treatment 72 82 55 32.47
Higher displacement efficiency 65 75 65 31.69
ES = EA × EV × ED (each as a fraction), expressed as percent.
Formula used
In composite mode, EA captures areal coverage, EV captures vertical coverage, and ED captures microscopic displacement inside the swept region. The estimator toggle uses simplified, bounded approximations for quick screening only.
How to use this calculator
  1. Select Composite for injection/displacement evaluations or Direct for measured swept fraction.
  2. Enter inputs in the form. Use consistent units for volumes in direct mode.
  3. Press Calculate. Your results appear above the form under the header.
  4. Use Download CSV or Download PDF to export inputs and outputs.
  5. For screening, enable the estimator toggle and provide M and VDP.

Why sweep efficiency matters in field planning

Sweep efficiency estimates the contacted fraction of a reservoir during injection. In many waterfloods, composite sweep may sit around 20–40%, while well‑managed projects can exceed that range when conformance is strong. Engineers use the metric to link pattern design, rate strategy, and surveillance to expected recovery and to flag bypassed zones that drive early breakthrough and higher operating costs.

Areal coverage drivers and pattern effects

Areal sweep is plan‑view coverage across the pattern area. It generally declines as mobility ratio rises above 1, because fingering and channeling reduce front stability. Pattern geometry also matters: spot patterns can improve coverage when connectivity is uniform, while line drive performance depends heavily on alignment with permeability trends. Balanced injection and producer drawdown help maintain a broader flood front.

Vertical conformance across layered reservoirs

Vertical sweep describes how evenly injected fluid occupies the pay thickness. High permeability contrasts, thin thief streaks, or commingled completions often cause flow to concentrate, leaving lower‑perm layers under‑swept. Heterogeneity indicators such as the Dykstra–Parsons coefficient (0 to 1) provide a practical screening signal: higher values often imply poorer vertical conformance. Zonal isolation, selective injection, and profile control can lift vertical sweep materially.

Displacement efficiency and fluid selection

Displacement efficiency reflects microscopic displacement inside swept rock. It is driven by relative permeability, wettability, capillary number, and the mobility of the displacing phase. Polymer can improve mobility control, and miscible gas can reduce residual oil saturation, raising ED compared with a base waterflood. Field estimates typically come from laboratory corefloods, analogs, and simulation, then are updated with water cut and pressure behavior.

Using results to compare scenarios and risks

The calculator is most powerful for scenario comparison. Start with a base case, then test conformance treatments, spacing changes, or mobility control to see which lever increases overall sweep the most. Pair the sweep result with injection volumes, breakthrough timing, and unit costs to quantify value. If using the direct method, ensure swept and total volumes refer to the same region and time window. Exported CSV and PDF outputs support peer review, audit trails, and quick sharing with operations, subsurface, and economics teams during reviews.

FAQs

1) What does sweep efficiency represent?

It is the fraction of the reservoir volume contacted by the displacing fluid within the evaluated area and time. Higher sweep generally means better volumetric contact and improved recovery potential for a given injection effort.

2) Why can sweep be low even with high injection rates?

High rates can amplify channeling through high‑perm paths, especially when mobility ratio exceeds 1 or vertical contrasts are strong. The flood front becomes unstable, so injected fluid reaches producers early without contacting the full reservoir.

3) When should I use the composite method?

Use it when you have or can estimate areal sweep, vertical sweep, and displacement efficiency. It is helpful for planning and comparing pattern designs, conformance options, and EOR fluids before full‑physics simulation.

4) When is the direct method more appropriate?

Use it when you can estimate swept and total volumes from surveillance, tracers, simulation summaries, or interpreted flood maps. It provides a practical realized sweep for a defined region and time window.

5) How should I choose displacement efficiency?

Base it on coreflood results, analog projects, and simulation studies. Consider wettability, relative permeability, salinity, and miscibility. Update the value as field evidence changes, such as water cut trends and pressure response.

6) Are the estimator results suitable for final reserves?

No. The estimator option is a bounded screening approximation to explore sensitivity quickly. For reserves and investment decisions, use calibrated simulation, history matching, and validated surveillance to constrain sweep components.

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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.