Partic. vol. 10 no. 6 pp. 710-721 (December 2012)
doi: 10.1016/j.partic.2012.05.003

Calculation of relative permeability in reservoir engineering using an interacting triangular tube bundle model

Jinxun Wang^a, Mingzhe Dong^{a, b, *}, Jun Yao^b

mingzhe.dong@ucalgary.ca

Abstract

Analytical expressions of relative permeability are derived for an interacting cylindrical tube bundle model. Equations for determining relative permeability curves from both the interacting uniform and interacting serial types of triangular tube bundle models are presented. Model parameters affecting the trend of relative permeability curves are discussed. Interacting triangular tube bundle models are used to history-match laboratory displacement experiments to determine the relative permeability curves of actual core samples. By adjusting model parameters to match the history of oil production and pressure drop, the estimated relative permeability curves provide a connection between the macroscopic flow behavior and the pore-scale characteristics of core samples.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Interacting tube bundle model; Porous media; Modeling; Relative permeability; Imbibition