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KOYA UNIVERSITY
PETROLEUM ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
FOURTH STAGE
EOR
LECTURE #7

Segregate Flow

Ass. Lec. Mohammed Jamal Awl

mohammed.jamal@koyauniversity.org
 Outline
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 Learning Outcomes
 Assumptions of segregate flow condition
 Condition of segregate flow
 Steps for calculating oil recovery and time
 Learning Outcomes
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At the end of this lecture, the student will be able to:

 Define segregate flow

 Understand the assumptions of segregate flow

 Discuss the stable and unstable condition of segregate flow

 Clarify the steps of calculating oil recovery and time

Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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 This is the most common flooding condition encountered in

nature and is characterized by the following physical
conditions:
 The displacement occurs under strictly segregated conditions with a sharp
interface between the water and oil
 There is a high degree of pressure equilibrium across the reservoir section
which encourages cross-flow of fluids under the influence of gravity.
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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 In a segregated flow regime we assume that ahead of the

interface between the displacing fluid and the oil, oil alone is
flowing, in the presence of immobile water at its irreducible
saturation. Also having oil effective permeability 𝑘𝑜=𝑘𝑟𝑜𝑘,

 Behind the interface, only displacing fluid (water) is flowing, in

the presence of immobile oil at its residual saturation. Also
having water effective permeability 𝑘𝑤=𝑘𝑟𝑤𝑘,

 At any point on the interface between the fluids the pressures

in the oil and water are assumed to be equal.
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 This means that there is a distinct interface with no capillary

transition zone, gravity forces alone are responsible for the
distribution of the fluids in the dip-normal direction

 Displacement is governed by vertical equilibrium.

Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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 The conditions for segregate flow:

 Stable displacements will occur, if the angle between the

fluids' interface and the direction of flow remains constant.

−𝑡𝑎𝑛β=𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 = constant

 Unstable displacement will occur for the limiting condition

that:

−𝑡𝑎𝑛β=𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 = 0
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Stable

Stable

Unstable
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There are two ways for checking stable and unstable:

First:
G>M–1 Stable

G≤M–1 Unstable

Second:
qcrit > qinj Stable

qcrit < qinj Unstable

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Calculating the dimensionless gravity number, from the

following:

Calculating critical flow rate by the following:

cc/sec

bbl/day
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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The following describes the method of calculation for

segregated flow displacement:

1) Oil and water relative permeability using the following

equations:

2) Calculate the endpoint mobility ratio, from the following:

Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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3) For horizontal reservoirs with no dip and stable

displacement:
𝑊𝑖𝑑
𝑊𝑖𝐷 =
𝑃𝑉

and Npd can be calculated, for any value of Wid between

Wid(bt) and Wid(max), from the following :
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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4) For reservoirs with dip, Npdbt (Widbt) and Widmax can be

calculated from the following :

and Npd can be calculated, for any value of Wid between Widbt
and Widmax, from the following :
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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5) If the (K) equations are not given, they can be calculated

by drawing the below figure:
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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Example: Water is being injected at a constant rate of 1000 b/d/well in a

direct line drive in a reservoir which has the following rock and fluid
properties.
φ = 0.18, Swc = 0.20, Sor = 0.20, μo = 5 cp, μw = 0.5 cp
 Reservoir thickness = 40 ft
 Distance between injection wells = 625 ft
 Distance between injectors and producers = 2000 ft
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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 Assuming that displacement takes place under segregated

flow conditions. Calculate recovery as a function of time?
 If the same reservoir had a dip angle of 25°, Calculate
recovery as a function of time?

 Additional information
• k = 2.0 Darcy
• γw = 1.04 specific gravity in the reservoir
• γo = .81
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Solution:
A:
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Column 1& 2:

Column 3:

𝑃𝑉
Column 4: Expect first cell 𝑊𝑖𝑑 = and last cell 𝑊𝑖𝑑𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑀 𝑥 𝑃𝑉
𝑀

𝑊𝑖𝑑
Column 5: 𝑊𝑖𝐷 = , 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑃𝑉 = 1 − 𝑠𝑜𝑟 − 𝑠𝑤𝑐
𝑃𝑉
Column 6:

Column 7:
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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G < M-1
qcrit < qinj
We have unstable displacement
Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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Displacement under segregated flow conditions
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End of Lec. # 7
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