Mewbourne School

of Petroleum and Geological Engineering

We want to be internationally recognized as the best in

class for our teaching, research, and service capabilities
in the area of rock physics.

http://www.ou.edu/mewbourneschool/cfrp/ic3/cfrp.htm
• Formed in summer 1999
• Amoco donated IC3 laboratory to OU
• OU purchased Amoco’s Tulsa Research Center
• MP&GE hired two Amoco geoscientists and one
laboratory manager
• Rich heritage from Amoco’s rock physics program
•Rough 39 years of combined expertise in rock physics
• Laboratory Capabilities (IC3)
• Teaching
• Distance Learning
• Consortium
• Database & Application Software
 Integrated Core Characterization Center IC3

Capabilities
• Seismic Characterization and Calibration (AVO, 4D, etc.)
• Reservoir Quality Evaluation (Vp, Vs, φ, a ,m ,ρg ,Hg ,
NMR)
• Sedimentological/Stratigraphical Characterization
(mineralogy, Vp, Vs, φ, k)
•Petrophysical Evaluation (Vp, Vs, φ, a ,m ,k , Hg, NMR)
• Reservoir Mechanical/Chemical Stability Evaluation
(σf, E,ν, Vp, Vs, ρ Î Pc, Pp, ε, dε/dt)
 Mechanical Properties

150,000 psi hydrostatic

20,000 psi Triaxial

•Formation Compressibility
•Poisson’s ratio
•Compressive strength
 Chemical Properties
X-ray Diffraction
Environmental SEM

•Mineralogy
•Clay habitat
•Cementation
•Sorting

X-ray Fluorescence

Laser Particle Size

FTIR-Fourier Transform Analyzer
Infrared Spectroscopy
Seismic Properties
Automated Velocity Measurements
Vp, Vs1 and Vs2

CVA

Acoustic
Tomography •Velocity
•Anisotropy
•Attenuation
•In-situ stress
 Petrophysical Properties
Hg Injection, 60,000psi
Φ, k

NMR

•Pore throat size

•Porosity & Permeability
•Water saturation
Hi-T Ω, •Bound/free water
Brine k •Electrical properties
•Grain size distribution
 Integrated Core Characterization Center IC3

Strengths

• Data Integration
• Highly Automated
• 50 years of industrial experience
• Research and tech service capability
 Integrated Core Characterization Center IC3

Projects:
• AVO calibration (Nile Delta, North Sea, Caspian Sea, Offshore Africa,
Trinidad, Wyoming)
• 4-D seismic calibration (North Sea, GOM, Angola, Caspian)
• Geomechanical evaluation (Trinidad, Nile Delta, GOM, ADNOC, CA)
• Petrophysical evaluation (worldwide)
• Reservoir quality evaluation (North Sea, Russia, GOM, Trinidad,
China, Romania, Poland, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia)
• Seismic anisotropy characterization (Angola, GOM, North Sea, OK)
• In-situ stress determination (North Sea, Wyoming, OK)
• Near surface drilling hazard (GOM)
 Integrated Core Characterization Center IC3

Projects:
• Hg Injection calibration corrections
• Perforation Mechanics
• Osmotic stabilization of shales
 Teaching
Degree Program:
• Graduate Program in Geological Engineering,
Petrophysics
Industrial Course Offering:
• Fundamentals of Seismic Rock Physics
• Rock Physics Principles for 4D Interpretation*
• Rock Physics for Seismic Interpretation
• AVO Fundamentals and Interpretation
• Seismic Characterization of Fractured Reservoirs*
• Seismic Anisotropy*
• In-situ Stress Determination*
• Acoustic Logging Fundamentals
• Experimental Petrophysics*
 Experimental Rock Physics Consortium

The objective of this consortium is to provide experimental

research and calibration capabilities to solve problems of
mutual interest in the area of exploration and production
of hydrocarbons

• Is not focused on a single topic but entirety of rock physics

• Apply experimental tools to gain insight and understanding

about rock behavior

• Knowledge will be used to develop application software

and database
 Experimental Rock Physics Consortium

Potential Research Topics

Creation of a Rock Physics
Database

Quantification Of Anisotropy

AVO and Attribute Expression of

Rock Physics
Characterization of Unconsolidated
Materials
low
Rock Physics Modeling Software Med
High
Correlation Between Static and
Dynamic Moduli

Nonlinear Behavior of Sediments

Attenuation

NMR Response

0 6 12 18 24
 Rock Properties Database

Web based, relational, interactive with data retrieval, display and analysis capabilities

Content : • Compressional and shear wave velocities @ Pc, Pp, &

fluid
• Anisotropic elastic constants
• Density, Porosity @ Pc
• Permeability @ Pc
• Grain size distribution (Laser particle size analysis)
• Pore throat size distribution (Hg injection)
• Qualitative and quantitative mineralogy
• Thin section petrographic description
• Thin section and SEM digital images
• Total organic carbon
• Static Moduli
• Pore volume compressibility
 Rock Properties Database

Web based, relational, interactive with data retrieval, display and analysis capabilities

Content : • NMR
• Resistivity, structure factor and cementation exponent
 Application Software

Interactive rock physics forward modeling package

to deal with core and log data and generate seismic
outcomes.

• Basic calculators
• Property estimators
• Fluid substitution
• Seismic modeling - reflectivity
• Sensitivity analysis
• Invasion correction
• Seismic full offset synthetics
• 4-D modeling
 Value Chain

Center for Rock Physics

Information Knowledge Wisdom

•IC3 •Consortium •Courses

•Database •Appl. Software •Consulting
•Theories •Timely application

VALUE
 Western CFRP

• Provide core calibration in joint projects

• Provide constraints on anisotropic parameters
• Provide R&D capabilities in rock physics
• Build knowledge base in rock physics to aid in
interpretation and exploitation
• Make staff more efficient and knowledgeable
• Source of summer interns/future employees
 Integrated Core Characterization Center IC3
• Sample Preparation
• Plug Fluid Content and Extraction
• Gamma Ray Scanning
• Cathodoluminesence Analysis
• Thin Section Analysis
• Porosity and Permeability as a Function of Stress
• Bulk and Grain Density
• Environmental SEM (texture,clay habitat, micro-fracture)
• Elemental Analysis by X-ray Fluorescence
• Mineralogy (modal, FTIR, & x-ray diffraction)
• Grain Size Distribution by Laser Diffraction (0.375 to 2000 µm)
• Total Organic Carbon
• Magnetic Susceptibility
 Integrated Core Characterization Center IC3

• Mercury Injection (to 60,000psi)

• Air-brine capillary pressure
• Minipermeameter Scanning
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (porosity, residual Sw, pore size)
• Electrical Properties (formation factor, cementation &
saturation exponent)
• Mechanical Properties (moduli, Poisson’s ratio, compressive
strength, unconfined strength, Brazilian strength)
• Seismic Properties (Vp, Vs, anisotropy, & attenuation)
• Circumferential Velocity Analysis
• Anelastic Strain Relaxation
 Experimental Rock Physics Consortium

Quantification of Anisotropy
- measurements of anisotropy in shales
- effects of clay alignment on anisotropy
- effects of organic material of anisotropy
- effects of pore pressure on anisotropy
- time dependence of anisotropy
- evaluation of techniques to measure anisotropy

Characterization of Unconsolidated Materials

- measurements of elastic properties on controlled synthetic samples
- packing effects on Vp, Vs
- diagenetically driven velocity changes
- fluid substitution
- pore pressure effects
 Application Software

Point or core measurements

• Basic calculators
- Mineral Properties
- Isotropic
- Anisotropic
- Bacus
- Velocity systematics
- Averager
• Fluid substitution
- Biot (homogeneous and patchy)
- Self consistent
- Scattering
- Fracture
 Application Software

Point or core measurements

• Seismic Modeling - Reflectivity

- Isotropic
- Anisotropic
- Anelastic
- Isotropic and anelastic
- Poro-elastic
- Fracture
- Sensitivity analysis
- Exact and linearized (many)
- Converted Waves
 Application Software

Log based rock properties modeling

• Mineral Variation
• Property estimators
• Fluid substitution (homogeneous & patchy)
• LAS output file
• Invasion correction
• Seismic synthetics
- Normal incidence (P-wave, S-Wave)
- P-wave offset
- SH-wave offset
- Converted wave
- Attenuation
- Spreading and transmission losses
• 4 D Modeling
- Normal Incidence
- Offset dependence
 Experimental Rock Physics Consortium

• Commitment
• Start date - January 1, 2001
• What is your requirement for funding consortium?
• Point of contact - business and technical

Consortium has been underway since June 2001.

Measured some 242 core plugs (sands and carbs)
Created an web based database
Measured anisotropy in about 70 core plugs
Carried out some compaction studies on glass beads
 Experimental Rock Physics Consortium

Consortium has been underway since June 2001.

Measured some 242 core plugs (sands and carbs)
Created a web based database
Measured anisotropy in about 70 core plugs
Carried out some compaction studies on glass beads

Members (as of 4 / 02):

Anadarko, NER, Phillips, Williams, Schlumberger,
Shell, Statoil