Temperature-dependent relative permeability and its effect on oil displacement by thermal methods

An analytical theory is presented that permits the formulation of a mathematical model to describe the variation of relative permeability with temperature in a water/oil system. The theory develops analytical equations for temperature-dependent relative permeability in terms of water saturation, irreducible water saturation, and differential change in irreducible water saturation with temperature. These equations predict and agree reasonably well with experimental results reported by other researchers. The implications of temperature-dependent relative-permeability data on reservoir performance of a thermal process are also presented. These data together with the application of the Buckley-Leverett frontal-advance theory and the fractional-flow equation are used to predict oil recovery.