Rock Properties
Compressibility
Compressibility
Pore volume reduction occurs when reservoir
pressure declines because of:
1. Expansion of the rock matrix, and
2. Reduction of pore volume due to bulk
rock deformation (grain re-alignment)
Permeability generally exhibits a much greater
% reduction than porosity when net overburden
pressure increases
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.2
Rock Stress Changes
External Stress → Overburden Pressure
(1 psi/foot)
Internal Stress → Fluid Pressure
Normal = 0.43 psi/ft
Over Pressure = 0.5 - 1.0 psi/ft
→ Rock Grains support the Balance
NOBP = Overburden - Fluid Pressure
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.3
Rock Stress Changes
With: 10,000 foot deep reservoir
4500 psi initial pressure
The Initial NOBP = 10000 – 4500 = 5500 psi
When the field is abandoned at 1000 psi
The final NOBP = 10000-1000=9000 psi
This change in rock bearing stress results in a loss
of reservoir pore volume
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.4
Pore Volume Compressibility
1 ΔPV 1 Δφ
Cf = ≈
PV ΔP φ ΔP
Lab measured Uniaxial
– No lateral deformation of sample
– Results can be applied directly
Or Hydrostatic
– Most widely used in lab
– Deformation on all sides
– Must be corrected!
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.5
Overburden Pressure
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.6
Uniaxial Compaction
1+ v
∈z = e
3(1 − v )
∈ z : uniaxial compaction
e : hydrostatic compaction
v : Poisson’s ratio
Assume: v = 0 . 30 ⇒ ∈ z = 0 . 62 e
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.7
Net Overburden Pressure
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.8
Pore Volume Compressibility
100
van der Knaap’s
correlation
Pore Volume Compressibility (psi-1 x 106)
Hall’s
correlation
10
laboratory
measurements:
consolidated
friable
unconsolidated
1
0 10 20 30 40
Initial Porosity
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.9
Pore Volume Compressibility
Pore volume
compressibility
vs. effective
overburden
pressure and
porosity
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.10
Permeability Reduction
Permeability
reduction with
overburden
pressure
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.11
Permeability Reduction
Pressure effects on permeability
Reservoir Engineering
Rock Properties 2.3.12