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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 77 (1993)

Issue: 8. (August)

First Page: 1338

Last Page: 1350

Title: Permeability Prediction from Geologic Models

Author(s): Steven Bryant (2), Christopher Cade (3), David Mellor (4)

Abstract:

Permeability is a critical parameter for the petroleum geologist. By simulating the processes of compaction and cementation in a Previous HitmodelNext Hit porous medium, we have gained a new understanding of how permeability is controlled in reservoir sandstones. This understanding can be used predictively for simple sandstones. The geometry of the Previous HitmodelNext Hit pore system is completely defined, so permeability can be calculated directly using a network Previous HitmodelNext Hit for flow. The calculation is based on first principles and is physically rigorous. In contrast to many previous efforts to predict permeability, there are no adjustable parameters in the calculations and no additional measurements or correlations (e.g., capillary pressure data or pore system data from thin sections) are required.

The Previous HitmodelNext Hit-derived porosity-permeability trend for a compacted or quartz cemented sandstone, or a sandstone having a combination of these processes, closely matches measurements on Fontainebleau sandstone samples whose permeabilities span nearly five orders of magnitude. The Previous HitmodelNext Hit also correctly predicts mercury injection measurements of pore throat size distribution for the Fontainebleau sandstone.

Pore-scale geometric features of the Previous HitmodelNext Hit are found to be spatially correlated, and this departure from randomness significantly affects macroscopic properties such as permeability. The agreement between predictions and measurements suggests that spatial correlation is inherent in granular porous media and consequently, uncorrelated (or arbitrarily correlated) models of transport in such media are unlikely to be physically representative. We also discuss extending the Previous HitmodelTop to predict properties of more complicated rocks.

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