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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/K79826/01
Title: MEASUREMENT OF RELATIVE PERMEABILITY AND CAPILLARY PRESSURE AT THE LAMINASET SCALE (RES 51)
Principal Investigator: Sorbie, Professor K
Other Investigators:
Ringrose, Dr P Ringrose, Dr P
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Institute Of Petroleum Engineering
Organisation: Heriot-Watt University
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 April 1996 Ends: 31 March 1999 Value (£): 162,668
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Oil & Gas Extraction
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The aim of this research is to make a series of measurements of directional relative permeability for two-phase (oil and water) flow in sandstone rock samples. Sandstone lamination gives rise to anisotropic flow, which is easily measured for the flow of a single (air and water): however, for two-phase flow the effective anisotropy is dependant on the saturation, fluid properties and pressure gradients. Two-phase flow anisotropy is often ignored or over-simplified in the oil industry, as the required measurements are difficult and time-consuming to undertake. However, the effects can have a significant impact on total field performance and ultimate oil recovery, despite being a relatively small-scale phenomenon.We have already done some pioneering experiments to demonstrate and confirm these effects. In this project we aim to accurately measure directional relative permeability and establish the methodology for doing so. As well as reporting our observations, we hope to develop a new method which can be used by the oil industry in special core analysis. The measurements themselves will provide an important input parameter for resevoir simulations and a measure of the remaining oil saturation-key parameters for oilfield economics.
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Organisation Website: http://www.hw.ac.uk