Understanding Relative Permeability in Oil and Gas
Relative permeability is a crucial concept in the oil and gas industry, particularly in
reservoir engineering and enhanced oil recovery. It refers to the ability of a porous rock
to allow the flow of multiple fluid phases (such as oil, water, and gas) simultaneously.
This concept is vital because reservoirs typically contain more than one fluid, and
understanding how these fluids move through the reservoir rock is key to efficient
extraction and management of resources.
Fundamentals of Relative Permeability
Permeability is a measure of a rock's ability to transmit fluids. When dealing with a
single fluid, the permeability is referred to as absolute permeability. However, in
reservoirs, multiple fluids coexist, and the presence of one fluid affects the flow of
another. Relative permeability quantifies this effect by measuring the permeability of
one phase relative to its saturation in the presence of other phases.
Mathematically, relative permeability is expressed as a dimensionless ratio:
𝑘𝑟,𝑖=𝑘𝑖𝑘kr,i=kki
where 𝑘𝑟,𝑖kr,i is the relative permeability of phase 𝑖i, 𝑘𝑖ki is the effective permeability
of phase 𝑖i, and 𝑘k is the absolute permeability of the rock.
Phases in Reservoirs
In oil and gas reservoirs, the primary fluid phases are oil, water, and gas. Each of these
fluids has its own relative permeability curve, which describes how its permeability
changes with saturation. The relative permeability curves for oil, water, and gas are
typically determined through laboratory experiments on core samples from the
reservoir.
1. Oil Relative Permeability (kro): This curve indicates how the permeability to oil
changes with varying oil saturation.
2. Water Relative Permeability (krw): This curve shows how the permeability to water
varies with water saturation.
3. Gas Relative Permeability (krg): This curve represents the permeability to gas as gas
saturation changes.
Relative Permeability Curves
Relative permeability curves are essential tools for reservoir engineers. They provide
insight into how fluids will flow in the reservoir under different conditions of saturation.
These curves typically exhibit the following characteristics:
Irreducible Water Saturation (Swi): The minimum water saturation at which water is
immobile. Below Swi, water cannot move, and its relative permeability is zero.
Residual Oil Saturation (Sor): The oil saturation at which oil becomes immobile. Above
Sor, oil cannot move, and its relative permeability is zero.
Critical Gas Saturation (Sgc): The gas saturation above which gas starts to flow. Below
Sgc, gas is immobile.
The shape of these curves depends on various factors, including rock properties, fluid
properties, and the history of fluid displacement in the reservoir. Understanding these
curves helps in predicting the production performance and planning enhanced recovery
techniques.
Experimental Determination
Relative permeability is typically determined through laboratory experiments on core
samples. Two common methods are:
1. Steady-State Method: This involves injecting fluids at constant rates until steady-state
conditions are achieved, and measuring the resulting pressures and saturations.
2. Unsteady-State Method (or Displacement Method): This involves displacing one fluid
with another and monitoring the production and pressure changes over time.
Both methods have their advantages and limitations. The steady-state method is
straightforward but time-consuming, while the unsteady-state method is faster but
requires complex interpretation.
Relative Permeability in Reservoir Simulation
In reservoir simulation, relative permeability is a critical input parameter. Reservoir
simulators use relative permeability curves to model the flow of fluids within the
reservoir accurately. These simulations help in predicting future production, evaluating
different recovery methods, and optimizing field development plans.
Accurate relative permeability data are essential for reliable simulation results.
Inaccurate data can lead to incorrect predictions of fluid flow, recovery efficiency, and
ultimately, the economic viability of a project. Therefore, it is crucial to obtain high-
quality relative permeability data and ensure that it is representative of the reservoir
conditions.
Factors Affecting Relative Permeability
Several factors can influence relative permeability, including:
1. Rock Properties: Pore size distribution, grain size, and mineral composition can all
affect how fluids flow through the rock.
2. Fluid Properties: Viscosity, interfacial tension, and wettability of the fluids impact
relative permeability. Wettability, in particular, plays a significant role. A reservoir rock
can be water-wet, oil-wet, or intermediate-wet, and this affects how fluids distribute and
flow.
3. Fluid Saturation History: The sequence of fluid displacement can impact relative
permeability. For example, primary drainage (initial displacement of oil by water) will
have different relative permeability characteristics compared to imbibition (displacement
of water by oil).
Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
Relative permeability is particularly important in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes.
EOR techniques, such as water flooding, gas injection, and chemical flooding, aim to
alter the fluid distribution and improve the displacement efficiency. Understanding
relative permeability helps in designing these processes to maximize oil recovery.
For example, in water flooding, the relative permeability curves for oil and water help in
predicting the breakthrough time and the efficiency of oil displacement. Similarly, in gas
injection processes, the relative permeability of gas and oil influences the sweep
efficiency and the effectiveness of the gas in displacing the oil.
Challenges and Future Directions
Despite its importance, there are several challenges associated with relative
permeability:
1. Scale Dependence: Laboratory measurements on small core samples may not
accurately represent the larger reservoir scale. Upscaling techniques are required to
translate core-scale data to reservoir-scale models.
2. Heterogeneity: Reservoirs are often heterogeneous, with varying rock and fluid
properties. This heterogeneity complicates the determination and application of relative
permeability data.
3. Dynamic Conditions: Reservoir conditions such as pressure and temperature can
change over time, affecting relative permeability. Laboratory experiments often do not
replicate these dynamic conditions accurately.
Future research and technological advancements aim to address these challenges.
Digital rock physics, advanced imaging techniques, and improved reservoir
characterization methods are being developed to enhance the accuracy and applicability
of relative permeability data.
Conclusion
Relative permeability is a fundamental concept in reservoir engineering, essential for
understanding and predicting the flow of fluids in oil and gas reservoirs. Accurate
determination and application of relative permeability data are crucial for efficient
reservoir management and enhanced oil recovery. As the industry continues to evolve,
advancements in technology and research will further improve our understanding and
utilization of relative permeability, ultimately leading to more efficient and effective
extraction of hydrocarbon resources.
