Validity of Series and Parallel Bed Layer Permeability Equations from Experimental and Numerical Modeling

Abstract It is rare to encounter a homogeneous reservoir in nature. More formations have a space variation of permeability than porosity and difficult to measure. Yet adequate knowledge of permeability distribution is critical in predicting reservoir depletion or by-pass hydrocarbon recovery. Average method is used to determine the average permeability of series (or vertical) and parallel (or horizontal) beds with different permeability. We used the experimental results to verify the accuracy of existing model. The Computed Permeability (CP) results vis a vis numerical method were compared with Experimental Permeability (EP) and it was found that there is no significant change between them for Series Beds Layered (SBLP). However, there is a significant change for Parallel Beds Layered (PBLP). The CP is greater than EP for the PBLP by a multiple of 1.534. This was taken as Correction Factor (CF) to obtain a modified average PBLP equation. This modified equation is more accurate for computation of scaling up in reservoir flow modeling.