PETROFISICA DEL RESERVORIO

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;

2. Define the coefficient of isothermal compressibility of reservoir

rock and describe methods for determining values of formation
compressibility;

3. 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;
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;

5. Describe methods of determining fluid saturations in reservoir rock

and show relationship between fluid saturation and capillary pressure;

6. 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;
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.

8. Describe three-phase flow in reservoir rock and explain methods of

displaying three-phase effective permeabilities.

9. Demonstrate the techniques of averaging porosity, permeability, and

reservoir pressure data.

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
O O

Stratigraphic
Extent of
Petroleum
Overburden Rock
System

Sedimentary
Essential

Basin Fill
Elements Seal Rock
of Reservoir Rock
Petroleum
Pod of Active System Source Rock
Source Rock
Underburden Rock
Petroleum Reservoir (O)
Basement Rock
Fold-and-Thrust Belt Top Oil Window
(arrows indicate relative fault motion)
Top Gas Window

(modified from Magoon and Dow, 1994)

 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
-2
(i.e. Minerals With a CO3 Anion Group)
- Predominately Calcite (Limestone)
- Predominately Dolomite (Dolomite
or Dolostone)
Classified by Grain Size and Texture
 SEDIMENTARY ROCK TYPES
Relative Abundances
Sandstone
and conglomerate
(clastic)
~11%

Limestone and
Dolomite
Mudstone
(carbonate)
(Siltstone
~14%
and shale;
clastic)
~75%
Grain-Size Classification for Clastic Sediments
Name Millimeters Micrometers
4,096
Boulder 256
Cobble 64 Commonly, phi-sizes are used
for sediment analysis
Pebble 4
Granule 2
Very Coarse Sand 1
Coarse Sand 0.5 500
Medium Sand 0.25 250
Fine Sand 0.125 125
Very Fine Sand 62
0.062
Coarse Silt 0.031 31
Medium Silt 0.016 16
Fine Silt 0.008 8
Very Fine Silt 0.004 4
Clay (modified from Blatt, 1982)
DUNHAM’S 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
Oil/water
(impermeable)
contact (OWC)

Migration route
Seal
Seal
Hydrocarbon Reservoir
accumulation rock
in the
reservoir rock
Top of maturity

Source 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
٧
• What are the standard reporting conditions?

˚ API = API gravity

 = specific gravity
 FLUID VISCOSITY

• Importance
• Units – centipoises (μ, 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