US5086643A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for determining multi-phase relative permeability of a subterranean reservoir
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1990-09-18
•
Granted: 1992-02-11
•
Expires: 2010-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for determining multi-phase relative permeability characteristics of a porous media sample obtained from a subterranean reservoir. The porous media is placed in a confining flow cell assembly and the pressure drop across the porous media is measured during multi-phase fluid flooding. A computed tomography (CT) scanning system provides images of the density distribution within the core sample. Fluid saturation is determined from these CT images as well as from material balance and pressure drop data to determine the relative permeability of the subterranean reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin F. Marek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:58
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/08; G01N15/082; G01N15/0826
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
270 words
A system for use in determining multi-phase fluid saturation in a porous media comprising: (a) means for containing the porous media, said porous media containing means having a fluid inlet positioned at a first end thereof and a fluid outlet positioned at a second end thereof; (b) a fluid separatory vessel for separating the multi-phase fluid into at least a first fluid phase and a second fluid phase, said vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with said fluid outlet of said media containing means and at least a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein said first outlet and said second outlet of said vessel are positioned to permit withdrawal of the separated first fluid phase and the separated second fluid phase, respectively; (c) means for measuring pressure across said porous media; (d) a first pumping means in fluid communication with said first outlet of said fluid separatory vessel for withdrawing the separated first fluid phase therefrom for transfer to said fluid inlet of said media containing means; (e) a second pumping means in fluid communication with said second outlet of said fluid separatory vessel for withdrawing the separated second fluid phase therefrom for transfer to said fluid inlet of said media containing means; (f) means for measuring fluid flow of the separated first fluid phase in transfer from said first outlet of said fluid separatory vessel to said fluid inlet of said media containing means; and (g) means for measuring fluid flow of the separated second fluid phase in transfer from said second outlet of said fluid separatory vessel to said fluid inlet of said media containing means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
270 words
A system for use in determining multi-phase fluid saturation in a porous media comprising: (a) means for containing the porous media, said porous media containing means having a fluid inlet positioned at a first end thereof and a fluid outlet positioned at a second end thereof; (b) a fluid separatory vessel for separating the multi-phase fluid into at least a first fluid phase and a second fluid phase, said vessel having an inlet in fluid communication with said fluid outlet of said media containing means and at least a first outlet and a second outlet, wherein said first outlet and said second outlet of said vessel are positioned to permit withdrawal of the separated first fluid phase and the separated second fluid phase, respectively; (c) means for measuring pressure across said porous media; (d) a first pumping means in fluid communication with said first outlet of said fluid separatory vessel for withdrawing the separated first fluid phase therefrom for transfer to said fluid inlet of said media containing means; (e) a second pumping means in fluid communication with said second outlet of said fluid separatory vessel for withdrawing the separated second fluid phase therefrom for transfer to said fluid inlet of said media containing means; (f) means for measuring fluid flow of the separated first fluid phase in transfer from said first outlet of said fluid separatory vessel to said fluid inlet of said media containing means; and (g) means for measuring fluid flow of the separated second fluid phase in transfer from said second outlet of said fluid separatory vessel to said fluid inlet of said media containing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising means for supplying a gaseous fluid to said fluid inlet of said media containing means
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 2, wherein said fluid separatory vessel has a third fluid outlet positioned to permit withdrawal of the separated gaseous fluid phase.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 3, further comprising means for measuring the flow rate of the gaseous fluid supplied to said fluid inlet of said media containing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 4, wherein said means for sensing pressure across said porous media comprises a pressure transducer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 5, wherein said means for measuring pressure within said porous media containing means comprises a first set of piezoelectric pressure transducers and a second set of piezoelectric pressure transducers positioned to enable pressure drop across the porous media to be measured.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said means for measuring pressure within said porous media containing means comprises a first set of piezoelectric pressure transducers and a second set of piezoelectric pressure transducers positioned to enable pressure drop across the porous media to be measured.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said porous media containing means is constructed substantially from an X-ray transparent material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said porous media containing means is constructed substantially from a methacrylate ester polymeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer-controlled data acquisition system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for determining multi-phase relative permeability of a porous media, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a multi-phase fluid flow condition through the porous media, the multi-phase fluid having at least a first phase having a first density and a second phase having a second density; (b) measuring the pressure drop across the length of the porous media; (c) collecting the multi-phase fluid in a fluid separatory vessel; (d) separating the multi-phase fluid within the fluid separatory vessel; (e) recirculating at least one phase of the multi-phase fluid separated in step (d) to the porous media; (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) until steady-state flow conditions by phase are obtained; (g) determining fluid saturation within the porous media; and (h) determining the relative permeability of the porous media from said measurements of pressure and fluid saturation.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for determining multi-phase relative permeability of a porous media, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a multi-phase fluid flow condition through the porous media, the multi-phase fluid having at least a first phase having a first density and a second phase having a second density; (b) measuring the pressure drop across the length of the porous media; (c) collecting the multi-phase fluid in a fluid separatory vessel; (d) separating the multi-phase fluid within the fluid separatory vessel; (e) recirculating at least one phase of the multi-phase fluid separated in step (d) to the porous media; (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) until steady-state flow conditions by phase are obtained; (g) determining fluid saturation within the porous media; and (h) determining the relative permeability of the porous media from said measurements of pressure and fluid saturation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the multi-phase fluid further has a third phase.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the first phase of the multi-phase fluid is a liquid hydrocarbon and the second phase of the multi-phase fluid comprises water or brine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the third phase is a gas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the gas is inert.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of saturating the porous media with a saturation agent prior to conducting step (a).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of saturating the porous media with a saturation agent prior to conducting step (a).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 18, wherein step (a) is conducted until there is irreducible saturation of the porous media by said saturating agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the first phase of the multi-phase fluid is a liquid hydrocarbon and the second phase of the multi-phase fluid comprises water or brine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2345935A
Cited
US4399509A
Cited
US3839899A
Cited
US4157472A
Cited
US4283629A
Cited
US4422177A
Cited
US4531404A
Cited
US4649483A
Cited
US4672840A
Cited
US4688238A
Cited
US4722095A
Cited
US4782501A
Cited
US4868751A
Cited
US4907448A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-10 | 1995-08-12 | 1996-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-08-12 | 2000-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-10 | 2003-08-12 | 2004-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |