Precision in Permeability: Delineating Reservoir Heterogeneity with Flow Zone Indicators

Ataallah, Mohamed Abdelwahab

doi:10.21608/egjg.2025.400415.1119

Precision in Permeability: Delineating Reservoir Heterogeneity with Flow Zone Indicators

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Mohamed Abdelwahab Ataallah

Beni-Suef, Egypt

10.21608/egjg.2025.400415.1119

Abstract

Perfect permeability prediction in heterogeneous reservoirs is critical for effective subsurface resource management. This study applies the Flow Zone Indicator (FZI) concept to delineate distinct hydraulic flow units and establish unique porosity-permeability relationships within complex reservoir systems. Core data were classified into five FZI groups (0-4), each exhibiting a characteristic exponential porosity-permeability relationship. FZI 0, representing the lowest reservoir quality, showed an exceptionally strong correlation (R2 =0.9479), indicating a highly homogeneous pore system. Higher quality units (FZI 1-3) maintained strong exponential correlations (R2 : 0.7898–0.8444), reflecting enhanced pore connectivity. However, FZI 4, despite having the highest permeabilities, demonstrated lower model reliability (R 2 =0.5234), highlighting the impact of limited data on statistical robustness. This empirical evidence demonstrates that the FZI method offers an indispensable framework for quantitatively characterizing reservoir quality, moving beyond conventional bulk-property correlations. The FZI-based methodology effectively segments reservoir heterogeneity, enabling more precise permeability modeling, enhanced fluid flow simulations, and optimized reservoir management for sustainable resource recovery.

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