Restech Limited

Thomas G Harris

Donald L Luffel

Joseph M Hawkins

A method for predicting the hydrocarbon/water contact level for oil and gas wells which relates porosity .phi., water saturation S.sub.w, air permeability k.sub.a, and capillary pressure P.sub.c. Such contact level may be estimated without actual capillary pressure measurements. The method relies on a worldwide correlation of permeability and porosity to a function of capillary pressure. The hydrocarbon/water contact levels are predicted through regression analysis using porosity .phi., water saturation S.sub.w, and air permeability k.sub.a from well log and core analysis information. Relationships used in this method include ##EQU1## where P.sub.c is mercury capillary pressure, F.sub.g is pore geometrical factor, S.sub.w is water saturation, P.sub.d is mercury displacement pressure, k.sub.a is air permeability, and .phi. is porosity. The constants set forth in equations (b) and (c) above may be adjusted to fit measured data from rock samples within the reservoir.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Thomas G Harris