The Basic Measurements

Porosity
Spectral Density Dual Spaced Neutron
Full Wave Sonic Magnetic Resonance

Resistivity
High Resolution Induction Dual Laterolog/MSFL
High Resolution Array Induction
 The Basic Result

Water Saturation
The fraction or percentage of pore space
that is occupied by water.

“What’s not water must be hydrocarbons!”

The Archie Equation

aRw
S
wn
m

R t

How did we get here?

 Assume a 100% water-bearing formation...
…filled with water of resistivity Rw

Water is a conductor
Rock is an insulator
Current travels along
Ro
the path of least
resistance
Physical measurement
provided is
RESISTIVITY
In a water-bearing rock, this is
referred to as WET resistivity (Ro)
Rw
 Ro = f(Rw, amount of water present)
amount of water present = porosity

Increase porosity…
…decrease Ro
Decrease porosity…
…increase Ro

Therefore...
1
Ro 


1
Ro  F  R w where F

 Now add oil to that formation...

Oil is an insulator
Current travels along
the path of least
resistance Rt
Current path now
longer because of oil
Resistivity is
increased
In a hydrocarbon-bearing rock, this is
referred to as TRUE resistivity (Rt)
 Rt = f(Rw, amount of water, amount of oil)

Ro  F  R w

n
Ro  S w  R t

n Ro F  R w
Sw  
Rt Rt

Ratio of wet resistivity to true resistivity

 Low Resistivity High
In the old days...
Rt

Oil? n Ro
Sw 
2400

Rt

Ro Problem:
Was change in resistivity
2450 Water? caused by change in fluids,
or a change in porosity?
 …today’s concept
n Ro
Sw 
Rt
Rt = actual measured resistivity of a formation

Ro = calculated resistivity of same formation

assuming it is 100% water-filled (requires
measure of porosity and Rw)

If Sw < 1.0, then hydrocarbons are indicated

 The Archie Equation
Tortuosity Factor and Formation Water Resistivity
Cementation Exponent

aRw
S
wn
m

R t
Saturation Exponent
Porosity Uninvaded Zone Resistivity
 Tortuosity Factor and
Cementation Exponent

SANDSTONES
CARBONATES
Porosity > 16% Porosity < 16%
(Humble) (Tixier)

a 1.0 0.62 0.81

m 2.0 2.15 2.0

Assumptions based on lithology and porosity

Archie
 Saturation Exponent

Depends in part on the wetting-phase of the reservoir

Is it water-wet?
Is it oil-wet?

Can be determined from core analysis

Typically assumed to be equal to 2.0

Archie
 The Borehole Environment

Archie
 Formation Water Resistivity (Rw)
Resistivity of the water, and only the water, that
is present in the formation of interest.

The most important variable in the Archie equation.

Dramatic effects on calculated values of Sw

The most difficult measure to obtain.

SFT/RDT/DST Produced water Rw catalog Logs
Customer
 Quick-Look
Rt = 5 -m  = 0.28

Lithology is sandstone
a = 0.62
m = 2.15

Sw = ?

Assume Rw = 0.04 -m

 Rules of Thumb

GOOD BAD

Low High
Gamma Ray
< 40 API > 100 API
High Low
Porosity
> 15 % <6%
High Low
Resistivity
>20 -m < 0.5 -m