Estimation of porous media flow functions using NMR imaging data

Area of Science:

• Petroleum Engineering
• Geophysics
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Accurate estimation of two-phase flow functions is crucial for understanding fluid dynamics in porous media.
• Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging offers detailed insights into fluid distribution and saturation within rock samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To utilize NMR imaging data within an inverse problem framework to estimate relative permeability and capillary pressure.
• To validate the accuracy of estimated flow functions by comparing simulated and measured experimental data.

Main Methods:

• Conducting two-phase displacement experiments on porous rock core samples.
• Applying an inverse problem methodology to NMR imaging data.
• Measuring pressure drop across the core samples during experiments.

Main Results:

• Successfully estimated two-phase flow functions (relative permeability and capillary pressure) using NMR imaging data.
• Achieved precise agreement between measured experimental data and data simulated with the estimated flow functions.
• Demonstrated the value of NMR imaging in capturing fluid state variations for accurate property estimation.

Conclusions:

• The inverse problem methodology combined with NMR imaging provides accurate estimates of two-phase flow functions.
• NMR imaging is a powerful tool for characterizing fluid flow behavior in porous rocks.
• The validated methodology enhances the reliability of reservoir characterization and simulation.