Modeling of the effect of relative phase permeability on cyclic flooding of oil deposits
https://doi.org/10.31660/0445-0108-2026-2-104-120
EDN: HXZWUY
Abstract
Relative phase permeability (RPP) functions play a crucial role in the development of hydrocarbon fields, these functions determine the structure of fluid distribution within the reservoir, change of the production rates of oil, water and gas. Additionally, RPP affects the duration of the field productive life. For this reason, engineers utilize RPP functions as tuning parameters in the construction of hydrodynamical model of hydrocarbon deposits. This study aims to analyze the influence of RPP functions on decision structure of oil saturation in a heterogeneous oil reservoir during cyclic waterflooding. In this article, RPP functions are modeled using power-law relationships that depend on two parameters: the RPP exponent and the maximum RPP value, defined by the numerical parameter Ci. To model the dependence of the oil recovery factor on RPP parameters, the study applies a two-dimensional, two-layer oil reservoir model. The article details calculations for both cyclic and steady-state waterflooding while varying the parameters that define oil and water RPP. The results of this study show that relative phase permeability functions control the configuration of oil saturation distribution, the imbibition rate of low-permeability zones with residual oil, and fluid flow velocity. Thus, both the oil recovery factor and the efficiency of cyclic waterflooding in a heterogeneous reservoir depend on RPP.
About the Author
I. G. Telegin
Industrial University of Tyumen
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Igor G. Telegin - Candidate of Physics and Mathematics Sciences, Associate Professor at the Department of Development and Exploitation of Oil and Gas Fields.
Tyumen
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Review
For citations:
Telegin I.G. Modeling of the effect of relative phase permeability on cyclic flooding of oil deposits. Oil and Gas Studies. 2026;(2):104-120. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31660/0445-0108-2026-2-104-120. EDN: HXZWUY
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