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how permeability of core analysis compare with k of well test..

Abstract

permeability is the most important factor in reservoir measurements.On small scale


permeability can be find using core plugs or probe permeater.permeability at large scale is
derived from drill stem tests.in order to increse the standard of our permeability
measurements for comparison to the permeability from drill stem tests is finalized by
statistical average methods. DST permeability is generally compared with one of the three
core plug averages (arithmetic, geometric, harmonic). In reality ,the permeability obtained
from well tests is generally supposed to be equal to the arithmetic average i.e; in a layered
reservoir or geometric average i.e; in a randomly distributed permeability field of the plug
measures. These averages are ment to be members of a more common power-average
solution. This real approach (which contains many assumptions on different factors in near
well geology)) is generally flawed, due to a number of different reasons.The true
measurement of in situ reservoir permeability requires a completeg understanding of both
core (both plug and probe) and well test measurements in terms of their volumetic
investigation, mechanism of measurement , interpretation of data , and integration of
different values.

Permeability

The ability of rock to allow fluids to pass through it is called permeability.there are three types
of rock permeability,absolute,effective and reletive permeability.It is represented as K.A
French hydrologist named Darcy was the first kone who did work on permeability and flow
rates.

Absolute Permeability

The permeability of a porous mediam when there is only one fluid in it.When that fluid
occupies 100% of pore space,this rock property will remain independent of the fluid.It is
represented by K.

Effective permeability

When there are two or more fluids present in a rock the permeability of rock to flowing fluids
will be effective permeabilityandd represente as Ko for oil,Kg for gas and Kg for water.

Reletive Permeability
The ratio of absolute and effective pemeabilities is called reletive permeability.It is
represented as Kro for oil reletivepermeability,Krg for gas and Krw for water.

It is an important property as it effects oil and gas production rate. It is of great economic
significance in reservoir management and development for determining the number of wells
and their location in a field, optimizing production rates of fluid, selecting completion
programs and perforation techniques, as well as planing injection and production methods.

The two of main sources of permeability are:

Core sample laboratory analysis

Well test data analysis

Permeability measurements at various points are often compared and generally those values
are different and the difference can be explained. The most common comparison is between
core permeability and well test permeability.

Core sample laboratory analysis

Permeability in Laboratory is measured on core plug cuttings or full diameter core. The core is
contained in a core holder to prevent fluid , gas or liquid is used as a fluid in core.In core
analysis permeability measured depends upon the specific laboratory conditions under which
it was measured. It does not reflect the condition of reservoir .Because Darcy law cannot be
applied for the reservoir conditions.

After setting right the in situ conditions, permeability from 1.5-inch long core plugs are usually
grouped and averaged to represent a unit flow section of the reservoir rock.
Well test data analysis

Well test data analysis or transient well test analysis is only the method which allows us to
estimate flow capacity of reservoir rock at truly in situ conditions.Kh is an average over a
volume thousand times greater than core permeability.

In this test the change in pressure in measured against the change in rate.To perform it
successfully the time,rate(controlled accurately) and pressure should be measured
correctly,then they will be used to estiimate certain parameters like skin factor,reservoir total
pressure,flow conductance,drainage shape etc.

In this method there is error in permeability thickness because of the uncertainty in all of the
input factors.

Flow rate -

Test separators can be affected by entrapement of fluids, liquid carryover by gas , poor meter
calibration, foamy crudes, and other operational problems that affect the correctness of
measurements used to calculate flow rate.

Formation Volume Factor(FVF) and Viscosity

In oil-base fluids, PVT effects on viscosity and density must be understood to develop density
and hydraulics programs.If the PVT analysis for fluid properties is unavailable, fluid properties
will have a large uncertainty.

Pressure
Pressure sensors are affected by poor calibration, creep, temperature effects, and hysteresis
effect.

Reservoir Thickness -

In order to calculate the permeability from permeability thickness, an approximate amount of


reservoir thickness for flow must be available. This is not always easy , especially if logs were
not run in test.

Reasons for differences between core permeability and well-test permeability

Scale of measurement

Well-test permeability represents an average of vertical and horizontal permeability in the


region of the reservoir where well test is held. Routine core analysis (permeability) mainly
has a length on the scale of inches. The presence of flow barriers, , fractures, vugs, and
changes in reservoir quality on a slightly larger dimension will not be shown in the core
permeability.

Reservoir thickness contributing to flow

Through well-test data analysis we get permeability thickness. Routine core


analysis(permeability) gives value at core level. Either the thickness contributing to flow must
be judged from petrophysics or based on production logging results or the core permeability
must be added and averaged to get accurate basis for comparison.

Absolute versus Effective Permeability

Routine core analysis only represents the absolute permeability i.e; single phase permeability
of the a gas. Well-test permeability is affected by multiple phases in the reservoir rock and is
thus an effective permeability. Effective permeability may be 70 to 95% of the absolute
permeability.

Stress Conditions
By the extraction of core,stress conditions changes that may change the nature of the
interactions with in a rock. In laboratory net stress is re-applied to the core before obtaining
permeability values. The stress may not be the in-situ stress. In general, the exact in situ
conditions cannot be obtained when conducting measurements on core samples. On the
other hand, the permeabilkity in well-test is an in-situ measurement.

Conclusions

Well-tests constantly measure flow rate and pressure from which permeability thickness
values at reservoir conditions are estimated.

Mean core permeability should be treated with suitable well-test permeability to predict
accurately well, reservoir, and field production performance.

Combination of all petrophysical, production, and build-up data is important to identify


accurately the producing propertties of a reservoir.

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