Defining irreducible water saturation using global characteristics envelopes and novel correlations
Peter Behrenbruch A B C , Chengzhi Yuan A , Nhan B. Truong A , Phil Do Huu A and Tuan Hoang AA Bear and Brook Consulting Pty Ltd
B Australian School of Petroleum
C The University of Adelaide
The APPEA Journal 56(1) 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ15001
Published: 2016
Abstract
Irreducible water saturation plays a significant role in estimating hydrocarbon initially-in-place and petroleum recovery. Yet, laboratory measurements for determining irreducible water saturation take considerable time and money. For this reason available data may not cover all requirements, giving rise to the practise of using correlations to fill in gaps.
Described in this paper are the reasons for irreducible water saturation being an elusive parameter that not only depends on pore structure characteristics but also the type of experiment and laboratory procedures, as well as changing plug conditions during experimentation. This paper reviews traditional methods, as well as recent and novel approaches to quality assure laboratory data and for correlating irreducible water saturation for prediction.
To gain insight into the dependence of irreducible water saturation on detailed pore structure characteristics, most notably grain size and sorting, the usefulness of global characteristics envelopes is explored (Behrenbruch and Biniwale, 2005). In this multidimensional plot, irreducible water saturation is plotted against porosity, permeability, hydraulic radius, porosity group, flow zone indicator (grain size) and sorting, giving an insightful overview of the interdependence of parameters.
The second part of this paper compares novel correlations with commonly used correlations. Traditional and more recent correlations are covered, from simple correlations versus the logarithm of permeability to more sophisticated approaches using more variables, including porosity and others. Most notably, it is shown that an approach of correlating irreducible water saturation with grain size (or flow zone indicator [FZI]) and sorting shows great promise. Data from two Australian fields are used to demonstrate the methodology, showing a significant increase in fitting accuracy. This approach may eventually lead to a universal correlation.
Peter Behrenbruch is presently an independent consultant with more than 40 years of industry experience. Commencing his career in Canada, in the early 1970s, Peter worked for Shell in Europe in the late 1970s before migrating to Australia, working for Woodside in the early 1980s, involved in implementing the initial phase of the North West Shelf (LNG) Development. He subsequently worked for BHP Billiton for 16 years, involved in many Timor Sea developments and other Australian offshore projects—as project manager for the Skua and Griffin developments (feasibility stage)—as well as in worldwide operations, including Deepwater Gulf of Mexico, North Sea and Vietnam. Peter’s next major engagement was in academia, where he started the School of Petroleum Engineering and Management at the University of Adelaide in 2001 ($25 million grant by Santos). As inaugural Head of School, Peter saw the first students graduate in 2005. He subsequently re-joined the industry in 2007, and was responsible as project director and COO for establishing first production from the Puffin field, Timor Sea (AED Oil and SINOPEC). During the past few years, Peter has established Bear and Brook Consulting, engaged in consulting, teaching of university and industry courses, and research and development activities in the area of special core analysis. peter.behrenbruch@adelaide.edu.au |
Chengzhi Yuan is presently employed by Bear and Brook Consulting (2012–15). He completed a master’s degree in oil and gas engineering at the University of Western Australia (2011–12). Chengzhi’s undergraduate degree (2006–10) is from Tianjin University of Science and Technology, where he majored in marine technology (remote sensing and information processing). chengzhi.yuan@adelaide.edu.au |
Nhan B. Truong has been employed by Bear and Brook Consulting since the beginning of 2015. He started his undergraduate petroleum engineering degree at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (2009–11) and then transferred to the University of Adelaide (Australian School of Petroleum) as part of an articulation program, completing his degree (2012–14) with second-class honours. nhantruong2410@gmail.com |
Phil Do Huu has been employed as Principal Petroleum Engineer by Bear and Brook Consulting since early 2014, being responsible in 2015 for computer programming new methodologies for the development of a comprehensive core data evaluation, analysis and modelling system. He commenced his career in Vietnam after doing postgraduate work at the University of Adelaide’s School of Petroleum Engineering and Management (now the Australian School of Petroleum). He taught at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (2005–08), and subsequently worked as a senior petroleum engineer (2008–14) at Cuu Long, a joint operating company between Petrovietnam and foreign parties. phil.dohuu@bearnbrook.com |
Tuan G. Hoang has been working for Bear and Brook Consulting since July 2015. Just prior to his employment, he completed his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the University of Western Australia. 21202377@student.uwa.edu.au |
