Chapter 5

Darcys Law and Applications

4.1 Introduction
Darcy' s law

qreservoir

Note : Time scale

is

dN p
dt
added

 4.2 Darcys Law; Fluid Potential

h1 h2
h
uK
K
l
l

Different Sand Pack Different K

Darcys experimental law was proved to

be independent of the direction of flow in
the earths gravitational field.

p pa g (h z)

The pressure at any point in the flow path in fig 4.2

p gh gz g (h z)

From Eq.(4.1)

uK

hg (

dh
dl

gz ) (4.2)

( where K is a const.) (4.3)

3

Eq(4.2) & Eq(4.3)

K d p

d 1 p
u K gz
gz
dl g
g dl

K d

(4.4)
g dl
Fluid
potential
p
d d ( gz )

where

p 1atm

dp

p 1atm

dp

pb

dp

z 0

gdz

gz

g ( z zb )

z 0, p 1atm (4.5)

z zb , p pb (4.6)
4

The reason for this (Eq(4.6)) is that fluid flow between two points A and B is
governed by the difference in potential between the points, not the absolute
potentials, i.e.

A B

PA

Pb

PB dp
A dp
dp
g ( z A z b )
g ( z B zb ) g ( z A z B )

Pb
PB
P

d d (

gz

gz )

(???)

Experiments performed with a variety of different liquids revealed that

the law can be generalized as

k d
u
(4.8)
dl
where k= permeability
= viscosity
= density of fluid

Note :

K d
(4.4)
g dl

d d (

gz )

(k/) = K/g -- > k/ = K/g K = (k/) g

k dp
u
dl
6

 4.3 Sign convention

1

Linear flow

u
l1

l2

k d
(4.9)
dl

Radial flow
1

rw

k d
u
(4.10)
dl

 4.4 Units: Units Conversion

Darcys equation

k d
u
dl

L
( M / L3 ) ( L2T 2 )
[]k
k[]L2
T
( M / LT ) ( L)
or

k dp
u
dl

L
1
[]k
T
( M / LT )

In cgs units
In SI units

(M

L 1
)
2
2
T L k[]L2
( L)

k[=]cm2
k[=]m2

d d (

gz )

gz

In Darcy units

k dp
u
dl
k 1 Darcy

Darcy unit

when
u 1cm / sec

1 cp , and
hybrid units
dp / dl 1 atm / cm

10

Darcy equation
In absolute units (cgs units)

dl
dz

k d
k dp
dz
( g ) (4.12)
dl
dl
dl

u[]cm / sec
k[]cm

gm
[ ]
[] poise
cm sec

p[]dyne / cm 2

g[]cm / sec 2

l , z[]cm

dyne / cm 2
dyne cm
[]
[

]
gm
gm / cm 3

[]gm / cm

cm 3
cm
q(
) u ( ) A(cm 2 )
sec
sec

11

Darcy equation
In Darcy units

dl
dz

k dp
g
dz
u (
)
6
dl 1.0133 10 dl
u[]cm / sec
k[]Darcy

p[]atm
l , z[]cm

[]cp

[]gm / cm 3

g[]cm / sec 2

cm 3
cm
q(
) u ( ) A(cm 2 )
sec
sec
12

Darcy equation
In field units

dl
dz

q 1.127 10 3

kA dp
dz

0
.
4334

dl
dl

or

q 1.127 10
where

kA dp

0
.
4334

sin

dl

q[]bbl / D

p[] psi

[ ]

k[]md

l , z[] ft

[]cp

A[] ft 2

( g ) water

13

Note: In this text

1 Darcy = 1.013310-8 cm2

or 1 Darcy

10

-8

cm2

or 1 Darcy

10-12 m2 = 1 m 2

In other book
1 Darcy = .98692710-8 cm2
1 Darcy = .98692710-12 m2

1 Darcy

m 2
14

Conversion of Permeability (md) and Coefficient of

Permeability (m/s)
1 md 7.324 10

( ft 3 / s)cp
ft 2 ( psi / ft )

H O 62.4 lbm / ft 3
2

H O 1 cp
2

lbm ( ft / s 2 )
g c 32.174
lb f

P=K=Coefficient of Permeability

k g

gc

1 md 9.676 10

m
s
15

 4.5 Real Gas potential

p

dp

pb

The fluid potential function

gz (4.6)

For an incompressible fluid ( consant )

dp

pb

pb

gz (4.7)

pM
zRT

f ( p, T ) )

For a compressible fluid (

gz

zRT
RT
dp gz
pM
M

pb

zdp
gz (4.19)
p

RT z

dp gdz

M p
(4.20)
dp

or d
gdz

or d

16

 4.6 Datum Pressure

From eq(4.20)

d dp gdz d
From eq(4.12)
q

kA d
kA d

(4.22)
dl
dl

Note: potential is frequently refered to as the datum pressure

17

 4.7 Radial Steady State Fluid; Well Stimulation

Assume
(1)Steady state

Darcys law for the radial flow of single phase oil

p
0 pe and pressure profile const. with time
t

kA dp
(4.23)
dr

(2)Reservoir is homogeneous
(3)Well is perforated across the entire formation thickness.
For q=const. across any radial area A=2 rh

k 2 rh dp
q
dp
dr

dr
2 rhk

q r 1
pwf dp 2kh rw r dr
q
r
p pwf
ln (4.24)
2kh rw
p

at r re

pe pwf

q
r
ln e (4.25)
2kh rw
18

 In drilling a well
Pwellbore>Pformation mud flow from wellbore to formation

mud particle suspended in the mud plug the pore spaces

Reducing k Damage zone (rw < r < ra )

p skin

q
S (4.26)
2kh
S skin factor , dim ensionless number

19

Eq(4.25) and Eq(4.26)

Pe Pwf

r
q
(ln e S ) (4.27)
2kh
rw

In field unit, Eq(4.27) is

qBo
re
Pe Pwf 141.2
(ln S ) (4.28)
kh
rw
oil rate ( STB / D)
q
7.08 10 3 kh
PI

r
Pe Pwf
pressure drawdown
Bo (ln( e ) S )
rw

PI = productivity index of a well (a direct measure of the well performance)

20

The various methods of stimulation

(a) Removal of skin (S)
- Determination of skin(S) pressure buildup test
- If S>0 , acid treatment
Hydrochloric acid if formation limestone
Mud acid if formation is sandstone
(b) Increasing the effective permeability (k)
(a) hydraulic fracturing sandstone
(b) fracture-acidising carbonate reservoir
(c) Viscosity reduction ()
o high PI low

Tstimulation
o fig. 4.6 p119
The
(Steam Soaking)

21

(d) Reduction of the oil formation volume e

factor (Bo )

Bo =(RB/STB) can be minimized by choosing

the correct surface separator ,or combination
of separator.
(e) Reduction in the ratio re/rw
it is seldom considered as a means of well
stimulation

(f) Increasing the well penetration (h)

22

 4.8 Two-Phase FlowEffective and

Relative Permeabilities
Darcy equation
In Single phase flow
k dp
g
dz

in Darcy units
dl 1.0133 10 6 dl
k dp

u 1.127 10 3
0.4334 sin in field
dl

units

Two-phase flow---oil and water (or oil and gas, or gas and water)
--- > Effective permeability in Darcy equation
Effective permeability = f (fluid saturation)

k effevtive k absolute
k o , k w : effective permeabili ty
23

S w connate or irreducible water saturation

S or residual oil saturation

k o (S w )
k
k (S )
k rw ( S w ) w w
k

k ro ( S w )
and

Normalized curve
Shape of curves
Wettability of
rock surface

24

Alternative manner of normalizing the effective permeability

kk

k o ( S w S wc )

kk
k o (S w )
k o ( S w S wc )
(4.32)
k w (S w )

K rw ( S w )
k o ( S w S wc )
K ro ( S w )

ko

kw

In the displacement of one

immiscible fluid by another

k rw K rw

k ro K ro
Note : kr = f ( sw, h)
h= capillary & gravity forces

25

 4.9 The Mechanics of Supplementary Recovery

--Supplementary recovery
by displacing the hydrocarbons towards the producing well with
some injected fluid .
injected fluid --water because - - availability
- - low cost
- - high specific gravity
--Mobility of any fluid ()
= k* kr/
Relative mobility = kr/

--Water displaces oil

26

-- Water displaces oil

Ideal or piston-like displacement

Injecting well

Water zone

Interface
( water front)

Producing well
Oil zone

Water zone

k rw ( S w 1 S or )

k rw

'

k ro ( s w s wc )

o
k ro

'

The favourable type of displacement

k rw

'

k ro

'

M 1 piston like displaceme nt

where M = end point mobility ratio

k ro and k rw endpo int relative permeabili ties
'

'

const.

Oil recovered
= water injected in a
linear reservoir block
27

Non-ideal displacement
Injecting well

Producing well

Non ideal displaceme nt

Oil re cov ered 1 or 1 water injected
5
6
Common M 1
28

Mobility Control
k rd

Mobility ratio M

'

d
Mobility of the displacing fluid

'
Mobility of the displaced fluid
k ro
o

Where d in krd is displacing fluid

Mobility control to reduce M

polymer

flooding (increase d )

polymers, such as polysaccha ride, are dissolved in the injection water

29

 Thermal method (decrease

For very viscous crudes

d )

w ~ order of 1000

w can be drasticall y reduced by increa sin g the temperatur e

hot water injection
steam injection
in situ combustion

Thermal method Secondary re cov ery processes with some tertiary side effects
1) mobility control
2) distillati on of the crude
3) exp ansive of the oil on heating

30

Tertiary flooding re cov ering the oil remaining in the reservoir after a
convention al sec ondary re cov ery project .
After sec ondary re cov ery trapping of oil droplets (because of surface tension )
k ro

After secondary
recovery

To displace the oil with a

fluid which is soluble in it

So

A
Sor
Sw

.
A
So

Sor

To flood with a fluid which is miscible or partially miscible with the oil
Eliminating surface tension
31

 Miscible ( LPG) flooding

LPG Liquid Petroleum Gas
Carbone dioxide flooding
1.CO2 oil

k ro

( pt , A pt , C )

2.

(mobility control )

3.

extracting light H .C. from oil

Surfac tan t flooding (Micellar soluton flooding )

32