Evolution of Capillarity and Relative

Permeability Hysteresis
J. COLONNA GAZ DE FRANCE
!=. B!?!WWD I GEOPETROLE
GAZ DE FRANCE
J. L. MILLET
I PARIS, FRANCE
I

ABSTRACT behavior of an underground gas storage in aquifer,

submitted to a cyclical mode of exploitation, may
Some features oj the behavior ot underground
be obtained only if it is recognized that, at every
storage of natural gas in aquifers have shown the
point in the storage, the relationships among
important influence of the modifications occurring
permeability, saturation and capillary pressure are
in the distribution of /luids inside the pores of the
a function of the past history of fluid movements at
reservoir space on the evolution of the gas bubble
this point.
during tbe successive cycles of production.
Based on results from experimental study, we
We have performed experimental work to study
attempt to define a theoretical experimental model
s yst emetically tb e effects of ah ernat e displacements
that can predict the hydrodynamic characteristics
of water and g as on the bydrodyn am ic characteristics
of a porous formation. The model is designed to use
of rock. We have measured the distribution of the
a minimum number of measurements and to take into
liquid and gas phases in the porous medium and
account all circumstances surrounding the evolution
the corresponding perrneabiiities in relationship
of the formation’s hydrodynamic characteristics.
with the avfi~~a~lc Lw~,....-.,
.-”h; ll”r., pressures. These 7%. an experimental
Illls W“OiL“ IS
“ 2 ec.ntinllntinn
b“------------- of
parameters were examined during various combined
study undertaken by Gaz de France 1 and represents
cycles of drainage and imbibition.
a further attempt to develop a greatly simplified
A schematic representation of the behavior of the
modeI that can account for the above mentioned
pororis zedium, !msed cm experimental results, is beha$, ior. The ~esu~t is the introduction in the
presented. It allows a satisfactory extrapolation for
model of a schematic representation, based on an
tbe prediction of the evolution of tb e hydrodynamic
., . . . interpretation of physical measurements that
rock characierzsizcs ifi ihe CGSe c f Q given history .-.
conr~ms the iinpoitafice “1-~ ..7
h.,. ..e-----
r racic ~IJ tbc main
of alternated fluid displacements.
hydrodynamic properties of a rock. The physical
Tbe integration of this previsional scheme into
model thus developed will allow a satisfactory
tb e mathematical models used in reservoir
prediction of these characteristics.
engineering should &e preceded by a preliminary
study of the sensitivity of the reservoirs to certain
EXPERIMENTAL METHOD
parameters of tbe scheme in order to perform
eventual simplifications. APPARATUS AND EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE

Various combinations of drainage and imbibition

INTRODUCTION
cycles aimed at creating a series of situations
Important developments in the study of underground resulting from the expioitatiofi of a gas ~%ra~e
gas storage facilities have shown a series of have been studied on two large-dimensional
problems that, although not specific to gas storages, sandstone samples: (1) a Vosges sandstone and
have acquired a renewed importance. Particularly (2) a well consolidated Hassi R’Mel sandstone.
importanr is the concept involving the evolution of The experimental apparatus used is similar to
the hydrodynamic characteristics of a rock submitted that used by Rapoport and Leas. 2 The pressure pw
to multicycle two-phase displacements. of the wetting phase initially saturating the sample
Indeed it appears that a reliable prediction of the is set by means of a constant level device located
close to the upper end of the core and connected to
the sample by semipermeable partitions:
Original manuscript received in Society of Petroleum Engineers
-c*; ..->
“.. -- n.-t.
---- 15. _.
._, 1970. Revised manuscript received Sept. 8, 1971.
. . .. . .
Paper (SPE 2941) was presented at SPE 45th Annual Pall meeting,
held in Houston, Oct. 4-7, 1971. @ Copyright 1972 American
P~2 = Pa (atmospheric pressure) on the upper
Institute of Mining, MetallurgicaI, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. end of the core (output of the gas) . (1)
preferences given at end of paper.

This paper will be printed in Transections volume 253, which

and
will cover 1972.

28 SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JOURNAL

ym, /’?7a
 P~ ~ = pa + pwgb on the lower end of the core Pc=pg-pw=pg2 -pa... . . . ...(5)
(in]ection of the gas) . . . . . . (2)
Injection and output pressures of the gas, (relative pressure in the gas on the input face).
respectively, Drainage and imbibition are obtained by causing
pressures pg ~ and pgz to vary simultaneously by
Pgl and p
g2
= Pg, -pwgb . . . . . ...(s)
constant increments or decrements.
For each value of P=, time is allowed for reaching
are controlled by pressure regulators,
apparent flow equilibrium; gas flow measurement so
When the gas flow is stabilized, the total pressure
obtained for a pressure drop Ap = pwgb permits an
drop causing flow will be equal, in all experiments
easy calculation of gas permeability, kg; the
performed; to: . .
w-ettirig-@se ~ii~’~it b=irt~ ~ CICSed ChCIUIC, the
Ap=pWgh . . . . . . . . . . . . ..(4) gas saturation is related to the volume of wetting
phase expelled from the sample and accumulating
This pressure drop being linear in the gas flow, in a graduated reservoir in the circuit. Although the
the capillary pressure (under dynamic conditions wetting phase is low volatility silicone oil (pw = 4
for gas) cp), corrections are necessary to take into account

Nitrogen Injection

\r r-l%

1
0

!!-
0

--:

perm&ble
partitions Gas flow
I’ieasuremcnt
\

\ Lei?e! reding m
graduated buret
( salumhon measurement )

o-
Constant flow pump ‘~’
Pressure Regulators

FIG. 1 — EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS.

FEBRuARY, 1972
evaporation when the gas (nirrogen) flow is high. value higher than all the values previously reached
These corrections are easily obtained by calculating during the same run, the fi.cst drainage curve DO is
the difference between the weight lost by the obtained again. In other words, the previous history
sample and the weight of silicone oil accumulated of the sample is thus erased. The same feature will
in the graduated reservoir. be observed in all later runs.
The sample is saturated initially by the wetting A third run (reference points a to 8) provides the
phase and, during the first drainage operation, we hysteresis loop corresponding to the particular case
call Pd the displacement pres sue at which gas in which the imbibition is performed starting from
saturation first appesm and P~ the threshold the wetting-phase irreducible saturation Sw,.
pressure thar causes the first flow of gas through Two similar hysteresis loops–denoted “complete”
the sample. because their imbibition cycle 10 has been conducted
During a drainage cycle, the injection pressure down to the residual gas saturation — have been
p ~ is first set at the selected value by correctly studied for the Hassi R’Mel sandstone (Runs’4 and
positioning the plunger in the first Mariotte vessel 5, Fig. 3). Results from the two samples are
(Fig. I). Simultaneously, the plunger in the second unquestionably coherent. They axe also in
Mariotte vessel placed in the output circuit is accordance with results obtained by several other
moved an equivalent amount. In this case, the authors.
setring of the output pressure p 2 is performed only Morrow and Harris 3 have studied hysteresis
when the accumulation of recuperated gas between phenomena on unconsolidated layers of glass beads;
sample and regulator is sufficient for bubble-to- the experimental apparatus was derived from
bubble contact. (During an imbibition cycle the conventional desorption techniques. Similar studies
output pressure is first reduced, then progressively had been performed previously by Poulovassilis
the injection pressure. ) using a consolidated bed made from a sintered
Thus, as long as the gas flow is not established aggregare of glass beads. q More recently, Evrenos
throughout the sample, the output gas pressure is and Comers) 6 have observed simultaneously the
nfir 0s.
..”. .=.* M..
=m~U rhe -.. --. -., =-------
...s c-apillarv nressure cannot be constant evo!l~ri~n of capillary pressures and relative
along the sample. Besides, even if the capillary permeabilities for wetting and nonwetting phases
pressure were constant, there would remain a during hysteresis cycles between limiting
displacement capiIlary pressure at which gas would saturations S and S,w, using more or less
expel the wetting phase from the largest pores consolidated C%i3brian sandstones (Fig. 4).
accessible from the sample’s end, without causing The similarity of the results obtained by such
continuous gas flow because these large pores different experimental methods on artificial
communicate with each other through smaller consolidated and unconsolidated porous media and
openings. on various natural media seems to indicate that the
general evolution of capillary pressures during
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS alternating cycles of drainage and imbibition is

CAPILLARY PRESSURE-SATURATION
nmr
Afium. -mnwcpo
L.“,. .3 . . .

Experiments performed on the Vosges sandstone VOSGES SANDSTONE

0
sample are shown in Fig. 2. A first run resulted in ~ ep
Lrnqth. VS cm
the definition of the conventional first drainage
%cllon 19,6 cm2
curve DO (reference points a to e) until irreducible P

saturation of the wetting phase S,w was reached. II k $krrn 12w mD

h
p0?051ty ?9, a z
The second run (reference points 1 to 13 in Run n“ 1 ( o—c )
chronological order) was performed afrer total 33 Run . . 2 ( 1—13 1

resaturation of the sample and consisted of two

complere hysteresis cycles. Each cycle is defined l\ R.. n- 3(+_5)

by its origin Q on curve Do corresponding to the lb

maximum capillary pressure PM of the cycle and
consists of an imbibition /0 carried out to the
residual gas saturation Sgr followed by a new
drainage back to capiiiary pressure PM.
Each loop, consisting of curves and associated
to rhe same origin was scanned twice consecutively,
with perfect reproduction. This confirms the
validity of the experimental method and shows the
e~~!uti~n of capillary pressures. In a given cycle,
pressure is reproduced without change when the
cycle is performed twice. In addition, this 0 20 40 60 so i60

experiment shows the unique character of the first WETTlffi PHASE SATURATION (“/.)

drainage curve — each time we set a capillary rF~G. PVPT 1P PA DTT ~APV DPUQ.Q1l RU
2 — L x Qu.ti b-. .- . .. . . ., —w., ..-, ~c)~~.~.s
pressure (or a nonwetring-phase saturation) at a
CORE.

80 SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM EA’GINEERS JO URXAL

qualitatively independent from the nature of the for permeabilities are obviously in analogy. The
porous medium. And this factor enhances the same symbols (Q /., Dl, etc. ) have been used to
interest of a formaiizeci representation of the describe equivalent eiements in the two cases.
ph~fi~.m~fi~ chlus evidcnceci= c~rnnlete hysteresis
r_-.-–- loops obtained, res~ectivei~,
from the Vosges sandstone sample (Runs 2 and 3)
PERMEABILITY-SATURATION RELATIONSHIP
and from the Hassi R ‘Mel sandstone (Runs 4 and 5)
The evolution of capillary pressures and of gas are reported on Figs. 5 and 6. The results are
permeabilities has been measured simultaneously similar from one sample to the other and show, as a
for the two sandstone samples under study. particular case of a more general family of curves,
Hysteresis phenomena for capillary pressures and the curves designated as envelopes by Evrenos and
Comer5~6 in their work.
Here again, we are led by the coherence of the

HASSI R’MEL SANDSTONE

L
1
Q
Lrngth 8,7 cm
VOSGES 5AND5TONE
5ect oon J9,6 Cti e
Length 17, 5 cm
Smt I+mn 1140 m Q
Secllon 19,6 cmz
Porosity W,m a
G BOSe Perm 1260 m D
Run n“4 ( a-l
Pwoslty 19,50 z
Runn” S( l-4
R“n”l (o—e)
0
E R. n.2 (1—13 I
\
Ru .“3 I<_& )

*
.
i
z
<
w
I

E
n.

0
) 6
0

01
0 m 40 60 m
log)
WETTING PHASE SATURATION
al 40
FIG. 3 — CYCLIC CAPILLARY PRESSURE, HASSI wETTING PHASE 5ATURATION ( ~o )
R’MEL CORE. ----- .- ------ . . .. .. . . .. An..”” .-..
FIG, 5 — CYCLIC FJLKMEA131L1 1 I , VU>L15D bUKU.

Poros ,t y . 248%
mm
HAS51 R MEL SANDSTONE
Bose P?rmiotxl$ty. 1235 mD
t

o 1 s) Dmx”oqe Le”@h . 87cm

Ill
A 1st Irnb, bnt!c.n
$4 ~ 5ectto. . 19,6 cm2
n 2nd Dro, nrqe \\
Base h.m.l 140 mD
3
n.
v 2 nd Imbtbmon
12 x 3 .d D.o, noqe n
%rlslty f9, @ z
a00 - //
-..
9 7 .,+ lmh, b,tm” E R.” .04 (a—f)
\
4 R.. n05 (1—4)
.
1-
:
z
< bm
U
x
E
u
a

m
ul
6
u

[
\
.i ,
WATER SATURATION 1~]
WATER SATURATION (z)

FIG. 4 — CYCLIC CAPILLARY PRESSURE, FROM

REF. 5. FIG. 6—CYCLIC PERMEABILITY, HASSI R’MEL CORE.

FE BRLIARY. 1972 31
results to seek a formalized representation of the penetrate and then to flow through the channels
evolution of the relationships. belonging to the network (opening pressure).
If we consider the capillary pressure at which
INTERPRETATION OF water could start to repenetrate each of these
EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS networks to prevent the passage of gas (stoppage
pressure), this pressure is not necessarily equal to
FORMALIZED REPRESENTATION OF OBSERVED the “Yb
---”;mu nr.=c.nre
... ..e y.--..--..., ~u~ COU!CJ in pincip!e be in
PHENOMENA ORIGIN OF HYSTERESIS PHENOMENA
certain networks as low as the threshold pressure
When capillary pressure in a porous medium is proper (Ps). In fact, this pressure is governed by
increased during drainage, the gas penetrates the smallest diameter of the “forced access path”
progressively into pores having smaller and smaller in the network already occupied by gas. Fig. 7
diameter. In each pressure increment there is shows how, if repenetration of water may take place
activated a new family of networks consisting of in Networks 1, 2 and 4 as soon as the capillary
interconnected paths whose varying diameters are pressure drops below the opening pressure, the
equal or larger than the one that it is now possible capillary pressure in Networks 3 and 5 will need to
to penetrate. drop much lower before gas circulation is interrupted.
All the new networks thus activated have only Hysteresis phenomena observed in two-phase
one common feature — the value of the capillary displacements are essentially due to the existence
pressure necessary to allow the gas f~st to of these differences between opening and stoppage

we F/inq
phase

(1) Drainage (2) Dm;nage

R-Ftl PC= Pcl+ Ape

123656

(3) Imbtbltlon
Pc - Pq

FIG. 7 — EVOLUTION OF FLUID DISTRIBUTION IN POROUS MEDIUM FOR DRAINAGE AND IMBIBITION.

92 sOCIETY OF PETROLEUM EXGINEERS JOURNAL

pressures. It seemed imperative to take into account capillary pressure relationship during cycles of
~his phenomenon for the definition of the physical alternated displacement of one fluid by the other.
model designed to monitor the experimental studies. It is particularly interesting to note that the
The Proce~s described previously may reformulated physical model thus conceived gives a detailed
schematically. During a first gas injection when account of the results obtained experimentally that
the capillary pressure applied to the reservoir rock would tend to confirm the validity of the original
is modified from P to Pcn + APc, the added gas hypotheses. This can be stated for capillary
% .
circulation in the famdy of new networks having an phenomena as follows. During a first re-imbibition
opening pressure equal to P~n + APC gives the rock of the rock, the gas permeability decreases only as
an additional gas permeabdlty Akn. Representing the stoppage pressures of the various networks
.I. - ml.----..-
L1l C ~UCUU1llCLIUIL
. . ...l
“y
. {~~
a \ “m
}1(~~
,, \ u. C)
),-,.v.,~
--. .-,
+h~ .~c),lpino
---- .b =------~
previously activated are reached; while during a
increase Akx may be sp f It into a sum of components: first drainage,. the surface representing the t~tal
gas permeability (on the diagram) increases as
indicated on Fig. 9 (left side) by translation of a
Ak~+Ak~-l +........ Ak; =Akn, . . . (6)
vertical line, this surface will decrease by band-like
decrement according to the process indicated on
where Ak~ is the permeability increase given to the
the same figure (right side). This show-s that, fOi
rock by the newly opened networks exhibiting a
the same value of the capillary pressure, the
stoppage pressure equal to Pcn + APC, and Ak~- 1,
permeability remains perceptibly higher during a
A&2, . . . . .. . , Ak~ correspond to the newly opened
first re-imbibition than during a first drainage.
networks exhibiting stoppage pressures ranging
Fig. 10 shows the schematic model of the
down to the displacement pressure of the sample,
evolution of gas permeability for a given history of
corresponding to Ak$
capillary pressure. The water trapped by the gas in
Repeating this splitting process for each capillary
the activated networks prevents the absolute
pressure increment from the threshold pressure to
permeability of these networks from being entirely
the pressure corresponding to irreducible water
available to gas. This effect is shown on the
saturation leads to a diagram of the type shown on
figure. Starting from a capillar~ pressure equal to
Fig. 8. On this figure each band represents the
zero, when threshold pressure P~ is reached, several
permeability increase due to the progressive
networks having a stoppage pressure between
opening of networks having the same stoppage
threshold pressure P~ and displacement pressure Pd
pressure. With the stating of a few additional
become activated. This means that during imbibition
hypotheses, the schematic representation thus
a certain gas permeability remains until displacement
obtained will allow the introduction of hysteretic
pressure Pd is reached. On the other hand, if a
processes into the evolution of the gas permeability-
value lower than Pd is reached, it will be necessary,

Ak
-F
Ac

area 01 permea biilry Increases due io t’ne

opening of channels for stoppage pressure
Pcn+APc

Pc
J
PCn

dk
— VS P= OBTAINED DURING FIRST DRAINAGE.
‘lG” 8 – ‘lAGRAM ‘F A Pc

FEBRUARY, 1972 99
 -% A PC

Evolufion of capillary pressure Evolu& of capillary pressure

I
I l--

Pc. Pc F’cn Pc

Determ;nat; on of gas permeab; l;ty Determination of gas permeabi lily

during first dm;nage during first ;mbib;tion

FIG. 9 — GRAPHJCAL DETERMINATION OF GAS PERMEABILITY.

..........);--- -. r 1
during a subsequent drainage, to reach threshold
pressure to obtain a gas permeability.
*
El
kg( I%f) ~kg(pc2
L
........ .-----
:%( PCJ );
J
Experimental results show an additional
hysteresis phenomenon between first drainage DO
and drainages D1 following totaI imbibition (Fig.
12). During such a drainage DI the presence in the II
displaced ‘water of gas not yet untrapped allows
onIY a partiaI reconstitution of the networks
~cciv=~ed during drainage DO. This effect decreases
I
progressively until total disappearance occurs when
the maximum capillary pressure PM obtained during //
drainage DO is reached.
This qualitative remark, together with the
schematic representation described above, wilI be
used for the extrapolation
acquired data and the introduction
of experimentally
of the concept
,
into a mathematical model (see Appendix).

FIG. 10 — SCHEMATIC MODEL OF THE EVOLUTION

FORMALIZED RE PRESENTATION
OF GAS PERMEABILITY FOR A GIVEN HISTORY OF
OF TRAJECTORIES CAPILLARY PRESSURE.

m -MUA DTT
rEm,.,nzuuu. TTV
. s - PADTT
*.,. .-- .1 .AwV
.. .
PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP

Examination of the established model shows that:

1. Point ~g-Pc scans at every instant a trajectory
entirely defined by the extreme points reached at
the two preceding reversals of the capillary pressure
variation.
2. When capillary pressure varies between these
two extreme points, the family of possible
trajectories is limited to a domain entirely defined
by the two extreme points considered.
3. It follows that the gas permeability of a ‘rock
is a function of the entire history of capillary
pressures applied to this rock. However, with the
exception of trajectory Do the 100PS obtained by
~~mp]ece back-and-forth scanning between two given ,..
extreme values of the capillary pressure are
pressure PC
perfectly reproducible and may be disregarded. P,j Ps— capillary

Fig. 11 shows the general shape of the trajectories FIG. 1 I — ORGANIZATION OF THE TRAJECTY3RIES
of the point representing the kg-Pc function, based OF THE POINT REPRESENTING THE RELATIONSHIP
on the above mentioned hypotheses. The theoretical (kg - P= ).

94 sOCIETY OF PET ROLECM ES GINEERS JOURNAL

 to the gas invasion pressure provided the trapped
gas is neglected. We will call this water invasion
pressure.
A p~o~e~~ .S~.mi!a~ to the occ used Lo interpret
permeability hysteresis may be used for the
saturations. In this new process, the gas and water
invasion pressures play the parts formerly taken by
the opening and stoppage pressures.
For a given variation dPc of the capillary
UXIGE5 SANDSTONE
pressure, the networks contributing a corresponding
le..p . $75<m
permeability variation Akg coincide only partially
%C, !U7
ease %.
.
.
w 6.,-”2
w *D
with the networks contributing a saturation
PW.,,ty . ‘!0 m % variation, ASg.
R.” ”., ,. _,) Fig. 13 (left) shows a schematic model of the
R.n+2, t_f3)
Run n. 1 ,-_I) evolution of gas saturation for a given history of
capillary pressure variations. This model takes
2 into account the participation of the gas trapped in
the channels re-invaded by water to total gas
saturation. On the gas saturation-capillary pressure
diagram obtained from this model, it may be noted
that the S -Pc curves are organized in a fashion
c;m;la,
. . .... . . . rn
.“ r----
% * ..k~.=,Fi
-~ ( .g. 13, right):
FIG. 12 — RELATIONSHIP OF CAPILLARY PRESSURE
VS GAS PERMEABILITY. PERMEABILITY-SATURATION RELATIONSHIP

Combining the curves of Figs. 11 and 13 produces

curves may be compared to the experimental curves a permeability-saturation relationship. Comparison
(i.e., for the Vosges sandstone in Fig. 12). between theoretical curves and previously presented
experimental data shows good qualitative agreement
SATURATION-CAPILLARY
(Fig. 14).
PRESSURE RELATIONSHIP
CONCLUSIONS
During drainage in the porous medium in each
capillary pressure increment, there is an invasion Our work establishes qualitative laws for
of a new family of networks (with or wirhout a predicting satisfactorily the evolution of the
corresponding increase in gas permeability). These characteristics of a rock submitted to any series of
networks have a feature in common — the value of more or less complete drainages and imbibition.
the capillary pressure necessary to allow the gas to This prediction can be accomplished on the basis
penetrate the channels beIonging to the network of a relatively modest set of previously established
(gas invasion pressure). experimental data, namely the Do, fo, D1 curves for
If we consider the capillary pressure at which the relationships of gas permeability - capillary

------
---
water would start re-invading each one of the pressure and water permeability-capillary pressure,
networks, this pressure will be equal or inferior to and of the Do, l., D1 curves for the capillary

........
ilk \
El %(% ) +s(%!
...... ......
[%-(-G \ s
.-2 ‘A
02
‘A
AS.-~wf=m &:&;
------ %
- --- ‘1

k W&me.
/“’
. / .<
._l!p_+~l

I \&h
II b
\
% v
------ %2-------- 1 ,\ F
‘t
.. .

.----- P~-------------.-------- -----------

.-—
0

FIG. 13 — DIAGRAM OF REPRESENTATIVE CURVES FOR RELATION OF S4 -PC.

~FRRT*nv ,0,9
. . . . . . . . . .A ..- 95
pressure-gas saturation relationship. Pg = pressure of gas
Our solutions are somewhat different from the /Jw = pressure of the wetting phase
intermediate scanning curves and the incomplete
p= = atmospheric pressure
trajectories covered by those curves that have been
Pc = capillary pressure
reported.3-5 The ‘[envelope curves” appear merely
as a particular illustration of the reproducibility of Pd = displacement pressure
any hysteresis loop. PM = maximum capillary pressure
Additional experiments are needed to check P~ = threshold pressure
completely the validity of these solutions. Such
s gf = residual gas saturation
experiments would be quite delicate because of the
high degree of precision required on all operations
sWr = residual wetting phase saturation
since the duration and the repetitive nature of these A = difference
operations would lead to a cumulation of small Ap = pressure drop (difference of pressure)
errors that would not be compatible with the pw = wetting phase density
accuracy expected on the results. pw = wetting phase viscosity
We are pleased with the agreement between the
qualitative laws described and the experiments ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
already performed. This has led us to believe that
our procedure gives a satisfactory answer, on the The authors express their thanks to Andr4
technico-economic level, to the problem of the Houpeurt, scientific adviser to Geopetrole, for the
evolution of the hydrodynamic characteristics of a valuable advice provided during the course of this
rock that has been submitted to a given history of investigation and to Henri Dasse of Geopetrole for
fluid displacements. his many useful suggestions. Appreciation is
As a further development of this work, we plan to extended to the management of Gaz de France
reactivate certain preliminary studies already (Etudes et Techniques Nouvelles) and to the
conducted with the very simplified model mentioned,l management of Geopetrole for permission to present
introducing a summary representation of the results this paper.
obtained here. The purpose of these studies would
be to evaluate the sensitivity of the reservoirs to REFERENCES

the variation of certain parameters outlined in this CcNew Orientations in the Use of the
1. Colonna, J.:
paper. Because of the large amount of computer Relative Permeability Concept, ” Review, IFP (April,
time required for a compiete mathematical simulat- 1969) Voi. XXIV, tU.
ion, the use of a mathematical model is contemplated 2. Rapoport, L. A. and Leas, W. J.: “Relative Pe~ea-
only as a function of the results given by the bility to Liquid in Liquid-Gas Systems;’ Trans., AIME
preliminary sensitivity studies. (1951) Vol. 192, 83-98.
3. Morrow, Norman R. and Harris, Colin C.: “Capillary
NOMENCLATURE Equilibrium in Porous Materials, ” Sot. Pet. Erzg. J.
(March, 1965) 15-24.
DO, D1,,.. = drainage 4. Poulovasailia, A.: clHysteresis Of Pore water, an
Application of the Concept of Independent Domain s,”
g = acceleration of gravity
Soil Science (June, 1962) Vol. 93, 405.
b = length (of sample)
5. Evrenos, A. I. and Comer, A. G.: “Numerical Simula-
1.,11,... = imbibition tion of Hysteretic Flow in Porous Media, ” Paper SPE
kg .= effective permeability to gas 2693 presented at 44th Annual SPE Fall Meeting, held
in Denver, CO1O. (Sept. 28-Ott. 1).
kw = effective permeability to wetting phase
6. Evrenos, A. I. and Comer, A. G.: “Sensitivity Studies
,.# P..
“’ “-=
e.w.
..a.=.
+-. R-l
. . .
.+;. . .,=
. . . .
P~_.=.~hil
- . . . . ---------
itv and
----
C!anilkfitV in
--r . ..- . . . .

Reservoir Modeling, ” paper

SPE 2668 presented at
44th Annual SPE Fall Meeting, held in Denver, Colo.
(Sept. 28-Ott. 1).

APPENDIX *

EXPERIMENTAL DATA DETERMINATION

AND REPRESENTATION (SPECIFICAL MATRIX)

In connection with the formalization process, the

scanning of saturation or permeability increments
needed for deriving characteristic curves of
k.,~.-,,
LIy”.au..s I ;,- fJ.
t.ra-arr.r
”y-. ., -A- --; Q &C~~rn~~~_ d if ~h~ f~]]~wing

data are known.

*This Appendix is an abstract of a paper presented by Colonna

Srw _. wetting phose sotirahon % 100 and Millet at the Research Association on Petroleum Exploration
and Production Techniques colloquium organized by French
FIG. 14 — PERMEABILITY- SATURATION CURVES. Petroleum Institute, June 7-9, 1971.

S6 SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS JO URKAL

FIG. 15 — CURVES SHOWING VARIATIONS DURING
IMBIBITION AT VARIOUS PRESSURE VALUES.

1. A curve giving A variations vs capillary

pressure during first drainage achieved up to the
irreducible water saturation.
2. A iamiiy of curves giving A variations during -“11 -’1-” -””’11
imbibition starting from a first drainage interrupted
at various capillary pressure values.
Fig. 16 is a matrix-form presentation of results
given on Fig. 15, each column of this matrix fo~ed
with elements, the sum of which is equal to the
empty variation AAZ of the A property when, for FIG. 16 — MATRIX-FORM PRESENTATION OF FIG. 15
——
. ..- —-
instance, capillary
‘“- pressure P= is increased from RESULIS.

Pcti to Pcn+l.
Each line is written with terms, the sum of which
corresponds to total variation A’An of the same
property when P= decreases from pcn+l to pen. Fig.
17 shows how elements of such a matrix can be
obtained in a simple way from curves.
In a practical way, experimental data used for

A
I
Pe

h 7

R/
AII, II.3 _

An, n.2 —

‘ AII,II

7
/
Do

II
I T
0 + ● 3

FIG. 17 — DETERMINATION OF A SPECIFIC MATRIX.

FEBRUARY, 1972 w
the determination of specifical matrix may be Drainage increases until irreducible water saturation
obtained by: (1) water saturation, (2) water permea- is reached followed by re-imbibition until capillary
bility, and (3) gas permeability measurements. ptessure is reduced to zero.
The following steps were undertaken during the The good agreement between this schematic
experiments. The first, partial drainage with representation and the results obtained by most
re-imbibition is performed until capillary pressure authors allows a sufficiently accurate formalization
is reduced to zero. Eventually second partial of intermediate scanning curves. In such a way, the
drainage is achieved to an upper level of capillary number of experimental imbibition following partial
pressure as was formerly obtained, and re-imbibition drainage can be reduced in most cases to one or
occurs until capillary pressure is reduced to zero. two.
***

38 SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM EXCINEERS JO URXAL