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Effect of the capillary number and its constituents on two-phase relative permeabilities

Journal Article · · Diss. Abstr. Int. B; (United States)
OSTI ID:6033170

One of the primary goals of any enhanced recovery project is to maximize the ability of the fluids to flow through a porous medium, i.e., the reservoir. The topic of this study is the effect of the capillary number, a dimensionless group describing the ratio of viscous to capillary forces, on 2-phase (oil-water) relative permeability curves. Specifically, a series of steady-state measurements were performed to determine if the capillary number causes changes in the 2-phase permeabilities or if any one of its constituents, such as flow velocity, fluid viscosity, or interfacial tension, are the controlling variables. For the core tests, run in fired Berea Sandstone, a Soltrol 170 oil-calcium chloride brine- isopropyl alcohol-glycerin system was utilized. Alcohol was the tension reducer and glycerin was used as the wetting phase viscosifier. It was found that the nonwetting phase (oil) relative permeability shows no correlation with the capillary number.

OSTI ID:
6033170
Journal Information:
Diss. Abstr. Int. B; (United States), Journal Name: Diss. Abstr. Int. B; (United States) Vol. 43:9; ISSN DABBB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English