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Reliable SCAL Data for Reservoir Modeling: Case Study of a Niger Delta Reservoir

Conference Paper · July 2017

DOI: 10.2118/189123-MS

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Reliable SCAL Data for Reservoir Modeling: Case Study of a Niger Delta
Reservoir
Monica A. Wobo, Laser Engineering and Resources Consultants Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigera.
Mike O. Onyekonwu, Laser Engineering and Resources Consultants Limited, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigera.
Copyright 2017, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibitionheld in Lagos, Nigeria, 31 July – 2 August 2017.

This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by t he author(s). Contents
of the paper have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by t he author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect
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written consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words;
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Abstract
Special Core Analysis (SCAL) data has a direct impact on the way fluids are allocated and distributed in
the reservoir and simulation models, which would directly impact reservoirs’ STOIIP estimation and
their distribution. Moreover, it directly affects the performance of secondary and EOR flooding
processes, and in turn impacts the accuracy of the oil and gas reserve estimates, and the management of
these reserves. Therefore, SCAL data could be considered as one of the most critical reservoir input data
for reservoir simulation models.

This paper shows how a reliable SCAL data was used for Reservoir Modeling workflow and it’s impacts
on the accuracy of the oil and gas reserve estimates results of integrated reservoir studies performed on
XX reservoir of an onshore field in Niger Delta. The studies include petrophysical analysis, static
reservoir models and building Numerical models.

This Paper sheds light on the theoretical and experimental background of SCAL data. It explains the
concept of reservoir wettability and different factors that could induce changes in reservoir wettability.
Further, the concept of capillary pressure and its associated hysteresis for different wettability conditions
were considered. The concepts of two phase water/oil and gas/oil relative permeability curves and how
to generate three relative permeability data for water wet, mixed and oil wet reservoirs were
demonstrated. It clarifies the saturation end point of both capillary pressure and relative curves as a
function of reservoir heterogeneity and wettability, the idea of reservoir wettability profile.

Introduction
Reservoir modelling involves the calculation of volumes and production profiles. Available commercial
dynamic modelling solutions require a function that gives hydrocarbon Special Core Analysis
relationship (Relative Permeability and capillary Pressure) data as a function of reservoirs water
saturation for the calculation of volumes.
2 SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS

In the absence of core data, log derived saturation height functions are used. The most common is the
application of permeability classes to generate this relationship. This approach is prone to subjectivity,
hence error in application. In an attempt to properly manage associated errors, investigation was carried
out to ascertain the possibility of using HFZU plot of wells in the reservoir that cuts across zones in the
field, thereby linking the flow units and the permeability classes and deriving a relationship between the
permeability, porosity, capillary pressure and hydrocarbon saturation.
This method is useful in appraising reservoir and fields, calculating Stock tank oil initially in place
(STOIIP) and free gas initially in place (FGIIP) where little or no information is known about the
formation type and core analysis. Result obtained with this method was compared with other methods of
initializing and estimating Stock tank oil initially in place (STOIIP) and free gas initially in place
(FGIIP). The difference obtained in calculated volumes using this method was closer to the Static
volumes obtained by G&G by less 3% relative to those estimated using normal method of assigning one
Scal data per reservoir to the model for Initialization.

Purpose of the Study

The aim of this paper is to employ the use of hydraulic flow zone units which is related to distinct Litho
Facies to assign permeability clases which was used to estimate Special Core Analysis relationship
(Relative Permeability and capillary Pressure) thereby numerically linking reservoir fluid flow and
geologic description. In this study Scal relationship was assigned to each HFZU aand modified to reflect
each zone average parameters as opposed to conventionanal practice of assuming the entire reservoir as
one flow unit and assigning a single Special Core Analysis relationship (Relative Permeability and
capillary Pressure This technique provides reservoir engineers a method to determining more acurately
Stock tank oil initially in place (STOIIP) and free gas initially in place (FGIIP). .

Special Core Analysis (SCAL)

Special core analysis (SCAL) is one of the main sources of data available to guide the reservoir
simulation engineer in assessing the economic potential of a hydrocarbon accumulation. Special Core
Analysis attempts to extend the data provided by routine measurements to situations more representative
of reservoir conditions. SCAL data is used to support log and well test data in gaining an understanding
of individual well and overall reservoir performance. However, SCAL measurements are more
expensive, and are commonly only done on a small selected group of samples, or if a difficult strategic
reservoir management decision has to be made (e.g. to gasflood or not to gasflood).
Tests are carried out to measure fluid distribution, electrical properties and fluid flow characteristics in
the two and occasionally three phase situation, and are made on preserved core. A schematic diagram of
common SCAL measurements is given in Fig. 1.

Porosity and single phase gas or liquid permeabilities were measured at overburden loadings so that the
room condition data can be corrected. Wettability and capillary pressure data were generated by
controlled displacement of a wetting phase by a non-wetting phase e.g., brine by air, brine by oil or air
by mercury. These systems usually have known interfacial tension (IFT) and wetting (contact) angle
properties. Conversion to the required reservoir values of IFT and contact angle can then be attempted to
give data for predicting saturation at a given height within a reservoir. Electrical properties are measured
at formation brine saturations of unity and less than unity, to obtain the cementation exponent, resistivity
SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS 3

index, and excess conductivity of samples. These were used to provide data for interpretation of down-
hole logs.

Coring Process

Fig 1: Special Core Analysis

Relative permeability attempts to provide data on the relative flow rates of phases present (e.g. oil and
water or gas and water). Fluid flow is strongly influenced by fluid viscosities, and wetting
characteristics. Measurements were carefully made under appropriate conditions, which allow some
understanding of the wetting characteristics. The data generated allows relative flow rates and recovery
efficiency to be assessed.

The Flow Zone Indicator Concept

Amaefule et al (1997) postulated that the ratio of permeability to effective porosity was a unique index
of the hydraulic quality of a reservoir rock with respect to the pore geometry and pore throat size
distribution which are functions of mineralogy (i.e. type, abundance, morphology and location relative
to pore throats) and texture (i.e. grain size, grain shape, sorting and packing). These are the key
determinants of hydraulic behavior, thus, by modifying the Kozeny-Carman equation the reservoir
quality index (RQI) was defined by the given expression:

= 0.0314 …………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
Φ
Equivalently,
1 Φ
= 0.0314 × ………………………………………………………………………… 2
1− Φ

From the equation above, RQI can be estimated using measurements on reservoir rock samples.
Amaefule et al then defined a term now known as the flow zone indicator (FZI) which is given by:
4 SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS

0.0314
= ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 3

The FZI can be rearranged in terms of the measurable RQI as given below

= ……………………………………………………………………………………………….… 4
Φ
Where
Φ
Φ = …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
1− Φ

This FZI is intrinsic to a reservoir and is such that rocks or associations of rocks with identical FZI
values are expected to have identical hydraulic behaviours. According to Amaefule et al (1997), the FZI
is a unique parameter that incorporates the attributes of texture and mineralogy in the discrimination of
distinct pore geometries and facies. In terms of the FZI the permeability can be written as:
Φ
= 1014 ……………………………………………………………………………… 6
1− Φ

Hydraulic Flow Zone Units (HFZUs)

These are genetic reservoir units (simply lithofacie associations); they are the result of a practical
subdivision of a reservoir into components which have a consistent range of reservoir properties, a
consistent external geometry, and a set of log responses (electrofacies) by which they can be consistently
recognised. Dividing reservoirs into genetic units provides the link that ensures that the reservoir
property data measured from core are properly incorporated into the volume cells (voxels) used in
reservoir modelling.

Saturation Height Function Model

Assigning a single saturation table to a model due to reservoir heterogeneity will consequently lead to
unreliable initialization volumes, hence the need for a representative saturation model design to capture
the heterogeneity. Water saturation (Sw) distribution in each zone of the reservoir model should be used
in the reservoir simulation model.
In the absence of core data, log derived saturation height functions are used. A modified lambda
function approach was used. The first step is to have a generic saturation height equation that relates Sw
to height above free water level (h) as presented in equation (7). The associated constants a, b, c, are
then defined as function of permeability and porosity of the reservoir rocks expressed as lambda (λ). The
lambda is defined as the ratio of natural logarithm of permeability to porosity (Equations 7, 8 and 9).
The ratio of permeability to porosity is used in physical terms to define different flow units existing in
the reservoir.

∗
= ℎ+ … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (7)

Where,

= … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . . (8)
SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS 5

= + − … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . . (9)

= … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (10)

There is also need for saturation classes that will be tied to permeability classes and HFZU. To achieve
this, plot of Sw log vs. FWL (Height) above free water level was made to generate dynamic rock type
classification. On investigation, a total of six rock types were found from the plot as presented in Fig 6.
The data were grouped and the lower and upper limits were arranged to a corresponding permeability
(usually taken from the geological model; they were assigned in ranges and upper limits of water
saturation were assigned to lower limits of permeability and vice versa (this was done for all six
assumed rock types). The geologic permeability was exported from eclipse to excel according to the
different layers taken from the grid dimensions, the different limits of saturation for the six classes of
rock type were conditioned to the permeability. With this process, each PC group was assigned to a
unique cell with Sw.

Application to Actual Field Example

This paper shows the steps used in an actual field example to demonstrate the process of populating
simulation layers with SCAL relationship. A Representative numerical reservoir simulation was built
using the commercial black-oil simulator Eclipse 100.
6 SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS

Flow Chart of the Process.

1 • Output all needed logs (Sw for each reservoir)

2 • Confirm the poro-perm tie using the poro-perm cross plot

3 • Look up histogram plot for permeability classes in each reservoir

4 • Validate the classes using Hydraulic Flow Zone Unit (HFZU)

5 • Match simulated water saturation to actual from logs

6 • Modify the match to reflect each flow unit rock quality

• Plot the height above free water level vs. Sw and determine the
7 saturation classes
• Tie the plot to permeability class units using a SATNUM code in
8 Petrel or Eclipse
10 • Assign the SATNUM to each HFZU in the dynamic model
• Tie the SATNUM classes to the relative permeabilities and
11 capillary pressure derived from saturation height function
Description of the Model
The Grid was discretized into 50×50×7 grid blocks, each of dimensions 40×40×100 ft. The average
porosity is 0.2 and the horizontal permeability is 200 md, which coincides with the absolute
permeability of the log from which the relative permeability data and Capillary pressure was estimated
in this study. The total pore volume is 2×107 ft3. PVT data, (i.e. formation volume factor and viscosity)
were estimated using Standing Correllation. The initial reservoir pressure is 2000 psia.

Fig 2 – The 10 x 5 x 10 grid blocks with two equilibrium regions

Table 1 – Simulation Grid Properties

Simulation Grid properties
Average Reservoir Grid Block Dimensions, 1000 ft 1000 ft
Properties 10 ft
SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS 7

Porosity, 0.22
Permeability, = = 633 mD
⁄ 0.1
Initial Reservoir Pressure, 4764 psia
Initial Water Saturation, 0.52
Formation Water Compressibility, 2.8817 × 10 psia
Rock Compressibility, 1.0776 × 10 psia
Fault Transmissibility Modifier 0.1
Initial Fluid Viscosity, 0.2074 cp
Properties Formation Volume Factor, 1.660 rb/stb
Oil Gravity 0.824 Mscf/stb
Saturation Pressure, 4764 psia
Formation Volume Factor of Water, 1.0001 rb/stb
Oil Initially in Place, 19.65 MMstb

Figure 1: Hydraulic Flow Zone Units for Field-A with no core data
8 SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS

Table min k max k

1 10 30
2 30 90
3 90 270
4 270 810
5 810 2430
6 2430 3773

Figure 2: Permeability distribution histogram and table of permeability class defined for for
Field-X

Figure 3: Special Core Analysis Relationship (Relative Permeability and capillary Pressure) for Field-X
SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS 9

Figure 4 Comparison of Field-X Permeability, Porosity from log and dynamic model

Figure 5: Comparison between Sw from log and calculated Sw from dynamic model
10 SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS

30
24.41
25 22.81 23.15

20

15

10

0
1 2 3 4

Fig 6: Comparison of STOIIP(MMSTB) Volume from SCALrelationship input with Staic Volume

60 52.86
48.06 50.46
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 2 3 4

Fig 7: Comparison of FGIIP (BSCF) Volume from SCALrelationship input with Staic Volume

Conclusions
A Special Core Analysis relationship (Relative Permeability and capillary Pressure) technique for
reservoir simulation, that uses HFZU to assign permeability classes, has been investigated. This
technique is based on FZIs and is recommended for application especially in the area with no core data
since it is linking reservoir fluid flow and geologic description. The technique it serves as a reliable basis
to estimate Stock tank oil initially in place (STOIIP) and free gas initially in place (FGIIP).

Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate the suggestions and discussions of the research and development team of Laser
Engineering during the preparation of this manuscript.

References
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 SPE-Error! Reference source not found.-MS 11

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