Relative Permeabilities and Transport System in Mixed Wetted Carbonate Rocks

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RELATIVE PERMEABILITIES AND TRANSPORT

SYSTEM IN MIXED WETTED CARBONATE ROCKS

P. Such, G. Leniak
Oil and Gas Institute, Cracow, Poland

This paper was prepared for presentation at the International Symposium of the
Society of Core Analysts held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 5-9 October, 2004

ABSTRACT
Two types of mixed wet reservoirs were observed. The first type was built by porous,
permeable, organogenic carbonate rocks (bryozoan reefs) of the Main Dolomite, the
second represents fractured porous, low porosity carbonate sediments.

Mixed wettability in the first type of reservoir was discovered during laboratory
investigations of relative permeabilities and confirmed by Amott tests. Values of base
permeabilities to water and to oil presented bimodal distribution. Additional tests and
visualisation of displacement procedure shows mixed-wet character of the investigated
rock.

In a second case wettability phenomena in fractured reservoirs were investigated after
field tests indicated very low values of permeability (ten times lower than calculated
from logs and cores data).This situation led to performance of additional measurements
and to reinterpretation of all data. The storage element of the investigated reservoir is
microporous rock. Transport of reservoir fluids to boreholes by such rocks is not
possible. Values of the threshold diameters are lower than 2 m.

Fracture systems were recognised using a fractal approach. It was found that three
independent fracture systems existed in the field but only one system of fractures
transports reservoir fluids. The fractures of this system are connected with organic and
clayed interbeddings. Organic or clay-lined walls of fractures make the transport system
neutral or weakly oil-wet in otherwise strongly water-wet reservoir rocks. These results
were confirmed by relative permeability tests.

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INTRODUCTION
Carbonate rocks of the Main Dolomite are the base reservoir rocks in Poland. The Main
Dolomite basin shows some properties strongly affecting reservoir characteristics.There
are: fracturing, occurrence of bryozoan reefs and surrounding by sealing rocks. Fractures
are responsilbe for most of the transport of reservoir fluids, average reservoir rocks are
characterized by poor transport properties (microporous pore space). Only in reef facies
do good reservoir rocks exist but even in reefs fracture systems improve transport
capability [4]. Good sealing of the Main Dolomite sediments ensured that the oil system
of the basin is closed and that these sediments are both source and reservoir rocks. In
such conditions residual organic matter can be present in reservoir rocks and affect
wettability properties.

INVESTIGATIONS
34 samples from 3 boreholes of bryozoan reefs of the Main Dolomite from the Polish
Lowland were investigated. Porosity, permeability to nitrogen, capillary pressure tests
and relative permeabilities were measured. A mercury injection capillary pressure
apparatus was used. Values of threshold diameter, fractal dimension and distribution of
pore diameters were calculated to characterise the type of pore space and to estimate
parameters of network model of pore space. The relative permeability tests were
performed in simulated reservoir conditions with original reservoir fluids using a
TEMCO steady-state relative permeability device. Values of base relative permeabilities
and residual saturations were measured. Finally, Amott tests and microscopic analyses of
thin sections were done.

The same analyses were performed for porous-fractured rocks from 3 boreholes.
Fortunately, it was possible to cut several plug samples with fractures and fit the relative
permeability tests. Additionally, investigations of fracture system were done including
detailed description of whole dimension cores (extraction of fracture intervals, density
and directions of fractures) and analyses of fracture system parameters such as thickness
distribution, connections, number of fractures and fractal dimension using oriented
polished sections [1,3].

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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0

R
e
l
a
t
i
v
e

p
e
r
m
e
a
b
i
l
i
t
y
Number of samples
oil
water
RESULTS
The values of base relative permeabilities to water and to oil obtained during tests are
presented in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In Fig.1. all values of base permeabilities are gathered.
White bars represent base permeabilities to oil, black to water for samples from number 1
to 34.
Figure. 1. Obtained values of base
permeability to oil and water
Figure 2.Difference between base
permeability to oil and to water

Fig. 2 shows differences between values of base permeabilities for all samples defined as
=
r
(w) K
r
(o)
Analysis of the parameter distribution suggests a wide range of wettability conditions
in the investigated samples from typical water-wet rocks ( lower than-0.25) through
weakly water-wet, and neutral to oil-wet samples. Amott tests were performed to verify
the wettability distinguished during relative permeability measurements [2]. The results
of Amott test show that only the first 5 samples represent purely water-wet type of rocks.
The rest of the whole collection consists of mixed wet sediments and parameter is only
a general indicator of predominant tendency. The mass of spontaneously displaced water
for these samples varies from 0.2 to 0.8g, for oil this values covered the range
respectively from 0.65g to 0.1g. Table 1 shows results of Amott wettability test on two
samples: predominantly water-wet and predominantly oil-wet
5 10 15 20 25 30
-0.6
-0.4
-0.2
0.0
0.2

=
K
r
(
w
)

-

K
r
(
o
)

Sample number
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Table 1. Results of the Amott wettability test on typical cores
Displacement by oil Displacement by water Sample/
pore volume
(ml)
Spontaneous
(ml) V
sw
Forced
(ml) - V
fw
Spontaneous
(ml) - V
so
Forced
(ml) - V
fo
Amott
Wet.
Index
1 / 2.5
2 / 1.67
0.69
0.2
0.96
0.87
0.24
0.4
1.14
0.59
0.24
-0.21

where
Amott Wettability Index = (V
sw
/(V
sw
+V
fw
)-V
so
/(V
so
-V
fo
))

Investigated samples represent similar types of pore space. The porosity is high (from 15
to 34%), whereas permeability is rather poor (below 80 mD). Analyses of capillary
pressure curves and microscopic analyses of thin sections show a small number of
macropores and microvugs of diameter equal to 200 400 m that contribute to the
storage part of pore space[5] which accounts for about 92-93% of the whole pore space.
They are connected by a network of long, relatively narrow channels (threshold diameters
from 5 to 20 m). Fractal dimension are greater than 2.98. An average cumulative curve
is shown in Fig 3A. Fig. 3B illustrates schematically the type of pore space.
Pore diameter
M
e
r
c
u
r
y

s
a
t
u
r
a
t
i
o
n

[
%
]
Fractal dimension >2.98
L >>D
A
B
200 20 2 0,2 0,02
0
20
40
60
80
100

Figure 3. Typical cumulative curve of pore size distribution (A) and connected with it
model of pore space (B)
Macropores visible on the surface of samples can be divided into two groups: the black
and the bright grey. The black ones form oil-wet paths of transport, the bright grey are
water-wet. This effect can be observed during spontaneous displacement of oil. Droplets
of oil occur only in bright grey pores. Microscopic investigation of thin sections shows
that the black colour of rocks and and pores are connected with the presence of organic
matter in rocks and with residual organic matter lying on the surface of pores. The
content of organic matter determines the predominant tendency in wettability. In this
situation, the colour of rock can be used as an indicator of wettability. Differences of
greyscale of predominantly water- and oil-wet samples are shown in Fig.4A. Great
heterogeneity of organic matter content is observed in analysed rocks. Fig. 4B presents a
sample that is partially water- and oil-wet.
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Figure 4. Grey scale distinct oil and water wet rocks:
A comparison between predominantly oil and water wet samples
B two in one (demonstration of heterogeneity of rocks)

In the second case, the investigation of fractured porous rocks shows that the storage
element of this reservoir was in the microporosity. Measured porosity covers the range 5-
14%. Measured values of threshold diameters are lower than 2 m. Permeability to
nitrogen showed values lower than 0.3 mD. The fracture system is solely responsible for
transport of reservoir fluids. Directions and intervals occupied by fractures and stylolites
were established. The fracture system was recognised using a fractal approach [5,6]. The
box definition of fractal dimension was applied to polished thin sections. Finally, it was
found that three fracture systems existed in the oil field: a broad fracture system, a
white fracture system and black fracture system, each of them characterised by its
own fractal dimension. More detailed investigations showed that only black fracture
system can transport fluids towards boreholes [4]. Fractures of this system have average
thickness 0.0025 mm and fractal dimensions vary from 1.24 to 1.31. The distribution of
measured values of fractal dimension is shown in Fig. 5A. A typical thickness
distribution (random chosen polished section) is presented in Fig. 5B.
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Figure 5. Parameters of black fracture system: A distribution of fractal dimension,
B thickness distribution for typical sample

This system is connected with thin layers of clay-lined and organic sediments. The
fractures run along these layers. Typical runs and connections of a black system
fracture are presented in Fig. 6.

Relative permeability tests for three samples with black fractures show results typical
for oil-wet rocks ( greater than 0.06) and high values of residual water saturation
(greater than 50%). These results confirm earlier measurements. Oil is stored in water-
wet reservoir rocks and transported to boreholes by the oil-wet fracture system.

Fig. 6. Sketches of fracture system in real dimension
0.000 0.013 0.027 0.040 0.053
0
10
20
B
n
u
m
b
e
r

o
d

m
e
a
s
u
r
e
m
e
n
t
s
thickness (mm)
1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32
0
2
4
6
8
A
N
u
m
b
e
r

o
f

m
e
a
s
u
r
m
e
n
t
s
Fractal dimension
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CONCLUSIONS
1. Two types of mixed-wet reservoirs were found in the Main Dolomite sediments.
Parameters of a pore space of organogenic carbonate rocks help to demonstrete the
mixed-wet character of most of the investigated samples.
2. The first sample type consists of organogenic, porous carbonate rocks. Wettability
varies with content of organic matter in the rock and the presence of organic matter or
clay minerals mixed with organic matter on the surface of pores and channels. Only a
small number of samples for which the parameter is greater than -0.25 showed purely
water-wet properties. Investigated rocks show great heterogeneity of wettability
properties. Colour of sample is a good indicator of its wettability. This type of samples is
common in carbonate rocks of reef facies in the Main Dolomite basin.
3. The second sample type was found in fractured porous reservoirs. Reservoirs rocks are
water-wet while the fractures are oil-wet. In this case fractures run along or inside clay
interbedding. The transport system in this case may be unique to the Main Dolomite
basin

NOMENCLATURE
K
r
(w) base relative permeability to water value of relative permeability to water
obtained for residual saturation of oil
K
r
(o) base relative permeability to oil value of relative permeability to oil obtained
for residual water saturation
L length of pore channel
D diameter of pore body

REFERENCES
1. Leniak G., P. Such, Complex correlation for characterisation of transport system in
fracture rocks , Proceed. 12 IOR, (2003) Kaza 8-10 September, 502-505
2. Bona N., F. Radaelli, A. Ortenzi, A. De Poli, C. Peduzzi, M. Giorgioni, Integrated
Core Analysis for Fractured Reservoirs, SPE Reservoir Evaluation &
Engineering.,(2003), Vol 6, No 4, 226-234
3. Leniak G., B. Darak, Laboratory investigation of petrophysical properties of fracture
and vugged rocks Proceed. Modern Exploration and Improved Oil and Gas Recovery
Methods(1995) Cracow 12-15 September, P-234
4. Donaldson E.C., D. Tiabb, Petrophysics, Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Texas
(1996), 705
5. Such P., G. Leniak, Application of fractal approach and microscopic images in net
model of pore space, Proceed.. 63-rd EAGE Conference Amsterdam, (2001), P-644
6. Turcotte D.L., Fractals and Chaos in Geology and Geophysics, Cambridge
University Press (1997).

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RELATIVE PERMEABILITIES AND TRANSPORT

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