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CAPILLARY PRESSURE AND RELATIVE

PERMEABILITY ASSESSMENT ON WHOLE CORE
SAMPLES FROM A GIANT MIDDLE EASTERN
CARBONATE RESERVOIR UTILIZING DIGITAL ROCK
PHYSICS
Safouh Koronfol1, Avrami Grader1, Michael Suhrer1, Jonas Toelke1, Yaoming Mu1,
Moustafa Dernaika1, Mahendra Pratap2, Mohammad Al Hammadi2, Ahmad Al Ratrout2
and Zubair Kalam2
1 2
Ingrain Inc. and Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO)
This paper was prepared for presentation at the International Symposium of the Society of Core
Analysts held in Avignon, France, 8-11 September, 2014
ABSTRACT
Digital Rock Physics (DRP) has significantly evolved in the last few years and added
invaluable contributions in improving core characterization and in providing high quality
advanced SCAL measurements, emphasized through various studies/papers (SCA-2012-
03 Kalam et al). This paper represents a unique DRP SCAL study that includes primary
drainage capillary pressure (Pc) as part of Swi establishment and relative permeability
(Kr) measurements done on four whole core (WC) samples from two different carbonate
formations with a stylolite layer in between. The aim of the study was to evaluate how
DRP results would compare with physical SCAL measurements done – on the same WC
samples as a composite, as well as on plug samples from the same formations/layers – in
a leading international core analysis lab in USA. The DRP results were up-scaled to the
individual WC level and compared with the SCAL results from the corresponding layers.
The DRP technology in this study also provided the capability of up-scaling the results to
the WC composite which was used by the lab to assess the effect of the stylolite layer on
the water flood. The comparison showed excellent matches between the physical and
DRP-derived Pc and Kr data. The paper outlines the DRP methods used to determine the
SCAL properties of the three formations. The laboratory measurements of SCAL
properties took six years while the DRP work that followed blindly (without any
knowledge of the laboratory results) was completed in six months. This demonstrates the
effectiveness of the DRP technology in providing high quality SCAL data in a timely
fashion regardless of sample size. Impact of possible wettability changes and sensitivities
on one of the WC composite constituent component was also easily established unlike the
high risk laboratory tests. This is the first water-oil displacement validation study results
on reservoir whole cores of four inch diameter at full reservoir conditions using DRP.
INTRODUCTION
The DRP SCAL was initiated on four carbonate WC samples from Middle East. The
work included computations of primary drainage Pc to insure that pore geometry (pore
throat size distribution) has been properly captured for representative initial water
saturation (Swi) establishment; in addition to Kr measurements (imbibition and
secondary drainage). All data were up-scaled to the individual WC scale as well as to the
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composite WC scale. The WC composite included the four WC samples and was
designed to resemble the vertical geological structure of the reservoir (WC1 came from
top carbonate formation, WC2 came from the stylolite layer, WC3 & WC4 came from the
bottom carbonate formation). Figure 1 shows schematic illustration of the WC composite.
The DRP program followed a previous conventional SCAL study that included Pc and Kr
measurements on individual plugs and plug composites from the same reservoir layers in
addition to a WC water flood on the same WC composite.

WC1
Top Carbonate Formation (TCF)

WC2 Stylolite (Styl)

WC3 Bottom Carbonate Formation (BCF)

WC4 Bottom Carbonate Formation (BCF)

Figure 1 Schematic illustration of the whole core composite

METHODOLOGY
The workflow that was followed to generate the DRP results started with whole core dual
energy CT scanning which in turn was used to identify the main flow unites followed by
extraction of sub-samples at increasing resolution to describe the pore structure. When
the needed pore structure was defined and properties computed; the individual sub-
sample results were up-scaled to the required volume. In this case, the up-scaling was
made to the individual WC sections as well as to the WC composite.
Plug selection and scanning: whole core CT scanning was the first step in selecting
proper plugs. Upon plug acquisition, the samples were CT scanned at much higher
resolution than the whole cores to assess their suitability.
Sub-sample selection: The 3D images of the selected plugs (for the DRP work) were
segmented to identify different flow units. This segmentation identifies the macro-pore
systems and the large scale connectivity of the flow units in the plug. Each segmented
region was a target for sub-sampling.
Multi scale micro and nano imaging: The rock pore system was resolved using multi-
scale micro-CT data at voxel resolutions down to 0.5microns. Micro-porosity structures
such as micrite required nano-CT data at 0.05microns. The multi-scale imaging process
provided registration of image volumes and therefore the direct association of computed
properties with the spatial location of the sub-samples used in up-scaling.
CAPILLARY PRESSURE AND RELATIVE PERMEABILITY
Primary drainage Pc curves were computed using Lattice Boltzmann method at all scales
that have directly detectable porosity. The up-scaling model accounts for the presence of
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detectible porosity at all scales and honors the spatial distribution of all scales within the
up-scaled volume. This method allowed computations of primary drainage Pc curves at
WC scale. Figure 2 shows the DRP computed Pc for each WC sample with the
corresponding experimental Pc curve (by centrifuge) on plugs from the same formation
layer.
For relative permeability simulations, the DRP process used in this program is based on
steady state fractional flow method. Wetting conditions “mixed to oil wet” were
established based on previous experience and knowledge of the reservoir properties and
wettability characteristics; this knowledge was developed through several previous SCAL
programs that included extensive relative permeability and Amott-USBM measurements.
The Kr measurements in his study included imbibition and secondary drainage cycles.
The Kr data was up-scaled to the individual WC level as well as to the WC composite.
The composite DRP Kr computations assumed two scenarios. Scenario 1, where the
stylolite layer had similar wettability conditions to the other WC samples in the
composite (mixed- to oil-wet). Scenario 2, where the stylolite layer had more affinity to
water (assuming the tight stylolitic pores remained water wet) compared to the other
whole cores. Figure 3 shows the DRP computed imbibition Kr curves for each WC with
the corresponding measured lab Kr on plugs and plug composites from the same
formation layer. Figure 4 shows similar comparison in secondary drainage mode. Figure
5 shows the DRP computed imbibition Kr on the WC composite in both scenarios. The
DRP Kr test on the WC composite represented a vertical core flood through the stylolite
layer which dominated the flow but did not block it.
SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION
Capillary pressure:
Whole core DRP primary drainage Pc curves show reasonable match with the lab Pc data
given that it was measured on plugs (from the same formation layers); in another word,
the observed minor differences between both measurements could be attributed to the
difference in samples and to the difference in scale (DRP was done on whole cores while
lab measurements were done on plug samples from the same formation layers).
Saturation end points (Swi) from DRP are very close or within the same range reported
by the lab measurements. Figure 2 shows comparison between the DRP and the lab
derived drainage Pc for each WC sample. This confirms that the pore geometry has been
properly characterized by DRP.
Relative permeability:
1. The imbibition Kr data (both Kro & Krw) show reasonable match between DRP and
lab, except the stylolitic layer where the lab data shows much higher Krw compared to
DRP (middle plot in figure 3). The lab imbibition Krw trend and end point (Krw =
0.68) indicate strong oil wetness (or high permeability sample). The reason for this
behaviour should be further investigated by the lab taking into consideration the tight
nature of the stylolitic zone. On the other hand, the DRP Krw trend and end point
(Krw = 0.26) seem to be more compatible with the simulated mixed wettability and
with the tight nature of the stylolitic zones that could remain water wet.
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2. Secondary drainage Kr shows good match between DRP and lab data in the upper and
lower layers in the reservoir. Secondary drainage Kr was not measured in the lab on
the stylolitic layer sample (figure 4).
Whole core composite:
3. The imbibition (upscaled) WC composite Kr was simulated assuming two scenarios.
Scenario 1: where the stylolitic layer had similar wettability conditions (mixed- to oil-
wet, contact angle = 130 deg) to the remaining composite components. Scenario 2:
where the stylolitic zone only remained water-wet (contact angle = 30 deg), which
traps oil during water injection and reduces Krw; figure 5 shows both simulated
scenarios.
4. The same WC composite was previously subjected to laboratory unsteady state water
flood experiment at full reservoir conditions to investigate if the stylolitic layer was
permeable to fluid flow; however there was no steady state measurement done in the
lab on this composite. Hence, there would be no possible data comparison between lab
and DRP in this case.

Figure 2 DRP drainage Pc from whole cores with centrifuge Pc from plugs in the same formation layer

Figure 3 Whole core DRP imbibition Kr with Lab Kr from samples/composites in the same formation layer
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Figure 4 Whole core DRP secondary drainage Kr compared with Lab Kr produced on samples/composites
from the same formation layer

Figure 5 DRP whole core composite Kr – Imbibition Kr in two scenarios: scenario 1, when the stylolite
layer has similar wettability conditions to the remaining composite constituents; scenario 2, when the
stylolite layer remains water wet with respect to the other constituents.
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CONCLUSIONS
1. First finding was that the stylolitic layer is permeable for single and multi-phase flow.
It does not act as a barrier. The same was concluded from the lab water flood.
2. The DRP computed SCAL properties from whole cores showed good match with the
physical lab measurements conducted on plugs and plug composites from the same
formation layers.
3. The DRP technology provided high quality advanced SCAL measurements in a
significantly shorter time compared to conventional labs. The laboratory
measurements took six years while the DRP work was completed in six months.
4. The DRP technology gave the opportunity to run the Pc and the Kr measurements at
full reservoir conditions on the same samples at whole core and whole core composite
scales; which is very difficult and impractical to apply in a physical lab.
5. The DRP technology allowed the investigation of various wettability scenarios on one
of the whole core composite constituents and its impact on the composite Kr results.
Such investigation was easily established unlike the high risk laboratory tests where
such sensitivity analysis might take several more years to conduct.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge ADCO and ADNOC management for the
permission to publish the results of this study. Ingrain Development team in Houston are
also acknowledged for their efforts in performing such complex whole core DRP SCAL
computations.

REFERENCES
1. Zubair Kalam, Samy Seraj, Zahid Bhatti, Alex Mock, Pål Eric Øren, Vegar Ravlo
and Olivier Lopez. 2012. Relative permeability assessment in a giant carbonate
reservoir using Digital Rock Physics, paper SCA2012-03 presented at the 2012
SCA International Symposium, Aberdeen, UK.
2. Kalam, M.Z., Al Dayyani, T., Grader, A., and Sisk, C., 2011, ‘Digital rock
physics analysis in complex carbonates’, World Oil, May 2011.
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