Water-Flooding & Enhanced

Oil Recovery
PE-414
WaterFlood
 The Dykstra-Parsons Permeability
Variation
• Dykstra and Parsons (1950) introduced the concept of the
permeability variation coefficient V which is a statistical
measure of non-uniformity of a set of data. It is generally
applied to the property of permeability but
can be extended to treat other rock properties.
• It is generally recognized that the permeability data are log-
normally distributed. That is, the geologic processes that create
permeability in reservoir rocks appear to leave permeabilities
distributed around the geometric mean. Dykstra and Parsons
recognized this feature and introduced the permeability
variation that characterizes a particular distribution.
 Computational Steps
• Step 1. Arrange the core samples in decreasing permeability sequence, i.e., descending
order.
• Step 2. For each sample, calculate the percentage of thickness with per meability
greater than this sample.
• Step 3. Using a log-probability graph paper, plot permeability values on the log scale
and the % of thickness on the probability scale. This special graph paper is shown in
Figure 4-29.
• Step 4. Draw the best straight line through the points.
• Step 5. Read the corresponding permeability values at 84.1% and 50% of thickness.
These two values are designated as k84.1 and k50.
• Step 6. The Dykstra-Parsons permeability variation is defined by the following
expression:
•
Example
 Solution

• Step 1. Arrange the entire permeability data in a

descending order and calculate % of thickness with
greater permeability
• Step 2. Plot the permeability versus % of thickness
with greater k on a log-probability scale as shown in
Figure 4-30 and read
k50 = 68 md
k84.1 = 29.5
• Step 3. Calculate V by applying Equation

• It should be noted that if all the permeabilities are equal, the numerator or
the above Equation would be zero, and the V would also be zero. This
would be the case for a completely homogeneous system. The Dykstra
Parsons method is commonly referred to as a Permeability Ordering Technique.
• In water flooding calculations, it is frequently desired to divide the reservoir
into layers that have equal thickness and different permeability
• Dykstra and Parsons have presented a waterflood
performance predictive method in stratified
reservoirs. The method is applicable for a wide range
of mobility ratio values. They constructed graphs of
Coverage (C) as a function of permeability variation
and mobility ratios for producing WOR. Johnson has
presented a simplified graphical treatment of the
Dykstra-Parsons method which is useful where quick
estimates are required.
• Assumptions :
• Reservoir is made up of isolated layers. Impermeable layer exists
between stratifications.
• Piston-like displacement only one phase flows ahead of front and
behind the front.
• Flow is linear and steady
• Incompressible flow
• ∆P across each layer is the same
• Except for (k) permeability. All other fluid and rock properties are
uniform in the reservoir.
• The technique is semi-empirical and is based upon
the correlation for four variables.
• The vertical permeability variation, ν
• The initial water saturation, Swi
• The water to oil mobility ratio, M
• The fractional recovery of the oil-in-place at a specified
WOR
 Example
• Use the Dykstra-Parsons method to obtain • Additional Data:
the fractional oil recovery which would be
expected for the reservoir. The relative • Swir = 0.22
permeability to oil ahead of the • Bo = 1.12 rbbl/stb
displacement front is 0.92, while the relative
permeability to water at the irreducible oil • φ = 0.25
saturation is 0.40.
• Area of the enclosed 5-spot pattern = 10
• Assume that the economic limit will be acres
reached at a producing WOR of 3.0.
• Soi = 0.60
• µw = 0.9 cp
• µo = 1.6 cp
• Sor = 0.17
• Injection rate = 200 bbl/day
• ROIP = 207 800 stb
Solution
• Dykstra and Parsons presented a model for
estimation of the displacement performance of a
layered reservoir by subdivision of the reservoir into
(n) no communicating layers with no cross flow
between layers. A constant pressure drop is
maintained across the layers. Piston like displacement
was assumed for the waterflood. Thus, as each layer
is flooded out, production goes from 100 % oil to
100 % water.