Sains Malaysiana 44(10)(2015): 1407–1415

Comparative Analysis of Relative Permeability Models with Reference to Extreme Saturation Limit and Its Influence on Reservoir Performance Prediction

(Analisis Perbandingan Model Ketelusan Bandingan dengan Merujuk kepada Had Tepu Melampau dan Pengaruhnya terhadap Jangkaan Prestasi Takungan)

MUHAMMAD KHURRAM ZAHOOR*

Department of Petroleum and Gas Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore

Pakistan

Received: 30 November 2013/Accepted: 24 August 2015

ABSTRACT

A number of relative permeability models were present in the literature, which were used to generate relative permeability data for the fluids, present in the porous medium. Some models were more significant to reservoir geology and displacement system (imbibitions and drainage system), while developing the correlations. Similarly, the same is kept in mind while performing reservoir studies. Therefore, in this study different models based on displacement system and formation geology have been compared, while including the effect of fluid saturation distribution/end point saturation in a reservoir. The generated relative permeability data by using these models have been further used to predict the reservoir performance for gas and water-displacement systems. The results based on this study showed that at lower saturations of displacing fluid (gas and/or water), the generated reservoir performance curves based on relative permeability data generated by using Corey and Wylie and Gardner models, gives higher degree of deviation on comparative basis. The behavior of these error or deviation curves for displacing phase is opposite in case of gas and water-oil displacement systems. While in case of displaced phase (oil), generally analogous behavior can be observed for both systems in terms of deviation/ error profiles trends. These reservoir performance curve(s) are of utmost significance in developing reservoir in an appropriate manner and a slight variation in relative permeability data can have a significant impact at macroscopic level.

Keywords: Performance prediction; relative permeability data; saturation variation effect

ABSTRAK

Beberapa model ketelusan bandingan sedia ada yang digunakan untuk menjana data ketelusan bandingan untuk cecair, hadir dalam medium berliang. Sesetengah model berkepentingan kepada takungan geologi dan anjakan sistem (pemedapan dan sistem saliran) dalam membangunkan korelasi. Begitu juga, perkara yang sama perlu difikirkan semasa menjalankan kajian takungan. Oleh yang demikian, dalam kajian ini model yang berbeza berdasarkan kepada anjakan sistem dan pembentukan geologi telah dibandingkan dengan mengambil kira kesan pengagihan cecair tepu/titik akhir tepu di dalam takungan. Data ketertelapan relatif yang dijana menggunakan model-model ini seterusnya digunakan untuk meramalkan prestasi takungan untuk sistem gas dan air-anjakan. Hasil kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa pada penepuan anjakan bendalir (gas dan/atau air) yang lebih rendah, lengkung prestasi takungan yang dijana berdasarkan data ketelusan bandingan menggunakan model Corey dan Wylie & Gardner, memberi darjah sisihan piawai lebih tinggi secara perbandingan. Tingkah laku kesilapan ini atau lengkung sisihan bagi fasa anjakan adalah bertentangan dalam kes sistem gas dan anjakan air-minyak. Manakala dalam kes fasa anjakan (minyak), secara umumnya tingkah laku analog boleh diperhatikan bagi kedua-dua sistem daripada segi trend sisihan/ profil ralat. Prestasi lengkungan takungan ini adalah amat penting dalam membangunkan takungan dengan cara yang betul dan sedikit perbezaan dalam data ketertelapan relatif boleh mempunyai kesan yang ketara pada peringkat makroskopik.

Kata kunci: Data kadar resapan yang relatif; jangkaan prestasi; kesan perubahan tepu

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*Corresponding author; email: mkzahoor@yahoo.com