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Traditional laboratory studies of fluid flow through porous media are severely limited because they are able to examine only those fluids which are removed from the sample - they are unable to examine fluid flow within the sample. This project investigates a new and simple methodology using Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Centrifuge technology to conduct laboratory capillary pressure curve measurements on extracted cores.

The research involves the development of a desktop measurement instrument to measure petrophysical qualities such as pore size distribution, irreducible water saturation and residual oil saturation, wettability of the reservoir rock, seal capacity, depth of free water level in the reservoir, and thickness of the transition zone.  Following successful proof of concept (I2I Phase 1) and extensive industry consultation, the current Phase 2 comprises a Beta test of a large number of test cores plugs and the creation of an instrument prototype.

Capillary pressure is determined by fluid matrix interactions in porous media, and is thus a fundamental determinant of oil/water behaviour in petroleum reservoirs. Oil/water fluid behaviour, in addition to fluid content in petroleum reservoir cores is critical to determining whether the petroleum resource may by economically extracted.

The proposed instrument will provide higher quality measurements, faster and more inexpensively than the traditional centrifuge measurement of capillary pressure. The potential exists to create a measurement technology of great utility to the petroleum industry in Canada and worldwide.

Subject Category

Publications

PRAC Annual General Meeting Research Presentation - St John's, Newfoundland
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 [PowerPoint Slides] [Windows Media Video]

PRAC Subsurface Geosciences Workshop Presentation - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Tuesday, March 24, 2009 [PDF]