Relative Permeability Prediction from Image Analysis of Thin Sections

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study is to define the physical basis approach to calculate relative permeability of reservoir rocks from image analysis of thin section. Relative permeability is one of the most important parameter and widely used for reservoir characterization. Relative permeability is only measured in the laboratory. To measure relative permeability in the laboratory are expensive and time consuming. Alternatively relative permeability may be estimated from numerical methods such as Lattice-Boltzmann and network modeling. To applying the all method need lot of computational effort and the physical justification of relative permeability estimation remains hidden. A simple and powerful equation to estimate the absolute permeability from porosity and specific surface area is the Kozeny’s equation. Darcy’s assumption was applied to Kozeny’s equation to calculate relative permeability of two phase-fluid flow without introducing any empirical factor. Numerical simulation and image analysis processing technique were applied to check the consistency of Kozeny’s approximated relative permeability model. Relative permeability predicted from Kozeny’s approximation was compared with permeability predicted from Lattice-Boltzmann flow simulation as well as with laboratory measured data. Relative permeability predicted from numerical simulation and image analysis techniques are well agreed with permeability predicted from Kozeny’s approximation. Relative permeability predicted from Kozeny’s approximation are also comparable with permeability predicted from Lattice-Boltzmann flow simulation as well as with laboratory measured data. Given permeability model in this study is the physical basis approach and may used to calculated relative permeability from image analysis of thin section.