Hydrodynamics of Oil and Gas / Edition 1

by Ian Lerche, R.O. Thomsen

Overview

There has long been interest in the flow of fluids through permeable aqui­ fers. Stratigraphic trapping of oil and gas by permeability changes in an aquifer and the amounts of hydrocarbons so trapped are major concerns to the oil industry. The variations of aquifer width and geometry and of the positions in an aquifer where hydrocarbons can be trapped by hydro­ dynamic forces are intimately intertwined in determining the shape, and thus the volume, of hydrocarbons. Perhaps the seminal work in this area is reflected by King Hubbert's massive review paper "Entrapment of Petroleum under Hydrodynamic Conditions" (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull. 37(8), 1954-2026, 1953), in which a wide variety of effects, such as capillarity, buoyancy, surface tension, and salinity of water, are incorporated as basic factors influenc­ ing the positioning and shaping of hydrocarbon masses in hydrodynami­ cally active aquifers. In those days, while the basic physics could readily be appreciated, development of a detailed quantitative understanding of the interplay of the various factors in controlling or modulating hydro­ dynamic shapes was severely limited by computer abilities. Indeed, Hub­ bert actually constructed and photographed physical models, using alcohol and water, to illustrate basic concepts. It is difficult to obtain an appreciation of the behavior of flow geometries from such experiments when all factors are permitted to vary simultaneously.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306448720
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	01/31/1995
Edition description:	1994
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.36(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction. Hydrodynamics of Thin Oil Stringers. Generalization of Hubbert's Conditions. Steadystate Oil Stringers in Capped Aquifers. Finite Width Aquifers. Variable Width, Constant Angle Aquifers. Finite Width, Variable Angle Aquifers. Effects Due to Variable Permeability. Saline and Fresh Water Flows. Dynamical Aspects of Permeable Flow. The Inverse Oil/Gas Stringer Problem. Migration and Diffusion of Hydrocarbons in Complex Stratigraphic Sequences. Research Thrusts and Crossdiscipline Ties. Appendix. Index.

Editorial Reviews

Describes various hydrocarbon behaviors during flows through permeable aquifers as an aid to reducing the risk in exploring for oil and gas deposits. Begins with the hydrodynamic assumptions of Hubbert, then systematically weakens and generalizes them to account for the vagarities of reality, providing a short theoretical introduction to each group of case histories and examples. Includes a 3.5" disk for DOS with a C program for simulating the shape of steady-state oil stringers in aquifers. Addressed to both veterans and beginners in the field. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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