ABSTRACT Reservoirs with asphaltic oils are notorious for being difficult to evaluate with respect to reservoir properties. This is largely due to the flocculation of dispersed asphaltenes when the rock and fluids are brought to the surface. The flocculated asphaltenes deposit on the rock surface affecting the wettability and are suspended in the oil causing problems with flow measurements. Cleaning and aging procedures attempt to restore the rock surface back to reservoir conditions. However, unless all asphaltenes are removed, flocculated material will continue to form. Complete removal of the asphaltenes would alter the chemical and physical characteristics of the oil, creating questions about the applicability of the flow tests. This paper provides successful results from relative permeability tests using asphaltic oils. Attempts to measure oil permeabilities with dead crude oil have resulted in a continually decreasing permeability. However, once the crude oil was recombined to live oil, stable oil permeability was measured. The relative permeability tests with live oil were successfully run without the sample plugging problems typical of dead oil with flocculated asphaltenes. Results are shown for both sandstone and carbonate reservoirs
