Simultaneous Increase in Gas and Liquid Relative Permeabilities and Reduction of High-Velocity Coefficient From Wettability Alteration

Abstract

Summary The alteration of the wettability from liquid-wetting to intermediate gas-wetting results in improved liquid mobility, which has been demonstrated by a number of authors in recent years. In this work, we show that the gas-phase mobility may either increase or decrease in the state of intermediate gas-wetting. The increase or decrease in the gas-phase mobility is a function of the minimum liquid saturation. We also confirm that, as a result of the wettability alteration, there may be a substantial decrease in the two-phase high-velocity coefficient compared to the unaltered wettability state. The increase in the gas- and liquid-phase relative permeabilities and a decrease in the high-velocity coefficient of the two-phase flow from the wettability alteration contribute to improved gas well productivity.