Relative permeabilities at simulated reservoir conditions
- Univ. of Oklahoma, OK (US)
Relative permeability was determined at conditions from ambient to those simulating a depth of 1200 m (3,940 ft) from laboratory displacement data. The data were analyzed with the semianalytical interpretation method of Civan and Donaldson, which includes capillary pressure. The unsteady-state displacement method requires that the data be collected at high flow rates to diminish the influence of capillary end effects. Including capillary pressure removes this constraint but results in a more complex mathematical model. The results show the capillary end effects and the error introduced by not including them in the calculation of relative permeability. When capillary pressure was ignored in our model, it reproduced the literature values. Relative permeability measurements at elevated temperature show the characteristic temperature effect of higher oil relative permeability and lower residual oil saturation (ROS). These effects result from a change of wettability to a more water-wet condition at the higher temperatures. The equipment used for relative permeability measurement can easily be constructed; in fact, some commercial designs can be used without modification. The results represent data at reservoir conditions; the data are taken on cores that are recompressed, eliminating the adverse influence of microfractures and changes of pore-size distribution frequently present in field cores run at ambient conditions. The displacement data are not restricted to high-flow-rate experimental conditions; removal of this restriction allows the analysis of low-permeability cores when flow rates are necessarily low.
- OSTI ID:
- 6544982
- Journal Information:
- SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Reserv. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 3:4; ISSN SREEE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CALCULATION METHODS
CAPILLARIES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
DATA
DATA COMPILATION
DISPLACEMENT FLUIDS
DRILL CORES
FLOW RATE
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
INFORMATION
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINERAL RESOURCES
OIL FIELDS
OIL SATURATION
ORGANS
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
RESERVOIR ROCK
RESOURCES
SATURATION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS