Capillary Pressure From Logs

1/12/2006

Learning objectives
Practical overview of capillary pressure
Rock types, capillary pressure and water
saturation as a function of height

Reservoir production
is a balance of
Viscous forces (pressure drop)
Surface forces (capillary pressure)
Gravitational forces (density)

Applications of Capillary
Pressure Data
Predict Sw distribution in reservoir
(compare with log data, initialize simulator)
Predict free water level
Predict Rock Type, Quality and Pore geometry
Assist in interpretation/calculation of relative
permeability
Calculate pore size distribution

CAPILLARY PRESSURE THEORY

Cos
Cos

Capillary pressure exists whenever two

immiscible phases are present in a fine

tube, and is defined as the pressure drop
across the curved liquid interface.

Pc = Pnw - Pw

2 Cos
Pc =
r
Pc = g h

Capillary pressure in a tube can be

calculated if the fluid interfacial tension,

rock-fluid contact angle, and the tube
radius are known.

Capillary pressure can also be expressed

as a hydrostatic head. It is equal to the

product of the height of the liquid rise, the
density difference of the two liquids, and
the gravitational constant.

Effect of Pore Geometry

Pore size and distribution influence the magnitude of irreducible

water and the height of the transition zone.

Smaller pores and pore throats mean lower permeability and

Height Above Water Level

higher Sw

B
A

Rock-type A

Water Saturation

Rock-type B

Effect of Pore Geometry

As hydrocarbons accumulate, the largest pores are drained first.

Smaller pores are drained as the HC column (height or pressure)
increases

B
A

Fluid Distribution in a HC
Reservoir
Well
Irreducible Water Saturation

HC, water-free
Top Transition Zone

HC and
Mobile Water
Transition Zone

D
E
P
T
H

Observed HC-WC
(Pc = Pce)
Free Water Level
(Pc = 0)

Swir

Sw

100%

Relationship of Reservoir Saturations to:

Rock type A

Capillary Properties
Calibrated Log Response

HEIGHT IN RESERVOIR ABOVE FWL

CAPILLARY PRESSURE

Rock type B

Sealing Fault

A
B
OWC

OWC

A
OWC

FWL

Sw

1
Rt = F Rw / Swn

Sw Profile in Wellbore

Logged Interval

Sw Distribution by
CAPILLARY PRESSURE Model
Rock Type

B
A

Sw trace

Capillary Pressure or Height Above FWL

Sedimentary Sequence

Sw from Wireline

OWC

OWC

OWC
FWL

Sw

Sw

Capillary Pressure Curves from NMR

-1
T (s)
2

10

-4

10

-3

10

-2

10

-1

10

10

Cumulative

T 2 Distribution

951211-02

T2 distributions are normally displayed as incremental porosity

distributions. Integrating from left to right gives us cumulative porosity
distributions

Capillary Pressure Summary

Primary Uses
Determine pore throat size distribution
Determine vertical wetting phase
saturation distribution
Help separate rock types (quality)