RESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS PETE 311

PETROPHYSICS
Petrophysics is the study of rock properties and rock interactions with fluids (gases, liquid hydrocarbons, and aqueous solutions).

Modified from Tiab and Donaldson, 1996, p. 1

RESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS PETE 311

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Systematic theoretical and laboratory study of physical properties of petroleum reservoir rocks
Lithology Porosity Compressibility Permeability Fluid saturations Capillary characteristics Rock stress Fluid-rock interaction

RESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS
Course Objectives
By the last day of class, the student should be able to:
1. Define porosity; discuss the factors which effect porosity and describe the methods of determining values of porosity; Define the coefficient of isothermal compressibility of reservoir rock and describe methods for determining values of formation compressibility; Reproduce the Darcy equation in differential form, explain its meaning, integrate the equation for typical reservoir systems, discuss and calculate the effect of fractures and channels, and describe methods for determining values of absolute permeability;

2.

3.

RESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS
Course Objectives
4. Explain boundary tension and wettability and their effect on capillary pressure, describe methods of determining values of capillary pressure, and convert laboratory capillary pressure values to reservoir conditions; Describe methods of determining fluid saturations in reservoir rock and show relationship between fluid saturation and capillary pressure;
Define resistivity, electrical formation resistivity factor, resistivity index, saturation exponent, and cementation factor and show their relationship and uses; discuss laboratory measurement of electrical properties of reservoir rocks; and demonstrate the calculations necessary in analyzing laboratory measurements;

5.

6.

RESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS
Course Objectives
7. Define effective permeability, relative permeability, permeability ratio; reproduce typical relative permeability curves and show effect of saturation history on relative permeability; illustrate the measurement of relative permeability; and demonstrate some uses of relative permeability data. Describe three-phase flow in reservoir rock and explain methods of displaying three-phase effective permeabilities. Demonstrate the techniques of averaging porosity, permeability, and reservoir pressure data.

8.

9.

10. Demonstrate capability to perform calculations relating to all concepts above.

(These are minimum skills to be achieved/demonstrated)

PETROPHYSICS
Why do we study petrophysics?

Cross Section Of A Petroleum System

(Foreland Basin Example)
Geographic Extent of Petroleum System Extent of Play Extent of Prospect/Field O
Stratigraphic Extent of Petroleum System

Pod of Active Source Rock

Petroleum Reservoir (O) Fold-and-Thrust Belt (arrows indicate relative fault motion)
(modified from Magoon and Dow, 1994)

Essential Elements of Petroleum System

Seal Rock Reservoir Rock Source Rock Underburden Rock Basement Rock Top Oil Window Top Gas Window

Sedimentary Basin Fill

Overburden Rock

PETROLEUM SYSTEM

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

Timing of formation of the major elements of a petroleum system, Maracaibo basin, Venezuela.

DEFINITIONS - SEDIMENTARY ROCK

Sedimentary Rock
Rock Formed from the Weathered Products of Pre-Existing Rocks and Transported by Water, Wind, and Glaciers Clastic Sedimentary Rocks (Such as Shale, Siltstone, and Sandstone) Consist of Broken Fragments of Pre-Existing Rock (cf. Detrital)

Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks (and Evaporites) May Form by Chemical Precipitation or Organic Activity

CLASTIC AND CARBONATE ROCKS

Clastic Rocks
Consist Primarily of Silicate Minerals Are Classified on the Basis of: - Grain Size - Mineral Composition

Carbonate Rocks
Consist Primarily of Carbonate Minerals

(i.e. Minerals With a CO3 Anion Group)

- Predominately Calcite (Limestone) - Predominately Dolomite (Dolomite or Dolostone) Classified by Grain Size and Texture

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SEDIMENTARY ROCK TYPES

Relative Abundances
Sandstone and conglomerate (clastic) ~11%
Limestone and Dolomite (carbonate) ~14%

Mudstone (Siltstone and shale; clastic) ~75%

Grain-Size Classification for Clastic Sediments

Name
Boulder Cobble Pebble Granule Very Coarse Sand Coarse Sand Medium Sand Fine Sand Very Fine Sand Coarse Silt Medium Silt Fine Silt Very Fine Silt Clay

Millimeters
4,096

Micrometers

256 64 4 2 1 0.5 0.25 0.125 0.062 0.031 0.016 0.008 0.004

Commonly, phi-sizes are used for sediment analysis

500 250 125 62 31 16 8 4

(modified from Blatt, 1982)

DUNHAMS CLASSIFICATION - CARBONATES

Carbonate rocks can be classified according to the texture and grain size.
From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

GENERATION, MIGRATION, AND TRAPPING OF HYDROCARBONS

Seal

Fault (impermeable)

Oil/water contact (OWC) Migration route Seal

Seal

Hydrocarbon accumulation in the reservoir rock Top of maturity Source rock

Reservoir rock

DESCRIBING A RESERVOIR
Structural Characterization

STRUCTURAL HYDROCARBON TRAP

This structural trap is formed by an anticline and a normal fault.

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

DOMAL TRAP
Are hydrocarbons in this field oil or gas? What is the volume of hydrocarbons In this trap? What are the reserves?

Closure. In map view (top), closure is the area within the deepest structural contour that forms a trapping geometry, in this case 1300 ft [390 m]. In cross section A-A', closure is the vertical distance from the top of the structure to the lowest closing contour, in this case about 350 ft [105 m]. The point beyond which hydrocarbons could leak from or migrate beyond the trap is the spill point.

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

WATER DRIVE

What is the Drive Mechanism?

A reservoir-drive mechanism whereby the oil is driven through the reservoir by an active aquifer. As the reservoir depletes, the water moving in from the aquifer below displaces the oil until the aquifer energy is expended or the well eventually produces too much water to be viable.

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

GAS EXPANSION DRIVE

What is the Drive Mechanism? A gas-drive system utilizes the energy of the reservoir gas, identifiable as either as free or solution gas, to produce reservoir liquids. Are there other drive mechanisms?

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

TYPES OF HYDROCARBONS
Composition Molecular structure Physical properties

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDROCARBONS

Color Refractive Index Odor Density (Specific Gravity) Boiling Point Freezing Point Flash Point Viscosity

FLUID DENSITY
API = 141.5 - 131.5

What are the standard reporting conditions?

API = API gravity = specific gravity

FLUID VISCOSITY
Importance Units centipoises (, cp) Strongly temperature dependent Standard reporting conditions

DRILLING RIGS
Drillship Semisubmersible Jackup Submersible Land Rig

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

ROTARY DRILL BIT, WORN

From Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary

Next Class:
RESERVOIR POROSITY
Definition: Porosity is the fraction of a rock that is occupied by voids (pores).

Origins and descriptions

Factors that effect porosity

Methods of determination