A CRITICAL REVIEW OF CORE ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES

D.K. KEELAN

this article begins on the next page F

JCPT72-02-06 A Critical Review of Core Analysis Techniques DARE K. KEELAN, Core laboratories Inc., Dallas, Texas ABSTRACT Considerations are presented for a coordinated program to secure and analyze cores that will yield desired objec- tives; i.e. porosity, permeability, lithology, residual fluid saturations-and probable production, b2) areal changes in porosity, permeability and lithology to charac-. terize the reservoir, b3) interstantial water saturation and b4) samples unaltered in wetness and statable for special core analysis tests. A review is made of currently used techniques
for conventional core analysis with discussions of the strength and weakness of each. Included are com- ments bon full-diameter, plug-size, sidewall, rubber sleeve core and combined core analysis approaches required in sands containing hydratable clays. Special core analysis tests available tbe assist in defining solutions to various reservoir problems are listed in tabu- lar form for easy reference. Selected tests are discussed and illustrations of the effect of core wettability on certain results are presented. INTRODUCTION Core analysis remains the cornerstone upon which formation
evaluation rests. Rock samples recovered by coreing furnish information concerning lithology, stor- age capacity (porosity) and fluid content and deliver- ability (permeability) bSee T,11)1b, I Many of the basic principles used in core analysis today are the same as those originally established by the pioneers in the field. Techniques have been ex- panded and improved and instrumentation has under- gone change; however, attention to detail and selec- tion of the proper analytical technique for the rock type recovered are still essential to secure valid data. Changes occur in
the in situ saturations during b1.) the, coring operation and b2e the subsequent pressure reduction and gas expansion that occurs as the core is brought from reservoir temperatures and pressure to atmospheric conditions. Core residual saturations determined in the laboratory reflect (I ) coring fluid used and hence, the filtrate lost, (2) the degree of I)ARE K. KEELAN is manager of Special Core Analysi.e for Core Laboratories, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. He assumed this responsibility in 1965 after return from an engineer- ing assignment in London, England. He formerly spent 8 years in
Core Laboratories Engineering and Consulting Department as a reservoir engineer an conducting studies and developing mathematical models for analysis of frac- tured limestone reservoirs. He graduated from Texas, A&M University in 1951 with B.S. degrees in petroleum and geological engineering, and joined Core Laboratories Inc. in 1955 after serving as a pilot in the USAF. PAPER PRESENTED: at the 22nd Annual Technical Meeting of The Petroleum Society of CIM, Banff, Alberta 42 flushing, (3) reservoir fluid properties, (4) rock rela- tive permeability characteristics, (5) core
packaging and preservation after removal from the core barrel to the time of analysis and (6) in some cases, the analytical technique. Conrol of the coring fluid, the core packaging and preservation the analytical technique and to some degree the flushing is within the grasp of the person establishing the coring program. The procedures fol- owed should correspond to the objectives to be ob- tained. The remaining factors are inherent reservoir properties and are beyond control. Controllable factors are normally recorded and become an important part of the information needed for data
analysis. The reamining factors influence residual gas, oil and water values and establish the ranges of saturations that indicate to the analyst whether a given formation will produce gas, oil or water. wettability of cores is of little consequence in con- ventional core ananlysis. It is improtant when special tests are to follow core analysis, because certain tests made on cores nonpresentative of reservoir wettab- OBJECTIVES OF THE CORE ANALYSIS PROGRAM Ideally, objectives of a core analysis program should be carefully defined before coring commences. In some cases the objectives
conflict and it is impossible to satisfy all requirements on a give well. Common ob- jectives include securing cores for (1) definition of porosity, permealbility, lithology and residual fluid saturations and predictions of probable produc- tion. (2) defintion of areal changes in porosity per- meability and lithology to characterize the reservoir, (3) defintion of interstitial water saturation and (4) rock samples in an unaltered wettibility and or satura- tion state for special tests. Coring Fluids Filtrate loss during coring displaces certain of the original fluids present
in the reservoir rock. Common fluids used, filtrate loss and saturation alterations are presented in Table 2. A comparison of water saturations after coring with oil, gas and oil-emulsion muds is shown in Table 3. Coring fluids selected msut reflect the objectives of the core analysis. Interpetation of probable pro- duction requires that no additional oil be added and certain special tests require that wettability be an - altered Fluids suitable in most cases for obtain- ing various objectives are shown in Table 4. The realtionship of reservoir water saturation to
core anaylsis saturation determined after coring with oil- base and water base fluids is illustrated by Figure 1.