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Prof. Christoph Heubeck

Institut fr Geologische Wissenschaften
Freie Universitt Berlin
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12249 Berlin
GERMANY

ph: ++49-(0)30-83870695 fax: ++49-(0)30-83870734

cheubeck@zedat.fu-berlin.de http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/~cheubeck/

Todays Lecture

Pressure Distribution in a Reservoir

Buoyancy / Displacement
Oil and water distribution in a reservoir
Porosimetry
Reservoir Capillarity
Petrophysics

1
 Buoyancy Reservoir Pressure Gradients
5 20
The longer the wooden beam, the
greater the buoyant force at the top
Height below water surface, ft p = 10
of the board
shale seal

Height above free water, ft

Free water 15
0
surface sandstone
reservoir
Wood density = 0.6
Water density = 1.00 contact

-5 10

contact
gas = 0.3
In general:
-10 p = h* 5
light oil = 0.7 contact

p heavy oil = 0.9

-15 0
water = 1.00

-20 -5
40 50 60 70 80 90 40 50 60 70 80 90
Pressure, arbitrary units Pressure, arbitrary units

Repeat Formation Tester

Reservoir Pressure Gradients

40
20

shale seal
shale seal 50
Height above free water, ft

15 sandstone
sandstone reservoir
reservoir

60
10
gas = 0.3

light oil = 0.7

heavy oil = 0.9

depth
70
5 contact

heavy oil = 0.9

80
0 water = 1.00
water = 1.00

Pressure, arbitrary units

Pressure, arbitrary units 90
-5 50 60
40 70 80 90
40 50 60 70 80 90

2
The Concept of Displacement Pressure The Concept of Displacement Pressure

how to get the oil in the rock !

Types of Water in the Reservoir Water and what to do about it !

Structural water Structural water

(chemically bound) (chemically bound)

Hydration water Hydration water

(chemically bound) (chemically bound)
Cant do much
about them !
Bound water, Bound water,
immobile water, immobile water,
irreducible water irreducible water
(Haftwasser)

Capillary water Capillary water

Bound to the grain by Displace as much as

capillary force possible !

3
 Capillarity: Definition The Concept of Capillary Pressure

The capillary pressure of a rock is a

Capillarity ...
function of 3 variables :

... is the tendency of wetting

liquids to ascend minute openings
(< 0.5 mm diameter) through the
agency of a molecular surface
force, and (possibly) acting
against the force of gravity.
hydrocarbon-water interfacial
tension ,
wettability (expressed as the
contact angle ), and
radius of of the pore throat r

Observations

sponge sucking up liquid water

sponge on kitchen counter staying wet
rock rock
water rising through plants
Hydrocarbon

The Concept of Capillary Pressure The Concept of Capillary Pressure

The capillary pressure of a rock is a The capillary pressure of a rock is a

function of 3 variables : function of 3 variables : 2 cos
Pc =
r
hydrocarbon-water interfacial hydrocarbon-water interfacial
tension , tension , where
wettability (expressed as the wettability (expressed as the Pc = displacement pressure
= oil-water interfacial tension
contact angle ), and contact angle ), and (surface tension)
radius of of the pore throat r radius of of the pore throat = contact angle of wetting fluid
against the solid (wettability)
r= radius of the pore throat
water water

rock rock rock rock

Hydrocarbon Hydrocarbon

r r

4
 Extreme Example of VERY LOW Capillary Pressure Extreme Example of VERY HIGH Capillary Pressure

As , Pc As , Pc
2 cos 2 cos
As , Pc Pc = As , Pc Pc =
As r , Pc
r As r , Pc
r

where where
Pc = displacement pressure Pc = displacement pressure
= oil-water interfacial tension = oil-water interfacial tension
(surface tension) (surface tension)
= contact angle of wetting fluid = contact angle of wetting fluid
against the solid (wettability) against the solid (wettability)
r= radius of the pore throat water r= radius of the pore throat
water

rock rock Hydro-
Hydrocarbon rock carbon rock

r r

A closer look at these three factors 1. Interfacial Tension (Surface Tension)

The surface tension of a fluid is

a measure of the cohesion of the molecules at a fluids surface
a function of density r and area of cross section
Interfacial tension
(surface tension) ... is an experimentally determined constant:

Wettability All values against air; x 10-3 Nm-1

Radius of the pore Pure water, 20 deg C

Brines
72.25
higher
throat Light crude oils 20-30
Heavy crudes 35
Mercury 500

Surface tension declines with increasing temperature (and

shows a complex behavior with pressure)

5
 2. Wettability Water-wet vs. oil-wet

A water-wet
system less
oil water Wetting Liquid
mobile

calcite

Non-wetting 100
Contact Liquid
angle oil water mobile

So
quartz
High initial So
Rapid decline
High recovery rate
0
Time

Water-wet vs. oil-wet Reservoir Wettability

An oil-wet
system less Initially, all reservoirs are thought to be water-wet
mobile
Only after migration, reservoirs may change to oil-wet why ?
Complex chemical and physical interactions of HC with mineral
surfaces

100
Rule of thumb:
Low initial So mobile Carbonate reservoirs are generally oil-wet;
Long slow decline Siliciclastic reservoirs are generally water-wet
So Low recovery

0
Time

6
 Proportions of oil and water in a reservoir Capillary Pressure and Buoyancy Pressure: Migration

After finding a reservoir, Capillary pressure measures the force

need to estimate the volume necessary to displace capillary water from a
of oil in it pore space
Pnw

To what degree has oil been For a given reservoir and fluid, it is a
capable of entering the function of pore size
reservoir pore space, displacing
the capillary water ?
Buoyancy pressure is the additional force Pw
by which water is displaced by lighter oil
from a given volume
Displacement Pressure vs.
Buoyancy Pressure For a given reservoir and fluid, it is a
function of reservoir height

Remember ? Pressure Distribution in a Reservoir Pressure Distribution in a Reservoir

200 Oil density = 0.77 200 Available Necessary

Water density = 1.00 buoyancy capillary
pressure pressure
p = 150*(0.433-0.333)=15 psi
Height above free water, ft

Height above free water, ft

150 150

100 p = 100*(0.433-0.333)=10 psi 100

Buoyancy
Oil pressure gradient pressure
Water pressure slope = 0.333 psi / ft
50 gradient 50
slope = 0.433
psi / ft

0 0
In general:
p = dh*(brine-hc)
-50 -50
4040 4050 4060 4070 4080 4090 4040 4050 4060 4070 4080 4090
Pressure Pressure

7
 Force Balance in a Reservoir: Saturation Sw, So
Saturation Sw, So as a function of Pressure
Saturation
200 So Available Necessary
Height above free water, ft buoyancy <> capillary
pressure pressure

Oil-water capillary Pressure

Strong entry into 500
150

(oil column in feet)

pore space

Sa
200 Theoretical curve for

nd

Se
perfectly sorted pore

st

al
on
space
Moderate entry into 100

e
100 pore space

re
se
50

rv
Se

oi
Beginning HC entry

al

r
50 into pore space 20

10
No HC entry into
pore space Oil-water
0 0
100 80 60 40 20 0
contact
Oil saturation
(% of pore volume)
-50
4040 4050 4060 4070 4080 4090
Pressure

Saturation Sw, So as a function of Pressure

Pore space geometry
Oil-water capillary Pressure

500
(oil column in feet)

Sa

200 Actual curve for

nd

Se

perfectly sorted pore

st

al
on

space
100
e
re
se

50
1 2
rv
Se

oi
al

20

10
Entry
Pressure Oil-water
0
100 80 60 40 20 0
contact 1 http://energy.usgs.gov/
factsheets/Petroleum/SEM.html
Oil saturation
2 Sierra Chata ss; f=7.9%; k=0.399 mD Source: Core Lab
(% of pore volume)
Irreducible 3 Shuaiba ls; f=11.9%; k=0.163mD Source: Core Lab
Sw
3

8
 Pore space geometry

Una pausa ?
1 2

Small pores: ~ 100 diameter

Large surface area: >>1m2/g

To Repeat Capillary Pressure and Buoyancy Pressure: Migration

Capillary pressure measures the force

necessary to displace capillary water from a
The reservoir must be permeable and porous pore space
Pnw

Oil displaces pore water completely or partially, For a given reservoir and fluid, it is a
function of pore size
depending on capillary pressure

Buoyancy helps Buoyancy pressure is the additional force Pw

by which water is displaced by lighter oil
from a given volume
Both determine water saturation
For a given reservoir and fluid, it is a
function of reservoir height

9
 Porosity, permeability, and capillary pressure
How is the largest connected pore throat
diameter estimated ? Place core plug
sample in 5000
chamber Swi

Best: 2000

Mercury Pressure (psi)

Injection of a known volume of Surround with
non-wetting fluid into sample known volume 1000
Measure pressure necessary to of Hg
increase saturation 500 Plateau

Measure saturation through Increase

resistivity of rock+fluid pressure in Entry
200
steps, displace pressure
water (or air) 100
Advantages:
Measure capillary properties of pore size Measure Hg 0
distribution saturation after 100 80 60 40 20 0
Quick and easy with Hg each pressure Mercury saturation (% of pore volume)
increase

Mercury-injection capillary pressure curve

A Test Your Reservoir how much oil is in it ?

5000 5000
decreasing
reservoir

Height above OWC (ft)

2000 2000
Mercury Pressure (psi)

Mercury Pressure (psi)

quality !

Reservoir
1000 1000

500 500

200 200

100 100

0 OWC 0
100 80 60 40 20 0 100 80 60 40 20 0
Mercury saturation (% of pore volume) Mercury saturation (% of pore volume)

Oil saturation (% of pore volume)

10
 3R

Rock Type 1 Rock Type 2

Porosity vs. Permeabiliy, Cap. Pr essure Samples
Porosity vs. Permeabiliy, Cap. Pressu re Samp les XRD Rock Type 2 10000.00
XRD Rock Type 1 10000.00
F erroan
P la g lll ite/Mi ca
Dol omite
Fel dspa r 3% Qua rtz
Ferroan K- Fel dspar 5% 1000.00
Plag 4% 67%
1000.00 14%
Feldspar Dolomi te
K-Feldspar 20
4% 4% llli te/M ica 20
15% 1% 100.00 1 0
100.00 10
RT 1 > 3500 k/ phi
RT 1 > 3500 k/ phi 5

perm (mD)
RT 2 450 - 3500
5

p erm (mD)
RT 2 450 - 3500 10.00 RT 3 150 - 450
Quartz
10.00 RT 3 150 - 450 RT4 6.32 - 150
75% RT 4 6.32 - 150 2 RT5 > 6.32
2 RT 5 > 6.32
1.00
1.00 1
1

0.10 0.5
0.10 0.5 0.1
0.1
0.25
0.25 0.01
0.01 0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30 porosit y (v/v)
porosi ty ( v/v)
High-Pressure Hg-Inject ion Capillary P ressure Curves, RT 2
100000 100000

Hg Capillary Pressure
10000 10000

Hg Injection Pressure (psi)

125

Hg Injection Pressure (psi)

1000
125 1000

100
100

10
10
Hg Capillary Pressure
1
1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
0 10 20 30 40 e S50
La se r Particl ize, Ro60
ck Type70
2 (phi ) 80 90 100
Pseudo-Water Saturation (%) Pseudo-Water Saturation (%)

1 1.25
-0.87

0.48

1.83

3.17

4.52

5.86

7.21

8.55

9.90
Particle Size, Phi
12 100
50

0.35

0.75

1.15

1.56

1.96

2.36

2.77

3.17

3.58

3.98

4.38

4.79

5.19

5.59

7.21

7.61

8.02

8.42

8.82

9.23

9.63

10.4

10.8

11.2
-0.9

-0.5

-0.1
50

6.4
6.8

10
6
12 100
90
90 10
10
Particle Size Particle Size 80
80
70

In cremental Volum e %

Cumulative Volum e %
8
70
8 60

Incremental Volume %

Cumulative Volume %
60
6 50
6 50
40
40 4
30
4
30
20
2
20
2 10
50 10
50 0 0

1. 8220

0. 7169

0. 2821

0. 1110

0. 0437

0. 0172

0. 0068

0. 0027

0. 0010

0. 0004
0 0

1.8220

0.7169

0.2821

0.1110

0.0437

0.0172

0.0068

0.0027

0.0010

0.0004
Particle Size, mm
Partic le Size, mm

Rock Type 3 Rock Type 4

Po rosity vs. P ermeab iliy, Cap . P ressure S amples
100 00 .00
X RD Rock Type 4
X RD Rock Type 3
Po rosity vs. Permeabiliy, Cap. Pressure Samples
Plag Plag Fe rroan
Ferroan 10000.00
lllite/M ica 10 00 .00
Feldspar Dolomite
Felds par D olomite
lllite/Mica 7%
7% K -Felds par 8% 6% Quartz 20
7% 4% Quartz
K-Feldspar 6% 65%
1000.00
11 % 66 % 1 00 .00 1 0
20
RT 1 > 3500 k/ phi
5

perm (mD)
RT 2 4 50 - 3500
100.00 1 0 10 .00 RT 3 15 0 - 4 50
RT4 6.32 - 150
RT 1 > 3500 k/ phi
5 2 RT5 > 6.32
perm (m D)

RT 2 450 - 3500
10.00 RT 3 150 - 450
1 .00
R T 4 6 .32 - 150 1
2 R T 5 > 6.32

1.00
1 0 .10 0.5
0.1

0 .25
0.10 0.5 0 .01
0.1 0 .00 0.05 0 .10 0 .15 0.20 0 .25 0.30
porosit y ( v /v)
0.25
0.01
0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25 0.30
High-Pressure Hg-Inje ction Ca pillary Pressure Curves, RT
porosi ty (v/v)
10 0000 4
Hi gh- Pres sur e H g-Injecti on Capilla ry Pressure Curves, R T 3
100000
1 0000

Hg Injec tion Pressure (ps i)

10000
125 125 1000
Hg I nj ec tio n Pressure ( psi)

1000
100

100
10

10 Hg Capillary Pressure
1
Hg Capillary Pressure
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
1 Pseudo-Water Saturation (%)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Pse ud o -Wate r Satur ati on (% ) Laser P article Size, Rock Typ e 4 (p hi)

11 .25
-0 .87

0 .48

1 .83

3 .17

4 .52

5 .86

7 .21

8 .55

9 .90
Laser Particle Si ze, Rock Type 3 (phi)
50
1 1.25

50
- 0.87

12 1 00
0.48

1.83

3.17

4.52

5.86

7.21

8.55

9.90

12 100 90
10
90 80
10
80
Particle Size 70
Particle Size 8

Inc rem ental Volu me %

Cu mulative Volu me %
Cum ulative Volum e %

70 60
Increm ental Volum e %

8
60 6 50
6 50 40
4
40 30
4
30 20
2
20 10
2
10
50 50 0 0

1 .82 20

0 .71 69

0 .28 21

0 .11 10

0 .04 37

0 .01 72

0 .00 68

0 .00 27

0 .00 10

0 .00 04
0 0
1.8220

0.7169

0.2821

0.1110

0.0437

0.0172

0.0068

0.0027

0.0010

0.0004

Pa rti cl e Siz e, mm
Part icle S ize, mm

11
 Rock Type 5 Petrophysics - Literaure
Poro sit y vs. Permeabiliy, C ap. Pre ssure Samples
XRD Rock Type 5 10000.00

Ferro an
D o lomit e
l l lite/M ica
13 % Quart z 1000.00 Tiab, D., and C. Donaldson, 1996, Petrophysics Theory and Practice of
Measuring Reservoir Rock and Fluid Transport Properties: Gulf Publishing Co.,
6% 51 % 20

100.00 10

5
RT 1 > 3500 k/phi
706 p.

perm (mD)
RT 2 450 - 3500
10.00 RT 3 150 - 450
RT 4 6.32 - 150
Pl ag
2 RT 5 > 6. 32
Fe ldspar K- Fe ldspa r

Various skripts, available as downloadable pdfs from the internet and compiled
7% 5%
1.00
1

in the class archive

0.10 0.5
0.1

0.25
0.01
0.00 0.05 0. 10 0.15 0. 20 0.25 0. 30
po rosit y (v/v)

High-Pres sure Hg -Inject io n C apillary Pre ssur e C urve s, RT 5

100000

10000
125

1000

Inject ion Pressure (psi)

100

10
Hg Capillary Pressure
1
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
50 Pseudo-Water
ParticleSaturation
Size, Phi(%)

11.25
-0. 87

0. 48

1. 83

3. 17

4. 52

5. 86

7. 21

8. 55

9. 90
6 1 00

90
5
80

Particle Size

Cumulative Volume %
Inc remental Volume %
70
4
60

3 50

40
2
30

20
1
10
50
0 0

1.82 20

0.71 69

0.28 21

0.11 10

0.04 37

0.01 72

0.00 68

0.00 27

0.00 10

0.00 04
Partic le S ize, mm

Petrophysics Links
Next Lecture
http://www.micromeritics.de/ and http://www.micromeritics.com/:
Homepages of the leading producer of pore-analytical hardware; good
downloadable pdf script; link to a visualisation-software company www.pore-
cor.com.

http://www.petrophysics.net/index.htm: The Petrophysics Portal: The science

In what types of large-scale geometric of measuring rock properties and the realtionship between those. Maintained
by Mark Deakin, a consultant. Many links to organizations, companies etc.
bodies do these conditions exist in the
subsurface ? http://www.hendersonpetrophysics.com/ Similar but not as good.
http://www.mines.edu/~golhoeft/research/petro.html : An article describing
the essence of Petrophysics; by Gary R. Olhoeft, Prof. at Colorado School of
Reservoirs Mines.

http://iva.uni-ulm.de/PHYSIK/VORLESUNG/fluidemedien/node46.html

12