Estimates of permeability and relative permeability for sandstone using image analysis of cross sections

Conference · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5809497

Blair, S. C. ^[1]; Berryman, J. G. ^[1]

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1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Important geometrical features of the pore space of rocks can be determined from digitized images of rock cross sections. One approach computes statistical correlation functions using modern image processing techniques. These correlation functions contain information about porosity, specific surface area, tortuosity, formation factor, and elastic constants, as well as the fluid and relative permeabilities. The physical basis of this approach is discussed and examples of the results for Berea sandstone are presented. The analysis shows that Kozeny-Carman relations and Archie's empirical laws must be modified to account for finite percolation thresholds and avoid unphysical behavior in the calculated relative permeabilities.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER). Earth & Environmental Systems Science (EESS)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5809497
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--106023-Rev.1; CONF-910728--10-Rev.1; ON: DE91010463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
EQUATIONS
FLUIDS
IMAGE PROCESSING
IMAGES
MICROSCOPY
OPTICAL MICROSCOPY
PERMEABILITY
POROSITY
PROCESSING
RESERVOIR FLUIDS
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SAMPLE PREPARATION
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SURFACE AREA
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WETTABILITY