Patent · US Active

Method for determining the inlet capillary pressure of a porous medium

US7464582B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
4References
13Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 2006
Grant dateDec 16, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02C20/40
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

To perform at least an evaluation of the inlet capillary pressure value of a porous medium. From a displacement experiment on a sample of the medium, a curve of the volume of saturating fluid expelled from the sample as a function of time is drawn. The differential pressure between the inlet face and at least one point located at a distance Li from the inlet face that is greater than the distance between the inlet face and the interface between the two fluids within the sample is then continuously measured as a function of time. At least one motive pressure gradient of the first fluid is thereafter calculated by means of distance Li and of the curve. Finally, at least one value of the inlet capillary pressure is determined by calculating the difference between the differential pressure and the value of the motive pressure gradient of the expelled fluid. The method can be applied notably to production of oil reservoirs for example.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.