Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Production Geology is a branch of petroleum engineering which studies the geology of reservoirs in order to
manage the production of a field and get more hydrocarbons out of it. The work of production geologists
includes understanding the reservoir from a geological point of view and creating a model for it by using
computer software. This model provides all the information needed for hydrocarbons production. Rock type
may affect production rate. When the porosity and the permeability change from one rock type to another, the
production rate will change. During production, the reservoir may be damaged and this causes changes in
porosity and permeability of the reservoir which in turn causes a change in production rate.
Sandstone rocks
Sandstone affects production rate through the following two main factors:
Reduction in porosity with depth
Porosity decreases with depth resulting in a decrease in production rate. However, this reduction
depends on sandstone type as follows:
1.
Poorly sorted sands lose porosity faster than well sorted sands.
When the temperature increases ,it causes faster cementation and a decrease in
porosity.
1.
When the pressure increases ,it reduces compaction and increases porosity.
Carbonate rocks
The depositional environment may change the quality of carbonate reservoirs as follows:
Reefs
Reefs have high porosity as they are initially cemented ,and it is necessary that hydrocarbons migrate
into the pore space early to keep the porosity.
Carbonate mud rock
The common deposits are aragonite .When aragonite re-crystallizes into calcite, the porosity is
destroyed by the resulting calcites. In addition, chalk is a type of carbonate mud rocks which has high
porosity and low permeability because of its small size .When they are fractured , they can make good
reservoir rocks.
Dolomite rock
Good reservoirs are formed by dolomites. The volume of Mg atoms is 13% smaller than Ca atoms.
After dolomitization, the total volume of material decreases by 13% and generates 13% incremental
porosity.[2]
Chemical reactions
During drilling or water injection, the minerals and drilling liquids may
react and damage the reservoir. This damage is treated by chemicals
injection to improve the permeability.
Mechanical damage
Clay minerals or small grains are carried towards the well by fluids
and block the pores around the well. This damage is treated by
lowering the production rate.[1]
Monitoring Production
During production, the information about fluid properties in reservoirs
is provided from the comparison between production and injection
pressures. This data is very important for reservoir simulation
models. [1]
Conclusions
Determination of petroleum reserves depends on the geology of
reservoir as it depends on its porosity and saturation of rock. The
change in production rate depends on rock properties such as
porosity and permeability which change from one rock type to
another. During production, the properties of reservoir rock may be
changed by chemical reactions or mechanical damage. So,
production rate will change in turn. Monitoring production supplies
important data which is important for reservoir simulation models.