The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1996
Thomas G Harris, Houston, TX (US);
Donald L Luffel, Houston, TX (US);
Joseph M Hawkins, Houston, TX (US);
Restech, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
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.