A novel experimental apparatus for determination of three-phase relative permeabilities at reservoir conditions

A new three-phase flow apparatus is developed and tested using the newest pumping system and separator available. The flooding apparatus is designed for simultaneous injection and recycling of one, two, or three phases at reservoir conditions. Highly accurate pumps inject three phases virtually pulsefree into the core sample. The downstream end of the core sample is connected to a three-phase acoustic separator. The entire flow apparatus provides a closed loop and recycling of all phases. As the injection rate of any of the phases can be changed any time, both steady-state as well as unsteady-state type experiments may be performed. Along with production data, the pressure drop across the core sample is measured as a function of time using differential pressure transmitters, and, whenever a steady-state condition is attained, three-phase in situ saturation profiles are measured using an X-ray system. A full description of this apparatus is given. We outline experimental procedures and show results from the performance tests of the apparatus. A comprehensive comparison of average saturation determination by material balance and saturation profiles for a three-phase gas displacing water and oil case is reported. We further present and analyze experimental data from a three-phase experiment.