Rock thermal conductivity and its variation with density, temperature, and fluid saturation

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1968 · Prod. Mon.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5520219

Viloria, G; Farouq Ali, S M

Thermal conductivity enters into recovery computations in 2 different ways. In the case of the reservoir rock, it determines the flow of heat by conduction in the direction of and perpendicular to the fluid flow. In the case of the adjacent formations, thermal conductivity determines the amount of heat lost to these formations due to a higher temperature in the reservoir rock. In this regard, thermal conductivity (being a controlling factor in thermal diffusivity) is of considerable importance. The thermal conductivity of a porous medium depends upon a number of factors, some of which are density, temperature, fluid saturations, types of fluids, and the movement of fluids in the rock. The present article discusses these factors, and in particular, considers the recent work of V.M. Tikhomirov toward obtaining equations for predicting the effects of density, temperature, and water saturation on thermal conductivity. (19 refs.)

• Research Organization: Texas Petroleum Co; Pennsylvania State Univ
• OSTI ID: 5520219
• Journal Information: Prod. Mon.; (United States), Vol. 32:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
RESERVOIR ROCK
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
DENSITY
FLUID FLOW
HEAT TRANSFER
PETROLEUM
POROUS MATERIALS
PREDICTION EQUATIONS
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERMAL DIFFUSIVITY
THERMAL RECOVERY
VARIATIONS
VISCOSITY
WATER SATURATION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUATIONS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
MATERIALS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RECOVERY
SATURATION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production