Introduction:

Hydrocarbon reservoir rocks are usually saturated with two or more fluids, including
irreducible water, oil and gas. When more than one fluid is present in a reservoir, they interact
with each other interfering with their flow, hence reducing the apparent permeability of the
reservoir. In these cases, the flow of each fluid is a function of the wettability of the rock, the
wetting phase, the saturation of each fluid in the rock, the distribution of those fluids, and the
saturation history. To describe the simultaneous flow of more than one fluid, we generalize
Darcy’s Law by introducing the concept of effective and relative permeability. When a well is
drilled or discovered they are usually saturated with two or more fluids, such as interstitial water,
oil, and gas. The presence of other phases interferes with the flow of a fluid, reducing the
apparent permeability. When more than one fluid is present in the formation, the flow of each
fluid is a function of the wettability of the rock, the wetting phase, the saturation of each fluid in
the rock, the distribution of those fluids, and the saturation history. Therefore, to describe the
simultaneous flow of more than one fluid. In this lab, we experimentally determined the relative
permeability of our core sample by flowing oil and water at steady state conditions.

−q o μo dL
oil: k o=
A d po

−q w μw dL
water: k w =
A d pw

For a vertical system, which is our case today:

Oil:

−k o A d ϕo k o A P1−P2 + ρo g ∆ s
q o= . = .
μo dz μo ∆s

−q o μo ∆s
k o=
A ∆ P+ ρo g ∆ s

Water:
 −k w A d ϕw k w A P1 −P 2+ ρw g ∆ s
q w= . = .
μw dz μw ∆s

−q w μw ∆s
k w= (4)
A ∆ P+ ρ w g ∆ s

A = cross-sectional area

∆ s = length of the core

The effective permeability is written by using a subscript to designate the fluid under
consideration ( k o , k w , k g ), just like pressure ( po , pw , p g ), flow rate ( q o , qw , q g ), and viscosity

( μo , μw , μ g ) of each phase.

capillary pressure pc = po − pw

Relative permeability, k ro , k rw , k rg

ko k k
k ro= ; k rw= w ; k rg= g
k k k

k =¿the absolute permeability

The relative permeability is represented as a function of water saturation and the flow of each
phase is inhabited by the presence of other phase. Also, relative permeability is a ratio of
effective permeability of respective phase and absolute permeability. The effective permeability
is always less than absolute permeability. Hence, sum of relative permeability over all phase is
less than 1
kro = kr / k
krw = kr / k
=> kro + krw < 1

Method:
To carry out the experiment of relative permeability we used a core of porous rock,
saturation fluid which included distilled water and Soltrol 170, graduated cylinders and PREL-
300 apparatus. First of all, we turned on the PREL-300 system and the eldex pump. After turning
on the system we started injecting water in the system and turned on the eldex pump flow the
flow rate was adjusted by using the up and down button on the system.
The water injection was stopped when the steady state was achieved. After achieving the
steady state, the pressure and flow rate was recorded. These steps were repeated by using the two
other rates and pressure and flow rate was recorded for them. The valve 2 was opened for the
Soltrol injection and then the valve was closed quickly by mutual coordination. After closing the
valve, the volume of the water was measure which was collected during this step.
Once the volume of the collected water stopped increasing, we opened the valve 3 and
closed the valve 2. After setting the valves, the volume of the collected Soltrol was measured.
After concluding the experiment, the collected water and Soltrol was poured into a waste
container and all the equipment was cleaned and stored well for the future purposes.
Results:

1) Calculate the irreducible water saturation and residual oil saturation.

V oil 17.6 cc
Soil = = =0.8
V pore 22 cc

Swater =1−S oil=1−0.8=0.2

2) Determine relative permeability to oil at irreducible water saturation and relative

permeability to water at residual oil saturation.
cc
K eff −oil=
( q oil ) ( μ oil ) ( L)
=
( 0.0367
sec )
( 20 cp ) ( 15.24 cm )
=0.0316 Darcy=31.6 mD
( A ) ( Δ P) ( 11.4 cm2 ) ( 31.0596 atm )

cc
K eff −water=
( q water ) ( μ water ) ( L )
=
( 0.13
sec )
( 1cp ) (15.24 cm )
=0.0056 Darcy=5.59 mD
( A ) ( Δ P) ( 11.4 cm2 ) (31.0596 atm )

Table 4 - Effective Permeability of Oil and Water at Every Run

Run K eff −oil (mD) K eff −water (mD)

1water 0.00 70.0
2water&oil 63.0 0.00
3water&oil 31.6 5.59
4water&oil 12.0 13.3
5water&oil 5.00 24.5
6water&oil 0.00 45.5
 K eff −oil
K rel−oil =
31.6 mD
K|¿|= =0.45¿
70.0 mD

K eff −water
K rel−water =
5.59 mD
K|¿|= =0.08 ¿
70.0 mD

3) Using the data obtained from the lab session, construct a relative permeability curve as a
function of saturation using the two correlations given in the appendix section. Select at
least 10 saturation steps between Swirr and Sor to obtain a complete curve.

Fig 1 - Relative Permeability Curves

4) For oil, plot ln(Son) vs. ln(kro). What is the value of the slope of the straight line trend line
fit?
The value of the slope is 0.5 and for the trend line its 0.6
5) What is the significance of this slope? Repeat the same steps for ln(Swn) vs. ln(krw).
 6) What percent oil recovery should we expect from this core sample
More than 80 percent of oil recovery can be expected from this core sample.
7) From a typical pair of relative permeability versus saturation curves, how can we prove
that water is the wetting phase?
The wetting phase occupies the smaller pores while the non-wetting phase to larger pores
where capillary forces are not dominant that’s why their relative permeability reaches to
-1.
Discussion:
Petroleum engineers need to have practice and understanding of these concepts because
they need to be able to study a reservoir and make decisions about hydrocarbon extraction. This
lab taught us just that, knowing the difference between the characteristics of a water wet rock
and an oil wet rock can cost or save millions of dollars in the extraction process. A relative
permeability curve indicates water saturation, residual oil concentration, and wettability of the
reservoir rock.
Conclusion:
The use of appropriate units is essential to adequately use Darcy Equation. So there should be no
confusion between the elements of the equation. The relative permeability can be measured in
the laboratory and is essential during reservoir characterization to estimate hydrocarbon
production rates. The relative permeability curves indicate irreducible water saturation, residual
oil concentration, and wettability of a reservoir rock. The standardize the measurement process
to make the experimental results more comparable and reliable. To make the results more
comparable, the routine operations in the experiment (such as sample size selection, test fluid
selection, and absolute permeability treatment) should be as consistent as possible, which will
help to summarize the characteristics of the relative permeability of coals of different rank.

Relative Permeability Data Sheet

Core diameter: 2.9 (cm)

Core cross-sectional area: 49.5 (cm2)

Core length: 4.0 (cm)

Viscosity of oil: 2.4 (cp)

Viscosity of water: 1.0 (cp)

Porosity: 15 (%)

Water Volume @ Sw 100% 34 (cm3)

Δp q k|¿|¿
( psi ) ( ml /min ) ( D)

7.42 0.5 0.3

14.13 1.0 0.38

22.71 1.5 0.51

 Cum.

Water Δp qo Swirr k o ,eff k ro@ Swirr

Produced ( psi ) ( ml /min ) (% ) ( D)
( c m3 )
Oil Flood

2.85 17.6 0.5 0.8 31.6

0.45

Cum.

Oil Δp qw S¿ k w ,eff k rw@ Sor

Produced ( psi ) ( ml /min ) (% ) ( D)
Water ( c m3 )
Flood

2.18 26.5 0.5 0.2 5.59 0.08

Appendix

Normalized Saturations:

1−S w −S¿
Son=
1−S wirr −S¿

Sw −S wirr
Swn =
1−Swi −S¿

Corey Exponents:

N o =1.75

N w =4.61

Saturation Curves:

No
k ro=k ro@ S wirr
[ S on ]

Nw
k rw=k rw@ S [ Swn ]
¿

−q o μo dL
oil: k o=
A d po

−q w μw dL
water: k w =
A d pw

−k o A d ϕo k o A P1−P2 + ρo g ∆ s
q o= . = .
μo dz μo ∆s
 −q o μo ∆s
k o=
A ∆ P+ ρo g ∆ s