Capillary Pressure

Brooks and Corey Type Curve

 Review: Sw* Power Law Model

Pc  Pd S  * 1/λ
S 
* Sw  Swi
1  Swi
w w

• Power Law Model (log-log straight line)

– “Best fit” of any data set with a straight line model can be used
to determine two unknown parameters. For this case:
• slope gives l
• intercept gives Pd
– Swi must be determined independently
• it can be difficult to estimate the value of Swi from cartesian Pc vs. Sw
plot, if the data set does not clearly show asymptotic behavior
 Type Curves
• A Type Curve is a dimensionless solution or relationship

– Dimensionless means that it applies for any values of specific

case parameters

– Petroleum Engineers often use type curves to determine model

parameters
• well test analysis
• well log analysis
• production data analysis
• analysis of capillary pressure data
 Type Curves
• Process of type curve matching

– Step 1: observed data is plotted using an appropriate format

• The data and type curve must be plotted using the same sized grid (ie. 1
log cycle = 1 log cycle)

– Step 2: a “match” is found between observed data and a

dimensionless solution by sliding the data plot over the type
curve plot (horizontal and vertical sliding only)

– Step 3: the “match” is used to determine model parameters for

the observed data
• Often values are recorded from an arbitrary “match point” on both the
data plot and type curve plot
 Brooks and Corey Type Curve
• Dimensionless variable definitions

Pc
– Dimensionless Capillary Pressure PcD 
Pd
– Dimensionless Wetting Phase Saturation
1  Sw
SwD  1 S 
*

1  Swi
w

• Restating Sw* Model (Type Curve Plot)

PcD  1  SwD 
1/λ
 Brooks and Corey Type Curve
• Type Curve Plot
Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Type Curve

1000
– By matching the type l
l
curve, we can solve for all l
l
three Sw* Model l
parameters: Pd , Swi , and l l
l
• curve matched gives, l 100

PcD , Dimensionless
l

• vertical slide gives: Pd

• horizontal slide gives: Swi

10

1
0.01 0.1 1
SwD , Dimensionless
 Brooks and Corey Type Curve
• Data Plot, Pc vs. (1-Sw )
Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Data Sheet

1000
– Grid must be same size as
Type Curve Plot
• 1 log cycle on type curve is
the same size as one log

Pc , Same Pressure unit as Pd

cycle on data plot 100

– Any pressure unit can be

used for plotting Pc
• Pd determined from analysis
will be in same pressure
10
unit used to plot Pc

1
0.01 0.1 1
1-Sw , Fraction
 Brooks and Corey Type Curve
• Example Data, Cottage
Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Data Sheet

1000
Grove #5 Well
• lithology: sandstone
• porosity: 0.28 fraction
• permeability: 127 md

Pc , Same Pressure unit as Pd

• fluid system: brine/air 100

 swg: 72 dyne/cm
Sw, fraction Pc, psia Sw, fraction Pc, psia
0.237 56.57 0.487 6.07
0.263 40.23 0.519 5.02
0.279 30.83 0.567 4.48 10

0.311 22.53 0.599 4.05

0.343 15.94 0.647 3.54
0.359 13.30 0.712 3.25
0.391 10.82 0.744 2.88
0.407 9.04 0.824 2.64
0.439 4.43 0.888 2.30
1
0.01 0.1 1
1-Sw , Fraction
 Brooks and Corey Type Curve
• Step 1: Plot data on same
Dimensionless
Dimensionless Capillary
Capillary Pressure
Pressure Type
Data Sheet
Curve

1000
sized grid l
l
– Plots are shown with grid l
l
lines exactly overlayed l

• We often use tracing paper l

Pressure unit as Pd
100 l
without gridlines, and mark

PcD , Dimensionless
l
the location of gridlines
from the type curve on the
tracing paper
Pc , Same
10

1
0.01 0.1 1
SwD1-S
, Dimensionless
w , Fraction
Brooks and Corey Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Type Curve

1000 Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Data Sheet

Type Curve 1000

l
l
l
l

• Step 2: Slide data plot to l

l
obtain the best match 100 l

PcD , Dimensionless
l

– Only horizontal and

Pc , Same Pressure unit as Pd

100

vertical sliding is
allowed
– Best match is near the 10

l=1.0 curve 10

• Value of l is slightly less

than 1.0

1
0.01 0.1 1

1
SwD , Dimensionless
0.01 0.1 1
1-Sw , Fraction
Brooks and Corey Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Type Curve

1000 Dimensionless Capillary Pressure Data Sheet

Type Curve 1000

l
l
l
l

• Step 3: Pick an l

l
arbitrary match point 100 l

PcD , Dimensionless
l
and record values from

Pc , Same Pressure unit as Pd

100

both curves
– For this particular type
curve, the “best” 10

arbitrary match point is 10

where PcD=1 and SwD=1

– At this match point,
Pc=2.0 psia and (1– 1
0.01 0.1 1
Sw)=0.77 1
SwD , Dimensionless
0.01 0.1 1
Match Point 1-Sw , Fraction
 Brooks and Corey Type Curve
• Step 3: Continued
– Using dimensionless variable definitions
• Dimensionless Capillary Pressure
– When PcD = 1.0, from match point Pc=2.0
– Since by definition, PcD=Pc/Pd , then Pd=2.0
• Dimensionless Wetting Phase Saturation
– When SwD = 1.0, from match point (1-Sw)=0.77
– Since by definition, SwD=(1-Sw)/(1-Swi), then (1-Swi)=0.77
– Therefore, Swi=0.23

• Final Solution, for All Three Sw* Model Parameters:

l=1.0, Pd=2.0, Swi=0.23
– The Sw* log-log plot should be used to verify these values now
that we know Swi
• This would allow a more precise determination of l than “slightly less
than 1.0”