In this paper we present four methods of estimating the effective vertical permeability of a reservoir containing stochastic shales in both two and three dimensions. The methods vary in their accuracy, speed and range of applicability. The first is based on numerical simulation, the second is an analytical method, the third and fourth are based on calculating approximate streamline lengths. The methods give consistent results for similar models and are used to show that the effective vertical permeability is strongly dependent on the shale dimensions, shale fraction and layer thickness. It is also shown that the results of the two-dimensional models are inappropriate even when the megascopic flow is unidirectional.

Keywords:
shale, shale length, streamtube, grid, vertical permeability, single shale, fluid dynamics, effective vertical permeability, upstream oil & gas, fraction
Subjects:
Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Reservoir Simulation, Flow in porous media
Copyright 1985, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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