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    Lecture Twelve: Initial Saturation Distribution in A Reservoir

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    Lecture Twelve: Initial Saturation Distribution in A Reservoir

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    MṜ ΛßßΛS
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    Lecture Twelve: Initial Saturation Distribution in A Reservoir

    Uploaded by

    MṜ ΛßßΛS

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 8

    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N.

    Almohammad

    Lecture Twelve: Initial Saturation Distribution in a


    Reservoir
    12.1. Fluid Contacts
    The determination of initial fluid contacts in the reservoir, such as the gas–oil
    contact (GOC) and oil-water contact (OWC), through different methods are
    available to the engineer’s disposal. These include:

    1. A production test which involves the direct determination of GOC and


    OWC during the drilling of a well prior to setting the casing.
    2. The other method includes application of geophysical logs such as electrical
    and radioactive.
    3. In addition to these, SCAL (which includes capillary pressure) represents
    one of the most reliable methods of determining the fluid contacts in a
    reservoir.
    Fluid contacts, and initial fluid saturation distribution in a hydrocarbon
    reservoir prior to its exploitation can be derived from capillary pressure data,
    this requires the conversion of Pc–Sw data to height–saturation data, which
    can be achieved by:

    ……. (11-8)

    Equation (11-8) can be expressed in terms of capillary pressure:

    ……. (12-1)

    where:
    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    h = the height above the plane of 0 capillary pressure between the nonwetting and wetting
    fluids.

    Pc = the capillary pressure.

    Δρ = the density difference between nonwetting and wetting phase at reservoir


    conditions.

    g = the gravitational constant.

    In Equation (12-1), when a value of g is 9.81 m/s2, Pc is in N/m2, and the


    density difference is in kg/m3,

    ……. (12-2)

    whereas in oil-field units, when g is 32.2 ft/s2, Pc is in lbforce/in.2, and the


    density difference is in lbmass/ft3:

    ……. (12-3)

    Pc = capillary pressure, psia


    Δρ = density difference between the wetting and nonwetting phase, lb/ft3
    h = height above the free-water level, ft

    In order to understand the application of height–saturation data to determine


    the fluid distribution, zonation, and fluid contacts in a reservoir, we consider
    the drainage capillary pressure curve.

    12.1.1. Displacement pressure, pd


    The capillary pressure at 100% water saturation that is necessary to force the
    nonwetting phase into a capillary filled with the wetting phase. This minimum
    capillary pressure is known as the displacement pressure, pd
    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    Fig. 12-1: Profile of fluid distribution, zonation, and fluid contacts based on the

    capillary pressure or height versus water saturation data.

    12.1.2. Free Water Level, FWL


    From the capillary pressure curve, the FWL occurs at zero capillary pressure
    at which water saturation is 100%. Consequently, the FWL is represented by
    the base of the height–saturation curve below which a water zone or aquifer
    may exist.

    However, moving upward vertically from the base of the height–saturation


    curve in Figure (12-1), the water saturation is still 100% up to a certain finite
    value of ‘h’ that is an outcome of the capillary entry pressure or displacement
    pressure ( 𝑑) or the threshold pressure.
    FWL can be expressed mathematically by the following relationship:

    ……. (12-4)
    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    where:
    𝑝𝑑 = displacement pressure, psi (from capillary pressure curve).
    Δ = density difference, lbmass/ft3.
    FWL = free-water level, ft.
    OWC = Oil-Water contact, ft.

    12.1.3. Oil-Water Contact, OWC


    As shown in Figure (12-1), the OWC and 100% water saturation point on the
    height–saturation curve is represented by the coordinates 𝑝 = 𝑝𝑑 ; Sw =
    100%. In
    Equation (12-3), Pc can be replaced by 𝑝𝑑 to express the OWC in terms of
    height above the FWL:

    ……. (12-5)

    where:
    OWC = Oil-Water contact, ft.
    P𝑑 = displacement pressure, psi (from capillary pressure curve).
    Δ = density difference, lbmass/ft3.
    In terms of depth, the OWC is defined as the uppermost depth in the
    reservoir where a 100% water saturation exists, which can be mathematically
    expressed as:

    ……. (12-6)

    12.1.4. Transition Zone


    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    The presence of transition zones in petroleum reservoirs resulting from the


    capillary forces, the absence of which would result in complete segregation of
    the fluid phases.
    The relationship as expressed in Equation (11-8), when applied for h@swi -howc
    suggests that the transition zone thickness is basically influenced by:

    ……. (11-8)

    (1) The radius of the pore, r.


    A reservoir rock system having small pore sizes has a large transition zone
    (typical characteristics of low-permeability chalk reservoirs) than a system
    comprised of large pore sizes. Additionally, the more uniform the pore sizes
    (well-sorted grains) resulting in thinner transition zones. Such uniform pore
    size systems will also have high permeabilities; thus, the thickness of the
    transition zone can also be indirectly related to permeability; a high-
    permeability reservoir rock system has shorter transition zones than low-
    permeability reservoirs.
    (2) The difference in density, Δρ.
    As far as the influence of Δρ is concerned, from a practical standpoint, in a
    gas reservoir having a gas–water contact, the thickness of the transition zone
    will be small since the density difference is large (gravity dominating over
    capillarity). In the case of oil (smaller density difference); resulting in a larger
    thickness of the transition zone.
    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    Fig. 12-2: Transition zone variation with (a) fluid gravity, (b) permeability

    Example 1
    The reservoir capillary pressure-saturation data of the Big Butte Oil Reservoir
    is shown graphically in Figure (12-3). Geophysical log interpretations and
    core analysis establish the WOC at (5023 ft). The following additional data
    are available:
    • Oil density = 43.5 lb/ft3.
    • Water density = 64.1 lb/ft3.
    • Interfacial tension = 50 dynes/cm.

    Calculate:
    • Connate-water saturation (Swc).
    • Depth to FWL.
    • Thickness of the transition zone.
    • Depth to reach 50% water saturation
    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    Fig 12-3: Capillary pressure-saturation data.

    Solution:
    a. From Figure (12-3), connate-water saturation is 20%.
    b. Applying Equation (12-4) with a displacement pressure of 1.5 psi gives:

    c. Thickness of transition zone can be calculated by applying Equation (12-3)


    with Pc difference at WOC and Pc at Sw=Swc:
    Lecture twelve Assist lect. Farah N. Almohammad

    d. Pc at 50% water saturation = 3.5 psia.

    12.1.5. Oil Pay Zone or Clean Oil Zone


    The oil pay zone or the clean oil zone is represented by the zone above the
    upper demarcation line of the transition zone. Since the oil pay zone contains
    water at its irreducible saturation, the oil production from the clean oil zone is
    water-free.

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