SPE

SPE 9234

Societu of PetroIelm EngIneers of AIME

ASYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO THE RELATIVE PERMEABILITY PROBLEM

IN RESERVOIR SIMULATION
by

Nelson N. Molina, INTERCOMP Resource Development and Eng., Inc.

@Copyright'1980, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers, Inc.

This paper was presented at the 55th Annual Fall Technical Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, held in Dallas, Texas, September 21-24, 1980.
The material is subject to correction by the author. Permission to copy is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words. Write: 6200 N. Central Expwy., Dallas, Texas 75206.

ABSTRACT

Direct experimental determination of three-phase

relative permeability data is extremely difficult. For this
reason, numerical models describing multiphase flow in
petroleum reservoirs determine three-phase relative permeability functions using two sets of the more easily
measured two-phase data, i.e., water-oil and gas-oil displacement systems. However, because of the wide range
of scattering of the laboratory-measured two-phase relative permeability data, it is usually very difficult to
determine a representative average function whether by
reservoir layers (different lithologies) or reservoir regions
(several facies or reservoir units). It follows that our
greatest need today in the area of reservoir simulation is a
quick, relatively inexpensive procedure to match reservoir
performance data based on adjustments of representative
relative permeability functions assigned on a permeability
distribution basis. A systematic approach to this problem
is discussed in this study.
Fluid saturation and relative permeability values corresponding to the beginning, intersection, and end points of
the displacement process were correlated as a logarithmic
function of air permeability to determine initjal saturation
functions for each rock type (regions with identical capillary pressure and relative permeability properties). This
procedure proved to be useful for water-oil and gas-oil systems of carbonate and sandstone reservoirs.
The so
determined saturation functions were curve fitted using
exponential equations as starting points during the history
match phase. Subsequently, the shapes of the relative
permeability curves were adjusted by changing the exponents of the fitting equations in order to match WOR
and/or GOR production history. This procedure assumes no
mass diffusion and isothermal reservoir conditions. This
approach has been successfully applied to match reservoir
production history of different oil fields of the world, even
when adverse mobility ratio conditions were present in
stratified reservoirs.
The following are included: typical fluid saturation
and relative permeability correlations as a logarithmic
function of air permeability, relative permeability fitting
References and illustrations at end of paper.

equations, and applications to match the observed performance of selected case histories.
INTRODUCTION

The interpretation of laboratory-determined relative

permeability characteristics to obtain an average relative
permeability curve applying to a particular formation presents a considerable problem for the practicing reservoir
engineer. There are many possible methods of averaging
relative permeability data. However, of more importance
than the averaging method utilized is the question of
determining just how well the curves used actually represent the formation under consideration.
The ideal relative permeability test should involve
fresh, preserved, whole core samples taken using native
crude oil as drilling fluid and selected pressure-coring
techniques. Furthermore, the test should be performed at
reservoir conditions using live oil containing dissolved gas,
and the direction of the saturation change in the laboratory-determined relative permeability properties should
correspond to that in the reservoir. In actuality, these
ideal samples and conditions are seldom, if ever, obtained.
Usually, most of the experimental work on relative
per me abilities involves small samples of core or plugs
obtained from reservoir rocks whose original wettability
preference has already been altered by the drilling fluids,
and a suitable laboratory procedure that eliminates inlet
and outlet end effects which manifest themselves in saturation gradients must be selected. Moreover, the very
process of cutting the cores and bringing them to the
surface changes the original fluid saturations before they
can be measured.
Proper handling, transporting, and
storage of the cores to be analyzed are necessary to obtain
good relative permeability data. In water-wet rocks the
interstitial water saturation at the start of the test should
closely approximate the reservoir connate water saturation. . As a rule, to avoid core plugging problems, refined
oil rather than reservoir crude is used in relative permeability tests.
It shOUld be noted that inherent sampling problems
such as: areal coverage, core recovery, and selection of
samples to cover reservoir porosity, permeability, and
lithology ranges were not mentioned in the preceding

paragraphs. If significant rock property variations are

identified in a reservoir, it can be subdivided into meaningful rock types. Since flow properties are a function of pore
geometry, each lithological unit usually has peculiar relative permeability characteristics. Unfortunately, relative
permeability data for each unit are not always available;
consequently, it is very difficult or nearly impossible to
assign relative permeability properties on a reservoir unit
basis unless a reservoir correlating parameter is determined. For instance, reservoir stratification and mobility
ratio have profound effects on fractional flow characteristics of a waterflood and should be accounted for when
determining the relative permeability curves to be used in
a simulation study. Similarly, the gas-oil relative permeability characteristics can vary greatly with different reservoir rock types.
On the other hand, the use of core data in reservoir
engineering is always interpretative since data in the
interwell area are incomplete and must be either interpolated or extrapolated. Thus, the distribution of the
formation properties in the reservoir usually has a large
degree of uncertainty.
The relative permeability problem is even more complex, taking into consideration the non-systematic errors
associated with the laboratory measurements, the inconsistencies of laboratory procedures when two or more sets of
data are available, and, more important, the fact that the
laboratory-determined core flow properties are usually
based on two-phase displacement tests rather than threephase systems.
As a result of the above mentioned factors, the
experimentally determined, two-phase relative permeability data usually present a wide range of scattering.
Consequently, it is very difficult to determine a representative average function on any basis, with a reservoir unit
basis being the most difficult.
To the speculative worker who tries to arrive at the
solution by use of imagination and intuition and then to
test his hypothesis by experiment or observation (i.e., trialand-error procedures during the history match phase of a
reservoir simulation study), the relative permeability data
may appear enormously overwhelming, apparently inconsistent, difficult to correlate to any reservoir parameter, and
sometimes irrelevant, e.g., data of fractured cores. Trialand-error procedures could be very expensive and sometimes frustrating experiments during the history match
process. Furthermore, they could provide results which are
"needed" but are difficult to interpret and reconcile with
the measured laboratory data and reservoir rock properties.
Since reservoir simulation has emerged as a powerful
management tool, results produced by this method could
have deep implications in the future life of the reservoir.
Confidence in the predictions of future reservoir performance following a history match depends to a large degree
on the engineer's confidence in the values of the matching
reservoir parameters.
This paper describes a procedure to assign relative
permeability characteristics to each reservoir unit on a
permeability distribution basis, as well as a technique to
change the shape of the relative permeability curves during
the history match phase.
Fluid saturation and relative permeability values corresponding to the beginning, intersection, and end points of

the displacement process were correlated as a logarithmic

function of absolute permeability to determine initial saturation functions for each rock type. This procedure proved
to be useful for water-oil and gas-oil systems of carbonate
and sandstone reservoirs. However, the correlations and
history match applications described in this paper are
limited to carbonate reservoirs. The so determined saturation functions were curve fitted using exponential equations as starting points during the history match phase.
This was accomplished utilizing a "modeling inside the
model" technique which incorporates the advantages of an
analytical solution for each reservoir unit. The comprehensively broad and versatile, two-phase relative permeability models used to fit the end points are included in this
paper. Subsequently, during the history match phase, the
shapes of the relative permeability functions were adjusted
by changing the exponents of the fitting equations in order
to match WOR and/or GOR production performance. The
result is a quick, versatile, inexpensive procedure which
converges to the desired solution from the first relative
permeability adjustment and which honors the laboratorydetermined end points.
This procedure assumes that the end points remain
constant during the history match phase, and this implies
no mass diffusion and isothermal reservoir conditions.
THEORY
The relative permeability to a fluid is defined as the
ratio of effective permeability at a given saturation of
that fluid to the absolute permeability at 100% saturation.
As a rule, the relative permeability is based in the specific
air permeability (k ) that has been corrected for slippage
a
(Klinkenberg effect).
Each porous system has unique relative permeability
characteristics which must be measured experimentally.
Direct experimental determination of three-phase relative
permeability properties is extremely difficult and involves
rather complex techniques to determine the fluid saturation distribution along the length of the core. For this
reason, the more easily measured two-phase relative permeability characteristics are experimentally determined.
In water-oil systems, the maximum relative per meabilities to oil and water that can naturally occur during
displacement are called end points. In this paper, the
common relative permeability value at which oil and water
are equal is referred as the "intersection point" of the
displacement process. Similar definitions apply to gas-oil
systems if total liquid (critical water and oil) and gas
replace the displaced and displacing phases of the water-oil
system. Since numerical models describing multiphase
flow in petroleum reservoirs do not distinguish between
critical and irreducible saturations, the term "critical" will
be used in the two-phase relative permeability model
section to indicate the change from pendular to funicular
saturation.

Taking into consideration that each lithological unit,

i.e., layer or reservoir region, has different rock properties
that control pore geometry and, consequently, different
relative permeability characteristics, it will be ideal to
assign flow properties on a reservoir unit basis, utilizing
laboratory-obtained relative permeability data, despite the
problems associated with such measurements. Usually, the
most reliable experimentally determined relative permeability values are the so-called end points of the displacement process. Unfortunately, relative permeability data
are not always available for each rock type, and there is
little reason to believe that a single, average relative

permeability curve will be representative of the behavior

of each layer or the whole reservoir. The problem could be
approached if a meaningful correlating parameter is deter-.
mined for the reservoir.
The relative permeabilities are dependent on the
saturations of each fluid. Additionally, the flow properties
are the composite effect of reservoir wettability, pore
geometry, fluid distribution, and saturation history.
The water content at a specific point within the
reservoir is related to the structural position of that point,
to the pore geometry, and to the wettability of the rock.
Some rock properties which affect residual oil saturation (S
) in a water displacement process are per meaorw
bility stratification, areal heterogeneities, and reservoir
wettability. It is convenient to point out that the laboratory-determined Sorw at 100% water-cut and uniformly
distributed fluid saturations is different from the field
S
which is left behind in the more permeable waterorw
swept zones when the producing water-oil ratio reaches its
economic limit and which also could be related to other
important factors such as gravity segregation, total water
throughput, mobility ratio (M), etc.
It is interesting to observe the relation between pore
geometry and reservoir wettability with relative permeability, connate water saturation, and Sorw' Pore geometry
is a function of the reservoir rock characteristics and
affects such reservoir properties as permeability, porosity,
tortuosity, irreducible water saturation, and surface area.
The rock property whose variation is the most important in
influencing reservoir performance is the permeability value
since it will affect the ratio of the viscous to the gravitational and capillary forces. From these considerations,
selection of the absolute permeability value as a possible
correlating parameter can be inferred.

If acceptable trends of the end points and residual

fluid saturations are obtained as a function of permeability, then relative permeability characteristics could be
assigned on a reservoir unit basis. Statistical criteria could
be used in determining how well an equation fits a given
set of data. If acceptable trends or correlations are
obtained, their physical significance should be evaluated
and the most meaningful correlation selected, considering
the problems associated with the laboratory measurements
and the actual reservoir conditions. For instance, since
connate water saturation depends on reservoir fluid distribution, a better definition of this parameter for each rock
type should come from capillary pressure and/or well log
data. The "intersection point" relative permeability and
fluid saturation correlations should be interpreted only as
indications of the curvature of the flow properties subject
to change during the history match phase.

Stone 1,2 developed a probability model to estimate

three-phase relative permeability data from the laboratory-measured two-phase data. The model combines the
channel flow theory in porous media with probability
concepts to obtain a simple result for determining the
relative permeability to oil in the presence of water and
gas flow. The model accounts for hysteresis effects when
water and gas saturations are changing in the same direction of the two sets of data. The use of the channel flow
theory implies that water relative permeability and wateroil capillary pressure in the three-phase system are functions of water saturation alone, irrespective of the relative
saturations of oil and gas. Moreover, they are the same

function in the three-phase system as in the two-phase

water-oil system. Similarly, the gas phase relative permeability and gas-oil capillary pressure are the same
functions of gas saturation in the three-phase system as in
the two-phase gas-oil system. The second Stone's model
suggests the following equation as a means of estimating
three-phase oil relative permeability (k ro ) data:

The probability model is such that it will satisfy these

assumptions and yield the correct oil relative permeability
in the three-phase system only if the relative permeability
at the end points is equal to one; otherwise, it will only
approximate the two-phase data.
Considering that the gas-oil data are measured in the
presence of irreducible water saturation, Dietrich and
Bondor 3 suggested the following modification to Stone's
equation:
(2)

This model tends to predict incorrect kro values (greater

than unity) for small krocw values, i.e., krocw :-; 0.3.
Nolen 4 as referenced by Dietrich 5 suggested a different normalization of equation (1) which remains bounded
as k
approaches zero and has the form:
rocw
k

ro

=k

~ +k

rocw k

rocw

~)(

rw. k

)~

ro
+k
- k +k
rg
rw
rg
rocw

3
()

This model gives a reasonable approximation to the threephase oil relative permeability. Numerical models available to the petroleum industry use a three-phase oil
relative permeability model given by equation (1), (2) or
(3). In the modified versions of the Stone's model, an oilwater system at critical water saturation and an oil-gas
system at zero gas saturation are physically identical.
Consequently, the end-point relative permeability to oil is
identical in both systems.
Assuming no mass diffusion and isothermal reservoir
conditions, the critical fluid saturations and the end-point
relative permeabilities should remain constant during the
history match phase. Mo;gan and Gordon 6 illustrated that
within each reservoir rock type, the relative permeabilities
are similar, varying only slightly for rather large changes
in air permeability. Even though the reservoir permeability will change during the history match phase, the flow
properties assumed to remain constant should maintain
their relative value and physical significance for each
reservoir unit. Any adjustment in the shape of the relative
permeability to match reservoir performance should account for fluid distribution within the reservoir, which in
turn is dependent on the saturation history and on the
wetting characteristics of the rock. This could be accomplished by exponential iteration of the already correlated
two-phase relative permeability data, if convenient analytical expressions are determined to curve fit the above
mentioned end points and their corresponding fluid saturations. This in turn incites the development of a universal
two-phase r~lative permeability model to fit the laboratory-determined relative permeability data.

The advantages of using analytical expressions for

the experimentally determined relative permeability data
can be further visualized taking into consideration the
following facts affecting gas-oil and water-oil displacement systems: the most significant part of the oil production occurs near the critical gas saturation; the history
match provides an estimate of the gas relative permeability only for small gas saturations; and for unfavorable
mobility ratio displacement, the fractional flow curve is
very sensitive to the water relative permeability curve
near critical water saturation.

s -S

gc
- k
g
rg - rgcw ( 1-Swc -Sgc

).115

(7)

where:
Sgc <
- Sg <
- (1-S wc )
The analytical expression for oil relative permeablity
can be expressed as follows:
SL - SLR )nog
k
=k
rog
rocw ( 1 - SLR

(8)

TWO-PHASE RELATIVE PERMEABILITY MODELS

where:
Relative permeability mathematical models incite
the analyst to thoroughly consider all the flow property
variables and characteristics of the basic nature of the
two-phase flow.
Typical sets of laboratory-determined water-oil and
gas-oil relative permeability curves are shown in Figures 1
and 2 respectively.
Water-Oil System
In attempting to curve fit the end-point relative
permeabilities and their corresponding fluid saturations, if
the normalized water saturation is defined as the ratio of
the displacing fluid saturation to the maximum displacing
fluid saturation, the relative permeability to water can be
expressed as follows:

rw

=k

Sw - Swc
rwro ( 1-S -S
)
wc orw

nw
(4)

where:
Swc -< Sw -< (1-Sorw )
However, taking into consideration that numerical models
describing multiphase flow in petroleum reservoirs account
for single flow occurring in the aquifer, a more direct
approach to water relative permeability takes the form:
k = (Sw-Swc) nw
rw
1-S
wc

(5)

Swc 5. Sw 5.1.00
The oil relative permeability expression can be determined
as a function of the complementary function of the actual
(two-phase) normalized water saturation, as follows:
) now
1-S -S
- k
w orw
row - rocw ( 1-S -S
wc orw

(6)

where:
S = 1- S

Sorw 5. So

SLR ~ SL ~ 1.00
It should be noted that the normalized liquid saturation does not correspond to the complementary function of
the normalized gas saturation since the model assumes that
the gas-oil data is measured in the presence of irreducible
water saturation.

Modern numerical models describing multiphase flow

in petroleum reservoirs empirically generate gas imbibition
curves utilizing the residual gas saturation (Sgr) and do not
require gas imbibition relative permeability functions as
model input data.
It is convenient to emphasize that this approach does
not involve raw permeability data normalizations, but
curve fitting of the already correlated end points and their
corresponding fluid saturations utilizing the "intersection
point" correlations as an indication of the degree of
curvature of the relative permeability functions.
The
writer has found this step very useful in determining initial
fluid saturation functions for each rock type. If necessary,
the shapes of the relative permeability functions could be
adjusted during the history match phase by exponential
iteration of the so determined relative permeability equations. This procedure is very helpful in minimizing both
computing and engineering time during the history match
process and will be illustrated in the HISTORY MATCH
APPLICATIONS section following.

RELATIVE PERMEABILITY CORRELATIONS

where:

S
=S
+S
LR
wc
org

s: (1-Swc )

Gas-Qil System
Similarly, defining the normalized gas saturation as
the ratio of the displacing fluid saturation to the maximum
displacing fluid saturation, the gas relative permeability
equation takes the form:

Linear regression analysis can be used in attempting

to correlate the experimentally determined end-point relative permeabilities and their corresponding fluid saturations as a logarithmic function of the absolute permeability. Such linear characterizations, if existent, are
simple and yet demonstrate the dependence between the
two variables. The correlation coefficient criterion could
be used in determining how well an equation fits a given
set of data. It should be pointed out, however, that the
main objective in this initial stage of the systematic
approach discussed in this paper is to determine if acceptable and meaningful trends can be obtained, rather than to
select equations with high correlation coefficients which
may not represent the actual reservoir conditions nor the
problems associated with the laboratory measurements.
Least square regression analysis and reduced major
axis could be performed on two standard curve types:
y=a~blogx

y=a~

logx

(9)

(10)

where:
y = relative permeability or fluid saturation at a .specific point of the displace~ent process, fractIOn
x = absolute permeability, md
The writer has found that equation (9) usually yields
acceptable correlations for carbonate reservoirs and that
equations (9) and (10) are useful to correlate two-phase
relative permeability data in sandstone reservoirs. The
latter, however, are more difficult to correlate than carbonate lithologies and more attention should be devoted to
the reservoir characterization on a rock-type basis. The
interpretation of the so determined correlations, i.e., a
positive or negative linear correlation, should be related to
the rock characteristics and fluid properties of each rock
type.
The author has successfully applied this procedure to
assign initial relative permeability functions on a permeability distribution basis to different oil fi~lds of the .world
including carbonate and sandstone reserVOirs located m the
Middle East, North America, and North Africa. However,
the relative permeability correlations and history match
applications discussed in this paper are limited to carbonate reservoirs.
The examples presented in this discussion refer to the
Bati Raman Field, which is a very heterogeneous carbonate
reservoir of Cretaceous age formed by 16 reservoir units,
each described in terms of one or more of seven basic
facies. The reservoir contains very heavy crude 8il, having
0
an A.P.I. gravity ranging from 9.7 to 15.1 and oil
viscosity ranging from 450 to 1000 cp at reservoir conditions. This reservoir was selected to illustrate the applicability of the systematic approach to the relative permeability problem even when adverse mobility ratio conditions
were present in stratified reservoirs.
The initial, "intersection", and end points of both the
displacing and displaced phases were successfully correlated as a logarithmic function of k . Two sets of data
a
from different laboratories were available and selective
data screening was necessary to discard samples with very
low permeability values which did not show definite trends.
As expected, taking into consideration the different factors affecting the relative permeability measurements, the
"intersection point" trends did not yield high correlation
coefficients, and were used only as an indication. of the
initial curvature of the corresponding reservoir units, subject to change during the history match phase.
Figures 3 through 5 show the water-<>il, and Figures 6
and 7 represent the gas-<>il relative permeability correlations obtained for the Bati Raman Field.
H1STORY MATCH APPLICATIONS

The relative permeability correlations were used to

assign 8
and end-point relative permeability values on a
orw
rock-type basis to match the performance of selected pilot
waterflood tests and the production history of the whole
field on a regional basis.
Taking into consideration that the water content is
related to the structural position and to the pore geometry
of each rock type, no attempt was made to correlate the
critical water saturation as a function of k. The average
water saturations derived from log dataa were used as
critical water saturations (8 ) for each rock type. On the
wc
other hand, it should be noted that the Sorw relationship

exhibits a positive trend. However, considering the adverse M, as well as the heterogeneous and possible fracture
nature of the reservoir, this correlation seems to indicate
that viscous fingering takes place during the water displacement process and was utilized to developed saturation
functions on a permeability distribution basis.
BR-17 History Match

The Bati Raman No. 17 (BR-17) pilot water flood test

was started on August 23, 1971 using a normal five-spot
pattern. water breakthrough took place 44 days after the
start of injection.
After two years of injection, the
producing well was completely watered out and shut in. A
5 x 3 x 4 (xyz) reservoir model was used to simulate 1/8
element of symmetry of the confined five-spot pattern. A
diagonal grid was selected in order to reduce grid orientation effects and to avoid the early breakthrough phenomenon of the parallel grid. Three different reservoir units
(K1, G2, and G3) were identified in the test region. For
modeling purposes and to reduce numerical dispersion effects the bottom G3 reservoir unit was divided into two
diffe:ent layers of equal thickness. The reservoir rock
properties of each layer are summarized in Table.!.
Taking into consideration that no free gas evolved durmg
the production period and that the solution gas-<>il ratio (18
scf/bbl) is constant with position and/or time, i.e., undersaturated crude oil, the BR-17 waterflood test was defined
as a water-<>il problem in order to minimize computing
time. One of the main objectives of this study was to
obtain a set of relative permeability functions to be used in
subsequent simulation studies.
The injector and the producing well were set on
flowing bottom-hole pressure (FBHP) control and breakthrough time, oil production, and water-cut were used as
matching parameters.
It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss in detail
the history match of the BR-17 pilot waterflood test, but
rather to illustrate the techniques utilized to approach the
relative permeability problem, as well as the quality of the
obtained history match.

For each rock type, the average water saturation

derived from well data was assumed equal to the Swc' the
end-point relative permeabilities, and the Sorw values
obtained from the water-<>il relative permeability correlations were curve fitted using the intersection point trends
as an indication of the degree of curvature of each
saturation function.
Since both wells were on FBHP control (productivity
and injectivity indices match), and once water br~~k
through and pressure gradients were matched (permeabIlity
and porosity adjustments), it was assumed that for a
relatively constant pressure gradient, the rate of advance
of the flood front should be directly proportional to the
reservoir permeability. Thus, the cumulative water production and water-cut values were matched by changing
the exponent of the water relative permeability equation
of the most permeable layer, i.e., Layer 1. The exponential iteration technique is illustrated in Figure 8 and the
matching set of relative permeability curves for the 4
layers are depicted on Figures 9 through 11.
Figure 12 compares the producer grid block. water
saturation and the water-cut values correspondmg to
Layers 1 and 4. It can be seen that although water
breakthrough occurs in Layer 4; eight months after the
start of the injection, Layer 1 becomes the prevailing
water production unit.

Figures 13 through 16 illustrate the water injection,

oil production, water production, and water-cut history
matches respectively.
Bati Raman Field - Central Area Simulation
Ten different reservoir units were identified in the
Central Area of the Bati Raman Field. Figure 17 represents an idealized cross section of the Garzan Formation in
this part of the field. The Central Area includes 55 wells
and 16 years of production history. Several enhanced oil
recovery tests were performed in this part of the field,
including steam, water injection, and an extended water
injection program for a period of five years.
A 25 x 24 x 4 (xyz) reservoir model was used to
simulate the Central Area of the field. The complex
carbonate lithologies with different petrophysical characteristics incited the utilization of 10 different relative
permeability curves to simulate the flow performance of
each reservoir unit. The previously obtained set of relative
permeability correlations was utilized to assign initial
saturation functions for each rock type. In general, a
similar approach to the one described in the BR-17 history
match was used to match individual well performance.
Except in the wells near to the aquifer which required
water relative permeability adjustments, good agreement
between observed and calculated water-cut values was
obtained in the remaining wells utilizing the original relative permeability functions assigned on a rock-type basis.

(3) A general two-phase relative permeability model

which includes water-oil and gas-oil systems has been
developed to curve fit the experimentally determined
end-point relative permeabilities and their corresponding fluid saturations.
(4)

A versatile, inexpensive iteration procedure has been

proposed to change the shape of the relative curves
during the history match phase.

(5)

The changes in the shape of the relative curves could

be justified due to the uncertainties in rock wettability, saturation history, pore-geometry and fluid
distribution within the reservoir.

(6) Although the proposed approach to the relative permeability problem could demand more engineering
time during the initial stages of a simulation study,
the procedure optimizes both engineering and computing time during the history match phase, i.e., the
most expensive and time-consuming aspect of a reservoir simulation study.
NOMENCLATURE
k
k
k

rg

rgcw

Three-Phase Simulation Study - North American Field

k
k

rogr

rocw
k

row
k

rw

(2)

Since this approach considers more factual data and

involves fewer assumptions, it should provide more
meaningful flo w characteristics on a reservoir unit
basis.

relative permeability to oil, water-oil system

relative permeability to water, water-oil system
relative permeability to water measured at
residual oil saturation, water-oil system
three-phase relative permeability to oil

Sg

gas saturation, gas-oil system

gc

critical gas saturation, gas-oil system

residual gas saturation (imbibition
gas-oil system

nog

nw
A general procedure which honors the most reliable
laboratory-determined two-phase relative permeability data (end-point relative permeabilities and
their corresponding fluid saturations), has been developed to assign relative permeability functions on a
permeabili ty distribution basis.

relative permeability to oil at residual gas saturation (imbibition process), gas-oil system
relative permeability to oil measured at critical water saturation in water-oil system or at
zero gas saturation in gas-oil system

normalized gas saturation exponent (relative

permeability to gas curvature), gas-oil system
normalized total liquid saturation exponent
(relative permeability to oil curvature), gas-oil
system
normalized water saturation exponent (rela:tive permeability to water curvature), wateroil system
normalized oil saturation exponent (relative
permeability to oil curvature), water-oil system
mobility ratio

The present work may be summarized by the following conclusions:

(1)

relative permeability to gas at critical water

saturation, gas-oil system

relative permeability to oil measured in presence of critical water saturation, gas-oil system

A procedure similar to the one mentioned in the

previous examples was employed during the history match
phase utilizing GOR and reservoir pressure as matching
parameters during the primary depletion phase, and pressure response, GOR response, breakthrough time, and WOR
performance during the water injection period.
CONCLUSIONS

relative permeability to gas, gas-oil system

relative permeability to gas at residual total

liquid saturation, gas-oil system

The BR-17 example illustrates the iteration procedure to match cumulative water production in a water-oil
problem.
A three-dimensional, three-phase reservoir simulation study was conducted to match 10 years of production
history of an oil field located in North America. This
example is mentioned in this paper because it dramatically
illustrates the iteration procedure to match cumulative gas
production and consequently minimize both computing and
engineering time during the history match process. The
adjustment in the shape of the gas relative permeability
curve is shown in Figure 18.

absolute permeability to air, md

now

gr

process),

total liquid saturation, gas-oil system

residual total liquid sa.turation, gas-oil system
(SLR = Swc + Sorg)
residual oil saturation to gas displacement,
gas-oil system
water saturation, water-oil system
critical water saturation, water-oil system
residual oil saturation to water displacement,
water-oil system

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The permission of Turkish Petroleum Corporation
(TP AO) to publish the above results is gratefully acknowledged. Special thanks are due Mrs. Patricia Armentor and
Ms. Muriel Burns for editing this paper.

REFERENCES
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Stone, H.L.: "Probability Model for Estimating

Three-Phase Relative Permeability," J. Pet. Tech.
(Feb., 1970) 214-218.
Stone, H.L.: "Estimation of Three-Phase Relative
Permeability and Residual Oil Data," J. Can. Pet.
Tech., (Oct. - Dec., 1973) Vol. 12, No.4, 53-61.
Dietrich, J.K., and Bondor, P.L.: "Three-Phase Relative Permeability Models," paper SPE 6044 presented at SPE 51st Annual Fall Meeting, New
Orleans, Oct. 3-6, 1976.
Nolen, J.S.: Personal Communication to Dietrich,
INTERCOMP Resource Development and Engineering, Inc., (1977).
Dietrich, J.K.: "Relative Permeability During Cyclic
Steam Stimulation of Heavy Oil Reservoirs," paper
SPE 7968 presented at SPE California Regional
Meeting, Ventura, April 18-20, (1979).
Morgan, J.T., and Gordon, D.T.: "Influence of Pore
Geometry on Water-Oil Relative Permeability," J.
Pet. Tech. (Oct., 1970) 1199-1208.

1.0r--------------------,
TABLE 1
8R-17 SIMULATION STUDY
INITIAL RESERVOm ROCK PROPERTIES

Average
Layer
~

Average

Water

Reservoir
~

Thickness
_F_t_._

Porosity
-_%-

Saturation
-_%_-

KI

64.50

18.97

17.00

G2

37.50

13.87

25.00

20.00

G3

21.50

16.80

29.33

725.00

G3

20.00

16.80

29.33

725.00

Estimated
Permeability
md

1420.00

O~--~.c~-------~s~.-rw---~
Water SoturDtton

Fig. 1 - Water-Oil Relative Permeability Curves.

1.0,..--------------------,

k_

krp

krOLR
~

kr ..,

Liquid Saturation

Fig. 2 - Gas-Oil Relative Permeability Curves.

1.0,--------,--------,--------,

o EASTERN REGION
~

krocw:O.lltO.IOlnk

0.5

0-

--

<> - - - -

--

--~

_0--

___ 0

CENTRAL REGION

N.W. REGION
N.W. REGION,BR-160
TPAODATA

_--

OL-------~-------~-------~
10.
100.
1000.
I.

Fig. 3 - Bati Raman Field Water-Oil Relative Permeability

Correlations - Beginning of Displacement.

o [ASURN RtOION

.or--------,--------,.--------,

o
o

CENTRAL MOION

N.W. REGION

0, N.W. REGION,8R-IIO

!
"

T'AO DATA

O.Sr-

kr.'lIrow zO.03+0.01 In II
/)

-o-----r---OT---;;--T----o-

O~I.--~~----T-IO'.--~~-~-I~OO~.------~I~OOO.

r--------r-------.......--------,

1. 0

5,,:0.8&-0.04 Ink

----oo-~-~-!..

O.S

___ _

O~I.----------------~IO~.--------------~I~OO~.--------------~IOOO.

Fig. 4 - Bati Raman Field Water-Oil Relative Permeability

Correlations-Intersection Point.
o EAST!RN MOtON
6 CENTJII:AL "EGIOM

1.0r--------,--------,.--------,

D N.W. REGION
N.W.REOIONollt-l.e)

i
JI

0.5

-----

__o_o-Jj.---y-_----

---.

T'AO DATA

k,.,.'OI4+0.05'.k

/)

O,LI.-------~IO~.------~-I~OO~.------~IOOO.

I.O,---------r--------,.--------..,

O.S
SOto.la +0.04 Iftll

0----------

_-oo-.-C----.C- - --'0

OL---------~------------~------------J
I.

10.

100.

1000.

ka-md

Fig. 5 - Bati Raman Field Water-Oil Relative Permeability

correlations-End of Displacement.
o USTERN REGION

1.0r-------..,...-------,-------,

t)

CENTRAL R[GION
N.W. REGION

o N.W.REGION,IR-ISO

I"
!

TPAO DATA

O.S
Itt9:krOV"O.OI+O.OO24Iftll.

o--J>- - - - ---o!-o"""-6--,p-G'-1r~

OL-~----------~--------~--~------------J
I
10
100
1000

1.0r--------r-------,.--------,
o
_-----;

fit

.-0-_.--0--

.... 0

0.5

OL-------------~------~----~----------~
I
10
100
1000

Fig. 6 - Bati Raman Field Gas-Oil Relative Permeability

Correlations Intersection Point.

I.O,----------,r------------r---------,

o EASTERN REGION

CENTRAL REGION

C N.W. REGION

N.W. REGION.8R-160
TPAO DATA

'"
..J

...~ O.S

"
0

10

10

100

1000

100

1000

1.0

'"

..J

V>

o.e

ka-md

Fig. 7 - Bati Raman Field Gas-Oil Relative Permeability

Correlations-End of Displacement.

~r-------------~------------,-------------_r------------_,

1.00,----------,,----------,
3.20

.
>-

..

z
z

:::;
ii

3.10

:I

G:

Go

or

lc

..

....
..
....

o.e

>

RUN No.3

3.00

;:::
..J

G:

~
Z

~
2.90 nw:2.90

RUN No."

O.O.'-:------==--::IL:--.......::::!l:::-------:-'
0.0
1.0
WATE" SATURATION

2~=-----------;;:~to;;;O:--------------;eooo;;!;;;:;------------.,7"OO!=-O---------'L---:::!8000
CUMULATIVE WATER PRODUCTION-bbi

Fig. 9 - BR-17 Water-Oil Relative Permeability Curves Layer 1 (K Uni t).

Fig. 8 - Exponential Iteration of Water Relative Permeability
Equation-BR-17 History Match-Layer 1.

1.0',--------r------------,

1.00',----------.-----------,

>~

::;
iii

...

"'a:2
~

0.5

"'>

...>=
..J

iI1

I<ro.

'ow

Kro.

0.0L:------"--"""=L---..::::::::::...>-------.J
0.0
0.5
1.0

0 . 0 L - - - - - - " ' - - - -......::::::.-=!!:::-""------l

0.0

1.0

WATER SATURATION

WATER SATURATION

Fig. 11 - BR-17 Water-Oil Relative Permeability Curves Layers 3 and 4 (G3 Unit).

Fig. 10 - BR-17 Water-Oil Relative Permeability Curves Layer 2 (G2 Unit).

I.Dr------,-----------------,.-----------I.D
___ WATER SATURATION
-WATER-CUT

/;:::..---

----

.--'--/'

0.'

--- --

~~---- / /

_____ _0__----- _ _ 4' /

/'

/'

/'

0.'

.8G~.I~.7~,L-~~-~J~AN~.~1.7~2~--------------J~A~N~.I.~7.~---------s-E~~~n

Fig. 12 - BR-17 Waterf100d Test - Producer Grid Block Water Saturation

and Water-cut Comparison - Layers 1 and 4.

20,000

:g,

OSSEAVED DATA-TPAO CALCULATED VALUES

CALCULATED VALUES

I.

10,000

!c

..
>

5
:0

0
AUG 1,71

OClI,71

.!ANI,72

APRI,72

.!ULI,72

OClI,72

JAN 1,73

APRI,73

Fig. 13 - BR-17 Waterf100d Test - Water Injection History Match.

.!ULI,73

SEPI,73

'O.~'----'r-------'--------r-------'--------'-------'-------~--------'----'

OIlIERVEDDAT ...

CALCULATED DATA

O~~~=---~~=---~~--~~=---~~~--~~--~~=---~~~
AUG
1,71
APRI,72
JULI,72
OCTI,72
JANl,n
APRI,73
JULl,n 5PI,73

Fig. 14 - BR-17 Waterflood Test - Oil Production History Match.

'O.OOOr----,------..-------,-----------,----,-----,------,----,---,
o
t::.

08SERVED DATA
CALCULATED OATA

OL_-Ocr
.....'-7'J>-""'O"J:::.llNc:'.7~2~-=-=~;-----;;:;;7:;;;------;=.-;.;--~~;--~;;;-;~--JiJUw:L';-'.:T73~sSiE;PI.73

AUG 1,71

Fig. 15 - Br-17 Waterflood Test - Water Production History Match.

I.O,----,----,----,------,------,-----,--------r------,rr-----,

..

.8

DeSERVED OATA -ALLOCATED PRODUCTION

CALCULATED DATA

.7

.
~ .5

B .4
'" .3

.2

AUGI,71

OCTI,71

JAN 1,72

"PRI,n

JULI,72

OCT 1,72

"ANl t 73

"PRI,73

Fig. 16 - BR-17 Waterflood Test - Water-cut History Match.

JULI,73

5EPI,73

TOPGARZAN

rOPEl

Fig. 17 - 8ati Raman Field - Generalized Cross Section of Garzan

Formation - Central Area.

3.20

.5~
z
z

'"0

3.00

2.80

Co
X

'"0Z
i=

2.60

Q:

RUN No.2

:>

!C(

U)

2.40

U)

<!>
Q

'"
N

oJ

2.20

n =2.19

Q:

RUN NO.3

2.00

1.80
2000

3000

6000
CUMULATIVE GAS PRODUCTION -MMcf

Fig. 18 - Exponential Iteration of Gas Relative Permeability

Equation - N. American Oil Field.