Date of Award
Spring 1968
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
First Advisor
Greenkorn, Robert
Second Advisor
Matar, Joseph E.
Third Advisor
Richardson, Bobbie L.
Abstract
The production of oil is accomplished by displacing it from the interconnected pores of the reservoir by either gas or water. This thesis deals with artifical [sic] water flooding, where the water is injected into the oil bearing sand to displace the oil and remove it through output wells. In actual practice, this oil recovery is complicated by the fact that the reservoir usually isn't homogeneous, that is, the reservoir is composed of large regions of different porosity. It is the purpose of this thesis to investigate how the number, positions, and permeabilities of these heterogeneities affect the streamline pattern and oil recovery. One way of characterizing these heterogeneous regions is by the distortion they cause on the streamline pattern. Chapter II of the thesis explains how the streamline distortion at a circular heterogeneity in a 5-spot pattern is affected by its own position and permeability and by the positions, number, and permeabilities of the surrounding heterogeneities. The affects of heterogeneities on the streamline pattern and oil production were found using Hele-Shaw Models, solving the equations governing radial flow in a heterogeneous porous media numerically using a computer, and using potential theory. The thesis concludes that the streamline distortion depends on its own position and permeability and the presence or absence of a heterogeneity immediately in front of the injection well. Chapter III explains how the positions, number, and permeabilities of circular heterogeneities in a 5- spot pattern affects oil production in an artificial water flood. It was concluded that oil production depends largely on the presence or absence of combinations of heterogeneities whose positions are near the diagonal connecting the injection and production wells and that oil production increases linearly with the number of remaining heterogeneities. Knowing how heterogeneities affect oil production, the injection and production wells can be placed so as to obtain the highest oil production.
Recommended Citation
Kufahl, Robert H., "Radial Flow through Heterogeneous Hele-Shaw Models" (1968). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 5008.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/5008