Effect of Capillary Number
and Its Constituents on Two-Phase
Relative Permeability Curves
R.A. Fulcher Jr., SPE, ARCO Oil and Gas Co.
Turgay Ertekin, SPE, Pennsylvania State U.
C.D. Stahl, SPE, Pennsylvania State U.
Summary
One primary goal of any enhanced recovery project is to
maximize the ability of the fluids to flow through a porous
medium (Le., the reservoir). This paper discusses the
effect of capillary number, a dimensionless group de-
scribing the ratio of viscous to capillary forces, on two-
phase (oil-water) relative permeability curves. Specifical-
ly, a series of steady-state relative permeability measure-
ments were carried out to determine whether the capillary
number causes changes in the two-phase permeabilities
or whether one of its constituents, such as flow velocity,
fluid viscosity, or interfacial tension (1FT), is the con-
trolling variable.
For the core tests, run in fired Berea sandstone, a Soltrol
170™ oil/calcium chloride (CaCI 2) brine/isopropyl
alcohol (IPA)/glycerin system was used. Alcohol was the
1FT reducer and glycerin was the wetting-phase
viscosifier.
The nonwetting-phase (oil) relative permeability showed
little correlation with the capillary number. As 1FT
decreased below 5.50 dyne/cm [5.50 N/m], the oil
permeability increased dramatically. Conversely, as the
water viscosity increased, the oil demonstrated less ability
to flow. For the wetting-phase (water) relative perme-
ability, the opposite capillary number effect was shown.
For both the tension decrease and the viscosity increase
(i.e., a capillary number increase) the water permeability
increased. However, the water increase was not as great
as the increase in the oil curves with an 1FT decrease.
No velocity effects were noted within the range studied.
Other properties relating to relative permeabilities were
also investigated. Both the residual oil saturation (ROS)
and the imbibition-drainage hysteresis were found to
decrease with an increase in the capillary number. The
irreducible water saturation was a function of 1FT ten-
sion only.
A relative permeability model was developed from the
experimental data, based on fluid saturations, 1FT, fluid
viscosities, and the residual saturations, by using regres-
sion analysis. Both phases were modeled for both the im-
bibition and the drainage processes. These models
demonstrated similar or better fits with experimental data
of other water- and oil-wet systems, when compared with
existing relative permeability models. The applicability
of these regression models was tested with the aid of a
two-phase reservoir simulator.
Copyright 1985 SOCiety of Petroleum Engineers
FEBRUARY 1985
Introduction
As world oil reserves dwindle, the need to develop EOR
techniques to maximize recovery is of great importance.
Methods such as chemical flooding, miscible flooding,
and thermal recovery involve altering the mobility and/or
the 1FT between the displacing and the displaced fluids.
Recovery efficiency was found to be dependent on the
capillary number, defined as
p.v
Nc =- ................................ (1)
'Yep
The viscous forces were defined as the fluid viscosity,
flow velocity, and the flow path length. Capillary forces
vary with the fluid 1FT and the pore geometry of the
medium.!
Taber defined the capillary number in terms of the
pressure drop between two points, the flow length, and
the IFT.2
IIp
N c = - . ................................ (2)
L'Y
He concluded that as this ratio increased to a value of 5
psi/ft/dyne/cm [0.2 kPa/m/N/m] the ROS was reduced
significantly. By decreasing the 1FT by using surface-
active agents, or by decreasing the path length by alter-
ing the field geometry, the capillary number could be in-
creased.
Others have shown similar results. Melrose and Brand-
ner,3 for example, indicated that as the capillary number
rose to a value of 10 -4, the microscopic displacement
efficiency, which accounts for the residual saturations to
both oil and water, increased. The effects of the capillary
number on the recovery of residual oil 'are given by Chat-
zis and Morrow 4 and by other authors 5 (Fig. 1).
Few studies, however, have shown the effect of the
capillary number on the two-phase flow between the
residuals. The variables within this group have been
researched, but their combined effect on relative
permeabilities has been largely ignored.
Several authors have noted that the viscosity ratio of
oil and water alters the oil relative permeability but has
little effect on that of water. 6-8 Few or no changes by
fluid flow velocity were observed, provided that no
boundary effects were present during the core tests. 9-11
249

Wagner & Leach
1.0 I-~~~S{- -'""-----....... ,
'C
'%\.,-
'i \&
o \~.
'"~
0.5
'"
- - - Nonwetting Residual
- - - Wetting Residual
O~~L-~~~---L~~--~~~--~~~
10.8
Capillory Number, Nc
Fig. 1-Recovery of residual oil vs. capillary number.4
Studies on oil and gas permeabilities showed that as the
1FT decreased by increasing the temperature and the
equilibrium pressure between two phases, the relative
permeability curves increased and straightened out. 12 The
results of other tests on reducing the tension between oil
and water indicated that (1) few or no relative permeability
alterations occurred for tension above 0.1 dyne/cm [0.1
N/m]; however, larger increases were observed below 0.1
dyne/cm [0.1 N/m] for both phases; (2) the curves tend-
ed toward linearity; (3) the imbibition-drainage hysteresis
lessened; and (4) the residual saturations to both oil and
water decreased. 13-15
One study did show relative permeability increases with
increases in the capillary number; however, these ex-
periments were run using artificial cores of Teflon® ,
alumina, and stainless steel rather than reservoir-type rock
samples. 16
Also, with the increased use of mathematical reservoir
simulators to predict recovery from different EOR proc-
esses, the need to model the various flow properties, such
as relative permeability, becomes important. Thus, ex-
\9"
perimental results need to be applied to empirical or
\1:9 statistical models for use in numerical simulators.
\~
\:> Materials and Experimental Procedure
f;::,, For this study, a series of steady-state relative permeability
,
" tests were carried out at 77°F [25°C] in 2-fi- [0.6-m- ]
long, 2-in.- [5-cm- ] diameter Berea sandstone cores fired
10 0
at 1,832°F [1000°C]. The cores were baked to prevent
large decreases in their absolute permeability because of
clay swelling during and between the experimental runs.
Cores were reused for several tests before being discard-
ed to minimize differences in porosity, permeability, and
lithology. The properties of the cores for each test are
given in Table 1. The fluids used were mixtures of Soltrol
170 oil, * 2% CaCl 2 brine, IPA, and glycerin, as shown
in Table 2. Later, core measurements were taken using
Bradford crude oil, ** Kendex 0837™ , t and 2 % sodium
chloride (NaCl) brine.
1FT effects were studied with the Soltrol170, IPA, and
CaCl 2 brine system. Alcohol acted as the tension
reducer. CaCl 2 brine was used instead of NaCI brine
because it does not form a precipitate with Soltrol and
IPA as does NaCl. 17 Glycerin was used as the viscosi-
fying agent to increase the aqueous-phase viscosity.:j:
'Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK.
"Pennzoil Co., Bradford, PA.
tKendall Oil Co., Bradford, PA.
:j:Crookston, R., Ehrlich, R., and Bae, J.: private communication, Gulf R&D Co.,
Pittsburgh (Feb. 13, 1981).

TABLE 1-CORE PROPERTIES

Permeability Permeability
Length PV Porosity (Pre·run) (Post-run) Change
Run Core ~ (cm) 3 (%) (md) (md) (%)
1 1* 24 276 22.46 241.3 115.1 -52.3
2 2* 12 148 23.96 198.1 136.0 -31.3
3 3** 24 240 19.42 240.6 115.1 -52.2
4 4 24 280 22.48 325.3 278.4 -14.4
5 4 24 280 22.48 278.4 247.8 -11.0
6 4 24 280 22.48 247.8 251.0 + 1.3
7 4 24 280 22.48 251.0 219.7 -12.5
8 4 24 280 22.48 219.7 219.7 +0.0
9 4 24 280 22.48 219.7 182.1 -17.1
10 4 24 280 22.48 123.2 128.3 +4.1
11 5 24 287 23.05 365.9 408.2 + 11.6
12 5 24 287 23.05 408.2 355.3 -13.0
13 5 24 287 23.05 355.3 353.4 -0.5
14 5 24 287 23.05 353.4 311.1 -12.0
15 5 24 287 23.05 311.1 259.3 -16.7
16 6 24 279 22.40 433.1 433.1 +0.0
17 6 24 279 22.40 433.1 416.4 -3.9
18 6 24 279 22.40 416.4 384.5 -7.7
19 6 24 279 22.40 384.5
20 7 12 146 23.48 531.6
21 8 24 330 26.50 388.1 398.5 +2.7
22 9 24 276 22.16 357.7
23 10* 24 249 20.15 177.3
24 11* 24 235 19.02 279.1
25 12* 24 272 22.01 160.2

·Unfired core .
• ·Core fired at 250·C.

250 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

 TABLE 2-PROPERTIES OF THE AQUEOUS AND OLEIC PHASES

1FT with
2% CaCI 2 Soltrol170 Specific Viscosity Refractive Oleic/Aqueous
Brine Oil JPA Glycerin Gravity at 25°C Index at 25° C
Runs Phase (%) (%) (%) (%) at 25°C (cp) at 25°C (dyne/cm)
1-7,9,
13,21,22 aqueous 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.007 0.947 1.3385 37.9
8 aqueous 60.0 0.0 40.0 0.0 0.917 2.761 1.3664 5.50
10,11 aqueous 10.9 14.0 75.1 0.0 0.804 2.613 1.3879 0.335
12,16 aqueous 3.9 43.5 52.6 0.0 0.785 2.475 1.3996 0.0389
14 aqueous 40.0 0.0 0.0 60.0 1.156 13.795 1.4231 30.3
15 aqueous 17.5 0.0 0.0 82.5 1.212 128.58 1.4516 29.7
17 aqueous 0.0 9.6 63.5 27.9 0.914 13.636 1.4115 0.454
18 aqueous 0.0 0.1 38.3 61.6 1.069 126.62 1.4418 2.91
19 aqueous 0.0 20.6 62.8 16.6 0.853 6.100 1.4050 0.118
20 aqueous 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 1.258 954.00 1.4735 25.3
23,24 aqueous 100.0' 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.009 0.892 1.3356 24.5
25 aqueous 100.0' 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.009 0.892 1.3356 10.8
1-7,9,
12,21,22 oleic 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.781 2.363 1.4339 37.9
8 oleic 0.2 95.3 4.5 0.0 0.771 2.246 1.4348 5.50
10,11 oleic 0.9 83.2 15.9 0.0 0.774 2.309 1.4277 0.335
12,16 oleic 1.1 71.5 27.4 0.0 0.775 2.352 1.4196 0.0389
14 oleic 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.781 2.363 1.4339 30.3
15 oleic 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.781 2.363 1.4339 29.7
17 oleic 0.0 76.1 22.4 1.5 0.785 2.149 1.4207 0.454
18 oleic 0.0 89.7 10.0 0.3 0.781 2.029 1.4264 2.91
19 oleic 0.0 67.0 30.2 2.8 0.791 2.173 1.4168 0.118
20 oleic 0.0 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.781 2.363 1.4335 25.3
23,24 oleic 0.0 100.0" 0.0 0.0 0.814 5.195 1.4504 24.5
25 oleic 0.0 100.0" 0.0 0.0 0.845 11.297 1.4711 10.8

·2% NaCI brine.

"Bradford crude oil.
tKendex 0837 oil.

vocuumt:J
I
I
1
I
Core __ J
Fluid
Reservoirs

Sample
r- Collector
Pump I

Ruska
Pump

Manometer Fluid
Reservoir

Fig. 2-Relative permeability experimental apparatus.

FEBRUARY 1985 251

 tPA tPA

2% CaCI 2 Brine Soh,ol 170 OH Glyce,in Soh,ol 170 Oil

Fig. 3-Equilibrium phase diagrams for Soltrol 170/lPN20f0 CaCI 2 and Soltrol 170llPNglycerin
systems.

TABLE 3-SUMMARY OF CORE TESTS

Flow Wetting Phase Microscopic

Rate 1FT Viscosity Capillary So, Sw;, Displacement
Run System (cm 3 ) (dyne/cm) (cp) Number (Ofo) (Ofo) Efficiency (Ofo)
1 SC 160 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 2.47x10- 6 40.4 38.2 34.7
2 SC 160 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 2.34x10- 6 43.5 34.3 33.8
3 SC 200 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 3.61 x 10- 6 48.9 25.5 34.4
4 SC 200 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 3.09x10- 6 36.3 22.1 53.4
5 SC 80 3.79x 10 1 0.947 1.24x10- 6 35.1 31.7 48.6
6 SC 120 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 1.86x10- 6 42.3 29.9 39.7
7 SC 160 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 2.48 x 10- 6 44.1 26.6 39.9
8 SCA 200 5.50x 10° 2.761 6.22x 10- 5 33.1 39.4 45.4
9 SC 400 3.79x 10 1 0.947 6.18x10- 6 42.8 34.8 34.4
10 SCA 200 3.35 x 10- 1 2.613 9.66x10- 4 0.0 56.3 100.0
11 SCA 200 3.35 x 10- 1 2.613 9.43x10- 4 8.9 41.5 84.8
12 SCA 200 3.89x10- 2 2.475 7.65x10- 3 0.1 33.6 99.0
13 SC 200 3.79x101 0.947 3.02 x 10- 6 36.8 33.0 45.1
14 SCG 200 3.03x10 1 13.795 5.50 x 10- 5 38.6 37.0 38.7
15 SCG 200 2.97 x 10 1 128.58 5.23 x 10- 4 17.1 32.9 74.5
16 SCA 200 3.89 x 10- 2 2.475 7.92 x 10- 3 0.0 32.0 100.0
17 SGA 200 4.54x 10- 1 13.636 3.74x10- 3 2.2 40.2 96.3
18 SGA 200 2.91 x 10° 126.62 5.41x10- 3 30.6 33.9 53.7
19 SGA 200 1.18x 10- 1 6.100 6.43x10- 3 3.9 30.1 94.4
20 SC 200 2.59 x 10 1 954.00 4.37x10- 3 10.3 36.2 83.8
21 SC 200 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 2.62x 10- 6 30.1 40.1 49.8
22 SC 200 3.79 x 10 1 0.947 3.14x10- 6 20.9 38.5 66.0
23 BN 200 2.45 x 10 1 0.892 4.41x10- 6 37.9 30.8 46.4
24 BN* 200 2.45 x 10 1 5.195 3.13x10- 5 39.4 19.7 51.0
25 KN 200 1.08x 10 1 0.892 1.06x10- 5 33.1 33.0 50.6

·Oil·Wet System.

System Notes:
S • Soltrol 170 oil.
B - Bradford crude oil.
K - Kendex 0837 oil.
C - 2% (by weight) CaCI 2 brine.
N - 2% (by weight) NaCI brine.
A - Isopropyl alcohol.
G - Glycerin.

Glycerin mixed completely with the brine and was im-
miscible with the oil in all proportions. Combined effects
of interfacial tension and viscosity were studied by using
a Soltrol/lPA/glycerin fluid system.
The experimental apparatus is shown in Fig. 2. The
cores were prepared using the Lapp Pulsafeeder ™
pump. Relative permeability tests required two Ruska
constant-displacement pumps, one for each fluid phase.
All fluids were flowed through a O.4-micron [O.4-/-tm]
252
filter before entering the core.
Different procedures were used to prepare the fluids
for injection depending on the specific fluid system. For
viscosity alterations, the glycerin/CaCl 2 brine solutions
were mixed separately from the oil. For the 1FT and the
combined tension-viscosity systems, a tie line, on the
ternary diagram, yielding the desired properties was
chosen (Fig. 3). A mixture, lying approximately in the
center of the tie line, was selected, and the appropriate
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY
 Y = 37.9 diem Run 4 Y = 37.9 diem Run 13
v= 40 ft,day --Drainage v = 40 ft/day Drainage
P-w = 0.9468 ep - - --Imbibition P-w = 0.9468 ep - - - - Imbibition
Ne = 3.09 x 10- 6 Ne = 3.02 x 10- 6
1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7

kro k rw k ro k rw
0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4
0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 108.0 0.0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Sw (%) Sw (%)

Fig. 4-Oil-water relative permeabilities for the base system and reproducibility of measurements.

amounts of each component were mixed. The resulting Kyte and Rapoport,20 a 50-psi [345-kPa] pressure dif-
solution was shaken, then allowed to sit quietly until com- ferential across the core, was required. Thus, an SO-mLlhr
plete phase separation occurred. [SO-cm 3 /h] minimum flow rate at a velocity of 16 fi/D
The Penn State steady-state relative permeability [4.9 mId] was needed for fluids of high 1FT (greater than
method 19 then was run using the desired fluid system. 1.0 dyne/cm [1.0 N/m]), and 200 mLlhr [200 cm 3 Ih] at
The experimental technique involved flowing both phases 40 fi/D [12.2 mId] was needed for low-tension (less than
simultaneously through the core and calculating the ef- 1.0 dyne/cm [1.0 N/m]) systems. 21
fective permeabilities with Darcy's law applied to each
phase. Fluid saturations were determined by material Discussion of Results
balance. Drainage curves were found by moving the A summary of the experimental core tests is shown in
wetting-phase saturation from 100% to its irreducible Table 3. Two control tests were run (Fig. 4) to measure
value. Imbibition curves then were determined by revers- the reproducibility of the procedure, test the viability of
ing the saturation direction from irreducible water to the using fired Berea cores, and establish a comparative base
ROS. for the altered fluid runs. Soltrol 170 and 2 % CaCl 2
To avoid capillary end effects, the criterion given by brine were flowed at a total fluid flow rate of 200 mLlhr

y = 5.50 diem Run 8 Y = 0.3346 diem Run II Y = 0.03885 diem Run 16

y = 40 It/dey --Drainage y = 40 It/dey --Drainage ., :;: 40 h/doy - - Drainage
"w = 2.7606 ep - - - -Imbibition "w = 2.6126ep - - - -Imbibition ""w :;: 2.4752 cp - - - -Imbibition
He = 6.22 x 10- 5 He = 9.43 x 10-4 He = 7.92 x 10- 3

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7

k,e k,e k rw kro k,w
0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.1
0.0 0.0
0.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0
Sw (%) Sw (%)

Fig. 5-Behavior of oil/water relative permeabilities at low 1FT's.

FEBRUARY 1985 253

 1. 0 rr---r--r.,-,-rncn--.----,-,--TTlTTr-,-TOOTnnr-----r-,---T"T1 [24.4 m/d)) , the maximum rate attainable with the Ruska
0.9 --Droinoge pumps. Little or no significant change occurred in the
0.8
- - -Imbibition relative permeability curves within this range, which
Q = 200 cc/hr-
agreed with the work of previous authors. 9- 11 Thus, fur-
0.7
ther studies are required to test fluid velocity to attain at
0.6 "'w '" 2 cp
least a two-fold order of magnitude increase in the
kro 0.5
capillary number, although such rates are not seen ex-
0.4 cept around a wellbore.
0.3

0.2 Oleic/Aqueous IFf Effects. The range of oleic/aqueous

1FT's for Soltrol and brine (Fig. 4) was from 37.9
0.1
dyne/cm [37.9 N/m] to 0.0389 dyne/cm [0.0389 N/m).
0.0 .
10 2 10. 1 The relative permeability curves for low-tension systems
Interfacial Tension (diem) are shown in Fig. 5. The total flow velocity was main-
tained at 40 ft/D [12 mid] and the fluid viscosities were
1.0 kept at approximately 2.0 cp [0.002 Pa' s]. At a tension
of 5.50 dyne/cm [5.50 N/m], a slight increase was ob-
0.9 --Drainage
- - -Imbibition
served in the water permeabilities but none in the oil
0.8
values. The former result may have been attributed to the
0.7 Q = 200 cc/hr slight increase in the brine viscosity from 0.947 to 2.761
0.6 '" w",2 cp cp [9.47 X 10- 4 to 27.61x1O- 4 Pa's], as is discussed
kro 0.5 in the next section. At 0.335 dyne/cm [0.335 N/m] , both
sets of curves showed large increases, indicating less
0.4
resistance to flow for each phase. At the lowest attainable
0.3 "0-_--- 0
tension for the oillbrine/IPA system (0.0389 dyne/cm
0.2 [0.0389 N/m)), further increases in the permeabilities
were noted. Also, the curves started to approach lineari-
ty, as was reported for fluids of zero 1FT. 22 To further
0.0 10. 2
illustrate the tension effects, the relative permeabilities
Interfacial Tension (d 'em) of both the oleic and the aqueous phases at various aqueous
saturation values are given in Fig. 6. For both drainage
Fig. 6-Variation of oil and water relative permeabilities against
interfacial tension for different wetting-phase and imbibition, larger increase occurred below 5.50
saturations. dyne/cm [5.50 N/m] , indicating a critical point when fluid
began to move more easily.

[200 cm 3 /h] in both imbibition and drainage. These Wetting-Phase Viscosity Effects. The wetting-phase
results compared favorably with one another and with viscosity range was from that of CaCl 2 brine (0.947 cp
those for unfired Berea cores. [9.47 X 10 -4 Pa' s)) to that of glycerin (954.0 cp [0.954
Pa·s)). The fluid velocity was 40 ftlD [12 mid] and the
Velocity Effects. The initial variable altered was the fluid 1FT was maintained at approximately 30 dyne/cm [30
flow velocity. The rates ranged from 80 mLlhr [80 N/m]. The relative permeability curves for four viscosity
cm 3 /h] (16 ftlD [4.9 mid)), the minimum rate to avoid values are shown in Fig. 4 (for brine) and in Fig. 7. As
capillary end effects, to 400 mLlhr [400 cm 3 /h] (80 ftlD the wetting phase (aqueous) viscosity increased, its

y 0 lO.l diem Run 14 y 0 29.7 diem Run 15 Y = 25.9 diem Run 20

v 0 40 Itlday --D,oinag~ v = 40 It/day --Drainage v 0 40 Itlday _ _ Drainage

"'w 0 13.795 ep - - - -Imbibition "'w = 128.58 ep - - - -Imbibition "'w 0 954.0ep - _ - - Imbibition

Ne 0 5.50 x 10.5 Ne 0 5.2l x 10'4 Ne 0 4.37 x 10· l

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9
0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
kro krw k,o k,w kro krw
0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6

0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

O.l O.l O.l O.l 0.3 O.l

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
0 10 20 lO 40 50 60 0 10 20 lO 0 10 20 lO 100
Sw (%) Sw (%) Sw (%)

Fig. 7-Behavior of oil/water relative permeabilities at different aqueous-phase viscosities.

254 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

permeability curves also increased and tended toward
linearity. However, the oleic (Soltrol 170) curves de-
creased in approximately the same order of magnitude as
the water curves increased. These effects are seen in Fig.
0.6
8, where the relative permeabilities for different satura-
tions are plotted against aqueous viscosity values. Note
that caution must be exercised when applying these results O.S
since the wettability of the glycerin/brine systems must --Drainage
be verified as strongly water-wet. - - -Imbibition
0.4

Oil-Water Relative Permeabilities at Different

Capillary Numbers. To demonstrate the capillary number kro 0.3
effect, tests were carried out to measure the results of
combining 1FT reductions and aqueous viscosity increases 0.2
(Fig. 9). For a low-tension system of 0.118 dyne/cm
[0.118 N/m] and a wetting-phase viscosity of 6.10 cp
[61.0 x 10 -4 Pa' s], the curves showed near linearity, but 0.1 s,.=
the oleic values were slightly less than those for the Sw-
0.335-dyne/cm [0.335-N/m] run for tension effects alone. 0.0
------1w=6""
This observation indicated an interaction between the 100
aqueous phase viscosity and the 1FT. For a system of 'VisCOlil, (cp)
higher tension (0.454 dyne/cm [0.454 N/mD and higher
viscosity (13.64 cp [136.4 x 10 -4 Pa' s]), the aqueous
curves remained relatively unchanged but the oleic curves
showed further decreases. However, the oil permeabilities 0.5 Q = 200 cc/hr
still were larger than those for the 13. 80-cp y .. 30 d/cm
[138.0 x 10 -4 -Pa' s] run at approximately 30 dyne/cm
[30 N/m] (Fig. 7). At combinations of even larger variable 0.• - - Drainage Imbibition
values, the 1FT effect was almost negligible. - - - Imbibition
How the capillary number affected the oil-water relative 0.3
permeabilities is seen in Fig. 10 for the imbibition process
at a 50% wetting-phase saturation. The specific variable
0.2
within the capillary number determined the direction of
the oil curves. As the aqueous-phase viscosity increased,
the oleic permeability values decreased. As the tension 0.1
decreased, the curves shifted upward. Conversely, as the
capillary number increased, so did the ability of the wet-
ting phase to flow. The correlation was not a perfect fit
because changes from the viscosity were larger than those
Viscosit, (cp)
from the 1FT. Thus, the capillary number may not be a
true predictor of the wetting-phase permeability. Similar Fig. 8-Variation of oil and water relative permeabilities against
effects were observed in both the oleic and the aqueous aqueous-phase viscosity for different wetting-phase
drainage curves. 21 saturations.

Y = 0.1180 diem Run ]9 y = 0.4539 diem Run 17 Y = 2.91 diem Run 18

v = 40 Itlday --Drainage . . = 40 h/doy --Drainage v = 40 Itlday --Drainage

U w =6.100 ep - - --Imbibition Uw = 13.6361 ep - - - - Imbibition U w = 126.62 ep - - - - Imbibition

Ne = 6.43 x 10,3 Ne = 3.74 x 10,3 Ne = 5.41 x 10,3

1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0

0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8
0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.7
kro krw kro kro krw
0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0 0.0 O
0.00 0.00 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 lr:·
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Sw (%) Sw (%) Sw (%)

Fig. 9-Behavior of oil/water relative permeabilities at different capillary numbers,

FEBRUARY 1985 255

 1.0
10- 2
o-Ok,.IQ)
0.9 [',-<>k,.IY) - - Melrose ond Brandner Data
o--ok ro (j4.) - - - Experimental Data
.~ O.B
+ - t kro(comb.)
1 0.7
E
~ 0.6

~
~ 0.4
6 0.3
0.5

0.2
0.1
0
. .J
00

°
0 ~
"------- o +
6
4i
u
10-3

Capillary Number ..0

'I "I 'I 'I

z
5 10-4
0.5 o-okrw(Q)
>-
6-!;,k rw (Y) o
o-Ok rw (j4.)
i 0.4 + - t krw(comb.)
0..
C
U
1 +
~
D-
. 03

10-5
'"~
.;
. 02
.
o
0.1
o
o 0
0.0 1°6
10- 10- 5 10-4 10- 3 10- 2
Copi Ilory Number
10~
Fig. 10-lmbibition oil and water relative permeabilities as func-
tions of capillary number at 50% water saturation. 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
Microscopic Displacement Efficiency (Em)

Fig. 12-Microscopic displacement efficiency as a function of

capillary number.

, <>
40
0, - f------- ---- o

g
.c
30
__ 0-
o

o
---
0

0
~_--
• - -_ + tJ,.
-~
'+
results, the microscopic displacement efficiency, defined
as

J 20
e---4S or (bose; v) ~ - -oSwir (bose; 'I) ....................... (3)
----"5.,IY) ..... --"5 w;, IY)
10 ----Sor ("d ~--DSwir (JA,)
• was plotted and compared with the results of Melrose and
Brandner 3 (Fig. 12). Although Em increased at approx-
imately one order of magnitude lower for the experimental
Capillary Number
capillary numbers than those reported, the data fell within
Fig. 11-Experimental residual saturations as functions of the
the same general range.
capillary number. As the capillary number increased, no matter what
variable was being altered, the imbibition-drainage
hysteresis decreased but never disappeared entirely. This
result held true for both the aqueous and oleic phases. 21
Residual Saturation Changes. The effects on the residual
saturations of both phases also were noted. The ROS Relative Permeability Model. To develop a relative
showed a large reduction from 40 % to 0 % for both permeability model based on the experimental results, the
decreases in the 1FT and increases in the wetting-phase Minitab II@23 statistical computation system was used.
viscosity, corresponding to a capillary number increase This system uses regression analysis to determine the best
from 10- 6 to 10- 2 , respectively. As the tension de- coefficients for an equation and the statistical parameters
creased to 5.50 dyne/cm [5.50 N/m], the irreducible water to evaluate the function.
saturation showed very little change, but at the lowest- The following functional forms were found for both im-
tension value of 0.0389 dyne/cm [0.0389 N/m] it de- bibition and drainage. For the oil (nonwetting-phase)
creased back to 32 %. The residual saturations as func- relative permeabilities,
tions of the capillary number are given in Fig. 11, with
the irreducible water saturation showing changes because kro(dr) =AS* (B+CID ")')(/-tw ) D .............. (4)
of tension changes only. As a check on our experimental /-to

256 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

 TABLE 4-SUMMARY OF RELATIVE PERMEABILITY MODEL COEFFICIENTS

Model S* A B C 0 ,2(%)* MSER" Ft ; plot;

kro(dr) So 0.72899 1.2861 0.08043 -0.37932 97.2 1020.8 4.04

So - Sor
kro(im) 1.56878 1.33874 0.09187 0.08528 96.2 511.2 4.13
1-S or

Sw -Swir
k rw1 (dr) 0.70216 1.25579 0.0 -0.074482 97.9 2070.7 4.89
1-S wir

Sw -Sw;r
k rw1 (im) 0.61135 1.25875 0.0 -0.070812 98.0 1704.1 4.92
1-S wir

Sw-Swif
krw2(dr) 0.70340 0.66596 0.0 -0.071513 97.8 1613.8 4.89
1-S w;r
Sw -SWir
K rw2 (im) 0.61135 0.69580 0.0 - 0.068221 97.4 1659.5 4.92
1-S wir

Sor +5.846x10-' +2.96x 10-' +4.62x 10- 2 + 1.8855 x 10- 3 96.6 122.3 5.74

SWif +4.0214 x 10- 1 + 3.976 x 10- 3 - 7.065 X 10-3 0.0 62.4 6.64 4.46

·Correlation coefficient for linear regression.

uMean square error ratio.
tF·distribution.
*'-= random scatter of ; values.

Bradford Crude-NaCI brine system (water-wet) Bradford Crude-NaCI brine system (water-wet)
Il<w = 0:8918 ep 0--0 Experimental Data Il<w =0.8918 ep 0---0 Experimental Data

110 0 = 5.195 ep --- Model Data 1100 = 5.195 ep - - - Model Data

Y = 24.5 diem - - Naar-Henderson Y = 24.5 diem - - - Naar-Henderson
v = 40 ft/day Data (3OP) v = 40 ft/day Data (2</»
1.0 Ne = 4.41 x ~0-6
Ne = 4.41 x 10- 6 Run 23 - DrGinage Run 23 - Imbibi'tion
1.0 1.0 1.0

0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9

0.8 0.8 0.8

0.7 0.7 0.7
kro krw
0.6 0.6 0.6

0.5 0.5 0:5 0.5

0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4

0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2

0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1

o 0 L..L-..I..-...L..-~'S'It~::E:.....l-.--L-..J 0.0
0.00
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 10~'0 . 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Sw (%)

FIg. 13-Drainage and imbibition relative permeability curves for water-wet system.

FEBRUARY 1985 257

 Bradford Crude-NaCI brine system (oil-wet) Bradford Crude-NaCI brine system (oi I-wet)
jJ.o = 5.195 ep 0--0 Experimental Data lJ. a = 5.195 ep 0--0 Experimental Data
jJ. = 0.8918 ep - - - Model Data ).I. = 0.8918 ep - - - Model Data
w ___ Naar-Hendersan w _ _ Naar-Henderson
Y = 24.5 diem Data (2</» Y = 24.5. diem Data (3</»
v = 40 h/day Run 24 - Imbibition v = 40 h/day Run 24 - Drai nage
1.0 Ne = 3.13 x 10- 5 1.0 1.0 Ne = 3.13 x 10- 5 1.0

0.9 ,I 0.9 0.9 / 0.9

,I
I
0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8

0.7
,I-- 0.7 0.7 / 0.7
kro
0.6
,/
0.6

0.5
0.6

0.5 I
/ 0.5
0.5

0.4 , / 0.4 0.4 \ \ I

L 0.4

0.3 / 0.3 0.3 \ \j 0.3

\ }'O
0.2 0.2 0.2
\.../ '" ....~ ~~
0.2

0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1

0.0
50 60 70 80 90 108.
0 0.00
.10" /...??;;9?
--0 r----
"
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
0.0
100
0 10 20 30 40
Sw (%)

Fig. 14-Drainage and imbibition relative permeability curves for oil-wet system.

The ROS was modeled as a function of the capillary

y = 0.03885 diem number and the irreducible water saturation was a func-
80
tion of 1FT.
g 70
•ua
iL 60 y = 0.3:U6 diem
1
5 SO
-;;
c
'Go 40 Swir =A +B[ln('Y)] + C[ln('Y)] 2 . • .........••••• (9)
d y= 5.SO diem
"0 30
~
•l! 20
y = 37.9 diem The values of S., the regression constants A, B, C, and
0': D, and the statistical curve-fit parameters are given in
10 Table 4.
To evaluate the regression models, three experimental
OL---L---~---~--~--~-_-LJ
o 1000 2000 3000 4000 SOOO 6000 tests were run using different oillbrine systems. The test
Time, (days) curves were compared with those predicted from the
regression model and with those from the equations
Fig. 15-Recovery vs. time and interfacial changes. developed by Naar and Henderson. 24 Both a water-wet
and an oil-wet Bradford crude oill2 % NaCI brine system
and a Kendex 0837/2% NaCI brine system were tested.
and The Bradford crude water-wet runs for both drainage and
imbibition are given in Fig. 13. In both cases, the regres-
sion model yielded slightly larger water relative
kro(im) =AS * [B+C In 'Y+D In(I-' wll-' 0)] , •••...•..... (5)
permeability values than the experimental data. For oil
relative permeability, the model showed slightly larger
where S. is a normalized variable based on the fluid values for drainage but lower values for imbibition.
saturation and the residual saturations. Similar results were observed for the Kendex/brine
The brine (wetting-phase) relative permeabilities were system. 21 For the oil-wet runs (Fig. 14), the model gave
modeled as functions of both the individual variables and much improved fits over the Naar-Henderson equations
the capillary number, although those found by the for both phases in both drainage and imbibition.
variables yielded a slightly better curve-fit.
Application of the Proposed Relative Permeability
krwl =AS.[B+D In(I-'wll-'I'Y)] . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) Model to a Reservoir Simulator. The reservoir simulator
used was that developed to model two-phase, two-
krw2 =AS. [B+D In(N e)]. . .................... (7) dimensional (Cartesian coordinate system) flow 25 The

258 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY

problem was set up by the implicit pressure, explicit
saturation (1M PES) method and was solved using the
general band algorithm.
The runs were carried out in a 40-acre [162 000-m 2 ]
five-spot pattern with 3-darcy permeability, 35 % porosi-
ty, and 58 % initial oil saturation. A horizontal 6 X 6 grid
system was established with block lengths and widths of
110 ft [34 m] and a 30-ft [9-m] thickness. Initial reser-
voir temperature and pressure were 80°F [27°C] and
2,000 psia [13 789 kPa], respectively.
Fig. 15 illustrates the effect on the total oil recovery
by the 1FT expressed as a percentage of the original oil
in place (OOIP) for approximately 16 years. For higher-
tension floods, production leveled at 1,000 days. For
0.335 dyne/cm [0.335 N/m], recovery slowed at 3,500
days while production at the minimum tension was still
increasing at 6,000 days. Total recovery improved from
approximately 30% to 89% OOIP. The aforementioned
results of the simulation runs clearly indicate the impor-
tant role of a low-tension flood in achieving a high
mobilization efficiency, and more importantly, how in-
fluential the relative permeability characteristics are in the
recovery performance.
Conclusions
The following are the conclusions based on the experimen-
tal and computational observations.
1. The nonwetting (oil) relative permeabilities were
found to be functions of the 1FT and the viscosity variables
individually rather than a function of the capillary number.
2. The wetting (brine) relative permeabilities behaved
as functions of the capillary number but were better
modeled using the individual variables.
3. Insignificant 1FT effects were observed on both k ro
and k rw until a value of 2.0 dyne/ cm [2.0 N / m] was ob-
tained. Below this value, the relative permeabilities in-
creased with decreasing tension.
4. Increases in aqueous- (wetting-) phase viscosity yield-
ed reductions in k ro and increases in k rw' provided that
the glycerin systems remained strongly water-wet.
5. At very low 1FT values, the relative permeability
curves straightened out and approached the theoretical
X-shape present at zero tension. For large aqueous
viscosities, only the water curves behaved in a similar
manner.
6. Low tensions « 5.50 dyne/cm [< 5.50 N/m]) and
viscosity values in the range between 2.0 and 13.6 cp
[0.002 and 0.0136 Pa' s] interacted to yield the "X" ap-
pearance for the relative permeability curves. However,
above 5.50 dyne/cm [5.50 N/m] , tension seemed to have
little effect on k ro or k rw .
7. No rate effects were observed for the limited range
within this study (16 to 80 ftlD [4.9 to 24 mid]).
8. As the capillary number increased to 0.01, the ROS
decreased from approximately 40% to zero.
9. The irreducible water saturation showed no consis-
tent change above a tension of 5.50 dyne/cm [5.50 N/m],
but decreased to 32% at 0.0389 dyne/cm [0.0389 N/m].
10. For increases in the capillary number, the
imbibition-drainage hysteresis was reduced for both k ro
and krw.
11. Mathematical relative permeability models were
developed from the experimental data. These models
FEBRUARY 1985
yielded similar results with experimental data for different
fluid systems.
12. Proposed relative permeability models were tested
with the aid of a two-phase reservoir simulator. Results
of the simulation studies showed that production increased
from 30% to 89% OOIP as 1FT decreased from 37.9
dyne/cm to 0.0389 dyne/cm [37.9 N/m to 0.0389 N/m].
Nomenclature
A, B, C,
D, S * = coefficients of variables in linear regression
model
Em = microscopic displacement efficiency,
fraction
kro(dr) = drainage relative permeability to oil,
fraction
k ro(im) = imbibition relative permeability to oil,
fraction
krw(dr) = drainage relative permeability to water,
fraction
k rw(im) = imbibition relative permeability to water,
fraction
k rwl = variable modeled water relative
permeability, fraction
krw2 = capillary number modeled water relative
permeability, fraction
L = flow length [m]
N c = capillary number, fraction
p = pressure, psia [kPa]
Sor = residual oil saturation, fraction
Swir = irreducible water saturation, fraction
v = flow velocity, in.lsec [cm/s]
'Y = interfacial tension, dyne/cm [N/m]
IL 0 = oil viscosity, cp [Pa' s]
ILw = water viscosity, cp [Pa' s]
cf> = porosity
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260 JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY