Effects of Clay Content on Permeability Damage, Capillary Pressure and Wettability Characteristics of Saudi Reservoir Rocks

Abstract

The objective of this work is to correlate the distribution of clays with the pore space and the mineralogy of authigenic clays in Saudi Arabian reservoir rocks with permeability damage, capillary pressure and wettability characteristics. The physical movement of authigenic kaolinite crystals and pore lining clays blocked pore throats causing permeability reductions as much as 50% in the best quality core to more than 80% in low permeability sandstone. These clays affected the shape of capillary pressure curves at low pore volumes. © 1993, The Japan Petroleum Institute. All rights reserved.