CHAPTER 6

OVERBURDEN PRESSURE
EFFECTS AND SATURATION
FUNCTIONS
0
 Effects of Overburden Pressure
on Capillary Pressure
• Application of overburden pressure with a hassler-cell or
potting in acrylic for unconsolidated samples is preferred
(Omoregie, 1988)
• Capillary pressure data show sensitivity to overburden
pressure (Ajufo et al. 1993)
• The effects of overburden pressure on the pore geometry of
well-sorted and well-cemented consolidated test samples
were minimal.
• Consolidated core samples with poor sorting and/or low
cementation showed greater sensitivity to overburden
pressure. 1
Centrifuge test at Hydrostatic
Stress
2
BEREA SAMPLE
SAMPLE T2
100
90
80
70
Pc, psi

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Brine Saturation, pe rce nt pore s pace
3
AMBIENT OVERBURDEN
DELAWARE SAMPLE
SAMPLE 35
100
90
80
70
Pc, psi

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Brine Saturation, pe rce nt pore s pace
4
AMBIENT OVERBURDEN
BEND CONGLOMERATE
SAMPLE 13A
100
90
80
70
Pc, psi

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Brine Saturation, pe rce nt pore s pace
5
AMBIENT OVERBURDEN POROUS PLATE
Median Pore Throat Size
SAMPLE r @ 50% Endface Saturation
ID Ambient Confined
r, microns r, microns
T1 20.76 14.61
T2 4.15 2.4
35 1.23 0.55
104 2.74 1.7
5A 24.65 14.61
13A 24.65 1.55 6
Saturation Difference
Sample Saturation, % pore space @ 100 psi
ID Ambient Confined Difference
13A 15.2 30.8 15.6
5A 11.4 26.1 14.7
35 28.5 38.2 9.7
T2 16.6 22.4 5.8
T1 3.7 8.1 4.4
104 19.2 23.4 4.2
7
ESTIMATED RESERVES
Hydocarbon Saturation Oil in Place Error in
Sample % (Million BBLS) Reserves
ID Unconfined Confined Unconfined Confined (Million BBLS)
13A 84.8 69.2 789 615 174
5A 88.6 73.9 730 588 142
35 71.5 61.8 529 449 80
T2 83.4 77.6 687 632 55
T1 96.3 91.9 1048 992 56
104 80.7 76.6 680 635 45
Area = 6000 Acres,
Thickness = 100 feet 8
Leverett J Function -
Normalization Of Capillary
Pressure
Fluid saturation-capillary pressure relationships are
affected by permeability. As capillary pressure data
are obtained from individual core samples, it is
necessary to normalize the various sets of capillary
pressure data measured on different reservoir
samples.
9
Leverett J Function
An equation, derived by Leverett; converts all
capillary pressure data to a universal curve which
represents the specific formation. As a result of
this normalization, correlation of water saturation
with Leverett’s “J” function can be obtained.
1
0
Leverett J Function
0.5
0.2166P K / C
J ……….. 11
COS
where
Pc = Capillary pressure, psi
= Interfacial tension, dynes/cm for lab system (when
building correlations)
K = Permeability, md
= Porosity, fraction
= Contact angle, degree
J = Dimensionless capillary pressure function
1
1
Sw versus J Curve
The following procedure can be used to compute
interstitial water saturations.
1. Given core data and depth of water-oil level
2. Compute each sample height above water-oil
level:
3. Compute reservoir capillary pressure at each
sample height:
Height = (sample depth) - (water/oil level depth) ……….. 12
Pc = (rw - ro) (Height) ……….. 13
1
2
Sw versus J Curve
where
rw = Original reservoir water gradient @ Pr
and Tr in psi/ft.
ro = Original oil gradient @ Pr and Tr in psi/ft.
Height = (sample depth) - (water/oil level depth)
4. Compute J for each sample at the sample height. Use
reservoir K, and cos Q in this calculation.
5. Enter J versus Sw curve with computed J and read Sw
which equals reservoir water saturation for the sample
with given K, and height used to calculate the J factor.
1
3
 Saturation-Height
Functions
Implementation of saturation-height models
from core capillary pressure (Pc) data
provides a means to estimate water saturation
versus depth, which is independent of logs.
1
4
Pc versus Sw
Quality-Controlled Centrifuge Capillary Pressure Data
200
FZI=1.568
180 FZI=0.971
FZI < 0.8
FZI=0.880
160 FZI=0.815
FZI=0.762
140 FZI > 0.8
Capillary Pressure (psi)

FZI=0.585
120 FZI=0.541
100
80
60
40
20
0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
1
Water Saturation 5
J versus Sw
Modeling Leverett J Saturation Function
1.0
0.9
0.8
0.7
0 .33916
Sw
Water Saturation

0.6 J 0.2643
FZI < 0.8
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0 . 3657
Sw
0.1 J 0 .312
FZI > 0.8
0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
J Function
1
6
Water Saturation
Water Saturation From J Function
1.0
0.9
FZI > 0.8 (Red Squares)
0.8 0.3657
Sw( H ) 0.312
0.7 (r w rg )* H k
Sw from J Function

Cos res
0.6
0.5
0.4 FZI < 0.8 (Blue Diamonds)
0.3392
0.3 Sw ( H ) 0. 2643
(r w rg )* H k
0.2 Cos res
0.1
0.0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Actual Water Saturation
1
7
FZI > 0.8 FZI < 0.8 45-Degree Line
Corey’s Method
1. The generalized Corey model that relates Capillary
pressure to water saturation is given as
Sw Swr ……….. 14
PC Pd
1 Swr
Taking the logarithm of both sides of this equation
provide a means of obtaining Pd and for each rock
sample with porosity, permeability and Swr.
1
8
 Corey’s Method
Model for Estimating SWR
1.2
1
SWR(2000 Hg), psi

0.8
SWR= 0.1488RQI-0.3949 Model to Estimate Pore Entry Pressure (Pd)
0.6 R2 = 0.5668
30
0.4
0.2 25
0
20
0 5 10 15 20 25
RQI, mm

Pd, psi
15
Model for Estimating Pore Size Parameter, Lambda 10
Pd = 3.8793RQI-0.4223
R2 = 0.4846
8
5
7
0
6
0 5 10 15 20 25
5 RQI, mm
= 2.6594RQI-0.3965
Lambda

R2 = 0.791
4
3
2
1
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 1
RQI, mm 9
Modeling Steps
Mathematical Derivation of the Model
FROM THE COREY’S METHOD
pd sw swr
HFL ……….. 15
r 1 swr
OR
1/
HFL r
S W (1 S ) wr S wr ………..16
Pd
Hence Bulk Volume Water is given as
1/
HFL r ……….. 17
BVWCor S W S wr (1 S )
wr
Pd
2
0
Saturation-Height Functions
• Saturation-height models from core capillary
pressure (Pc) data are an effective way to
determine fluid saturation, independent of logs.
• Zoning the reservoir into hydraulic units facilitates
assignment of capillary pressure data to rock
types, via the flow zone indicator.
• Successful application of saturation-height models
can confirm representativeness of the “m and n”
parameters used in log analysis. Where these are
deemed unrepresentative, saturation-height
functions can obviate their use.
2
1
EXAMPLE CORRELATIONS
AND ROCK TYPING
Winland and Pittman
Equations
• Log (R35) = 0.732 + 0.588*Log(k) – 0.864*Log(
• Log (R50) = 0.778 + 0.626*Log(k) – 1.205*Log(
R35 = Pore Throat radius at 35th percentile saturation (microns)
K = Air Permeability (md)
= Porosity (%)
2
3
R35-RQI
R35 - RQI
12.000
10.000 y = 7.8562x
R² = 0.6567
R35, microns

8.000
6.000
4.000
2.000
0.000
0.0000 0.2000 0.4000 0.6000 0.8000 1.0000 1.2000 1.4000
RQI, microns
2
4
R50-RQI
2
5
Displacement Pressure - RQI
2
6
Displacement Pressure -
Permeability
2
7
Calculated – Measured
Permeability
2
8
Swr - RQI
2
9
CHAPTER 6
CAPILLARY PRESSURE EXERCISE
3
0