Determination of dynamic relative permeability in ultra-low permeability sandstones via X-ray CT technique

作者：Zhang Haiyong^*; He Shunli; Jiao Chunyan; Luan Guohua; Mo Shaoyuan; Guo Xuejing

来源：Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 2014, 4(4): 443-455.

DOI：10.1007/s13202-014-0101-6

• Capillary effects
• Dynamic capillary pressures
• Low permeability
• Multiphase flow in porous medias
• Relative permeability
• Ultra-low permeability reservoirs
• X-ray CT
• X-ray CT scanning technique

Forced oil–water displacement is the crucial mechanisms of secondary oil recovery. The knowledge of relative permeability is required in the simulation of multiphase flow in porous media. Obvious dynamic effect of capillary pressure occurs in that the formation of ultra-low permeability reservoir (the permeability is <1 × 10−3μm2) is tight and the pores and throats are very small. In addition, the significant capillary end effect causes serious errors when calculating relative permeabilities. For these reasons, the JBN method (neglecting capillary pressure) does not apply. Therefore, the dynamic capillary pressure and capillary end effects should be taken into account. This work focuses on calculating two-phase relative permeability of ultra-low permeability reservoir through considering the dynamic capillary pressure and eliminating the influence of capillary end effects. Firstly, laboratory core scale measurements of in situ water phase saturation history based on X-ray CT scanning technique were used to estimate relative permeability. Secondly, a mathematical model of two-phase relative permeability considering the dynamic capillary pressure was established. The basic problem formulations, as well as the more specific equations, were given, and the results of comparison using experimental data are presented and discussed. Results indicate that the dynamic capillary pressure measured at laboratory core scale in ultra-low permeability rocks has a significant influence on the estimation of unsteady-state relative permeability. The mathematical calculating method was compared with the history matching method and the results were close, suggesting reliability for ultra-low permeability reservoirs. Importantly, the proposed methods allow measurement of relative permeability from a single experiment. Potentially this represents a great time savings.

• 出版日期2014
• 单位中国石油大学（华东）