Whole Core Analysis - Experience And Challenge
M. M. Honarpour, N. F. Djabbarah, K. Sampath, 2003, SPE 13th Middle East Oil Show & Conference, Bahrain 9-12 June 2003.
Whole core analysis is critical for characterizing porosity
and directional permeability in heterogeneous, fractured,
and/ or anisotropic rocks. Whole core measurements
are essential for heterogeneous reservoirs because
small-scale heterogeneity may not be appropriately
represented in plug measurements. For characterization
of multi-phase flow properties (special core analysis) in
heterogeneous rocks, whole core analysis is
also required.
Few commercial laboratories are equipped to conduct
routine measurements on whole cores up to 5 inch in
diameter and up to 8 inches long, and importantly, under
simulated reservoir net confining stress (NCS). Special
whole core analyses are rarely conducted because of
difficulties associated with establishing a representative
water saturation in drainage capillary pressure
experiments and measuring directional effective
permeability. Electrical properties are also measured
occasionally to determine saturation exponents for
situations where resistivity tools are utilized in horizontal
or highly deviated wells.
In this paper we provide an overview of routine and
special core analysis measurements on whole cores.
Results from selected heterogeneous sandstone and
carbonate rocks will be discussed. We will also show
how the results relate to data obtained from plug
analysis at the same depth, with particular emphasis on
directional absolute permeability, directional effective
permeabilities, trapped fluid saturation, and the effect of
net confining stress. Finally, we will describe a novel
whole core apparatus and provide examples of
capabilities of the system.
In this paper, we will...
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