1. The Use of Electrical Measurements to Investigate Multiphase Flow Channeling During Reservoir Production
Stephen Moysey, Env. Eng. & Earth Sciences, Clemson University, SC, USA
Flow channeling during the production of petroleum reservoirs can reduce oil recovery. We are studying how electrical resistivity measurements are affected by this behavior and could be used for the adaptive management during production.
Our experimental results show that the flow conditions in a reservoir, characterized by the generalized Bond number Bo*, control the petrophysical relationship between bulk resistivity and oil saturation as quantified by the saturation exponent in Archie’s law. This significant finding suggests that geophysical interpretations in dynamic systems like oil reservoirs must be made in the context of production practices.
A steady-state fingering pattern resulting in reduced oil recovery during waterflood.
bypassed oil
water
Resistivity Index
Fractional Water Saturation
decreasingly
stable flow
conditions
Saturation Exponent
The flow cell designed for the experiments allows continuous monitoring of resistivity and saturation at arbitrary angles.