HOLA - 102
Evaluation of the Effects of the Experimental Parameters on
the Obtainment of Relative Permeability Curves in Sands of
Unconsolidated Reservoirs
Richard Márquez, Pdvsa-Intevep; Lilibeth Díaz, Universidad Nacional Experimental Francisco de Miranda.
Department of Chemistry; Marbelia Cabrera, Pdvsa-Intevep .
ABSTRACT
Permeability allows us to know fluid displacement
inside the porous media in a reservoir. In this study, the
effects generated by the change in temperature, flow
rate, backpressure and aging time on the relative
permeability curves were studied for a water/extra-heavy
crude system with unconsolidated sands using the MDC-
I and MDC-II hybrid models. It was found that as the
temperature is increased, the irreducible saturation of
water increases and the residual saturation of the crude
decreases. On the other hand, as the flow rate increases
the residual saturation of the crude decreases.
Additionally, an increase in backpressure up to 100 psi
was not found to affect the relative permeability curves
and that the increase in aging time up to 45 days did not
affect the end points of the curves. This study highlights
the importance of increasing knowledge about reservoir
systems associated with extra-heavy crudes, which has
represented a technological challenge since the methods
applied to date have not reported satisfactory results.
KEY WORDS
Relative permeability, unconsolidated reservoirs, temperature,
flow rate, and aging time.
INTRODUCTION
A series of previous studies on crude extraction has permitted
determining some reservoir properties. These studies have
been carried out with the purpose of obtaining a correct
characterization of the reservoir in order to implement the
appropriate extraction technologies and increase the
production rate of each well (Araujo, 2004).
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One of these studies includes the determination of the curves
of relative permeability, which represents the ease of mobility
of the fluids (water / crude oil) in the reservoir in function of
the increase in saturation of one of the phases under
consideration. Additionally, the wettability, a fundamental
property of the reservoir rock which indicates the preference
of a fluid to adhere to it, can be inferred from these curves.
The relative permeability and the wettability are properties
that provide important information for simulators which
predict reservoir production and useful life.
Up to the present, extra-heavy crude reserves have increased
considerably; however the petroleum industry has centered on
the exploitation of light and medium crudes since these
reserves represent large profits for exporters (Akin, 1999),
therefore information concerning the reservoirs of
unconsolidated sands associated with extra-heavy crudes is
very limited (Alizaddeh, 2007). In order to increase the
knowledge of these reserves, displacement tests following the
dynamic method were carried out to obtain relative
permeability curves, with the purpose of evaluating the effect
of changes in certain parameters that intervene in the
extraction process, such as temperature, injection flow,
backpressure and aging time, all of which can give an
indication of fluid behavior in the interior of the reservoir and
permit anticipating the results of a change that should be made
in the operating area in order to reach a maximum production
of the reservoir.
Aiken et al., 1999, report results of the effect of temperature
on heavy crude / water systems; they determined that the
relative permeability curves are not affected by the
temperature; however, some changes observed are a
consequence of the change in viscosity generated by the
increase in temperature. On the other hand, Alizadeh et al.,
2007, studied the effect of the flow rate on a carbonated rock
system and concluded that as the water flow rate increases, the
relative permeabilities of the crudes decrease. The
temperature and flow rate are variables that have a
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considerable effect on the fluid displacement in the interior of
the reservoir; for this reason when carrying out the
displacement tests the values of the parameters reported in the
operating area in order to emulate the reservoir conditions as
close as possible and correctly interpret the interaction of the
fluids with the solid surface of the reservoir, should be
considered. This will lead to a better understanding of the
dynamics of the system for any decisions that might be made
in the future.
Additionally, it is important to take the system backpressure
and the aging time of the sample used in the displacement
tests into account, since at the laboratory scale these
parameters can alter the results of the study, due to the fact
that the backpressure has an impact on the execution time of
the tests and the resistance of the porous medium to fluid
displacement (Paris, 2009). On the other hand, the aging time
can affect the fluid dynamics since the exposure of the crude
to the solid surface is prolonged in order to recover the
original state of the sample (Romero, 2008).
POROUS MEDIUM AND TEST FLUIDS
The displacement tests were carried out using samples of
unconsolidated sands which were packed into a metallic
sleeve approximately 6.5 cm long and 3.7 cm in diameter. The
samples were characterized petrophysically by obtaining a 23
cm3 porous volume, a porosity of 31% and an absolute air
permeability of approximately 5700 mD as shown in table A-
1.
Synthetically-formed water and extra-heavy crude were used
for the displacement tests. The synthetically-formed water
consisted of a solution of inorganic salts in distilled water
simulating the composition of the water of formation of the
reservoir (Carrero, 2011), and the crude came from a well
located in the Orinoco Oil Belt (OOB). The viscosity of both
fluids was measured at two different temperatures, 50 °C
corresponding to the reservoir temperature and 72 °C, the
temperature at which the crude reaches the reservoir viscosity
as shown in table A- 2.
PROCEDURE
The relative permeability curves were obtained by carrying
out displacement tests using the dynamic method and
processing the experimental data applying the MDC-I and
MDC-II hybrid models (imbibition). In order to carry out the
displacement test the following procedure was used: first the
unconsolidated sand sample was saturated with synthetically-
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formed water, collecting three times the porous volume of the
sample at the outlet of the system in order to guarantee 100%
saturation, subsequently extra-heavy crude was injected into
the sample in order to displace the water contained in the
porous medium and reach the irreducible water saturation
point (Swirr). Then synthetically-formed water was injected
again to displace the crude contained in the sample, collecting
the fractions of the displaced fluids, which represent the
experimental points of the relative permeability curves. This
procedure was carried out until the crude residual saturation
(Sor) was reached, thus finishing the experimental test.
This procedure was carried out several times establishing
different temperature, flow rate , backpressure and sample
aging time values, to evaluate the effect of each parameter on
the relative permeability curves for an extra-heavy crude /
water system. To study the effect of temperature, a sample
was tested at 50 °C, the temperature of the reservoir as
reported in the operating area and a second sample at 72 °C,
the temperature at which the crude reaches the viscosity of the
reservoir. Study of the effect of the flow rate was undertaken
using flows between 0, 01 and 0,03 cm3/ min. The
backpressure was evaluated by executing a test with 14.69 psi
(atmospheric pressure) and 100 psi, corresponding to 10% of
the reservoir pressure. Lastly, displacement tests were carried
out using samples exposed to 0 and 45 days of aging. Table A
- 3 summarizes the experimental conditions of displacement
tests performed using the dynamic method.
After completing the experimental tests and processing the
experimental data applying the MDC-I and MDC-II hybrid
models (imbibition) (Diaz, 2014), the end points of the
relative permeability curves were analyzed to define the effect
of the parameters (temperature, flow rate, backpressure and
aging time) on these curves.
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Temperature Effect:
To analyze the effect of the temperature on the relative
permeability curves for unconsolidated sand samples,
displacement tests were carried out at 50 °C and 72 °C (M1
and M2, respectively). Figure A-1 shows the curves of the
average Kr obtained for each sample, indicating the end points
(Swirr, irreducible water saturation and Sor, residual crude
saturation); in this figure 1, a lower temperature (50 °C) for
sample M2 can be seen to produce several changes in the Kr
curves. In the first place, the irreducible water saturation
(Swirr) decreases; this is directly related to the difference in
viscosity of the crude, since at a lower temperature (50 °C),
the crude viscosity increases (44500CP) and, being more
viscous, makes a greater push, generating a greater
displacement of the water contained in the core (Wang 2006).
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In the second place, a lower temperature raises the Sor; this is
also due to the difference in viscosity since the crude, being
more viscous, generates a greater resistance to being displaced
by the low-viscous water, thus increasing the amount of crude
that remains trapped in the porous medium as represented by
the residual crude saturation.
Flow Rate Effect:
The effect of the flow rate was analyzed for samples M1 and
M3, which were subjected to an flow rate of (2-3) x 10-2 and
(1-2) x 10-2 cm3/min, respectively. Figure A-2 shows the
average Kr curves obtained for these samples; it can be seen
that the end point of the curve for sample M1 is closer to 0.5
saturation compared to the end point of sample M3. This is
possibly due to the fact that the greater flow rate of the test for
sample M1 increases the drag speed of the water, generating a
deficient displacement of the crude increases, and thus results
in a greater residual crude saturation (Sor) caused by the
inefficient process of displacement of the water due to its high
drag rate, thus decreasing the amount of displaced crude and,
increasing Sor.
Upon establishing the differences in the Kr curves for the
unconsolidated sand samples (synthetic and real) under the
effect of the flow rate, at a greater flow rate, Swirr decreases
and the residual crude saturation (Sor) increases.
Backpressure Effect:
The backpressure effect on the relative permeability curves of
samples M1 and M4 was analyzed, using in these
displacement tests a backpressure of 14.69 and 100 psi,
respectively. Figure A-3 shows the average Kr curves
obtained for these samples. If the end points (Swirr and Sor)
of the Kr curves for sample M1 are compared with those of
sample M4, no significant difference between them is found,
so a backpressure up to a value of 100 psi is considered not to
affect the relative permeability curves. However, the optimal
backpressure has a value of 14.69 psi (atmospheric pressure),
since the displacement test carried out under this condition
was executed in less time than the tests carried out at 100 psi.
Aging Time Effect:
The aging time effect was studied using samples M3 and M5.
In these displacement tests, samples were subjected to 0 and
45 days of aging respectively, with the purpose of evaluating
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if the high viscosity of the extra-heavy crude could alter the
fluid dynamics due to the adhesive forces present in the
crude/sand interaction. Figure 4 shows the average Kr curves
obtained for these samples.
At the greater aging time for sample M5, the end point moves
closer to 0.5 saturation, which could be caused by the fact that
upon increasing the aging time the period of exposure to the
crude is longer and due to its high viscosity an adsorption
phenomenon is generated on the sand which implies that
certain fractions (polar) of the crude could remain adhered to
the sand without being displaced; however, despite this
variation in the saturation value only a small modification in
the wetting condition is generated and not a change of the
wetting condition compared to sample M3, as can be observed
in Figure A-4; that is to say, the wetting condition does not
change with respect to water or to crude.
CONCLUSIONS
In the study of the temperature, flow rate, backpressure and
aging time effects on the relative permeability curves for a
heavy crude/water system in unconsolidated sands the
following conclusions were reached:
 At a higher temperature the crude viscosity undergoes a
significant change, decreasing to a great extent and
causing a increases in Swirr and a decrease Sor.
 Increasing the water flow rate decreases Swirr and
increases Sor.
 Changes in back pressure up to a value of 100m psi in the
displacement tests does not affect the relative
permeability curves of the system under study.
 An unconsolidated sand sample with a greater aging time
does not affect the fluid dynamics in the interior of the
reservoir; a greater value for Sor is obtained for the
sample subjected to 45 day of aging.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank PDVSA-INTEVEP for its
support during the realization of this work.
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REFERENCES
1. Araujo, Y. (2004). Interacción roca-fluido para
yacimientos. (2nd ed.). Los Teques: PDVSA-INTEVEP. TABLES

2. Akin, S.; East, M.; Castanier, L. y Brigham, W. (1999).

Effect of temperature on heavy oil/water relative Table A-1. Unconsolidated Sample Petrophysical
permeabilities. Society Petroleum Engineers, (54120), 3-10. Properties and Porous Volume.

Porous Porosity Absolute

Sample 3
3. Alizadeh, A.; Keshavarz, A. y Haghighi, M. (2007). Flow Volume (cm ) (%) Permeability (mD)
rate effect on two-phase relative permeability in Iranian M1 26,50 35,90 4.783,98
carbonate rocks. Society Petroleum Engineers, (104828), 2-6. M2 22,18 30,68 5.911,98
M3 25,82 35,96 6.682,20
M4 22,47 30,95 5.537,48
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EYEE-IT-002. Preparación del agua de formación sintética.
Los Teques: PDVSA-INTEVEP.
Table A-2. Fluid Properties.

5. Da Silva, M. (2011). Análisis de las relaciones porosidad y

Temperature Density Viscosity
permeabilidad en sedimentos no consolidados. Unpublished Fluid
(°C) (gr/cm3) (cP)
°API
undergraduate study. Universidad Simón Bolívar, Sartenejas.
Synthetic 50 0,99 0,86
N/A
Water 72 0,97 0,65
50 0,99 44.500
6. Díaz, L; Marquez, R; Cabrera, M; Quintero, M. Estudio de Crude 10,3
72 0,98 6.300
la condición de mojado en sistemas de arenas de yacimiento
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Table A-3. Displacement Tests Using the Dynamic
Method.
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Flow ng
Viscos
Sam Temperat Backpres Rate Tim
ity 3
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(cP) -2
*10 ) (day
arenas asociadas a sistemas no consolidados del campo Bare,
s)
Faja Petrolífera del Orinoco. Unpublished undergraduate
study. Universidad del Zulia, Cabimas. M1 72 6.260 14,69 2-3 0
M2 50 44.500 14,69 2-3 0
M3 72 6.260 14,69 1-2 0
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(2013). [Online document]. Annual Statistical Bulletin 2013. M5 72 6.260 14,69 1-2 45
Consulted Feb. 3, 2014 in:
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viscosity on heavy-oil/water relative permeability curves.
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FIGURES
1

0,8

0,6

Kr
0 day
0,4 45 days

0,2

0
0 0,1 0,2 0,3 0,4 0,5 0,6 0,7 0,8 0,9 1 Sw (fraction)

1 0,9 0,8 0,7 0,6 0,5 0,4 0,3 0,2 0,1 0 Sor (fraction)

Figure A-4. Aging Time Effect M5.

Figure A-1. Temperature Effect.

Figure A-2. Flow Rate Effect.

Figure A-3. Backpressure Effect.

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