CHAPTER 1A

Equilibration

Geologic Equilibration Initialization of Gridblocks Effect of Heterogeneity

Equilibration
Geologic Equilibration
Equilibration is the initialization of fluid saturations for all gridblocks in a numerical reservoir simulator such that the fluid potential gradients are equal to zero. Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a reservoir along with the corresponding capillary pressure curves, depth and water saturation relationships.
P
cow =

po- pw

144 Oil Z FWL FWL Water p

(a)

144 Pcow P
0 cow = 0 0 S wc 100 % 0 S wc 100 %

Z
FWL

Z
FWL

Sw (c)

(b)

(d)

Fig. 1 - (a) Schematic of an oil-water reservoir system. (b) Oil and water phase pressures versus depth. (c) Oil-water capillary pressure as a function of water saturation. (d) Water saturation versus depth.

Consider an oil-water reservoir system, Fig. 1.a, with a maximum water saturation at ZFWL at which Pcow = 0. If the imbibition capillary pressure curve has a distinct capillary transition zone, as shown in Fig. 1.c, then above ZFWL, the water saturation will be distributed in accordance with the capillary pressure-saturation relationship. In particular, the capillary pressure at a distance h above the free water level (FWL) can be calculated as, Pow(Sw)=Po-Pw
= 144 ( Z Z FWL )

(1)

or,

Equilibration

 144 Z = ZWFL PCO W ( SW ) where,

Po = PFWL

(2)

o
144

( Z Z FWL )

(3)

PW = PFWL

W
144

( Z Z FWL )

(4)

To satisfy the condition for fluid potential equilibrium, we have,

= 0

Determination of water saturation as a function of reservoir thickness can also be applied to reservoirs with water influx or water injection. The maximum water saturation plane can be allowed to rise incrementally in Fig. 1.a to give a different water saturation distribution above ZFWL. Dynamic displacement can be viewed as a series of static positions of the maximum water saturation plane as the water flood moves through the reservoir, each position leading to a new water saturation distribution dictated by the capillary pressure-saturation relationship.

Equilibration

Initialization of Gridblocks
The most commonly used initialization method "initializes on the oil phase." Oil pressure is calculated for each gridblock. The saturations and other phase pressures are derived from capillary pressures and phase pressure gradients. The following steps are involved. 1. Select an oil-phase reference pressure, p1, a reference water/oil capillary pressure, PC2, a reference gas/oil capillary pressure PC3, and the depths at which these reference pressures apply (D1, D2 and D3). Calculate oil pressures at the center of all gridblocks. Calculate water pressures at the centers of all blocks with the oil pressure at D2, capillary pressure PC3, and the water pressure gradient. Calculate gas pressures with the oil pressure at D3, capillary pressure PC3, and the gas pressure gradient. Having established block-centered pressures for oil, gas, and water, read the oil, gas, and water saturations at block centers from the appropriate capillary-pressure curves.

2. 3.

4.

5.

Initialization methods become more complicated for reservoirs with multiple WOC's or GOC's and rock/fluid properties that vary with depth. The J function can be applied for initialization of saturations for heterogeneous reservoirs. Application of the J function is discussed in the following section.

Equilibration

Effect of Heterogeneity
J Function

The J function is a term for correlating capillary-pressure data of rock formations of similar geological characteristics. The correlating procedure is a dimensionless grouping of the physical properties of the rock and saturating fluids. The J function can be expressed as,
J ( SW ) = PCOW cos k (5)

where, Sw = Water saturation, fraction of pore volume Pcow = Capillary pressure, dyne/cm2 = Interfacial tension, dyne/cm k = Permeability, cm2 f = Porosity, fraction = Contact angle, degree The J function was originally proposed for converting all capillary pressure data to a universal curve. There are significant differences in correlation of the J function with water saturation from formation to formation, so that no universal curve can be obtained. The J function can be used as a correlating device for capillary pressure-water saturation data on a reservoir basis. Correlation can be improved by dividing rock sample data on a textural basis. To illustrate the use of the J function, we will consider a heterogeneous reservoir for which three core samples have been obtained with k/f values of 250, 500 and 1000 millidarcies. Each core sample has a different capillary pressure-saturation curve as shown in Fig. 2. A single J functionwater saturation correlation curve as shown in Fig. 3, is constructed using the J function and capillary pressure-water saturation data of the core samples.

cow

250 500 1000

100 %

Fig. 2 - Capillary pressure (Pcow) versus water saturation (Sw).

4

Equilibration

k = 1000

100 %

Fig. 3 - J function versus water saturation (Sw).

It is often difficult to obtain all capillary pressure-water saturation data from direct laboratory measurements for all k/f values of a heterogeneous reservoir due to data availability and costs. The following example illustrates the use of the J function to obtain a vertical water saturation profile for a heterogeneous reservoir with laboratory measurements available for only one layer. Fig. 4 shows a three layered reservoir with k/f values of 1000, 250 and 1000. Laboratory capillary pressure-water saturation measurements are only available for the top layer. To obtain a vertical water saturation profile for the reservoir, we first convert the top layer's capillary pressure data to the J function for various water saturations to obtain a J function-water saturation curve as shown in Fig. 3.
k

= 1000

k k

= 250

cow

= 1000 0 0 Sw 100 % FWL 0 Sw 100 %

FWL

(a)

(b)

(c)

Fig. 4 - (a) Three layered reservoir. (b) Profile of capillary pressure (Pcow) versus water saturation (Sw). (c) Profile of elevation (Z) versus water saturation (Sw).

We can calculate J function values for the lower layers since we know the k/f values and Pcow from the capillary pressure equation. With this information we can find the water saturation values from the J function-water saturation correlation curve obtained from the top layer. The results can be plotted as shown in Fig. 4.b. Depth versus water saturation can also be plotted as shown in Fig. 4.c since the capillary pressure and depth are linearly related. If all three layers of the reservoirs are fully perforated, we can see from the vertical saturation profile, Fig. 4.c, that the top layer will produce oil, the middle layer will produce water and the bottom layer will produce oil and water.

Equilibration

References:
1. Mattax,C.C.,and Dalton, R.L.:"Reservoir Simulation," Monograph Vol. 13 SPE. Chap.4, p. 41.

Equilibration