Correlation of capillary number relationships for sandstone

Journal Article · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/10114-PA· OSTI ID:6043363

Chatzis, I; Morrow, N R

Capillary number relationships are presented for displacement of both residual and initially continuous oil from water-wet consolidated sandstones having permeabilities that varied over about two orders of magnitude. It was found that the critical displacement ratio, (..delta..P/Lsigma) /SUB cr/ , for the onset of mobilization could be correlated with sample permeability. Relationships between normalized reduced residual oil saturation and capillary number (taken as k /SUB w/ ..delta..P/Lsigma) also were correlated satisfactorily. For sandstones, capillary numbers for displacement of continuous oil were lower than values for mobilization of discontinuous oil for down to 50% of normal waterflood residual. Thereafter, capillary number relationships for the two types of displacement were indistinguishable. Conditions for complete recovery of residual oil correspond to values of (k /SUB w/ ..delta..P/Lsigma) of about 1.5 X 10/sup -3/ as compared with about 2 X 10/sup -5/ for onset of mobilization.

• Research Organization: New Mexico Inst. of Mining and Technology
• OSTI ID: 6043363
• Journal Information: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States), Journal Name: SPEJ, Soc. Pet. Eng. J.; (United States) Vol. 24:5; ISSN SSPJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
MECHANICS
OIL SATURATION
OIL WELLS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESIDUAL PETROLEUM
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SWEEP EFFICIENCY
WATER SATURATION
WATERFLOODING
WELLS