SPE 160683

An Improved Approach for Generating Saturation Functions for Simulation

Models Using Dynamic Rock Types
Shawket G. Ghedan, SPE, Qingfeng Huang, SPE, the Petroleum Institute, and Yahong Wu, SPE, China
University of Petroleum

Copyright 2012, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11–14 November 2012.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper have not been
reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its
officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to
reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
Rock typing is a key factor in reservoir characterization studies. It is often assumed that Static Reservoir Rock Types
(SRRTs) are capable of assigning multi-phase flow characteristics, such as capillary pressure and relative permeability curves
to the cells of dynamic simulation models. However, SRRTs fail to capture the actual reservoir variability, due to lack of
representation of wettability difference at different elevations above Free Water Level (FWL), especially in highly
heterogeneous thick carbonate reservoirs. These shortcomings of SRRTs can be resolved through Dynamic Reservoir Rock
Types (DRRTs), in which wettability effect is imposed on SRRTs to generate saturation functions for simulation models.
This research proposes a modified DRRT approach by integrating the data from geological models and SCAL tests. First, the
defined static rock types are sub-divided into sub-static rock types using either porosity or permeability frequency
distribution. Second, a modified correlation equation is proposed and applied to more accurately estimate the initial water
saturation versus height above FWL from well logs. Third, each sub-static rock type is further divided into a number of
DRRTs by determining the capillary pressure and relative permeability curves in the oil zone from the Gas-Oil Contact
(GOC) to the Dry-Oil Limit (DOL). The DRRTs are extended to the zone from DOL to the FWL by including wettability
effect which would affect the curvature of the relative permeability curves but not its saturation end points, through changing
the Corey exponents in the modified Brooks-Corey model.
This modified DRRT approach is applied in terms of the dynamic rock typing plug-ins to generate sub-rock types from static
rock types, and build a comprehensive and automatic approach to generate saturation tables for dynamic rock types that can
be prospectively loaded into commercial simulators for reliable reservoir initialization, history match and prediction
processes.

1. Introduction and Background

Reservoir characterization provides a good description of the storage and flow properties of reservoirs, as well as the basis for
developing simulation models. The essential part of reservoir characterization is rock typing, which is an integrated and
multidisciplinary process comprising input data from sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy, diagenetic overprint, and
petrophysics. Geologists, petrophysicists and reservoir engineers engaged in generating reservoir models face complex
challenges to identify the regions with similar features for accurate reservoir characterization, modelling and simulation1.
Saturation functions, i.e., capillary pressure and relative permeability, are important for the reservoir initialization and
reservoir flow dynamics, while reservoir rock types are critically important to assign the saturation functions to different parts
of the reservoir model. A reservoir rock type is defined as “the unit of rock deposited under similar conditions that
experienced similar diagenetic processes having a unique porosity-permeability relationship, capillary pressure curve and
water saturation for a certain distance above free water level in the reservoir” 2. Reservoir engineers describe a rock type
based on similar pore size distribution, capillary pressure curves, and relative permeability at a given wettability in the
limited depths 1,3.
Mineralogy data, porosity, permeability, Mercury Injection Capillary Pressure (MICP), and relative permeability data are
commonly utilized to describe reservoir rock types. When properly classified, a given rock type is imprinted by a unique
permeability-porosity relationship, capillary pressure profile (or J function), and set of relative permeability curves4, 5, 6.
2 SPE 160683

The main rock typing approaches can be categorized into rock-fabric number, flow zone indicator and pore-throat radius7, 8.
The rock-fabric number links rock-types petrophysical properties to a rock fabric classification that groups carbonate rocks
into three categories9. Al-Aruri10 applied the Carman-Kozeny model to define nine rock types principally by the similarity of
the geological texture, litholgoy, porosity and permeability (Figure 1). The pore-throat radius approach11 links rock type’s
petrophysical properties to the pore-throat radius7.
Carbonate reservoirs are very heterogeneous with obvious wettability variations with respect to depth. The complexity of
carbonates and the importance of defining rock types have been the subjects of many papers1,3, 12, 13. Most of current practices
are either based on petrophysical properties, such as porosity, permeability and drainage capillary pressure, or geological
description, such as facies and sedimentary environment, diagenetic overprints, or a combination of them, which are
commonly considered Static Reservoir Rock Typing (SRRT). However, SRRT can’t capture the dynamic rock-fluid
properties of multi-phase flow1. Also, high heterogeneity in carbonate rocks makes it difficult for geoscientists to define a
universal classification approach that is capable of honoring the critical static and dynamic properties14.
DRRT was first defined by Hamon15 as “the unit of rock characterized by similar ranges of pore geometry/topology and
wettability indicators resulting in unique relative permeability saturation relationships”. This was a new approach to find its
way to modern SCAL studies1 with the consideration reservoir dynamic properties. It’s generally agreed that two and three
phases flow properties are the composite effect of wettability, pore geometry, interfacial tension, saturation history and fluid
distribution. With these components considered, the saturation functions of capillary pressure and relative permeability
curves can be more accurately acquired and predicted. Although some papers3, 39, 40 recognized the importance of multi-phase
properties, they failed to quantitatively or comprehensively capture the effect of wettability and rock-fluid interaction.

1.1 Wettability effect

The wettability measurements for the Middle East reservoirs shows oil wet in the oil zone, mixed wet in the transition zone,
and water wet in the water zone16, 17, 18. Wettability changes with depth and different rock types with the same elevation
above FWL16. Wettability can be quantified19 by contact angle20, wettability index21, 22, saturation end points12, 23, 24, Corey
exponents1, 25 and the shapes of relative permeability curves12, 25. Wettability affects the residual oil saturation and the
irreducible water saturation26.

1.2 Saturation-height functions

The initial water saturation is related to the depth, and can be derived from well logs or SCAL tests27. The saturation-height
function can be described by J function28, Cuddy function27, Al-Jenaibi function29, Obeida et.al. function30 and Ghedan-
Okuyiga function31. Associated with residual oil saturation, the estimated initial water saturation can produce wettability
index, residual oil saturation, and irreducible water saturation at an elevation1, 19.

1.3 New transition zone

Conventionally defined transition zone is “the interval of the reservoir where the water saturations vary from 100% to
irreducible water saturation”12. Both oil and water are flowing at different rate ratios in transition zone depending on the
heights above FWL. Nevertheless it has been observed that only dry oil is produced and water is still immobile until below a
certain level 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Jackson et al.36 attributed this phenomenon to the wettability variation along depth. Ghedan1
defined a New Transition Zone (NTZ) as “the part of the reservoir where both water and oil are movable if the well is
completed in that part of the reservoir”1. Dry Oil Limit (DOL) is defined as the level in the reservoir above which water
ceases to flow and only single oil phase flow occurs, which is also top of the transition zone (see Figure 2). Dry oil
production in the transition zone can help increase oil recovery if that interval is perforated, which was assumed to be
uneconomic37. The concepts of NTZ and DOL were considered and applied in the generation of saturation functions1, 19.

1.4 Dynamic reservoir rock typing

The static rock types are used in the static geological models, while the dynamic rock types are valid to assign multi-phase
fluid flow characteristics for dynamic models if the petrophysical groups, the effect of fluid distribution and wettability
variations are considered15, 38. Shedid and Almehaideb39 derived Characterization Number (CN) as a flow unit by considering
rock-fluid properties, but they didn’t study the wettability effect on the flow units. Asgari and Sobhi3 combined conventional
rock typing with SCAL data, and determined the flow units from the CN vs. RQI plot. The relative permeability curves vary
even among the same rock type, owing to the variations of pore geometry, fluid distribution, structure, wettability and the
elevations above FWL3, 40. Masalmeh and Jing41, and Masalmeh and Shiekah et.al.42 studied the wettability effect on
saturation functions and impact on reservoir characterization of Middle East reservoirs based on the experimental data.
Grader et al.43 presented a digital rock-physics method to predict relative permeabilities using Lattice-Boltzmann method for
fluid flow modeling without any reference from SCAL data, but this approach has not been widely accepted.
Ghedan1 proposed a comprehensive and complete DRRT approach to generate saturation tables for simulation models. The
defined SRRTs are sub-divided into sub-SRRTs based on porosity ranges; each sub-SRRT produces numerous DRRTs based
SPE 160683 3

on different depth intervals representing wettability differences from GOC to DOL. Based on SCAL analysis, wettability is
quantitatively determined by Amott-Harvey wettability index and Corey exponents. However, this complex approach cannot
be applied easily and widely to generate saturation functions for simulation models in case of other reservoir data; in
addition, it assigns only one DRRT (one set of relative permeability curves) for NTZ, which may not be the case.

2. Methodology
The purpose of this study is to generate capillary pressure and relative permeability curves for dynamic rock types from
Dynamic Rock Types Plug-in, DRTP plug-in using a modified Ghedan’s DRRT approach1. The DRRTs are based on the
wettability change along depth for sub-rock types, defined by rock typing sub-division via plug-in for SubRockTyping. The
input data of DRTP are from the geological model and SCAL analysis. The generated saturation tables are water saturation
functions (Sw, Krwo, Krow, Pcow), oil saturation functions of 3-phase system (So, Krow, Krog), and gas saturation functions
(Sg, Krg, Pcog). These generated saturation functions can be loaded into simulators for reservoir initialization, history match
and reservoir prediction processes.

2.1 Modified Ghedan’s DRRT approach

Ghedan’s DRRT approach1 has comprehensively considered wettability effect, new transition zone, dry oil limit, and
saturation-height model to successfully generate saturation functions. However, the approach suffers from some limitations.
First, the subdivision of rock types, via porosity grouping is not quite clear and not easily operated. Second, the Ghedan-
Okuyiga function to represent the saturation-height function is complicated and may lead to inaccurate curve-fitting results
for different reservoir data. In addition, the NTZ is not divided into enough intervals, which may not capture a comprehensive
effect of wettability on the multi-phase flow properties of the reservoir.
To mitigate these deficiencies, this paper proposes a modified approach (Figure 3). First, a rock type is sub-divided based on
porosity or permeability frequency. In carbonate reservoirs, rocks with the same rock type may have different ranges of
porosity owing to diagenesis. Porosity difference changes the shapes of saturation-height curve for the same rock type.
Second, a modified Ghedan-Okuyiga (MGO) function is proposed, which enhances the curve-fitting ability and minimizes
the errors. Third, more intervals can be partitioned in the NTZ, in addition to the interval division from GOC to DOL in
Ghedan approach1. In the NTZ, water and oil are movable, indicating the same Swirr and Sorw; Corey exponents change
along depth, though. At different depths in NTZ, the saturation end points remain the same, but the shapes of the relative
permeability curves differ, described by the changing Corey exponents1, 44.
The modified DRRT approach can be applied with plug-ins (SubRockTyping and DRTP) for simulation models.
SubRockTyping divides static rock types into sub-static rock types. The sub-static rock types are further divided into
dynamic rock types, by cutting the whole interval from GOC to FWL into a number of intervals. DRTP produces relative
permeability and capillary pressure curves for each dynamic rock types for the cells in the geological model. The saturation
functions can be assigned to the corresponding cells.

2.2 Design of SubRockTyping plug-in

Ghedan-Okuyiga equation is used to estimate the initial water saturation for SubRTs based on well log data. In this equation,
saturation is an explicit function of height and the representative porosity of a porosity range, as in Eq. (1)
!" ! ! ! !"# !! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"# ! ! ! (1)
where a, b, f, g and h are constants shaping the capillary pressure curve. However, it’s difficult to accurately determine the
representative porosity, and the complex coefficients, so the MGO equation is proposed, as in Eq. (2):

!" ! ! ! ! ! !"# ! ! ! (2)

In MGO equation, saturation is an implicit function of porosity, and this equation is a simple non-linear exponential equation.
MGO is employed in the SubRockTyping plug-in to estimate initial water saturation for each SubRT.
The following procedure is needed for SubRockTyping plug-in:
! Filter the well log data by eliminating outliers.
! Divide porosity ranges based on porosity frequency. From the porosity frequency plot, porosity divisions can be
identified according to the shape.
! Select the appropriate saturation-height function to do the automatic curve-fitting for each SubRT.
! Compare the fitted curve with the original scatter, and tune the coefficients to make them show a better match. If the
match is not satisfactory through tuning, try other saturation-height functions or change the porosity limits.
! Run the plug-in and obtain estimated water saturations.
4 SPE 160683

2.3 Design of DRTP plug-in

Once SubRTs are determined from SubRockTyping, DRTP can be run to categorize them into DRRTs for each SubRT. By
dividing the whole reservoir zone from GOC to FWL into a number of intervals according to the alterations of wettability and
Corey exponents, the same number of DRRTs is obtained. Then DRTP calculates relative permeability and capillary pressure
for each DRRT by inputting the appropriate parameters and selecting the correlations based on SCAL tests in the DRTP user
interfaces. SCAL tests assist the determination of saturation end points, end points of relative permeability, Corey exponents
and wettability index. The input parameters of the DRTP interfaces include the geological data, multi-phase fluid properties,
formation test results, and SCAL results. Water and gas saturation functions can be generated in the zone from GOC to FWL
with the modified Ghedan approach.

3. Application and Results

This study uses the data from a Middle East offshore reservoir, and produces saturation functions for one of the rock types,
specifically rock type 1, RT1, from the pre-defined ten RTs as a case study.

3.1 Generation of sub-static rock types: Saturation Modeling

Figure 4 shows the porosity frequency of RT1. Although no very clear porosity ranges can be made, we can still divide it
into three ranges. Picking two porosity limits 8.5 and 16.3 respectively, we find SubRT10 in the range of (16.3, 29.1],
SubRT11 in the range of [8.5, 16.3] and SubRT12 in the range of [0, 8.5). The selected three porosity ranges are shown in
Figure 5. SubRT10 with the highest porosity range lies in the lowest part, SubRT11 in the middle part, SubRT12 in the upper
part. SubRT12 is dispersive, while SubRT11 is more centralized. The curve-fitted results are shown in Figure 6, Figure 7
and Figure 8.
The curve-fitting results of each SubRT can be compared in terms of error, coefficients and shapes in the saturation-height
curves. The curve-fitting errors (Table 1) are represented by average absolute percentage deviation (AAD) and standard error
(SEE), which are:
! !"#$!!"#!!!"!!"#$ !!!"!!"# !
!!! !!"!!"#
!!"! ! ! !"" (3)
!

and
! !!!"! !
!!! !"#$ !!!"!!"# !
!"" ! !!! (4)!
!!!

From coefficients presented in

Table 2, the equations are established for SubRT10 (Eq. (5)), SubRT11 (Eq. (6)) and SubRT12 (Eq. (7)) respectively.
!! ! !!! ! !"!! !!!!!""!!! (5)

!!!!!"#!!
!! ! !!! ! !!"!! (6)

!! ! !!!"# ! !"#!!!!!!!!"#!!! (7)

Higher value of “a” gives higher irreducible water saturation above transition zone, so SubRT12 with the biggest “a” can
have larger Swirr, corresponding to the smallest porosity. Higher value of “b” indicates more rapid increase of water
saturation with height decrease, so Swi increases sharply in SubRT12 and SubRT11. But Swi in SubRT11 increases more
rapidly than SubRT12. The larger the coefficient “c” is, the higher the Swi is, so SubRT12 has the largest negative value of
“c”.
The shapes of each SubRT are presented in Figure 9. They follow the trends of higher porosity giving smaller initial water
saturation Swi. The sub-division of RT1 produces three capillary pressure curves, which can help calculate Swirr more
accurately, as well as representing wettability for each porosity range, although the latter is not verified.
SPE 160683 5

3.2 Generation of saturation functions

The user interfaces (UI) of DRTP are designed (Figure 10, Figure 11 and Figure 12). Figure 10 shows the input parameters
applicable for all the rock types. Figure 11 and Figure 12 show the input data for one RT in the water/oil and gas/oil system
respectively.

The mechanism of DRTP is:

1) With a RT as a unit, calculate Swirr @GOC and Swcmax @DOL from MGO function.
2) Divide the reservoir zone into two parts, one from GOC to DOL, the other from DOL to FWL. Calculate the number
of intervals for each part, denoted GDNUM and TZNUM respectively.
3) Determine Sorw from Swi by selecting Land equation, linear correlation or Power Law equation based on SCAL test
analysis.
4) Compute Krwmax @Sorw by correlating Krwmax with Sorw using
!"#$%& ! ! ! !"#$ ! !
5) Determine Corey exponents in each interval which has the same growth step of water saturation in each interval.
6) Determine WI with the same incremental step of water saturation in each interval.
7) Calculate Swisp from WI using the equation
!"#$% ! !"#$$ ! !" ! !! ! !"#$$ ! !"#$!
8) Calculate water saturation function which includes Sw, Krwo, Krow, Pcow and PcImb.
9) Calculate Krog, Krgo, Krow using Brooks-Corey model in the gas/oil system.
10) Divide the new TZ into several intervals, each defining Krwmax, Krwo, and Krow to make new saturation functions.
11) Combine saturation tables above TZ and in TZ to produce complete saturation tables.

3.2.1 Water saturation function in the zone from GOC to DOL

The number of intervals in the zone from GOC to DOL can be calculated according to the control conditions in the UI.
The saturation steps are 0.035 with 5 intervals, 0.064 with 6 intervals and 0.075 with 6 intervals respectively for each SubRT.
The saturation number of SubRT10 is 26, with GDNUM of 17 and TZNUM of 9. The average depths corresponding to initial
water saturation (Table 3) are calculated from MGO equation, as presented in Figure 13.
Some parameters are correlated based on the SCAL analysis. Residual oil saturation Sorw is correlated with Swirr through
Land correlation. Higher Swirr gives lower Sorw, which accords to Ghedan’s SCAL results that more water-wet reservoir has
higher irreducible water saturation Swirr, and more oil can be produced during water injection, remaining less oil trapped in
the pores. However, Krwmax @Sorw has the same trend with Sorw, higher Sorw giving higher Krwmax, and lower Sorw
giving lower Krwmax (Figure 14). During the increase of Swirr from GOC until DOL, more water attaches the rock surface,
with oil gathering in the center of the pore, impeding more obviously the flow of water, making water relative permeability
lower than less that of water-wet rock.
Wettability is the key aspect in dynamic rock typing. Wettability is represented by Corey exponents and wettability index.
Figure 15 shows the corresponding Corey exponents to water and oil at each interval for SubRT10, where Nwo increases
from 2.9 at TTZ to 5 at DOL, and Now decreases from 3.3 at TTZ to 1.8 at DOL, which proofs Brooks-Corey theory that
more water-wet rock has higher Corey exponents to water and lower Corey exponents to oil than less water-wet rock. As is
categorized by porosity range, SubRT0 has the largest porosity range, SubRT2 having the smallest porosity range.
Consequently, SubRT10 tends to be less water-wet, and SubRT12 tends to be more water-wet. At the same depth, Nwo for
SubRT0 is the smallest and Now for SubRT10 is the largest (Figure 16 and Figure 17), which further proofs Brooks-Corey
theory44.
Wettability index (WI) also characterizes wettability in the reservoir. At the same depth, WI in SubRT10 is the smallest.
According to the experimental results, WI ranges from 0.1 at top and 0.25 at DOL (Figure 18). Spontaneous imbibition water
6 SPE 160683

saturation Swisp can be obtained from WI, Swirr and Sorw. The higher the Swisp is, the more water wet the rock is (Figure
19).
By using Brooks-Corey relative permeability model, relative permeability curves in each SubRT and each interval can be
obtained. It’s commonly accepted that more water-wet rock has larger oil relative permeability and smaller water relative
permeability. With depths increasing, the reservoir rock tends to be more water-wet and less oil-wet. From Figure 20 we can
find that Krwo is the largest at TTZ and the smallest at DOL and Krow is the smallest at TTZ and largest at DOL. When rock
is more water-wet, Krwo increases more slowly, because oil concentrates more in the center of pores, and hampers more
apparently the flow of water (Figure 20 ). The similar phenomena occur to SubRT11 (Figure 21) and SubRT12 (Figure 22).
Drainage and imbibition capillary pressure curves are calculated. Figure 23 shows three drainage capillary pressure curves
for each SubRT. The curve shapes verify that higher porosity range has smaller drainage capillary pressure at the same water
saturation. Imbibition capillary pressure is related to wettability (Figure 24). Swisp increases as depth increase and less
pressure is needed for water to drainage the pores when water saturation is above Swisp that represents how much oil can be
displaced by water.
3.2.2 Oil and gas saturation functions
DRTP also generates the oil and gas saturation functions. In the reservoir, gas is always non-wetting phase, and Corey
exponents to gas, Ngo, and to oil, Nog, are assumed constant. Only irreducible water saturation Swirr effects relative
permeability. Oil relative permeability curves using Brooks-Corey model are plotted in Figure 25, Figure 26 and Figure 27.
Oil relative permeabilities in oil/water system are also calculated in the gas/oil system as in Figure 29, Figure 30 and Figure
31. Gas/oil relative permeability curves are plotted in Figure 32 for SubRT10, Figure 33 for SubRT11, and Figure 34 for
SubRT12. Since Krgomax at Sgc is set to be 0.9, and Krogmax at Sorg is set to be 1, the curve of Krgo is lower than Krog.
3.2.3 Water saturation function in the new transition zone
In the new transition zone, both oil and water are mobile, which implies that the irreducible water saturation Swirr and
residual oil saturation is the same as Swirr and Sorw at DOL respectively. The NTZ can occupy 35% of the total interval
between GOC and FWL.
The hypotheses of the new saturation tables in NTZ are:
• NTZ is divided into several intervals, each with the same rock properties as at DOL.
• The water relative permeability Krowmax at Sorw decreases linearly with depth.
• Swirr and Sorw remain the same as that at DOL.
• Corey exponents to oil, Now, and water, Now, change linearly with depth.
• Saturation tables remain the same as at DOL for drainage and imbibition capillary pressure.
• Oil and gas saturation tables are identical to that at DOL.

UI gives the number of TZNUM of 3, indicating 3 different parts are divided. With Corey exponents and Krwmax calculated,
relative permeability curves can be computed, as in Figure 35, Figure 36 and Figure 37 for all the SubRTs, which have the
same trends as the relative permeability curves from GOC to DOL. Choosing 9150 ft to compare three different sets of
relative permeability curves of SubRT10, SubRT11 and SubRT12, we discover the smallest porosity range has the largest
Krow and smallest Krwo (Figure 38), showing the same trend as the Ghedan approach1.
After adding more intervals to the new TZ, more sets of relative permeability curves are appended. For RT1, there are 8
intervals for SubRT10, and 9 intervals for SubRT11, and 9 intervals for SubRT12. The relative permeability curves in all the
intervals from GOC to FWL are calculated in DRTP, as in Figure 39, Figure 40 and Figure 41.

4. Conclusions, Recommendations and Way Forward

A summary of the study is given in the first section. The second section gives the main conclusions of the study, while the
third section gives some recommendations and way forward.

4.1 Summary
This study has generated saturation functions in carbonate reservoirs in terms of SubRockTyping and DRTP, by employing
modified Ghedan’s DRRT approach. In this study, codes have been composed to achieve different functions. One code was
composed to generate balanced porosity ranges of certain rock type so enough data points would fall within each range.
Utilizing the parameters of water saturation and height above FWL of each porosity range, a code was written to perform
curve-fitting to produce saturation-height functions, equivalent of capillary pressure curves for each rock type. A third code
was made to generate the saturation tables of simulation models by populating the required data for each of the keyword used
in simulation modeling.
SPE 160683 7

4.2 Conclusions
The main conclusions of this study are:
! Subdivision of SRRTs into sub-static rock types through porosity frequency is proposed by the author to better
describe rock types for reservoir characterization.
! Modified Ghedan-Okuyiga function is proposed by the author to fit the log-based saturation data and validated for a
carbonate reservoir.
! Wettability variation in carbonate reservoirs is common, with wettability changes from oil wet at the top of reservoir
to water wet at the bottom of the reservoir. Dynamic rock typing is achieved by imposing wettability effect, and
multi-phase flow characteristics, which cannot be accomplished through SRRT.
! Wettability is quantified in terms of Corey exponents to define the shapes of the relative permeability curves of oil,
water and gas phases. These Corey components are functions of rock types and depth.
! The DRTP can be used to produce saturation tables, i.e., to populate the capillary pressure and relative permeability
data required for the keywords water saturation functions, oil saturation functions and gas saturation functions of
commercial simulators for use in the simulation model.
! Dry oil production can be observed even below the traditional top of transition zone. The reservoir depth can be
divided into several intervals from top of reservoir to dry oil limit, with the constant wettability in each interval.
! DRTP is a bold attempt of the application of simulation models, which extends to reservoir characterization area of
rock typing in particular.
! The author proposes a novel method of further dividing the new transition zone from DOL to FWL into several
intervals by imposing Corey exponents to each interval while the saturation end points are kept constant. This can
produce more saturation tables and more accurately assign saturation functions to the cells.
! Traditional initialization of simulation cells is a special case of this dynamic reservoir rock typing. In the traditional
rock typing work, DOL is the top of the traditional transition zone, so only one DRRT for a sub-static rock type is
produced in the transition zone, which can also be achieved by DRTP.
! Residual oil saturation could be correlated with connate water saturation using Land function. Land correlation
could be replaced with linear or Power Law function. They can be selected in the DRTP according to the analysis
results of SCAL data.
! The most noticeable novel part of the research is the realization of dynamic rock typing approach in simulators. It
provides an integrated and comprehensive rock typing approach for the reservoir characterization study. It also
provides guidance for the utilizations of making other rock typing approaches in the form of plug-ins.

4.3 Recommendations and way forward

The recommendations of this study are:
! A more robust and convincing division approach of porosity ranges through porosity frequency should be developed
to accurately divide the rock types.
! More error analyses should be coded to help user tune coefficients of saturation-height functions to do curve-fitting
work more promptly.
! More SCAL data and petrophysical data should be provided to help user to input more accurate parameters for a
better generation of saturation tables.
The future work of this research could be:

! Sub-division of SRRTs could be further studied by using permeability ranges or rock quality index (!!!"#$ !!!).
! The relationships between imbibition capillary pressure with wettability and drainage capillary pressure could be
further investigated to get a more accurate calculation of imbibition capillary pressure curves.
! The relationships between Corey exponents with wettability could be analyzed in other reservoirs. The aspects for
the change of Corey exponents in the transition zone could also be investigated.
! The dynamic rock typing plug-ins, i.e., SubRockTyping and DRTP, can be applied in the commercial simulation
models, for the reservoir initialization, history match and prediction.
8 SPE 160683

Nomencalture
AAD Average Abslute Percentage Deviation, %
DOL Dry Oil Limit
DRRT Dynamic Reservoir Rock Type
DRTP Dynamic Rock Typing Plug-in
FWL Free Water Level, ft
Hafwl Height above free water level, ft
Krgo Gas relative permeability to oil
Krog Oil relative permeability to gas
Kro Oil relative permeability
Kromax Oil relative permeability at irreducible water saturation
Krw Water relative permeability
Krwmax Water relative permeability at residual oil saturation
Ngo Corey Exponent to Gas in oil/gas system
Nog Corey Exponent to Oil in oil/gas system
Now Corey exponents to oil in water/oil system
Nwo Corey exponents to water in water/oil system
NTZ New Transition Zone
OWC Oil Water Contact
Pc Capillary Pressure
TZ Transition Zone
UI User Interface
RQI Rock Quality Index, µm
RT Rock Type
SCAL Special Core AnaLysis
SEE Standard Error of Estimate
Sg Gas Saturation, fraction
Sgc Critical gas Saturation, fraction
Sgn Normalized gas saturation, fraction
Sorw Residual oil saturation, fraction
SRRT Static reservoir rocktype
Sw Water saturation, fraction
Swirr Irreducible water saturation
Swisp Spontenous imbibition water saturation
TTZ Top of Transition Zone
WI Wettability Index
! Contact Angle, degree
"o Oil Density
"w Water Density
# Interfacial Tension, dynes/cm
$ Porosity, fraction

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the management of Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company, and the Petroleum Institute for their
support and permission to publish this work.
SPE 160683 9

References
1. Ghedan, S.:” Dynamic Rock Types for Generating Reliable and Consistent Saturation Functions for Simulation
Models”, paper SPE 111295, Presented and published in the proceedings of the SPE/ EAGE Reservoir
Characterization and Reservoir Simulation Symposium, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28-31 October 2007.
2. Archie, G.E.:” Introduction to Petrophysics of Reservoir Rocks”, AAPG Bull., Vol. 34, pp. 943-961, May 1950.
3. Asgari, A. and Sobhi, G.A.:” A Fully Integrated Approach for the Development of Rock Type Characterization, in a
Middle East Giant Carbonate Reservoir”, Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, Vol. 3, pp. 260-270, 2006.
4. Gunter, G.W., Finneran, J.M., Hartmann, D.J., and Miller, J.D.:” Early Determination of Reservoir Flow Units Using
an Integrated Petrophysical Method”, paper SPE 38679, Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, 5-8 October 1997.
5. Hartmann, D.J. and Farina, J.:” Integrated Reservoir Analysis: Predicting Reservoir Performance through
Collaboration”. Course Workbook, Occidental Oil & Gas Corporation, 2004.
6. Amaefule, J.O., Altunbay, M., Tiab, D., Kersey, D.G., and Keelan, D.:” Enhanced Reservoir Description: Using Core
and Log Data to Identify Hydraulic (Flow) Units and Predict Permeability in Uncored Intervals/Wells”, paper SPE
26436, Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in Houston, Texas, 3-6 October 1993.
7. Francesconi, A.:” Reservoir Rock Types Application-Kashagan”, paper SPE 125342, Presented at SPE/EAGE
Reservoir Characterization and Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, October 2009.
8. Gholami, V.:” Fuzzy Rock Typing: Enhancing Reservoir Simulation and Modeling by Honoring High Resolution
Geological Models”. M.S. thesis, West Virgina U., UMI 1471786, 2009.
9. Jennings, J.W., and Lucia, F.J.:” Predicting Permeability from Well Logs in Carbonates with a Link to Geology for
Interwell Permeability Mapping”, paper SPE 71336, Presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, Lousiana, October 2001.
10. Al-Aruri, A., Ali, F.B., Ahmad, H.A., and Samad, S.A.:” Rock Type and Permeability Prediction from Mercury
Injection Data: Application to a Heterogeneous Carbonate Oil Reservoir, Offshore Abu Dhabi”, paper SPE 49556,
Presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11–14 November
1998. DOI: 10.2118/SPE-49556-MS.
11. Marzouk, I., Takezaki, H., and Suzuki, M.:” New Classification of Carbonate Rocks for Reservoir Characterization”,
paper SPE 49475, Presented at the 8th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi,
UAE, 11-14 October, 1998.
12. Masalmeh, S.K.:” Studying the Effect of Wettability Heterogeneity on the Capillary Pressure Curves Using the
Centrifuge Technique”, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 2002.
13. Richards, L.A.:” Capillary Conduction of Liquids through Porous Media”, Physics, 1931.
14. Al-Farasi, O., Elhami, M., Al-Felasi, A., Yammahi, F., and Ghedan, S.:” Revelation of Carbonate Rock Typing”,
paper SPE 125576, Presented at the Reservoir Characterization and Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 19-21
October, 2009.
15. Hamon, G.:” Two-Phase Flow Rock-Typing: Another Approach”, paper SPE 84035, Presented at the 2003 SPE
ATCE, Denver Colorado, 5-8 October, 2003.
16. Marzouk, I.:” Wettability and Saturation in Abu Dhabi Carbonate Reservoirs”, paper SPE 53379, Presented at 11th
SPE Middle East Oil Show, Bahrain, Feb 1999.
17. Esfahani, M.R., and Haghighi, M.:” Wettability Evaluation of Iranian Carbonate Formations”, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 42
(2004) 257-265.
18. Okasha, T.M., Funk, J.J., and Al-Rashidi, H.N.:” Fifty Years of Wettability Measurements in the Arab-D Carbonate
Reservoir”, paper SPE 105114, Presented at the 15th SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference, Bahrain,
Kingdom of Bahrain, 11-14 March 2007.
19. Huang, Q.:” Generation of Saturation Functions for Simulation Models of Carbonate Reservoirs”, M.S. thesis, thesis
code No.: PIPETS-11-12, submitted to the Graduate School of the Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, 2012.
20. Johnson, R.E. and Detre, R.:” Wetting of Low-Energy Surfaces”, Wettability, Surfactant Science Series vol. 49, J.C.
Berg, M. Dekker Inc., New York, 1-73. 1993.
21. Amott, E.:” Observations Relating to the Wettability of Porous Rock”, Trans., AIME 216, (1959) 156-167.
10 SPE 160683

22. Cuiec, L.:” Evaluation of Reservoir Wettability and its Effect on Oil Recovery: Interfacial Phenomena in Petroleum
Recovery”, N.R. Morrow (ed.), M. Dekker, Inc., New York 319-376., 1991.
23. Hamon, G.:” Two-Phase Flow Rock-Typing: Another Perspective”, paper SPE 84035, Presented at SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., 5-8 October, 2003.
24. Land, C. S.:” Comparison of Calculated with Experimental Imbibition Relative Permeability”, Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (Dec
1971) Pet. Trans. AIME 251, 419-425.
25. Behrenbruch, P., and Goda, H.M.:” Two-Phase Relative Permeability Prediction: A Comparison of the Modified
Brooks-Corey Methodology with a New Carman-Kozeny Based Flow Formulation”, paper SPE 101150, Presented at
SPE Asian Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide, Australia, 11-13 September, 2006.
26. Land, C.:”Calculation of Imbibition Relative Permeability for Two- and Three-Phase Flow from Rock Properties”,
SPEJ, 6, 149, 1968.
27. Cuddy, S., Allinson, G., and Steele, R.:” A Simple Convincing Model for Calculating Water Saturations in Southern
Northsea Gas Fields”, SPWLA 34th annual logging symposium, June 13-16, 1993.
28. Leverett, M.C.:” Capillary Behavior in Porous Solids”, Trans. AIME (1941), Vol. 142, 1942, pp. 152-169.
29. Al-Jenaibi, F., Hammadi, K., and Salameh, L.:” New Methodology for Optimized Field Development Plan, Why do
we Need to Introduce Dynamic Rock Typing?”, paper SPE117894, Presented at ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, November
2008.
30. Obeida, T.A., Al-Jenaibi, F., Rassas, S., and Serag, E.S.:” Accurate Calculation of Hydrocarbon Saturation Based on
Log-Data in Complex Carbonate Reservoirs in the Middle-East”, paper SPE 111112, Presented at SPE /EAGE
Reservoir Characterization and Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, October 2007.
31. Ghedan, S.G., Thiebot, B.M., and Boyd, D.B.:” Modeling Original Water Saturation in the Transition Zone of a
Carbonate Oil Reservoir”, paper SPE 88756, Presented at SPE ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, October 2006.
32. Parker, A.R., and Rudd, J.M.:” Understanding and Modeling Water Free Production in Transition Zone: A Case
study”, paper SPE 59412, Presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Modeling for Asset
Management, YokoHama, Japan, 25-26 April, 2000.
33. Matthews, J.D.:” Geological and Physical Assessment of the Oil Reservoir Transition Zone”, Ph.D. dissertation,
Imperial College, London (2004).
34. Efnik, M., Hafez, H., Haajizadeh, M., Hamawi, M., Al-Mansori, M., Kenawy, M., and Abdulla, F.:” Producing Dry
Oil From a Transition Zone: Should this be Called a Wedge Zone?”, paper SPE 101471, presented at the Abu Dhabi
International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 5-8 November 2006.
35. Larsen, J., Thorsen, T., and Haaskjold, G.:” Capillary Transition Zones from a Core Analysis Perspective”, paper
SCA 2000-20, 2000, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
36. Jackson, M., Valvatne, P., and Blunt, M.:” Prediction of Wettability Variation within an Oil/Water Transition Zone
and its Impact on Production”, paper SPE 77543, Presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San
Antonio, Texas, 29 September-2 October, 2005.
37. Masalmeh, S. and Rijswijk, P.:” High Oil Recoveries from Transition Zone”, paper SPE 87291, Presented at the 9th
Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 15-18 October, 2000.
38. Gomes, J.S., Riberio, M.T., Strohmenger, C.J., Negahban, S., and Kalam, M.:” Carbonate Reservoir Rock Typing -
The Link between Geology and SCAL”, paper SPE 118284, Presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum
Exhibition and Conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, 3–6 November, 2008.
39. Shedid, S., and Almehaideb, R.:” Enhanced Reservoir Description of Heterogeneous Carbonate Reservoirs”,
Presented at the Petroleum Society’s Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, 2001.
40. Okasha, T M, Funk, J. J., and Al-shiwaish, A.A.:” Wettability and Relative Permeability of Lower Cretaceous
Carbonate Rock Reservoir in Saudi Arabia”, paper SPE 81484, SPE Middle East Oil Show, Bahrain, June 2003.
41. Masalmeh, S.K., and Jing, X.D.:” Improved Characterization and Modeling of Carbonate Reservoirs for Predicting
Waterflood Performance”, paper IPTC 11722, Presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference,
Dubai, UAE, 4-6 December, 2007.
SPE 160683 11

42. Masalmeh, S.K., Shiekah, I., and Jing, X.D.:” Improved Characterization and Modeling of Capillary Transition Zones
in Carbonate Reservoirs”, paper SPE 109494, Presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference,
Doha, Qatar, 21-23 November, 2005.
43. Grader, A., Mu, Y., Toelke, J., Baldwin, C., Fang, Q., Carpio, G., Stenger, B., Al Dayyani, T., and Kalam, Z.:”
Estimation of Relative Permeability using the Lattice Boltzmann Method for Fluid Flows in a Cretaceous Formation,
Abu Dhabi”, paper SPE 138591, presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu
Dhabi, UAE, 1-4 November 2010.
44. Brooks, R.H. and Corey, A.T.:” Properties of Porous Media Affecting Fluid Flow”, J. Irrigat. Drainage Div., Proc.
ASCE Vol. 92, No. IR2, 61, June 1966.

Figure 1 Petrophysical correlations of dolomites and

10
limestone RT

Figure 3 Interval division of reservoir depth from GOC to

FWL. The part from GOC to DOL is divided based on the
gradual wettability change from oil-wet at top to water-wet
below. The part from DOL to FWL is divided based on the
gradual change of Corey exponents that can depict the
shapes of relative permeability curves.

Figure 2 Comparison of new transition zone with traditional

transition zone

Figure 4 Porosity frequency of RT1

12 SPE 160683

Figure 5 Three porosity ranges of RT1 Figure 8 Final Sw vs. log-Sw for SubRT12

Figure 9 Subdivision of RT1 into 3 SubRTs

Figure 6 Fitted Sw with log Sw for SubRT10

Figure 10 “Properties” tab of DRTP UI

Figure 7 Fit Sw with log-Sw for SubRT11
SPE 160683 13

Figure 14 Krwmax vs. Sorw for 3 SubRTs

Figure 11 “Water/Oil” tab of DRTP UI

Figure 12 “Gas/Oil” tab of DRTP UI

Figure 15 Depth vs. Now and Nwo for SubRT10

Figure 13 Swirr from GOC to DOL for each SubRT from

default settings Figure 16 Depth vs. Now of RT1
14 SPE 160683

Figure 20 Relative permeability curves of SubRT10

Figure 17 Depth vs. Nwo of RT1

Figure 21 Relative permeability curves of SubRT11

Figure 18 Depth vs. WI of RT1

Figure 19 Swisp vs. WI Figure 22 Relative permeability curves of SubRT12

SPE 160683 15

Figure 26 Krog curves from GOC to DOL for SubRT11

Figure 23 Drainage capillary pressure for 3 SubRTs

Figure 24 Imbibition capillary pressure for SubRT10

Figure 27 Krog curves from GOC to DOL for SubRT12

Figure 25 Krog curves from GOC to DOL for SubRT10 Figure 28 Comparisons of Krog at TTZ for each SubRT
16 SPE 160683

Figure 29 Krow curves from GOC to DOL for SubRT10 Figure 32 Gas/oil relative permeability curves for SubRT10

Figure 30 Krow curves from GOC to DOL for SubRT11 Figure 33 Gas/oil relative permeability curves for SubRT11

Figure 31 Krow curves from GOC to DOL for SubRT12

Figure 34 Gas/oil relative permeability curves for SubRT12
SPE 160683 17

Figure 35 Relative permeability curves in the new transition

zone for SubRT10 Figure 38 Relative permeability curves in the new transition
zone at 9150ft for 3 SubRTs

3
Figure 39 Relative permeability curves in all the intervals
Figure 36 Relative permeability curves in the new transition
from GOC to FWL for SubRT10
zone for SubRT11

Figure 40 Relative permeability curves in all the intervals

Figure 37 Relative permeability curves in the new transition from GOC to FWL for SubRT11
zone for SubRT12
18 SPE 160683

Table 2 Estimated coefficients from curve-fitting for each

porosity division, RT1

SubRT a b c
SubRT10 4.3 74 -0.011
SubRT11 4.7 110 -0.0079
SubRT12 5.587 107 -0.0065

Table 3 Swirr at each interval of 3 SubRTs

Figure 41 Relative permeability curves in all the intervals 0 1 2 3 4 5

SubRT
from GOC to FWL for SubRT12 Swirr
SubRT10 0.0447 0.0798 0.115 0.150 0.185
Table 1 Error analysis for each porosity division of RT1 SubRT11 0.0613 0.126 0.190 0.254 0.319 0.383
SubRT AAD, % SEE
SubRT12 0.0858 0.161 0.235 0.310 0.385 0.459
SubRT10 45.2 18.3
SubRT11 77.1 11.5
SubRT12 47.8 16.4
SPE 160683 19

References

1 Ghedan, S.:” Dynamic Rock Types for Generating Reliable and Consistent Saturation Functions for Simulation Models”, paper SPE
111295, presented and published in the proceedings of the SPE/ EAGE Reservoir Characterization and Reservoir Simulation Symposium,
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 28-31 October 2007.
2 Archie, G.E.:” Introduction to Petrophysics of Reservoir Rocks”, AAPG Bull., Vol. 34, pp. 943-961, May 1950.
3 Asgari, A. and Sobhi, G.A.:” A Fully Integrated Approach for the Development of Rock Type Characterization, in a Middle East Giant
Carbonate Reservoir”, Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, Vol. 3, pp. 260-270, 2006.
4 Gunter, G.W., Finneran, J.M., Hartmann, D.J., and Miller, J.D.:” Early Determination of Reservoir Flow Units Using an Integrated
Petrophysical Method”, paper SPE 38679, presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, 5-8
October 1997.
5 Hartmann, D.J. and Farina, J.:” Integrated Reservoir Analysis: Predicting Reservoir Performance through Collaboration”. Course
Workbook, Occidental Oil & Gas Corporation, 2004.
6 Amaefule, J.O., Altunbay, M., Tiab, D., Kersey, D.G., and Keelan, D.:” Enhanced Reservoir Description: Using Core and Log Data to
Identify Hydraulic (Flow) Units and Predict Permeability in Uncored Intervals/Wells”, paper SPE 26436, presented at the SPE Annual
Technical Conference and Exhibition in Houston, Texas, 3-6 October 1993.
7 Francesconi, A.:” Reservoir Rock Types Application-Kashagan”, paper SPE 125342, presented at SPE/EAGE Reservoir Characterization
and Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, October 2009.
8 Gholami, V.:” Fuzzy Rock Typing: Enhancing Reservoir Simulation and Modeling by Honoring High Resolution Geological Models”.
M.S. thesis, West Virgina U., UMI 1471786, 2009.
9 Jennings, J.W., and Lucia, F.J.:” Predicting Permeability from Well Logs in Carbonates with a Link to Geology for Interwell
Permeability Mapping”, paper SPE 71336, presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Lousiana, October 2001.
10 Al-Aruri, A., Ali, F.B., Ahmad, H.A., and Samad, S.A.:” Rock Type and Permeability Prediction from Mercury Injection Data:
Application to a Heterogeneous Carbonate Oil Reservoir, Offshore Abu Dhabi”, paper SPE 49556, presented at the Abu Dhabi
International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11–14 November 1998. DOI: 10.2118/SPE-49556-MS.
11 Marzouk, I., Takezaki, H., and Suzuki, M.:” New Classification of Carbonate Rocks for Reservoir Characterization”, paper SPE 49475,
presented at the 8th Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 11-14 October, 1998.
12 Masalmeh, S.K.:” Studying the Effect of Wettability Heterogeneity on the Capillary Pressure Curves Using the Centrifuge Technique”,
J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 2002.
13 Richards, L.A.:” Capillary Conduction of Liquids through Porous Media”, Physics, 1931.
14 Al-Farasi, O., Elhami, M., Al-Felasi, A., Yammahi, F., and Ghedan, S.:” Revelation of Carbonate Rock Typing”, paper SPE 125576,
presented at the Reservoir Characterization and Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 19-21 October, 2009.
15 Hamon, G.:” Two-Phase Flow Rock-Typing: Another Approach”, paper SPE 84035, presented at the 2003 SPE ATCE, Denver
Colorado, 5-8 October, 2003.
16 Marzouk, I.:” Wettability and Saturation in Abu Dhabi Carbonate Reservoirs”, paper SPE 53379, presented at 11th SPE Middle East Oil
Show, Bahrain, Feb 1999.
17 Esfahani, M.R., and Haghighi, M.:” Wettability Evaluation of Iranian Carbonate Formations”, J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 42 (2004) 257-265.
18 Okassha, T.M., Funk, J.J., and Al-Rashidi, H.N.:” Fifty Years of Wettability Measurements in the Arab-D Carbonate Reservoir”, paper
SPE 105114, presented at the 15th SPE Middle East Oil & Gas Show and Conference, Bahrain International Exhibition Center, Kingdom
of Bahrain, 11-14 March 2007.
19 Huang, Q.:” Generation of Saturation Functions for Simulation Models of Carbonate Reservoirs”, M.S. thesis, thesis code No.: PIPETS-
11-12, submitted to the Graduate School of the Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, 2012.
20 Johnson, R.E. and Detre, R.:” Wetting of Low-Energy Surfaces”, Wettability, Surfactant Science Series vol. 49, J.C. Berg, M. Dekker
Inc., New York, 1-73. 1993.
21 Amott, E.:” Observations Relating to the Wettability of Porous Rock”, Trans., AIME 216, (1959) 156-167.
22 Cuiec, L.:” Evaluation of Reservoir Wettability and its Effect on Oil Recovery: Interfacial Phenomena in Petroleum Recovery”, N.R.
Morrow (ed.), M. Dekker, Inc., New York 319-376., 1991.
23 Hamon, G.:” Two-Phase Flow Rock-Typing: Another Perspective”, paper SPE 84035, presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference
and Exhibition held in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A., 5-8 October, 2003.
24 Land, C. S.:” Comparison of Calculated with Experimental Imbibition Relative Permeability”, Soc. Pet. Eng. J. (Dec 1971) Pet. Trans.
AIME 251, 419-425.
20 SPE 160683

25 Behrenbruch, P., and Goda, H.M.:” Two-Phase Relative Permeability Prediction: A Comparison of the Modified Brooks-Corey
Methodology with a New Carman-Kozeny Based Flow Formulation”, paper SPE 101150, presented at SPE Asian Pacific Oil & Gas
Conference and Exhibition, Adelaide, Australia, 11-13 September, 2006.
26 Land, C.:”Calculation of Imbibition Relative Permeability for Two- and Three-Phase Flow from Rock Properties”, SPEJ, 6, 149, 1968.
27 Cuddy, S., Allinson, G., and Steele, R.:” A Simple Convincing Model for Calculating Water Saturations in Southern Northsea Gas
Fields”, SPWLA 34th annual logging symposium, June 13-16, 1993.
28 Leverett, M.C.:” Capillary Behavior in Porous Solids”, Trans. AIME (1941), Vol. 142, 1942, pp. 152-169.
29 Al-Jenaibi, F., Hammadi, K., and Salameh, L.:” New Methodology for Optimized Field Development Plan, Why do we Need to
Introduce Dynamic Rock Typing?”, paper SPE117894, presented at ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, November 2008.
30 Obeida, T.A., Al-Jenaibi, F., Rassas, S., and Serag, E.S.:” Accurate Calculation of Hydrocarbon Saturation Based on Log-Data in
Complex Carbonate Reservoirs in the Middle-East”, paper SPE 111112, presented at SPE /EAGE Reservoir Characterization and
Simulation Conference, Abu Dhabi, October 2007.
31 Ghedan, S.G., Thiebot, B.M., and Boyd, D.B.:” Modeling Original Water Saturation in the Transition Zone of a Carbonate Oil
Reservoir”, paper SPE88756, presented at SPE ADIPEC, Abu Dhabi, October 2006.
32 Parker, A.R., and Rudd, J.M.:” Understanding and Modeling Water Free Production in Transition Zone: A Case study”, paper SPE
59412, presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Modeling for Asset Management, YokoHama, Japan, 25-26 April,
2000.
33 Matthews, J.D.:” Geological and Physical Assessment of the Oil Reservoir Transition Zone”, Ph.D. dissertation, Imperial College,
London (2004).
34 Efnik, M., Hafez, H., Haajizadeh, M., Hamawi, M., Al-Mansori, M., Kenawy, M., and Abdulla, F.:” Producing Dry Oil From a
Transition Zone: Should this be Called a Wedge Zone?”, paper SPE 101471, presented at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum
Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 5-8 November 2006.
35 Larsen, J., Thorsen, T., and Haaskjold, G.:” Capillary Transition Zones from a Core Analysis Perspective”, paper SCA 2000-20, 2000,
Abu Dhabi, UAE.
36 Jackson, M., Valvatne, P., and Blunt, M.:” Prediction of Wettability Variation within an Oil/Water Transition Zone and its Impact on
Production”, paper SPE 77543, presented at SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, San Antonio, Texas, 29 September-2
October, 2005.
37 Masalmeh, S. and Rijswijk, P.:” High Oil Recoveries from Transition Zone”, paper SPE 87291, presented at the 9th Abu Dhabi
International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 15-18 October, 2000.
38 Gomes, J.S., Riberio, M.T., Strohmenger, C.J., Negahban, S., and Kalam, M.:” Carbonate Reservoir Rock Typing - The Link between
Geology and SCAL”, paper SPE 118284, presented at the 2008 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference held in Abu
Dhabi, UAE, 3–6 November, 2008.
39 Shedid, S., and Almehaideb, R.:” Enhanced Reservoir Description of Heterogeneous Carbonate Reservoirs”, presented at the Petroleum
Society’s Canadian International Petroleum Conference, Calgary, 2001.
40 Okasha, T M, Funk, J. J., and Al-shiwaish, A.A.:” Wettability and Relative Permeability of Lower Cretaceous Carbonate Rock
Reservoir in Saudi Arabia”, paper SPE 81484, SPE Middle East Oil Show, Bahrain, June 2003.
41 Masalmeh, S.K., and Jing, X.D.:” Improved Characterization and Modeling of Carbonate Reservoirs for Predicting Waterflood
Performance”, paper IPTC 11722, presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Dubai, UAE, 4-6 December, 2007.
42 Masalmeh, S.K., Shiekah, I., and Jing, X.D.:” Improved Characterization and Modeling of Capillary Transition Zones in Carbonate
Reservoirs”, paper SPE 109494, presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Doha, Qatar, 21-23 November, 2005.
43 Grader, A., Mu, Y., Toelke, J., Baldwin, C., Fang, Q., Carpio, G., Stenger, B., Al Dayyani, T., and Kalam, Z.:” Estimation of Relative
Permeability using the Lattice Boltzmann Method for Fluid Flows in a Cretaceous Formation, Abu Dhabi”, paper SPE 138591, presented at
the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 1-4 November 2010.
44 Brooks, R.H. and Corey, A.T.:” Properties of Porous Media Affecting Fluid Flow”, J. Irrigat. Drainage Div., Proc. ASCE Vol. 92, No.
IR2, 61, June 1966.