Saturation

Fluid Saturation • Fluid saturation quantifies how much of pore

space partitioned among gas, oil, and water
(fraction or percent)

• Volume of hydrocarbon in place requires

saturation data
PGE 517-617 Petrophysics
Prof. Dr. Salih SANER • Volume of target oil in place for EOR projects
• Strong influence on relative permeability
functions

Near East University, Nicosia Northern Cyprus

Saturation Mathematical Definition of Saturation

• Forces controlling fluid distribution in pores

are:
Total volume of the
fluid phase
Fluid Saturation =
• Gravity forces
Pore volume
• Capillary forces
Sw = Water saturation
So = Oil saturation Sw + So + Sg = 1
Sg = Gas saturation

Pore and Bulk Volume

Saturations Samples for Saturation Test
Pore Rock

 Native state (Preserved)

 After SCAL test by backcalculating the
Matrix original saturations
Pore vol 70%

Sg Bulk = 1.5 %

So Bulk = 22.5 % Pore

30%
Sw Bulk = 6 %

S. Saner 5 S. Saner 6

Printed by BoltPDF (c) NCH Software. Free for non-commercial use only.
 Saturation Mesurement
Methods Retort Distillation

 Retort distillation (Using heat)

PROCEDURE
 Dean Stark distillation (Using heat and
 Weigh sample
organic solvent)
 Heat in the system up to 650
°C in stages or directly
 Collect vaporized and then
condensed water and oil
 Calculate saturations

S. Saner7 S. Saner8

Disadventages of Retort
Retort Distillation Curve Distillation

1. Destructive
Cumulative water recovery (cc)

Water of crystallization 2. Removal of bound (crystallization)

water
3. Cracking or cooking oil (decrease vol)
Pore water 4. Oil-water emulsions

Heating time (min)

S. Saner9 S. Saner10

Dean-Stark Disadventages of Dean

-Stark
Distillation Distillation

PROCEDURE 1. Long duration

 Weigh the sample 2. Premature termination of
 Boil Toluene extraction
 Collect vaporized and then
condensed liquid in graduated 3. Oil and gas are calculated indirectly
tube
 Measure water at bottom
while Toluene– oil mixture
floods back to flask
110 C
S. Saner11 S. Saner12

Printed by BoltPDF (c) NCH Software. Free for non-commercial use only.
 Dean -Stark Calculations Critical Gas Saturation, Sgc

Saturation of gas increases from zero to higher values

Wwet – Wdry = Mg + Mo + Mw below bubble point pressure and when it forms a
continuous phase in the pores, in the other term reaches
to critical saturation (Sgc), it starts flowing.
Wwet – Wdry = Vg g + Vo  o + Vw  w
Evolving gas is compressible, maintains reservoir
pressure high and expels oil out while expanding. This
Vp – Vw = Vg + Vo recovery mechanism is called “ Solution gas drive ”

After Sgc gas starts flowing and hampering the oil

2-Eqs vs 2 -Unknowns can be solved production

S. Saner 13 S. Saner 14

Critical Gas Saturation

Occurrence Residual Oil Saturation, Sor

1. Definition
 Saturation after primary production
 Saturation after gas or water displacement
2. Is the target for EOR

S. Saner 15 S. Saner 16

Residual Oil Saturation

Calculation

PV – Vol of oil produced Trapped oil

Sor = =
PV PV

Evolvement of
Residual Oil
Saturation
S. Saner 17 S. Saner 18

Printed by BoltPDF (c) NCH Software. Free for non-commercial use only.
 Irreducible Water Causes of Variations of Swi
Saturation, Swi in a Reservoir
1. Permeability
Minimum water saturation in the 2. Lithology
reservoir rock 3. Height above free water table
4. Gravity-capillary equilibrium
Other terms
• Interstitial water saturation
• Initial water saturation
• Connate water saturation
• Capillary bound water

S. Saner19 S. Saner20

Averaging Sw Factors Affecting Sw

(Thickness and porosity weighted
) Determinations

 Inaccuracies of measurement
techniques
 Improper core drilling, handling and
preservation
 Drilling mud and filtrate invasion
 Drill with oil
-based mud
 Fluid expansion
(l ) represents gas, oil, or water
S. Saner21 S. Saner22

Mud Filtrate Invasion

S. Saner23 S. Saner24

Printed by BoltPDF (c) NCH Software. Free for non-commercial use only.