CORE FLOW ANALYSIS

Core Preparation
Core sample from the formation to be treated is preferred. When such core is
not available, substitute another core of suitable permeability and similar
lithology.

The core shall be cleaned thoroughly and dried for 2 hours at 200 to 220F.
Approved core cleaning procedures are described in API RP 27:
Recommended Practice for Determining Permeability of Porous Media.
Cool and weigh the core.

The core should then be saturated with brine. To saturate the core, evacuate it
for at least one hour at pressure of 1 mm mercury. Then slowly introduce the
brine until core is completely submerged.

Remove the saturated core from the brine and blot off excess water. Weigh
the core. The pore volume of the core is equivalent to the weight of the brine.

Procedure:
1. Insert the core into the rubber sleeve so that fluid does not bypass the
core.
2. Mount the sleeved core into the core holder capable of attaining reservoir
net confining pressure and temperature ratings.
3. Pressures and flow rates should be continuously logged as functions of
time.
4. The core sample should be mounted in the horizontal position for analysis.
The confining stress on the sample should be gradually increased while at
the same time the pore pressure of the fluid in place is also increased to
maintain a net confining stress ratio.
5. The test apparatus and sample should be heated to an equivalent
reservoir temperature
6. The sample should be allowed to stabilise at the test temperature (up to
90C only, without back-pressure device) and pressure.
7. Determine the initial permeability. Formation fluid should be flowed in the
production direction (from formation to wellbore) by injection at constant
rate.
8. Obtain 5 ml samples of fluid, recording the time in seconds and pressure
used to obtain them.
9. Continue to obtain readings until a permeability value is reached such that
flow of 10 additional pore volumes produces less than 1% change in
permeability i.e. the equilibrium permeability. The equilibrium permeability
measured is the reference permeability.
10. To stimulate well conditions, treatment fluids should be flowed over the
wellbore face of the sample i.e. the injection direction.
11. Measure final permeability after treatment. Flow the fluid used in
establishing the reference permeability through the core at the same
differential pressure until the equilibrium permeability is attained.
12. Calculate the permeability of the core sample to the test fluid using the
following equation:

K= QNL x 1000 = Millidarcies

A.P

K = Permeability in Millidarcies
Q = Flow rate (cc/sec)
N = Viscosity of test fluid in centipoise
L = Length of core in centimetres (cm)
A = Area of core face in square centimentres (cm2)
P = Differential pressure used in atmospheres