Estimation of Multiphase Flow Functions From Displacement Experiments

Abstract

Summary A recently developed implicit estimation procedure (or regression-based method) that uses parameter estimation with B-spline functional representations can determine essentially unbiased estimates of relative permeability functions from dynamic displacement data. In this paper, we extend this method to estimate relative permeability simultaneously with capillary pressure functions. Careful consideration is given to the functional representation of the relative permeability and capillary pressure functions so that the most accurate estimates of these properties can be obtained. These procedures are demonstrated with laboratory dynamic displacement data.