Experimental Relationship Between Confining Pressure, Fluid Flowrates, Flow Time Period and Temperature on Effective Permeability to Water in High Porous Sandstone

Abstract

This study uses a computerized formation evaluation system to investigate the permeability variation of high porous sandstone with reference to varying confining pressure, flowrate, time period of flow and temperature using brine as reservoir fluid. Permeability increases with increasing confining pressure, temperature and fluid flow period; however, it decreases with increasing fluid flowrates. The various permeabilities were determined at a confining pressure of 1060–3091 psi, a flow rate of 0.1–0.4 cc/min, an experiment duration of 10–40 min and a temperature of 26–42.3 °C. The results show that the time period of flow and fluid flowrates are two important parameters that are essential to obtaining an accurate permeability measurement but these cannot be operated at reservoir conditions during permeability determination, as these two parameters remain variables throughout the producing life of the reservoir.