Permeability Averages

Average
g absolute p
permeability
y

Weighted-average permeability
H
Harmonic-average
i
permeability
bilit
Geometric-average permeability

Average permeability correlations

Timur (1968)
The Morris-Biggs Equation (1967)

Permeability Averages
Average
g Absolute Permeability
y

It is rare to encounter a homogeneous reservoir in actual practice.

the reservoir contains distinct layers,

y
, blocks,, or concentric rings
g of
varying permeabilities.

Also, because smaller

smaller-scale
scale heterogeneities always exist, core
permeabilities must be averaged to represent the flow characteristics
of the entire reservoir or individual reservoir layers
y
(units).
(
)

The proper way of averaging the permeability data depends on how

permeabilities were distributed as the rock was deposited.
p
p

Permeability Averages
Weighted-average permeability:
This averaging
g g method is used to
determine the average permeability of
layered-parallel beds with different
permeabilities.
Consider the case where the flow
system is comprised of three parallel
layers (with equal width) that are
separated from one another by thin
impermeable barriers, i.e., no cross flow,
as shown
h
in
i the
th Figure.
Fi

P1

flow

P2

Permeability Averages

Weighted-average permeability:

The flow from each layer can be calculated by applying

Darcys equation in a linear form to give:

Layer 1

Q1 =

k1wh1P
L

Layer 2

QT =

k 2 wh 2 P
Q2 =
L
Layer 3

Q3 =

The total flow rate from the entire system

k 3 wh 3P
L

k avg wh t P
L

where,
QT = total flow rate
kavg = average permeability for the entire model
w = width of the formation
P = P1 - P2
hT = total thickness

Permeability Averages

Weighted-average permeability:

The total flow rate QT is equal to the sum of the flow

rates through each layer=Q
layer Q1+Q2+Q3
Combining the above expressions gives:
QT =

Or:

k avg wh T P
L

k1wh1P k 2 wh 2 P k 3 wh 3P
=
+
+
L
L
L

k avg h T = k1h1 + k 2 h 2 + k 3 h 3
n

k avgg

k 1h 1 + k 2 h 2 + k 3 h 3
=
=
hT

k h
j =1
n

h
j =1

Permeability Averages

Weighted-average permeability:
P1

A similar layered system with

variable layers width.
width Assuming no
cross-flow between the layers, the
average
g permeability
p
y can be
approximated in a manner similar to
the previous derivation to give:
n

k avg =

k h w
j =1
n

h w
j =1

k
j =1
n

Aj

A
j =1

where, Aj = cross-sectional area of layer j

wj = width of layer j

flow

P2

Permeability Averages

Harmonic-Average Permeability

Permeability variations can occur laterally in a reservoir as well as in

the vicinity of a well bore.
Consider this figure which shows an illustration of fluid flow through a
series combination of beds with different permeabilities.
For a steady-state flow
flow, the flow
rate is constant and the total pressure
drop P is equal to the sum of the
pressure drops
d
across each
h bed,
b d or:
Q

PT = P1 + P2 + P3

k1

k2

k3

Permeability Averages

Harmonic-Average Permeability

Substituting for the pressure drop by applying Darcys

equation gives:
equation,

QLT QL1 QL2 QL3

PT =
=
+
+
K avg A K1 A K 2 A K 3 A
n

k avgg

LT
=
=
L1 L 2 L 3
+
+
k1 k 2 k 3

where, Lj = length of each bed

kj = absolute permeability of each bed

L
j=1
n

Lj

k
j=1

Permeability Averages

Harmonic-Average Permeability

k avg

For radial systems:

lln(r
( e /r
/ w)
= n
ln(rj /rj1 )

j=1
=1

kj

This relationship can be used as a basis for

estimating a number of useful quantities in
production work (For example, the
effects of mud invasion, acidizing, or well
shooting can be estimated
from it).

Permeability Averages

Geometric-Average Permeability

Warren and Price (1961) illustrated experimentally that the

most probable behavior of a heterogeneous formation
approaches that of a uniform system having a permeability
that is equal to the geometric average. The geometric
average is
i d
defined
fi d mathematically
th
ti ll b
by th
the following
f ll i
relationship:

k avg

l (k j ))
(h jln(k
j=1

= exp
n

j=1

If the thicknesses (hj) of all core samples are the same:

k avg = (k1k 2 k 3 .............k n )

1
n

Example
p

Rock Permeability
Absolute Permeability Correlations:
Two commonly
T
l used
d empirical
i i l methods
h d are the
h Timur
Ti
equation and the Morris-Biggs equation.

Timur (1968):
Timur (1968) proposed
d the
th following
f ll i expression
i for
f estimating
ti ti the
th
permeability from connate water saturation and porosity:

4.4

k = 8.58102 2
Swc

Rock Permeability

The Morris-Biggs Equation:

Morris
M
i and
d Biggs
Bi
(1967) presented
t d th
the ffollowing
ll i two
t
expressions for estimating the permeability if oil and gas
2
reservoirs:
3
For an oil reservoir:

For a gas reservoir:

k = 62.5
Swc

k = 2.5
Swc
3

Example

where,
k = absolute permeability, Darcy
= porosity,
porosity fraction
Swc = connate-water saturation,
fraction

Conversion Factors
for
Oilfield Units

Darcys
y Law - Darcyy Units

Linear (1-D) flow of an incompressible fluid

where,

kA
(p)
q=
L

q
k
A
p

cm3/s
darcies
cm2
atm
cp
cm

The Darcy a derived unit of permeability, defined to

make this equation coherent (in Darcy units)

Darcys
y Law - Oilfield Units

Linear ((1-D)) flow of an incompressible

p
fluid

where,

CkA
(p)
q=
L

q
k
A
p

bbl/D
millidarcies
ft2
psia
cp
ft

The approach demonstrated will be to convert each term back

to Darcy units, restoring the coherent equation, then collecting
th conversion
the
i factors
f t
to
t obtain
bt i th
the oilfield
ilfi ld unit
it constant,
t t C

Darcys
y Law - Oilfield Units
0.001127 k[md] A[ft 2 ]
(p[psia])
q[bbl/D] =
[cp]
[
p] L[ft]
[ ]

The unit of the constant is defined from the above equation

C = 0.0011271

[bbl/D] [cp] [ft]

[md][ft 2 ][psia]

We were able to cancel leaving the units of C as shown above because,

[cm3 /s] [cp] [cm]

1[d] 1
[cm 2 ][atm]

REFERENCES:
Ahmed, Tarek : Reservoir Engineering Handbook-Ch. 4: Fundamental of
rock properties, Second Edition, Gulf Professional Publishing, 2001.