Permeability Distributions
in Reservoirs
J.G. Richardson, SPE, Richardson, Sangree & Sneider
J.B. Sangree, SPE, Richardson, Sangree & Sneider
R.M. Sneider, SPE, Richardson, Sangree & Sneider
Introduction
Determining permeability distributions in reservoirs
from data measured at wells requires conceptual
models of how the rock properties vary between
wells. Many formations or zones have been laid down
in strata that are laterally continuous over large areas.
yeologists can correlate zones or layers of similar
rock properties from well to well using core
descriptions, porosities and permeabilities measured
on cores, and logs. It is usually observed that
arithmetic averages of foot-by-foot horizontal
permeabilities measured parallel to the bedding planes
in the cores agree with permeabilities calculated from
well tests. This is logical because, as shown in Fig.
I, arithmetic averaging assumes that flow occurs
through the various strata parallel to the bedding
planes. In this conceptual model, a consistent
assumption is that vertical permeabilities measured
perpendicular to the bedding planes should be
averaged harmonically (in series) to reflect flow in
the vertical direction (see Fig. 1) in a zone between
two continuous shales.
The Model
Two tacit assumptions are made in using harmonic
averages of vertical permeabilities measured on cores
in this simplified model. The first assumption is that
there are no zero or near-zero values resulting from
small, localized clay plugs or shale laminae that
extend only across the width of the vertical core
Copyright 1987 Society of Petroleum Engineers
FOR HORIZONTAL FLOW:
kh= kh1 h 1 +kh2 h 2+ k h3 h 3+"
h1 +h2+h3+
Fig. 1-Model for averaging permeabilities in stratified sands.
Journal of Petroleum Technology. October 1987
sample. Inclusion of a zero value in the harmonic
averaging will result in a zero average for the entire
zone. Thus, selection of a permeability cutoff is
required to exclude low values so that more plausible
estimates can be obtained.
The second tacit assumption is that there be no
small, discontinuous, isolated shale barriers within the
zone of interest. A classic paper by Prats I showed
that the presence of isolated shales candrasticaJly
reduce the vertical permeability to a single phase. For
example, results of Prats' model (illustrated in Fig. 2)
show that the effective vertical permeability is only
5 % of the matrix value if the zone contained an array
of shales 150 ft [45.7 m] wide spaced every 10 ft [3
m]; 2 blh = 30 ft [9.1 m], the shales just overlap, and
0,=0.5. The cause of this drastic reduction in vertical
permeability is that most of the flow path for a single
phase is in the horizontal direction.
The effect of discontinuous shales on reducing the
gravity drainage of oil from a region invaded by gas
or water can be less severe than that predicted by the
single-phase model. 2 For example, oil that drains
from a gas-invaded region will collect in thin layers
above the shales and drain rapidly off the edges if the
shales are small "in areal extent (see Fig. 3). This
process can make the effective vertical permeability
to gravity drainage several-fold higher than for single-
phase flow for shales of the order of 100 ft [30 m]
wide. The benefits of this two-phase flow mechanism
decrease rapidly as the shale widths increase because
the rate of drainage is inversely proportional to the
width squared.
.khnhn
hn
FOR VERTICAL FLOW:
1197
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en
:z
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>-
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g 0.10
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10 100
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Fig. 2-ldeailzed distribution of impervious layers.
Development of Permeability Distribution
Developing the average permeability distribution of a
zone between wells requires the following steps. The
zone thickness at a point is interpolated linearly
between the thicknesses at the two wells. Foot-by-foot
horizontal permeabilities for the zone are averaged
arithmetically at the two wells and average
permeabilities between wells are interpolated in equal
increments of the logarithms of average permeabilities
at the two wells. Foot-by-foot vertical permeabilities
are averaged harmonically using a data cutoff to
eliminate zero and near-zero values caused by small,
core-sized barriers. These values for the average
. vertical permeability are adjusted downward to
account for the effects of isolated, discontinuous shale
barriers distributed through the zone. These average
vertical permeabilities at the wells are used for
interwell values by linear interpolation of the
logarithm of the well values.
The distribution of vertical permeabilities is the key
parameter in estimating oil recovery by gravity
drainage but is usually the least well-known reservoir
property used in a study. Teamwork among the
geologists and engineers can reduce the uncertainty of
estimating vertical permeabilities. Core studies of the
small-scale clay clasts and thin laminae of shales
coupled with the geologist's conceptual model of the
deposit can provide estimates of the clasts' and
laminae's lateral distribution. The engineer can use
this information in determining the appropriate
permeability cutoff. Similarly, the geologist can
estimate the more likely range of lateral dimensions
of the larger discontinuous shales, which may be tens
or hundreds of feet wide. The engineer can then
calculate their effect on reducing the vertical
permeability to one- and two-phase flow.
If permeabilities calculated from well tests do not
agree with those determined from arithmetic averages
of horizontal permeabilities measured on cores,
additional studies are required. If well tests yield
1198
BARRIERS
Fig. 3-0il draining off barriers.
much higher flow rates or permeabilities than
indicated by the core data from the same wells,
fractures are suspected. Natural fractures (as opposed
to those induced by coring and surfacing) can often
be identified by the geologist examining the cores. In
these cases, dual-porosity models are usually needed.
Similarly, if well test interpretations assuming radial
flow indicate much lower permeabilities than those
from core data, the lateral continuity of the strata
seen at the wells may not be sufficient to justify
arithmetic averaging. In this case, a geometric
average, which assumes random distribution of the
matrix, is used by some. However, with just
harmonic averaging, a cutoff value must be chosen to
exclude low values of permeability because the
geometric average is dominated by the lower values.
Special caution should be taken if the geometric
averaging of core data is used because the average
permeabilities of the model layers will tend to
approach the same low value. Such models will yield
unrealistically high predictions of recoveries. Barriers
to lateral continuity will also cause low values of per-
meability to be calculated from well tests even though
the matrix is of high quality. Examples of such
barriers are in braided-stream deposits containing a
high percentage of shale where the stream channels
are somewhat isolated by silt and shale. Permeabili-
ties calculated from well test data using linear flow
equations may be found to agree with arithmetic
averages of core data in these braided-stream
deposits. Aeolian dune deposits containing high
contents of cross-bedded cemented layers are other
examples of deposits requiring special models in
interpreting well tests.
The key to constructing models representative' of a
reservoir is understanding the spatial distribution of
permeabilities in the matrix and of the barriers.
Where the scale of the heterogeneities is less than the
block sizes used in reservoir simulators, special
studies using smaller block sizes are often desirable.
Journal of Petroleum Technology, October 1987
Nomenclature References
h width, ft [m] I. Prats, M,: "The Influence of Oriented Arrays of Thin Impermeable
h height, ft [m] Shale Lenses or of Highly Conductive Natural Fractures on Apparent
Permeability Anisotropy," IPT (Oct. 1972) 1219-21.
k" horizontal permeability 2. Richardson, J,G, et al.. : '"The Effect of Small, Discontinuous Shales
k" average horizontal permeability on Oil Recovery," IPT(Nov. 1978) 1531-37.
kim horizontal permeability for Layer n
JPT
k \' vertical permeability
k 1'1/ vertical permeability for Layer n This paper is SPE 15785. Technology Today Series articles provide useful summary
R apparent permeability anisotropy information on both classic and emerging concepts in petroleum engineering. Purpose:
To provide the general reader with a basic understanding of a significant concept,
a degree of overlapping technique, or development within a specific area of technology.

Journal of Petroleum Technology, October 1987 1199