Course content

Determination of fundamental properties of reservoir rock system in the lab with a basic understanding of the principles of flow in porous media and corresponding discussion of fundamental properties of the reservoir system to determine fluid distribution, static and dynamic flow properties.

Themes and concepts

• Laboratory organization and HSE: Students will adapt safety routines and identify risks in experiments, plan experiments and present data.
• Rock properties: permeability, porosity and mineralogy.
• Fluid properties: density, viscosity and interfacial tensions.
• Rock-fluid interactions: wettability, capillary pressure, resistivity measurements, and relative permeability.
• Additional concepts: Darcy's law for single and two-phase flow, explain EOR methods, and resistivity in shaly sand.

Learning outcome

Competences

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of parameters and measurement techniques that describe flow in porous media with a focus on reservoir rock and pore fluids on the laboratory (cm) scale.
• Analyze experimental results including assessment of usability, reliability, uncertainty, error estimation of the data for use in other reservoir engineering tools.
• Formulate professional assessments of performed experiments based on laboratory observations and theoretical insight as a report or presentation.
• Demonstrate good teamwork in the group in laboratory and data analysis with a focus on quality and safety.

Skills

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

• Apply knowledge on single and multiphase flow reservoir rock properties in laboratory experiments.
• Interpret laboratory data and assess their data quality for further use as input in experimental analysis or application in reservoir engineering tools.
• Compare different methods for determining reservoir properties and explain the basic principles behind the methods.
• Perform basic measurements in a core laboratory.
• Plan, conduct and analyze experiments with regard to a fundamental understanding of the experimental theories, HSE and good laboratory practice.
• Use digital tools, e.g. analytical models, in-house or commercial simulation programs for multiphase flow analysis.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, compulsory exercises and/or laboratory exercises. Lectures are held in English. Exercises can also include the use of programming tools. Course evaluation is carried out by a reference group giving students' feedbacks to the course coordinator.

Compulsory assignments

• Exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

TPG4112

Course materials

Karimaie, H., van der Net, A., & Torsæter, O. (2024). Core Analysis of Reservoir Rock Systems (1st ed.). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003382584

Further references provided during the course.

Credit reductions