Evaluation of Petro-physical Properties

using Routine & Special Core Analysis

for Reservoir Characterization

A Project Report
By
SHAHID HUSSAIN S (211915219067)
SIVARAMAN R (211915219072)
Final Year
B.Tech Petroleum Engineering
RGCE
 Synopsis
 Introduction to ONGC & IRS
 Petro-physics
 Categories of Core Analysis
 Core Sampling
 Core Processing
 Core Cleaning
 Core Drying
 Routine Core Analysis
 Porosity
 Bulk Volume Determination
 Permeability
 Special Core Analysis
 Pore Compressibility Studies
 Relative Permeability
 Resistivity
 Wettability
 Capillary Pressure
 Conclusion
 ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited)
& Institute of Reservoir Studies (IRS)

 In 1955, Government of India developed ONGC as part of the Public Sector development.
 So ONGC was setup in 1956 to explore oil and natural gas resources in the country .
 Institute of Reservoir Studies(IRS) :
Founded in 1978 as a single-source and multi-service reservoir engineering agency.
 OBJECTIVES OF IRS:

 Maximize hydrocarbon recovery at minimum cost with conventional and improved recovery techniques.

 Provide holistic reservoir description of all data.

 Enhance the skills and knowledge for better reservoir management.

 Provide a complete range of studies on Reservoir Characterization, EOR Process and Well Productivity
Enhancement.

 Some Laboratories at IRS are:Thermal process lab, Petro physical lab, Chemical flood lab, Water & gas
control lab, MEOR lab, Water flood lab, PVT lab, Gas injection lab.
 Petro-physics
 Study of the physical and chemical properties that describe the occurrence and behaviour of rock and
fluids.
 Reservoir quality is determined primarily by the petro-physical properties.
 Categories of Core Analysis
 Core Sampling :
Sampling will generally take into account one or more of the following:
 Lithological distribution
 Porosity-permeability variations
 Distribution of hydrocarbons

 Core Processing :
CORE SAMPLES
Sample is prepared using the following methods.
 Slabbing
 Plugging
 Trimming
Tools : Large slab saw with a diamond blade, Drill press,
Dressing wheel, Fluid pumps of various coolants.
CORE CUTTING INSTRUMENT
 Categories of Core Analysis
 Core cleaning :
 A Soxhlet extractor and suitable solvent or solvents
should be used to dissolve and extract oil and brine
which is distillation extraction. eg. Toulene.
 Complete extraction of certain oils may require more
than one solvent.
Advantages: Cleaning prepares the samples for tests. SOXHLET EXTRACTOR

 Core Drying :
 The process of drying the cores in the oven.
 Each core sample is dried until the weight becomes
constant. Drying times may vary substantially with time.
 Laboratory samples can be preserved in materials such as
aluminium foil, Plastic bags, Dip and coating, anaerobic jars. HUMIDITY CONTROLLED OVEN
 Routine Core Analysis
 Porosity :
 Measure of the storage capacity that is capable of holding fluids.
 Fraction of the pore volume to that of total bulk volume of a rock.
Porosity in % = (Vb – Vg) / Vb * 100
Where, Vp = pore volume, Vg = grain volume, Vb = bulk volume
 Porosity Measurement :
1) Saturation method :
 Effective pore volume (Vp) can be found by using the saturation method.
 Immerse a saturated core plug sample in the fluid and measure the immersed weight of the sample.
 Determine Bulk volume : (Vb = Vp + Vg)
 Determine Porosity (in %) :Vp / (Vp + Vg) ∗ 100
 Routine Core Analysis
2) Helium Porosimeter :

 For this experiment, Boyles law is applied which states that “for a fixed amount of gas kept at a fixed temperature,
pressure and volume are inversely proportional”.

P1x V1 = P2 x V2 (at constant temperature ‘T’)

 Before starting the experiment, the instrument is calibrated by using the discs, which have known volume.

 Clean, dry sample is placed in a chamber of known volume.

 Helium gas is supplied into the panel at a known pressure (P1).

 The gas would then enter into the sample chamber at a pressure (P2), and would occupy the pore volume (V2) which
is the actual pore volume (Vp) of the core sample.

 Vp – Vb = Vg can be determined.

 P1 x Vr = P2 (Vr + Vc– Vg), Vg= Vr+ Vc- Vr (P1/P2)

 Helium is an inert gas used for determining porosity, and do not react with grains.
 Routine Core Analysis
HELIUM POROSIMETER

POROSIMETER CALCULATIONS
      Grain Grain Pore Porosity Length Diameter
Sample Sample No. Dry Volume Density Volume (%) (cm) (cm)
(gm/cc)
Name Weight(gm) (cc) (cc)
A 1   38.1035 2.758 8.084 17.503 4.03 3.82
105.081
2 105.081 38.1553 2.754 8.032 17.390 4.03 3.82

B 1 114.368 41.2988 2.769 5.003 10.805 4.04 3.82

2 114.368 41.2769 2.771 5.025 10.853 4.04 3.82

C 1 173.722 64.2569 2.704 5.540 7.937 6.09 3.82

2 173.722 64.2881 2.702 5.509 7.893 6.09 3.82

 Routine Core Analysis
 Bulk volume determination :
1) Caliper method :

The length (l) and diameter (d) of core plug is measured at different points, using a vernier caliper and average
values are determined. By using the following formula, the bulk volume (V b) is determined :
Bulk Volume (Vb ) = πd 2l / 4
2) Mercury Displacement Method :
 It is an ideal one for the bulk volume determination.
 In case of irregular shaped samples, the bulk volume is
calculated by the basis of Archimedes Principle; which states
that “a body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal
to the weight of the fluid displaced”.
 Liquid density is known and by using the formula, we can
calculate:
Vb= (Ws-Wi)/dl
BULK VOLUME MEASURING INSTRUMENT
 Routine Core Analysis
 Permeability :
 It is a measure of the ability to which fluid can flow through a rock.
 It is denoted as ‘k’ and it is expressed in Darcy (D) or milliDarcys (mD).
 Darcy’s equation is Q = kA∆P/ μL
 Darcy’s law valid only when the following conditions exist:
 Laminar flow.
 No reaction between fluid and rock.
 One phase present at 100% pore space saturation.
 Permeability measurement :

 The permeability is measured by use of an instrument called ‘micro permeameter.’

 It is measured by flowing a fluid of known viscosity µ through a core plug of measured dimensions (A
and L) and then measuring flow rate (q) and pressure drop (Δp).
 Routine Core Analysis
 Plug sample is inserted into the core holder. The air from cylinder is supplied at a pressure between 200 to
400 psi.
 The permeameter consists of 3 glass tube manometers, 2 containing water and 1 containing mercury.
An orifice is attached to the orifice water manometer, which causes the water to rise or fall in the tube.
 The value of ‘C’ is read directly from the mercury manometer, and larger values are read from the
gauge and the center water manometer is used when the water level values (hw) is large.
 The orifice flow rate is calibrated on it and the water level is read directly from the manometer from
which air Permeability is calculated.

MICRO PERMEAMETER
 Routine Core Analysis
PERMEABILITY CALCULATION
Low K 0.01mD to 1.0 mD

Medium K 1.0mD to 420mD

High K 420mD to 37000mD

Sample name Length Diameter Area C Orifice Orifice K air

(cm) (cm) (cm2) Value water Value (mD)
Height (Hw)

A 7.54 3.78 11.21 6 65 0.09 0.11813

7.52 3.78 11.21 6 133 0.044 0.117831
B 7.50 3.77 11.18 98 196 0.044 2.835164
7.50 3.77 11.18 62 145 0.09 2.714224
C 7.47 3.78 11.22 14 156 0.09 0.65423
7.47 3.78 11.22 60 82 0.044 0.720532
 Special Core Analysis
 Pore Compressibility Studies :

 Fractional change in pore volume of the rock with a unit change in pressure and given by the following
relationship:

Cp = (-1/Vp)*(dVp/dp) t

Where p = pore pressure, (psi), C p = pore compressibility coefficient, (1/psi), V p = pore volume(cc)

 The increase in effective overburden pressure causes : Decrease in the bulk volume of the reservoir, Sand
grains within the pore spaces to expand.

 Three types of compressibility are applied : Rock matrix compressibility(Cr), Rock Bulk
Compressibility(Cb), Pore Compressibility(Cp).

 Laboratory methods :

 Triaxial Pore Volume Compressibility : Three stresses are applied along the entire three axes to measure
compressibility of rock. 1) Lateral Pressure, 2) Axial Pressure and 3) Pore Pressure.
 Special Core Analysis
 Procedure :
 Sample is saturated with 3% KCl solution and
Loaded with all sensors.
 Vaccum is generated and all three pressures
are applied.
 Thus fluid compressibility is determined to
calibrate it once for that particular fluid.
 Thus data is recorded automatically and
Rock matrix compressibility(Cr), Rock Bulk
Compressibility(Cb), Pore Compressibility(Cp) is
calculated to determine effective stress of the rock.

PORE VOLUME COMPRESSIBILITY APPARATUS

(DCI SYSTEMS)
 Special Core Analysis
 Relative Permeability Studies :
 The ratio of the effective permeability of any phase to the absolute permeability of the rock is
known as Relative Permeability of that phase.

 Absolute permeability : One fluid present at 100 percent saturation.

 Effective permeability : A given phase when more than one phase saturates the porous medium.
 Influencing factors: Saturation, Saturation history, Wettability, Temperature, Viscous, capillary and
gravitational forces, pore geometry.
 Relative Permeability Measurement Method
 Steady State Method
 Unsteady Method
 Centrifuge Method : It is an unsteady state method. Saturated cores are rotated an elevated angular
speed, to a known centrifugal force. Rate of Production is measured with time.
Special Core Analysis
 Special Core Analysis

Saturation of core Closure of End Caps Of Hassler’s Core Holder Injection of water and oil
simultaneously Irreducible water saturation obtained Cumulative gas injected Q r is
determined.

RELATIVE PERMEABILITY RELATIVE PERMEABILITY MONITORING

APPARATUS (AUTOFLOOD 700) SYSTEM
 Special Core Analysis
 Resistivity :
 It is defined as the electrical property of a rock material. The resistivity of a porous material is
defined by:
R (Ωm)= rA/L
Where, r = resistance(Ω), A = cross-sectional area ( m 2 ), L = length (m).
 The resistivity of the rock depends on : salinity of water, temperature, porosity, pore geometry,
formation stress, composition of rock.
 Resistance measurements in laboratory are a ratio of voltage decrease between a reference resistor and
a sample (to be measured) in series.

ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT OF

INSTRUMENT RESISITANCE INSTRUMENTS
 Special Core Analysis
 Wettability :
 The relative ability of a fluid to spread on a solid surface in the presence of another fluid.
 Adhesion tension is a function of the interfacial tension and determines the wetting tendencies of a
fluid–rock system.
 Types of wettability : Water Wet, Oil Wet, Intermediate Wet, Fractional Wet, Mixed Wet.

 Wettability Measurement : One of the important methods for determining Wettability of rocks.

Measurement Technique (Macroscopic) Physical Observation

Amott and Amott-Harvey
Amounts of oil and water imbibed by a sample spontaneously and by force.
 Special Core Analysis
 Amott Harvey method involves four basic measurements.
 The amount of water or brine spontaneously imbibition (step 1)
 The amount of water or brine forcibly imbibition. (step 2)
 The amount of oil spontaneously imbibition. (step 3)
 The amount of oil forcibly imbibition. (step 4)

WETTABILITY INDEX BY AMOTT HARVEY METHOD

 Special Core Analysis
 Amott Harvey Wettability Index Estimation:
 Amott Harvey Wettability Index (IAH) is the difference of Water Wettability Index (WWI) and Oil
Wettability Index (OWI).
 IAH = WWI – OWI
 Spontaneous and Forced Water Imbibition:
 Water Wettability Index (WWI) : Ratio of oil produced by spontaneous water imbibition to the total
oil produced (spontaneous and forced).
 Spontaneous and Forced Oil Imbibition:
 Oil Wettability Index (OWI) : Ratio of water produced by spontaneous oil imbibition to the total
water produced (spontaneous and forced).
IAH as per Cuiec’s Classification Wettability description as per Cuiec’s Classification Wettability data distribution in present study

+ 0.3 to +1.0 Strongly Water Wet --NIL--

+0.1 to +0.3 Slightly Water Wet --NIL--
-0.1 to +0.1 Neutral / Mixed Wet --NIL--
-0.3 to -0.1 Slightly Oil Wet --NIL--
-0.1 to -0.3 Strongly Oil Wet All three samples
 Special Core Analysis
 Capillary Pressure :
 Capillary pressure is the difference in pressure between two immiscible fluids across a curved interface
at equilibrium.
 Capillary pressure (Pc) = pressure in the non-wetting phase (Pnw) – pressure in the wetting phase (Pw)
 Three types of capillary pressures exist in porous medium
Gas–oil capillary pressure (Pcgo) = Pg– Po, Gas–water capillary pressure (Pcgw) = Pg– Pw, Oil–
water capillary pressure (Pcow) = Po – Pw 
 Air water capillary pressure : , P c at interface of curvature :

BECKMANN COULTER’S CORE HOLDERS

CAPILLARY RISE IN WATER ULTRA CETRIFUGE SYSTEM
WET CAPILLARY TUBE
 Conclusion
 ROUTINE CORE ANALYSIS :
 Effective porosity was measured by Helium Porosimeter. Range : 7.9% to 17.50%.
 Permeability was measured by Micro Permeameter. Range : 0.11mD to 0.72mD (Low K) except two plugs
2.71mD and 2.81mD (Medium K).
 The formation for observation was found to be Shaly.
 SPECIAL CORE ANALYSIS :
 Relative Permeability : Irreducible water saturation and Residual oil saturation was obtained for the core
sample and studied. Krw and Kro was further calculated.
 Compressibility Studies : Data was recorded automatically and Rock matrix compressibility(Cr), Rock Bulk
Compressibility(Cb), Pore Compressibility(Cp) was calculated to determine effective stress of the rock.
 Wettability Studies : A core sample had a Wettability change when flooding was done by a mud filtrate. It
resulted in the decrease in oil permeability due to increase in pressure at constant flow rate conditions.
 Resistivity Studies : Core samples was used to calculate Ro and Rw using which Formation Factor, Resistivity
was found and studied using electrical resistivity instrument.
 THANK YOU
QUERIES AND VIVA