Journal of Canadian Petroleum Technology
Volume 50, Number 2, February 2011, pp. 17-23

SPE-144637-PA

Simultaneous Increase in Gas and Liquid Relative Permeabilities and Reduction of High-Velocity Coefficient From Wettability Alteration

View full textPDF ( 540 KB )

DOI  More information 10.2118/144637-PA http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/144637-PA

Citation

  • Wu, S. and Firoozabadi, A. 2011. Simultaneous Increase in Gas and Liquid Relative Permeabilities and Reduction of High-Velocity Coefficient From Wettability Alteration. J Can Pet Technol  50 (2): 17-23. SPE-144637-PA. doi: 10.2118/144637-PA.

Discipline Categories

  • 5.5.3 Chemical Treatments
  • 6.3.2 Multi-phase Flow
  • 6.4.6 Chemical Flooding Methods Methods (e.g., Polymer, Solvent, Nitrogen, Immiscible CO2, Surfactant, Vapex)

Keywords

  • wettability, chemical treatment, relative permeability, high-velocity coefficient, two-phase flow

Summary

The alteration of the wettability from liquid-wetting to intermediate gas-wetting results in improved liquid mobility, which has been demonstrated by a number of authors in recent years. In this work, we show that the gas-phase mobility may either increase or decrease in the state of intermediate gas-wetting. The increase or decrease in the gas-phase mobility is a function of the minimum liquid saturation. We also confirm that, as a result of the wettability alteration, there may be a substantial decrease in the two-phase high-velocity coefficient compared to the unaltered wettability state. The increase in the gas- and liquid-phase relative permeabilities and a decrease in the high-velocity coefficient of the two-phase flow from the wettability alteration contribute to improved gas well productivity.

© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers

View full textPDF ( 540 KB )

History

  • Original manuscript received: 16 June 2010
  • Meeting paper published: 8 June 2010
  • Revised manuscript received: 18 September 2010
  • Manuscript approved: 15 September 2010
  • Published online: 25 January 2011
  • Version of record: 1 February 2011