![]() ![]() ![]() The relative permeability to wetting phase normally approaches zero or vanishes at relatively large wetting phase saturation. On the other hand, since the non-wetting phase occupies the central or larger pore openings which contribute materially to fluid flow through the reservoir, the relative permeability to the wetting phase is characterized by a rapid decline in value for small decreases in the wetting phase saturation from original saturation. Because of the capillary forces, the wetting phase occupies the smaller pore openings at small saturations, and these pore openings do not contribute materially to flow, it follows that the presence of small wetting phase saturation will affect the permeability of the non-wetting phase only to a limited extent. It should be remembered that in water-wet systems capillary forces assist water to enter pores, whereas in the oil wet case they tend to prevent water entering pores. However, knowledge of the two extreme cases allows misinterpretation of intermediate data to be minimized. Many reservoir systems fall between the two extremes, which does nothing to make laboratory water-flood data easier to interpret. So for a water-oil system different relative permeability curves exist for: The distribution of the two phases according to their wetting characteristics results in characteristic wetting and non-wetting phase relative permeabilities. When a wetting and a non-wetting phase flow together in a reservoir rock, each phase follows separate and distinct paths. Fundamentals of Fluid Flow in Porous MediaĬhapter 2 Relative Permeability Relative Permeability Curves ![]()
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