POROSITY

Porosity of Reservoir

The percentage of pore volume or void space or that volume within a rock that contains fluid is
called porosity. A porous rock consists of particles and the spaces (pores) between them. Porosity is
the ratio between the volume of the pores and the total volume. The fluids stored in the pore spaces
within the reservoir rocks could be gas, oil, and water.

Porosity = Volume of pores / Total volume of the rock.

Voids ratio is also related to porosity but it is not the same, because voids ratio is the volume of the
pores divided by the volume of particles. Porosity is relatively easy to measure in the laboratory if a
core can be recovered (core analysis). Porosity in-situ can be estimated by lowering down a well
logging tool in the well. High porosity values indicate high capacities of the reservoir rocks to contain
these fluids because it has higher void than low porosity reservoir rock. Because of that, porosity
data are routinely used to relate and estimate the potential volume of hydrocarbons contained in a
reservoir.

For instance, in a discovery well that shows the presence of hydrocarbons in the reservoir
rocks, the set of data that is reviewed at least qualitatively to evaluate reservoir potential is porosity
data acquired with either logging-while-drilling (LWD) tools or by running wireline tools. Porosity
data are obtained from direct measurements on core samples and/or indirectly from well logs. In
most cases, porosity data from core samples are used to validate or calibrate porosity data from well
logs. Porosity data are also used in reservoir characterization for the classification of lithological
facies.

Sources of Porosity Data

Rock porosity data are obtained by direct or indirect measurements. Laboratory

measurements of porosity data on core samples are examples of direct methods. Determinations of
porosity data from well log data are considered indirect methods. Indirect methods for derivation of
porosity data are based on well log data. The well logs generally used for this purpose are density,
sonic, neutron, and nuclear magnetic response (NMR) logs. In most formation evaluation programs,
density, sonic, and neutron logs are routinely acquired. Density log is used to calculate porosity in
this well and the formulas are :

ρma−ρb
∅=
ρma−ρf
Where

ρb=bulk density read ¿ log

( cmg )
3

g
ρma=¿ , sand stone=2.65
cm3
g
ρf =fluid density , freshwater=1.0
cm3
And correction for :
∅ correction oil zone=∅ D × 0.9

∅ correction gas zone =∅ D × 0.7

The mud is assumed as freshwater mud due to the resistivity value is high.

Σ ρdata
ρb=
number of data

FORMATION WATER RESISTIVITY, Rw

Water Resistivity, Rw Theory

Resistivity is defined as the ability of a material to resist electrical conduction. It is the

inverse of conductivity and is measured in ohm-m. One of the most important parameters needed to
calculate hydrocarbon in place from wireline logs is the resistivity of formation water (Rw) in a
formation of interest. Formation water or interstitial water is the water, uncontaminated by drilling
mud that saturates the porous formation rock.

The resistivity of this formation water is an important interpretation parameter since it is

required for the calculation of saturations (water and/or hydrocarbon) from the resistivity logs.
Generally, fresh water has lower resistivity than oil. This data will be related with density log to make
the interpretation clearer as water has higher density than oil. Formation resistivity are measured
either by passing a known current through the formation and measuring the electrical potential
(electrode or galvanic devices) known as the laterolog or by inducing a current distribution in the
formation and measuring its magnitude (induction devices) known as induction log.

Formation resistivity are usually in the range of 0.2 to 2000 ohm-m in a logarithmic scale.
The main objectives of resistivity logs are the determination of Rt (true/uninvaded formation
resistivity) and Rxo (invaded zone resistivity). Rt are usually measured by using deep-reading focused
devices such as the deep laterolog device (LLD) and deep induction device (ILD). Rxo are measured
by using the shallow laterolog (LLs), the micro-resistivity device and the spherically focused log (SFL).
Rw can be obtained in 2 common ways; by using the SP log or apparent Rw (Rwa). In this report, the
method Rwa is chosen to make easier calculations. Rwa is the apparent Rw of a formation. In a
water-sand, Rwa is the actual formation Rw. In clean water bearing formations where it is 100% Sw,
Rt = Ro = F.Rw and Rwa = Rw. When Rwa deviates to higher values in a zone of known constant Rw,
there is a strong indication that HC are present. Rwa is derived from Archie’s Equation:

R Rt a
wa= by using F = m
F ∅

Where :
Rwa = apparent formation water resistivity
Rt = true formation resistivity, taken from resistivity log
F = formation resistivity factor
a = constant
m = cementation factor
∅ = porosity
WATER SATURATION, Sw

Water saturation is defined as the ratio of water volume to pore volume or the fraction of
water in a given pore space. Water saturation is considered one of the most important parameter in
reservoir determination as it is used to estimate the amount of hydrocarbon (HC) available inside a
formation. There are two methods of obtaining water saturation; by using core analysis or log
analysis. Because there is no core analysis available, the best choice is to use log analysis. In
determination of water saturation, one of the most common method is to use Archie’s Water
Saturation Equation. The equation is as follows:

n F × Rw
Sw =
Rt

or

F × Rw
Sw =
√
n

Rt
,

a
F=
∅m

Where
Rw = formation water resistivity
Rt = true formation resistivity
F = formation resistivity factor
a = constant
m = cementation factor
∅ = porosity

Archie's law is named after Gus Archie (1907–1978) who developed this empirical
quantitative relationship between porosity, electrical conductivity, and brine saturation of rocks.
Archie's law laid the foundation for modern well log interpretation as it relates borehole electrical
conductivity measurements to hydrocarbon saturations (which, for fluid saturated rock, equals 1 –
Sw).