Formation permeability to a given fluid \alpha-phase normalised to the reference value, usually to air permeability k_{air}:
(1) | k_{r\alpha} = \frac{k_\alpha}{k_{air}} |
The concept of relative permeability implies that different phases sweep through the same rock and under the same pressure gradient at different pace even if their viscosities are the same.
The concept of relative permeability is closely related to Wettability.
Mathematical models of relative permeability are called RPM:
2-phase RPM | 3-phase RPM |
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See also
Petroleum Industry / Upstream / Subsurface E&P Disciplines / Petrophysics
[ Permeability ] [ Absolute permeability ] [ Wettability ]
Reference
[1] Fekete – Relative Permeability Correlations