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Average Permeability Flow in Layered Systems
Average Permeability Flow in Layered Systems
Some figures were taken from Amyx, Bass and Whiting, Petroleum Reservoir
Engineering (1960).
Average Permeability
• If permeability is not a constant function of space (heterogeneity),
we can calculate the average permeability
– Common, simple flow cases are considered here
• Linear, Parallel (cores, horizontal permeability)
• Linear, Serial (cores, vertical permeability)
• Radial, Parallel (reservoirs, horizontal layers)
• Radial, Serial (reservoir, damage or stimulation)
p(x)
p
A
p2
q L 2
1
0
0 x L
x
Linear, Parallel Flow
• Permeability varies across several horizontal layers
(k1,k2,k3)
kwh
q Δp ; A w h
μL
Linear, Parallel Flow
• Substituting,
kwh k1 w h1 k2 w h2 k3 w h3
q Δp Δp Δp Δp
μL μL μL μL
• Rearranging,
k
k i hi
h
• Average permeability reflects flow capacity of all layers
Linear, Serial Flow
• Permeability varies across several vertical layers
(k1,k2,k3)
• Rearranging, L
k
Li
k p1
• If k1>k2>k3, then k
p
– Linear pressure profile in each layer p2
0
0 L
x
Radial Flow, Pressure Profile
q k dp
• Review, Darcy’s Law: vs
– horizontal flow (=p) A μ ds
q k
dr dp
2π rh μ
rw pw
1 2π kh
q q dr dp
re
r μ pe
2π kh
q pe p w
rw re
μ ln(re /rw )
Radial Flow, Pressure Profile
rw pw
• We can determine how 1 2π kh
pressure varies along the q dr dp
flow path, p(r), by r
r μ p(r)
considering an arbitrary q μ ln(r/rw )
point, rwr re p(r) p w
– Integral from r rw
2π k h
OR, equivalently
OR
r p(r)
1 2π kh
– Integral from rer
q dr dp
re
r μ pe
q μ ln(re /r)
p(r) p e
2π k h
Radial Flow, Pressure Profile
• Pressure profile is a linear
function of ln(r) for
homogeneous properties
pe
– slope depends on flow rate
p(r)
p
pw
q
0
rw r re
ln(r)
rw re
Radial, Parallel Flow
• Permeability varies across several (3) horizontal
layers (k1,k2,k3)
2π k h
q Δp
μ ln(re /rw )
2π k1 h1 2π k 2 h 2 2π k 3 h 3
Δp Δp Δp
μ ln(re /rw ) μ ln(re /rw ) μ ln(re /rw )
• Rearranging,
k
k i hi
h
pw k • Reactive fluids
• Fines migration
0
rw re pe
ln(r)
k1
k
• Stimulation k1>k2 p
– Shown in sketch to the right pw