Seal capacity: pitfalls and limitations of estimation
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It has been suggested that this article be merged with [[::Seal capacity|Seal capacity]]. (Discuss) |
Although it is tantalizing to be able to measure the capillary properties of a seal and then assess hydrocarbon volumes, some practical problems exist:
- It is not easy to characterize the displacement pressure of a top seal from a few, or many, measurements.
- Few empirical field studies compare the predicted and observed hydrocarbon column heights. This is worrisome because idealized laboratory experiments have significant errors in the predicted hydrocarbon column heights.
- Hydrocarbon saturations required for flow through top seals—and, consequently, displacement pressures—may be much higher than commonly assumed.
- Hydrocarbon columns beneath breached seals and hydrocarbon-wet seals may not be related to the capillary properties of the seal in any easily understood way.
- Diffusion can cause loss of large volumes of gas but not oil through a top seal.
- Hydrodynamic flow can alter top seal capacity.
See also
- Displacement pressure of a seal: difficulty of characterization
- Displacement pressure: does the theory predict reality?
- Saturations required for hydrocarbon flow
- Seal capacity of breached and hydrocarbon-wet seals
- Hydrodynamic flow and pressure transients
- Top seal displacement pressure
- Diffusive seal leakage
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