A critical review of the use of pseudorelative permeabilities for upscaling
Abstract
Summary: The properties and limitations of different dynamic pseudorelative permeability methods are summarized. Severe difficulties common to all methods are discussed: choosing the number and locations of the coarse-grid rock types, defining the simulations from which the pseudos are generated, and the dependence of the pseudos on well rates and positions. It is concluded that, in practice, pseudos cannot be used reliably to scale up from a "fine-grid" geological model to a "coarse-grid" fluid-flow model except for cases where capillary or gravity equilibrium can be assumed at the coarse-gridblock scale. Scaling up from the core scale to the geological model is more likely to be possible because capillary forces are more important at smaller scales. A practical approach to the dynamic upscaling problem is outlined, but one should not expect that the effects of the detail in the geological model will be captured more than qualitatively.
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There is no single scientifically adequate framework for upscaling.
“There is no single scientifically adequate framework for upscaling [30][31][32]”
From Artificial intelligence in oil and gas upstream: Trends, challenges, and scenarios for the future (2021) · cites this paper as [30]
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Artificial intelligence in oil and gas upstream: Trends, challenges, and scenarios for the future
Koroteev, D., & Tekic, Z. (2021) · Energy and AI · doi:10.1016/j.egyai.2020.100041 · Cited by 285 · see citing works
- Authors
- Barker, J. W., & Thibeau, S.
- Affiliations
- Elf Aquitaine Production
- ORCID
- Thibeau, Sylvain
- Venue
- SPE Reservoir Engineering
- Publisher
- Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
- Published
- 1997-05-01
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 02
- Pages
- 138-143
- ISSN
- 0885-9248 (ISSN-L)
- 2469-9683
- OpenAlex
- W2076799009
- Cited by
- 279
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 27.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- SPE Reservoir Engineering (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Reservoir Engineering and Simulation Methods
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Advanced Mathematical Modeling in Engineering
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Ocean Engineering › Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques
- Keywords
- capillary equilibrium
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