TECHNICAL CATEGORY: RESERVOIR.

Integration of Rock Typing and Reservoir Properties

Mishrif Reservoir Analysis by Using Petrophysical Rock Typing

Authors: Saptarshi Basu*, Manu Singhal*, Edward Follows*, Archana Jagadisan*
*

Shell Projects and Technology, Bangalore

Log cluster analysis facilitates propagation of reservoir properties in the geo-cellular model
of a complex Cretaceous carbonate reservoir. This paper describes a Rock Typing scheme to
characterize heterogeneity and petrophysical complexity of the Mishrif Formation by using
Self Organizing Maps which then automates reservoir subdivision whilst delivering a robust
reservoir characterization.
The steps are described to build an object- based hierarchical electrofacies model using
IPSOM (Indexed and Probabilized Self Organizing Map). Key process challenges include the
absence of mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP), variously preserved physical core,
and poorly sampled routine core measurements. An unsupervised log cluster analysis using
gamma ray and porosity logs is calibrated with legacy core analysis results and core
descriptions. The resultant model defines a rock typing scheme for the Mishrif Formation.
High resolution wireline logs such as borehole images and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(NMR) constrain and confirm the results.
Four new Rock Types are determined, each with distinct groupings of reservoir porosity
properties. The Rock Types can be tied to specific cored facies and improves the
permeability-based modelling of flow units. New core acquired since the implementation of
Rock Types confirms the electrofacies definitions. The integration of information from corebased groups, petrophysical groups, NMR and image was used to define a final layering
scheme within the reservoir model. A few successful blind tests were run on wells to check
the robustness of the Rock Type prediction.
A secondary porosity analysis from image logs and NMR is used to systematize the Rock
Types further. The dearth of thin section analysis meant that petrographic fabric signatures
for some of the Rock Types are not yet calibrated in the current model.
Future work planned includes NMR T2 distribution shape analysis, secondary porosity
quantification integrated with both recent MICP and surveillance data. This will enable to
fine tune the Rock Typing further.
To summarize the IPSOM derived wireline log classification is supervised with diverse
generations and types of data combined with the use of analogues. The outcomes also
indicate that in the Mishrif Formation, similar porosity classes have diverse pore type
distributions due to varied diagenetic imprints. The supervised Rock Type is a robust
technique which allows for systematic and rapid interpretation of new data without interpreter
bias.