Pore-space statistics and capillary pressure curves from volume-controlled porosimetry

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · SPE Formation Evaluation (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2118/19618-PA· OSTI ID:7306249

Toledo, P G ^[1]; Scriven, L E; Davis, H T ^[2]

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1. Intevep, Caracas (Venezuela)
2. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)

Far more information about pore spaces of reservoir rock samples can be obtained from volume-controlled mercury porosimetry than from conventional pressure-controlled mercury porosimetry. Yuan and Swanson demonstrated this in landmark experiments with their apparatus for pore examination (APEX). With a mechanism-based, computer-facilitated model of pore-level displacement, the authors discover how much useful information about a porous medium can be extracted from volume-controlled mercury porosimetry. APEX mercury injection is quasistatic; so is their simulation. Displacements under this condition consist of smooth, reversible changes punctuated by jumps in capillary pressure, P[sub c], the sequence of which follows from the structure of the porous medium and the saturation history. Thus, careful examination of P[sub c] fluctuations provides detailed information about pore-size distributions. The results account quantitatively for the APEX mercury P[sub c] curves precisely measured by Yuan and Swanson. In the work, sample size -- an aspect not reported previously -- is a main factor in APEX response. Using Monte Carlo simulation, the authors find the optimum-sized specimen for examining a pore space with particular properties and investigate withdrawal experiments, withdrawal after partial reinjection, and full scanning loops.

• OSTI ID: 7306249
• Journal Information: SPE Formation Evaluation (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States), Journal Name: SPE Formation Evaluation (Society of Petroleum Engineers); (United States) Vol. 9:1; ISSN 0885-923X; ISSN SFEVEG
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
ACCURACY
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MINERAL RESOURCES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
POROSIMETERS
POROSITY
RESERVOIR ROCK
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