PET-504E Advanced Well Test Analysis ..

Treyen Notes on anisotropy 2007-2008 T Until now the equations we have derived were in general for homogeneous and isotropic systems. Now we will consider handling fluid flow in porous media under anisotropic permeability. The equations derived in this section are valid for the case where the components of permeability are alligned with the principle axes of the coordinates, x-y. In other words the permeability tensor will be represented by Eq.1.

k xx K=

k yy

k zz

(1)

The diffusion equation describing fluid flow in a porous media for a slightly compressible fluid of constant viscosity in an anisotropic media is given by Eq.2.

2 p 2 p 2 p ct p k xx 2 + k yy 2 + k zz 2 = x y z c1 t
Now we will define a new coordinate system with the following transformations:

(2)

%= x

K x k xx

%= y

K y k yy

%= z

K z k zz

(3)

By using the chain rule we can develope a relation for the second derivative with respect to the coordinates,

x 2

% x % x = = 2 % x x % x x x x x
We know from Eq.4 that:

(4)

% K x = x k xx
Substituting Eq.5 into Eq. 4 yields:

(5)

K 2 = %2 x 2 k xx x
If we substitute Eq.6 into Eq. 2 we have:

(6)

2 p 2 p 2 p ct p + 2 + 2 = % 2 y % % c1K t x z

(7)

Eq 7 shows that solving the pressure for an anisotropic media is equivalent to solving the pressure in an isotropic media (with a permeabilit of K) in a different coordinate system. So now the question is how do we compute K.

We will solve this problem by keeping the volume of the reservoir fixed in both coordinate systems. In the x-y-z coordinate system the volume of the reservoir is given as :

V = Lx Ly Lz

(8)

%y %z % coordinate system : Similarly in the x

%=L %L % % V x y Lz
If we equate the two volumes: (9)

Lx Ly Lz =

K K K Lx Ly Lz k xx k yy k zz

K = 3 k xx k yy k zz

(10)

In a two dimensional system this reduces to:

K = k xx k yy

(11)

Hence having defined K this way, all we need to do for solving the pressure in an anisotropic media is to transform the coordiantes using the relations given in Eq. 3 and use a permeability given by Eq. 10 or 11. Example: Consider a square reservoir each having a side L. Assume that the anisotropy ratio is ky/kx=4. Find the dimensions of the equivalent isotropic reservoir. From Eq.11 that the equivalent isotropic permeability is given by

K = k x k y = 4k x2

K = 2k x

Hence the dimensions can be computed as:

% = L x

K % = 2L L L x kx

% = L y

K % = 1 L L L y ky 2

Note : For the question in the final exam, you should try to find the solution in the transformed coordinates.