Reservoir Rock Compressibility
Reservoir Rock Compressibility
Learning Outcomes
Introduction
Reservoir rocks are subjected to the internal stress exerted by fluids
contained in the pores, and to external stress which is in part exerted by
the overlying rocks.
The depletion of fluids from the reservoir rocks results in a change in
the internal (hydrostatic) stress in the formation, thus causing the rock
to be subjected to an increased and variable due to an increased and
variable overburden load, and the result is the compaction of the rock
structure due to an increased in the effective stress.
Compressibility of Porous Rocks
Definition
Compressibility is the fractional change in pore
volume of per unit bulk volume with a unit change in pressure.
1/MPa
reciprocal megapascal
Compressibility c, given by:
1 Vb 1 Vb
cf = =
Vb P2 P1 Vb P
Compressibility of Porous Rocks
The depletion of fluids from the pore space of a reservoir rock results in a
change in the internal stress in the rock, thus causing the rock to be
subjected to a different resultant stress. This change in stress results in
changes in the grain, pore, and bulk volume of the rock.
Pf
A substance is initially
with P pressure, V Pf
volume. When the
pressure increases to
P2, the volume
decreased is V. Psi
Psi After development
Before development
Reservoir Rock Compressibility
Porosity is a function of compaction. It is generally reduced by
increase in compaction
Compaction is a function of depth of burial. Sediments such as shales
which have been deeply buried exhibit lower porosity
Three types of compressibility
Rock- matrix (grain) compressibility, Cs
Rock-bulk compressibility, Cb
Pore-volume compressibility, Cp
Types of Compressibility
Rock-matrix (grain) compressibility
Rock-matrix compressibility is the fractional change in pore
volume of the solid rock material (grains) per unit change
in pressure .
1 v p
cs =
Vs P
Rock-bulk compressibility:
Its the fractional change in the total or bulk-volume of the
formation per unit change in the reservoir pressure.
1 vb
cb =
Vb P
Types of Compressibility
Pore-volume compressibility
Pore compressibility is the fractional change in pore volume
per unit change in pressure.
1 v p
cp =
V p P
Total compressibility
Total compressibility is the fractional change in pore and liquid volume
of the bulk-volume rock with a unit change in pressure.
1 v0
ct =
Vb P v0 = v p vL
The application of total reservoir compressibility, denoted by Ct, is
expressed as:
Ct=Cf + (SoCo+SwCw+SgCg)
Where Sg, So, and Sw are the gas, oil, and water saturations, respectively;
Cg, Co, and Cw the gas, oil and water compressibility, in Psi-1
Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids
Compressibility of homogeneous matter like the rock materials (Cr)
and the contained saturations of fluids, e.g oil, water, and / gas, are
defined by Eqn.:
..(1)
A discrete version of this definition, where the pressure drop p is
sufficiently small, gives;
.(2)
Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids
The compressibility of the fluids (Cf) contained in the pore volume is
defined by the compressibility of the different phases; Cw +Co + Cg.
Since the pore volume is expanded by the fluid phase volumes:
Vf = Vw +Vo + Vg, a change in the pore pressure will cause the fluid
volume to change.
The fluid compressibility is written as;
.(3)
Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids
Where S is the fluid phase saturation (Sw + So + Sg = 1).
Of interest in relation to the production of oil and gas, is the total
compressibility of the rock-fluid system. This compressibility accounts
for the expansion of fluid, given by the fluid compressibility (Cf) and
the reduction of the pore volume when the pore pressure is reduced,
given by Cp in Eqtn.;
.(4)
i.e.,
..(5)
Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids
The effective HC compressibility is a useful term, related to the pore
space occupied by the hydrocarbons;
..(6)
An equally important term is the effective compressibility responsible for the
expansion of initial water and reduction of the pore volume, when pressure is
released as a result of HC production.
This term, a non-HC compressibility is defined as;
..(7)
Effect of Compressibility on Reservoir Rock
Properties
Formation Compressibility, cf - also called pore volume compressibility
Important to reservoir engineers:
1) depletion of fluid from pore spaces
2) internal rock stress changes
3) change in stress results in change in
Vp, Vm, Vb
As fluid is produced from a reservoir, the fluid pressure, Pf will usually
decrease:
the force on the matrix increases
causing a decrease in bulk volume
and a decrease in pore volume
Formation compaction component of total rock
compressibility
Compressibility measurement of bulk and pore, Cb & Cp
Hall, experiment was
similar to Carpenter &
Spencer
1 V p
Vp p p
Experimental equipment used for measuring pore
volume compaction and compressibility
Effective reservoir rock compressibility
Compressibility Correlations
Halls Correlation cf = formation compressibility, 1/psi
= porosity, %
13.392
0.438
cf
1,000,000
Compressibility Correlations
Change in porosity due to a
change in pressure:
2 1 ecf p 2 p1
2 = porosity at pressure p2
1 = porosity at pressure p1
or 2 1 1 cf p 2 p1 cf = formation compressibility, 1/psi
Newmans Correlations
97.3200(10) 6 for consolidated sandstone, 79
cf
1 55.8721.42859 samples
porosity range: 0.02 to 0.23, error
2.6%
0.853531
cf for limestone
1 2.47664(10) 6 0.92990
porosity range: 0.02 to 0.33, error
11.8%
