The Effect of Temperature and Interfacial Tension on Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities in Consolidated and Unconsolidated Porous Media

Abstract

ABSTRACT Several displacement tests for primary and secondary oil recovery processes using conventional steam and caustic steamfloods (0.5% and 1.0% NaOH concentration by weight) were conducted to determine the oil-water relative permeabilities. The results of the test show that oil-water relative permeabilities are temperature and low tension sensitive. The tests for each oil recovery process were run at various temperatures ranging from 200°F to 400°F. Using the displacement data and oil-water physical properties, the relative permeability curves were constructed and the multiple regression analysis was employed to generate correlation equations. The relative permeability curves generated with the correlation equations fit fairly well the data points evaluated from experimental results. The oil-water relative permeability curves shift toward higher water saturation with increase in temperature and/or decrease in interfacial tension. The oil relative permeability curve shifts for all test cases examined are substantial while the shifts of water relative permeability curves are relatively small for steamfloods and virtually coincident for caustic steamfloods. It was also observed, that for the same increase in temperature, the oil relative permeability curve shift is much larger tor caustic steamflooding processes than lor the conventional steamflooding. This observation clearly shows the effect of low tension systems on oil-water relative permeabilities.