RESERVOIR PETROPHYSICS

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

Stratigraphic
Extent of
Petroleum
System

Pod of Active
Source Rock

Essential
Elements
of
Petroleum
System

Overburden Rock
Seal Rock
Reservoir Rock
Source Rock
Underburden Rock

Petroleum Reservoir (O)

Fold-and-Thrust Belt
(arrows indicate relative fault motion)
(modified from Magoon and Dow, 1994)

Basement Rock
Top Oil Window
Top Gas Window

Sedimentary
Basin Fill

Extent of Play
Extent of Prospect/Field
O

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%

Mudstone
(Siltstone
and shale;
clastic)
~75%

Limestone and
Dolomite
(carbonate)
~14%

Grain-Size Classification for Clastic Sediments

Name
Boulder
Cobble
Pebble
Granule
Very Coarse Sand
Coarse Sand
Medium Sand
Fine Sand
Very Fine Sand
Coarse Silt
Medium Silt
Fine Silt
Very Fine Silt
Clay

Millimeters

Micrometers

4,096

256
64
4
2
1
0.5
0.25
0.125
0.062
0.031
0.016
0.008
0.004

Commonly, phi-sizes are used

for sediment analysis

500
250
125
62
31
16
8
4
(modified from Blatt, 1982)

DUNHAMS 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
(impermeable)

Oil/water
contact (OWC)
Migration route
Seal

Hydrocarbon
accumulation
in the
reservoir rock
Top of maturity
Source rock

Seal

Reservoir
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

What are the standard reporting conditions?

API = API gravity

= specific gravity

FLUID VISCOSITY
Importance
Units centipoises (, 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