The Effect of Temperature on Relative and Absolute Permeability of Sandstones

TLDR: In this paper, the effect of temperature on absolute and relative permeability of core samples was investigated for six Boise sandstone samples and two Berea sandstone sample sets at room temperature and at 175/sup 0/F, respectively.

Abstract: Equipment was constructed to perform dynamic displacement experiments on small core samples under conditions of elevated temperature. Oil-water flowing fraction and pressure drop were recorded continuously for calculation of both the relative permeability ratio and the individual relative permeabilities. Imbibition relative permeabilities were measured for five samples of Boise sandstone at room temperature and at 175/sup 0/F. The fluids used were distilled water and a white mineral oil. The effect of temperature on absolute permeability was investigated for six Boise sandstone samples and two Berea sandstone samples. Results for all samples were similar. The irreducible water saturation increased significantly, while the residual oil saturation decreased significantly with temperature increase. The individual relaive permeability to oil increased for all water saturations. The individual relative permeability to water decreased with temperature increase for water saturations below the room-temperature residual oil saturation, but the relative permeability to water at flood-out increased with temperature increase. Absolute permeability decreased with temperature increase.