FIFA Football World Cup is taking place, hence, it is a good time to remember the importance of teamwork to achieve goals.

The
whole is more than the sum of its parts. This concept is easily extrapolated to reservoir permeability modeling. In order to accurately
predict permeability, it is necessary to understand the complex relationships existing in the porous medium. A multidisciplinary and
multiscale approach is the best way to understand factors controlling the fluid flow. If you want to score a GOAL the simplest way
is teamwork. Predicting permeability based on a single property, data or scale is weak and inaccurate.

The typical porosity versus permeability crossplot is shown below and it can be observed that at the same porosity value there are
differences in permeability up to 3 logarithmic cycles (points A, B and C). Based on the pore throat radius, obtained from
mercury injection capillary pressure tests, PTR isolines could be established (Winland's R35 equation in this case) and reservoir
description was improved. Incremental mercury saturation graph shows a contribution of micro and meso pore throat radius size.
Moreover, we can go to millimeter and nanometer scale and understand the textural characteristics of the rock that generate this
behavior.

By analyzing samples A, B, C thin sections and Scanning Electron Microscopy, the following can be deduced:

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A. Medium grain mature sandstone, with good preservation of the primary pore space after compaction and grains rearrangement.
Little evidences of quartz overgrowth.

B. Very fine grain immature sandstone, with sparse clay matrix due to postdepositional compaction and consequent primary reduction
of the original pore space. Subsequently, Quartz overgrowth is reported as early evidence of precipitation. It is followed by unstable
minerals alteration with sub-saturated waters, dissolving the grain and creating secondary porosity.

C. Very fine grain immature sandstone, clay supported. Compaction due to overload effects of plastic components generates original
pore spaces reduction. Quartz overgrowth is present as evidence of early chemical precipitation. Leaching of the matrix constituents
generates secondary pores.

This multiscale approach allows to conclude that there is a degree of microporosity associated with clay presences. As have been
proposed by many authors, including Clerke (2009), only the larger pore throat radius effectively contributes to the measured
permeability. Microporosity has little or no contribution to permeability. It is for this reason, in this reservoir, that rocks with the same
porosity can have drastic permeability variations.

Relating porosity, clay volume, pore throat radius and FZI the permeability was modeled using a non-linear model and results were
good in this reservoir. FZI and throat radius are closely linked.

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 BE A TEAM PLAYER, BECOME A CHAMPION
References:
SPE-WVS305.”Flow unit determination using FZI and PTR. Core VLE-XX54, Reservoir C-X2 VLE-XX96 area, Block V Maracaibo
Lake

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