PET 304 _ ROCK COMPRESSIBILITY

Rock Compressibility

• The term compressibility refers to a reduction in volume as a result of an increase in pressure.

It is defined as a fractional change in volume per unit change in pressure.

• A reservoir consists of an impervious cover or cap rock overlying a porous and permeable
rock.

• The density differences between the oil, gas and water phases can result in boundary regions
between them known as fluid contacts (oil-water and gas-oil contacts).

• As sediment builds up, overburden pressure increases as rock is compacted.

• For a hydrocarbon reservoir, the reservoir rock grains are subjected to external pressure
(stress) due to overburden and to internal pressure represented by the fluid pressure.

• There is a balance in a reservoir system between the pressure gradients representing rock
overburden pressure (pob), pore fluids pressure (pf) and sediment grain pressure (pg):
pob = pf + pg

• pf is also called reservoir pressure

• As reservoir fluids are produced, the rock grains may expand causing a reduction in porosity
which causes fluid to be expelled (expansion of rock grains).

• At the same time, the overburden may cause a decrease in the bulk volume causing fluid to
be expelled (rock compaction). In the extreme case, we get subsidence.

• Similarly, an increase in the depth of burial will increase the overburden pressure and
subsequently reduce the porosity. The Figure below illustrates this concept for two rock types,
shale and sandstone.

Figure: Effect of natural compaction on porosity [Krumbein & Sloss, 1963]

• Application of compressibility is in material balance calculations for undersaturated oils.

Type of Compressibility

• Three kinds of compressibility can be distinguished in rocks:

(a) Rock matrix compressibility,
(b) Rock bulk volume compressibility,
(c) Pore compressibility

ROCK-MATRIX COMPRESSIBILITY, CR
Rock-matrix compressibility is defined as the fractional change in volume of the solid rock
material (grains) with a unit change in pressure. Mathematically, the rock compressibility is
given by:
1 ∂V୰
c୰ = − ൬ ൰
V୰ ∂P ୘
Where c୰ = rock-matrix compressibility, psi-1
V୰ = Volume of solid rock grains or matrix
The subscript T indicates that the derivative is taken at constant temperature and the negative
sign is as a result of a change in volume from a larger volume to a smaller volume.

ROCK-BULK COMPRESSIBILITY, CB
Rock-bulk compressibility is defined as the fractional change in the bulk volume of the rock with a unit
change in pressure. The rock-bulk compressibility is defined mathematically by:
1 ∂V୆
c୆ = − ൬ ൰
V୆ ∂P ୘
Where c୆ = rock-bulk compressibility coefficient, psi-1
V୆ = bulk volume

PORE COMPRESSIBILITY, CP
The pore compressibility is defined as the fractional change in pore volume of the rock with a
unit change in pressure and given by the following relationship:
1 ∂V୔
c୔ = − ൬ ൰
V୔ ∂P ୘
Where c୔ = pore compressibility coefficient, psi-1
V୔ = pore volume
The above Equation can be expressed in terms of the porosity, ∅ by noting that porosity
increases with increase in the pore pressure. This is mathematically defined as:
1 ∂∅
c୔ =
∅ ∂P
Where c୔ = pore compressibility coefficient, psi-1
∅ = porosity
For most petroleum reservoirs, the rock and bulk compressibility are considered small in
comparison with the pore compressibility. The formation compressibility denoted as c୤ is the
term commonly used to describe the total compressibility of the formation and is set equal to c୔ ,
Mathematically:
1 ∂∅ 1 ∂V୔
c୤ = c୔ = =− ൬ ൰
∅ ∂P V୔ ∂P ୘
Typical values for the formation compressibility range from 3 × 10ି଺ to 25 × 10ି଺.
Considering compressibility of a large pore volume, equation 49 can be re-written replacing its
partial derivatives as:
1 ∆V୔
c୤ =
V୔ ∆P

Solving for a change in pore volume ∆V୔ , we have:

∆V୔ = c୤ V୔ ∆P

Where c୤ = formation compressibility coefficient, psi-1

V୔ = pore volume, barrels
∆V୔ = change in pore volume, barrels
∆P = change in pressure, psi