Reliability of Relative Permeability Measurements for Heterogeneous Rocks Using Horizontal Core Flood Experiments

New guidelines and suggestions for taking reliable effective relative permeability measurements in heterogeneous rocks are presented. The results based on a combination of high resolution 3D core-flooding simulations semi-analytical solutions the cores. Synthetic “data sets” generated using TOUGH2 subsequently used to calculate curves. A comparison between input curves “calculated” is assess accuracy “measured” values. show that, capillary number (Ncv = kLpc*A/H2μCO2qt) smaller than critical value, flows viscous dominated. Under these conditions, saturation depends only fractional flow as well heterogeneity, independent rate, gravity, permeability, core length, interfacial tension. Accurate whole-core can be obtained regardless orientation degree heterogeneity under range relevant practical conditions. Importantly, transition from gravity/capillary dominated regimes occurs at much higher rates rocks. For numbers larger gradients develop along length accurate not traditional steady-state methods. However, if pressure end available or estimated independently measured inlet outlet core, even when there small gradient across core.