US 4,543,821 A · Method and apparatus for measuring relative permeability and water saturation of a core

Abstract

A method of determining the oil and water relative permeabilities and the water saturation of a core of earthen material which includes providing two types of liquids to the core in a manner so that the liquids mix to form a two phase liquid which moves through the core. The core is irradiated with microwave energy while the liquid is in the core. A received energy signal is generated in accordance with the microwave energy that has passed through the core. A liquid pressure drop along a predetermined length of the core is sensed and a representative pressure drop signal is provided. The oil and water relative permeabilities and the water saturation of the core are derived in accordance with the flow rate of the liquid, the received energy signal and the pressure drop signal. The liquid flow rate may be either sensed or the liquid may be provided at a predetermined flow rate.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of determining the oil and water relative permeabilities and the water saturation of a core of earthen material comprising the steps of:

providing two types of liquid, in a manner so that the two liquids mix to form a two phase liquid which moves through the core,
controlling the volume flow of each type of liquid so as to control the composition of the two phase liquid,
irradiating said core with microwave energy with the liquid in the core,
receiving the microwave energy that has passed through the core,
determining the water saturation of the core in accordance with the received microwave energy,
sensing the pressure drop of the liquid along the predetermined length of the core, and
determining the oil and water relative permeabilities of the core in accordance with properties of the core, the oil fraction of the liquid, the water fraction of the liquid, and the flow rate of the liquid.

4 more elements

Apparatus for determining the oil and water permeabilities and the water saturation of a core of earthen material comprising:

means for providing two types of liquids;
a test cell containing a core of earthen material, said test cell including means receiving the two types of liquids for providing a two phase liquid through the core;
transmitter means for irradiating the test cell with microwave energy;
receiver means for receiving microwave energy that has passed through the core in the test cell and providing a signal representative thereof;
and
means connected to the pressure drop sensing means and to the receiver means for determining the oil and water relative permeabilities of the core in accordance with the sensed pressure drop and the flow rate of the liquid and for determining the water saturation of the core in accordance with the signal from the receiver means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for measuring relative permeability and water saturation of a core

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for measuring relative permeability and water saturation of a core

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14