Reservoir Rock Compressibility

Reservoir Rock Compressibility

Learning Outcomes
 Introduction

Reservoir rocks are subjected to the internal stress exerted by fluids

contained in the pores, and to external stress which is in part exerted by
the overlying rocks.

The depletion of fluids from the reservoir rocks results in a change in

the internal (hydrostatic) stress in the formation, thus causing the rock
to be subjected to an increased and variable due to an increased and
variable overburden load, and the result is the compaction of the rock
structure due to an increased in the effective stress.
 Compressibility of Porous Rocks

Definition
Compressibility is the fractional change in pore
volume of per unit bulk volume with a unit change in pressure.

1/MPa
reciprocal megapascal

Compressibility c, given by:

1 Vb 1 Vb
cf = =
Vb P2 P1 Vb P
 Compressibility of Porous Rocks

The depletion of fluids from the pore space of a reservoir rock results in a
change in the internal stress in the rock, thus causing the rock to be
subjected to a different resultant stress. This change in stress results in
changes in the grain, pore, and bulk volume of the rock.

Pf
A substance is initially
with P pressure, V Pf
volume. When the
pressure increases to
P2, the volume
decreased is V. Psi

Psi After development

Before development
 Reservoir Rock Compressibility

Porosity is a function of compaction. It is generally reduced by

increase in compaction

Compaction is a function of depth of burial. Sediments such as shales

which have been deeply buried exhibit lower porosity

Three types of compressibility

Rock- matrix (grain) compressibility, Cs

Rock-bulk compressibility, Cb

Pore-volume compressibility, Cp
 Types of Compressibility

Rock-matrix (grain) compressibility

Rock-matrix compressibility is the fractional change in pore

volume of the solid rock material (grains) per unit change
in pressure .

1 v p
cs =
Vs P
 Rock-bulk compressibility:

Its the fractional change in the total or bulk-volume of the

formation per unit change in the reservoir pressure.

1 vb
cb =
Vb P
 Types of Compressibility

Pore-volume compressibility

Pore compressibility is the fractional change in pore volume

per unit change in pressure.

1 v p
cp =
V p P
 Total compressibility

Total compressibility is the fractional change in pore and liquid volume

of the bulk-volume rock with a unit change in pressure.

1 v0
ct =
Vb P v0 = v p vL
The application of total reservoir compressibility, denoted by Ct, is
expressed as:

Ct=Cf + (SoCo+SwCw+SgCg)

Where Sg, So, and Sw are the gas, oil, and water saturations, respectively;
Cg, Co, and Cw the gas, oil and water compressibility, in Psi-1
 Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids

Compressibility of homogeneous matter like the rock materials (Cr)

and the contained saturations of fluids, e.g oil, water, and / gas, are
defined by Eqn.:

..(1)

A discrete version of this definition, where the pressure drop p is

sufficiently small, gives;

.(2)
 Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids

The compressibility of the fluids (Cf) contained in the pore volume is

defined by the compressibility of the different phases; Cw +Co + Cg.

Since the pore volume is expanded by the fluid phase volumes:

Vf = Vw +Vo + Vg, a change in the pore pressure will cause the fluid
volume to change.

The fluid compressibility is written as;

.(3)
 Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids

Where S is the fluid phase saturation (Sw + So + Sg = 1).

Of interest in relation to the production of oil and gas, is the total

compressibility of the rock-fluid system. This compressibility accounts
for the expansion of fluid, given by the fluid compressibility (Cf) and
the reduction of the pore volume when the pore pressure is reduced,
given by Cp in Eqtn.;

.(4)

i.e.,

..(5)
 Compressibility for Reservoir Rocks Saturated
with Fluids

The effective HC compressibility is a useful term, related to the pore

space occupied by the hydrocarbons;

..(6)

An equally important term is the effective compressibility responsible for the

expansion of initial water and reduction of the pore volume, when pressure is
released as a result of HC production.
This term, a non-HC compressibility is defined as;

..(7)
 Effect of Compressibility on Reservoir Rock
Properties

Formation Compressibility, cf - also called pore volume compressibility

Important to reservoir engineers:

1) depletion of fluid from pore spaces
2) internal rock stress changes
3) change in stress results in change in
Vp, Vm, Vb

As fluid is produced from a reservoir, the fluid pressure, Pf will usually

decrease:

the force on the matrix increases

causing a decrease in bulk volume
and a decrease in pore volume
 Formation compaction component of total rock
compressibility

Compressibility measurement of bulk and pore, Cb & Cp

Hall, experiment was

similar to Carpenter &
Spencer

1 V p

Vp p p
Experimental equipment used for measuring pore
volume compaction and compressibility
Effective reservoir rock compressibility
 Compressibility Correlations

Halls Correlation cf = formation compressibility, 1/psi

= porosity, %
13.392
0.438

cf
1,000,000
 Compressibility Correlations

Change in porosity due to a

change in pressure:

2 1 ecf p 2 p1
2 = porosity at pressure p2
1 = porosity at pressure p1
or 2 1 1 cf p 2 p1 cf = formation compressibility, 1/psi

Newmans Correlations

97.3200(10) 6 for consolidated sandstone, 79

cf
1 55.8721.42859 samples
porosity range: 0.02 to 0.23, error
2.6%
0.853531
cf for limestone
1 2.47664(10) 6 0.92990
porosity range: 0.02 to 0.33, error
11.8%