Introduction to Reservoir Rock Properties

Ibrahim Kocabas

Reservoir Engineering g g
Learning Objectives :
Definition f t h i D fi iti of petrophysics Definition of porosity Engineering classification of porosity Geological classification of porosity Factors affecting p g porosity y Porosity of reservoir rock types Significance of porosity Averaging reservoir porosity

Petrophysics
Reservoir rock properties or petrophysics is the study of rock properties and properties, the interaction between fluids (oil, gas and brine) within pore space and space, the interaction between fluids and grain surfaces

Petrophysics
A systematic theoretical and laboratory study of physical properties of petroleum reservoir rocks includes: Lithology Porosity Compressibility p y Permeability Fluid saturations Capillary characteristics Rock stress Rock resistivity 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; f ti ibilit 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 pressure values to reservoir conditions; 5. Describe methods of determining fl id saturations i reservoir 5 D ib h d fd i i fluid i in i rock and show relationship between fluid saturation and p y pressure; capillary p 6. Define resistivity, electrical formation resistivity factor, resistivity index, saturation exponent, and cementation factor index exponent and show their relationship and uses; discuss laboratory measurement of electrical properties of reservoir rocks; and demonstrate the calculations necessary in analyzing laboratory d t t th l l ti i l i l b t 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 p y g p p of displaying three-phase effective permeabilities. 9. Demonstrate the techniques of averaging porosity, permeability, and reservoir pressure data data. 10. Demonstrate capability to perform calculations relating to all concepts above. t b
(These are minimum skills to be achieved/demonstrated)

Reservoir rocks are in fact rock sponges containing hydrocarbon fluids. But, the porous structure of rocks is NOT p visible to our eyes.

In fact, many types of reservoir rocks show no obvious porosity to the naked eye.

Porosity
Reservoir rock are indeed rock sponges rock sponges containing hydrocarbon fluids. They contain void spaces in between the grains called pores pores. The i Th size of pores are usually much smaller f ll h ll than we think.

The pores are of micro-meter size and hence we usually see them via electron microscope images.

For any rock we talk about three different volumes: 1. Bulk volume: Total volume of rock body.
2.

Vb

Grain or solid volume: The l Th volume of solids or f lid sand grains in rock body. y Pore volume: The volume of all pores l f ll contained in rock body

Vs

3.

Vp

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POROSITY DEFINITION
Porosity: The fraction of a rock that is occupied by pores
Porosity

is an intensive property of rocks and it is a measure of the fluid storage capacity of a rock

Vb Vma Porosity = = = Vb Vb Vp

Pores are classified as: 5. Connected pores: Pores that are in communication with neighboring pores. 6. Isolated pores: Pores that are isolated from the neighboring pores.
Interconnected void spaces Isolated Void spaces

Art-micrograph of sandstone with oil

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Engineering Classification of Porosity

Total porosity, t =

Total Pore Volume Bulk Volume B lk V l

Effective porosity, e =

Interconnected Pore Space Bulk Volume B lk V l

Absolute and effective porosity are distinguished by their access capabilities to reservoir fluids

Effective porosity of great importance;

as it contains the mobile fluid

Valuation of Porosity
Note that only effective porosity contains fluids that can be produced

Good effective porosity >15% Medium effective porosity 10%<<15% Poor effective porosity <10%

COMPARISON OF TOTAL AND EFFECTIVE POROSITIES

Very clean sandstones : e t Poorly to moderately well -cemented intergranular materials: t e i t l t i l Highly cemented materials and most carbonates: e < t

Geological classification of porosity:

Geological classification of porosity: g f fp y

Primary porosity (original) Secondary (induced) porosity
(Generally more complex than primary porosity)

PRIMARY (ORIGINAL) POROSITY

Developed at deposition of sediments yp y Typified by
Intergranular pores of clastics or carbonates Intercrystalline and fenestral pores of carbonates y p

Usually more uniform than induced porosity

FOUR MAJOR COMPONENTS OF SANDSTONE

Framework

Sand (and Silt) Size Detrital Grains

Matrix M ti

Silt and Clay Size Detrital Material

Cement

Material Precipitated Post-Depositionally, During Burial. Cements Fill Pores and Replace Framework Grains
Pores

Voids Among the Above Components

FOUR COMPONENTS OF SANDSTONE

Geologists Classification

1. 2. 3. 4.

Framework Matrix Cement Pores

Engineering matrix

Note different use of matrix by geologists and engineers

PORE
FRAMEWORK

CEMENT

(QUARTZ)

MATRIX

FRAMEWORK
(FELDSPAR)

Primary porosity in sandstones

0.25 mm

SECONDARY (INDUCED) POROSITY ( )

Developed by geologic processes after p yg g p deposition (diagenetic processes) p Examples
Grain dissolution in sandstones or carbonates Vugs and solution cavities in carbonates Fracture development in some sandstones, shales, and carbonates

Geologic processes leading to development of Secondary porosity : compaction, and cementation, , solution, dolomitization, fracturing, jointing, and fissures development.

DUAL POROSITY IN SANDSTONE

Sandstone Comp. Framework Matrix Cement Pores 1. 2. 2 Primary and secondary matrix porosity system Fracture porosity system

FRACTURE

DISSOLUTION PORE

PORE
FRAMEWORK

CEMENT

(QUARTZ)

MATRIX

FRAMEWORK
(FELDSPAR)

Note different use of matrix by geologists and engineers

Dual porosity systems

0.25 mm

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POROSITY

PRIMARY
Packing (grain arrangement) Particle shape (sphericity and angularity) p (p y g y) Sorting (variable grain sizes)

SECONDARY (diagenetic)
Cementing materials Overburden stress (compaction) Vugs dissolution and fractures Vugs, dissolution,

Upper limit of porosity: cubic packing

In both figures, lets take the repetitive volume for a single grain. Same equations apply and hence remains unchanged.

V b = (2r ) = 8r
3

4 r 3 Vs = 3
=
Vp Vb = 1 / 6 = 0.476

V p = 8r (1 ) 6
3

Porosity is independent of grain size !

CUBIC PACKING OF SPHERES

Porosity = 48%

Porosity Calculations - Uniform Spheres

Bulk volume = (2r)3 = 8r3 Matri volume = Matrix ol me
4 r3 3

Pore volume = bulk volume - matrix volume l b lk l i l

Pore Volume Porosity = Bulk Volume Bulk Volume M t i V l B lk V l Matrix Volume = Bulk Volume 8 r3 4 / 3 r3 = = 1 = 47.6% 2 (3 ) 8 r3

RHOMBIC PACKING OF SPHERES

Porosity = 27 %

GRAIN PACKING IN SANDSTONE

Line of Traverse (using microscope)

4 Types of Grain Contacts Packing Proximity

Tangential Contact

Sutured Contact Cement Long Contact

A measure of the extent to which sedimentary particles are in contact with their neighbors

Packing Density
A measure of the extent to which sedimentary particles occupy the rock volume

Matrix (clays, etc.)

Concavo-Convex Contact

This Example
Packing Proximity = 40% Packing Density = 0.8
(modified from Blatt, 1982)

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POROSITY

PRIMARY
Packing p y g y Particle sphericity and angularity Sorting (variable grain sizes)

SECONDARY (DIAGENETIC)
Cementing materials Overburden stress (compaction) Vugs dissolution and fractures Vugs, dissolution,

ROUNDNESS AND SPHERICITY OF CLASTIC GRAINS

Porosit ty

High

Low L Very Angular Angular

SubWellSubRounded Rounded Angular Rounded g

ROUNDNESS

Porosity

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POROSITY

PRIMARY
Packing p y g y Particle sphericity and angularity Sorting (variable grain sizes)

SECONDARY (DIAGENETIC)
Cementing materials Overburden stress (compaction) Vugs dissolution and fractures Vugs, dissolution,

Packing of Two Sizes of Spheres

Porosity = 14%

Grain-Size Sorting in Sandstone

Very Well Sorted

Well Sorted

Moderately Sorted
SORTING

Poorly Sorted

Very Poorly Sorted

Decreasing Porosity

FACTORS THAT AFFECT POROSITY

PRIMARY
Particle sphericity and angularity g Packing Sorting (variable grain sizes)

SECONDARY (DIAGENETIC)
Cementing materials Overburden stress (compaction) Vugs dissolution and fractures Vugs, dissolution,

DIAGENESIS
Diagenesis is the PostDepositional Chemical and Mechanical Changes that Occur in Sedimentary Rocks Some Diagenetic Effects Include

Carbonate Cemented

Oil Stained St i d

Compaction Precipitation f C P i it ti of Cement t Dissolution of Framework Grains and Cement

The Effects of Diagenesis May Enhance or Degrade Reservoir Quality
Photo by W. Ayers

Whole Core Misoa Formation, Venezuela

DUAL POROSITY IN SANDSTONE

Sandstone Comp. Framework Matrix Cement Pores 1. 2. 2 Primary and secondary matrix porosity system Fracture porosity system

FRACTURE

DISSOLUTION PORE

PORE
FRAMEWORK

CEMENT

(QUARTZ)

MATRIX

FRAMEWORK
(FELDSPAR)

Note different use of matrix by geologists and engineers

0.25 mm

Factors affecting porosity:

The grouping of porosity data according to f the reservoir zones, depth profile or graphical co-ordination, may reveal spatial t d i th di ti l ti l trends in the porosity variation. The recognition of such trends is very important for the development of a bulk picture of the reservoir as a porous medium and representation of the reservoir porosity in mathematical simulation models (reservoir characterisation, lateral correlation, numerical modelling, etc.) (Zolutkin)

Factors affecting porosity:

Mechanical diagenesis ( M h i l di i (compaction) and chemical ti ) d h i l diagenesis (cementation) have a profound effect on a sedimentary rocks porosity. This burial effect is y p y illustrated by the two typical examples of sand and clay deposits in Fig. 7.

Titlepage Topic Overview 1 General Aspects 2 Idealised Models 3 Measurements of Porosity

Examples of primary and secondary Porosity Types: 1. Intergranular porosity 1 I t l it

Unfilled interparticle porosity (in Oolite). Porosity is black.

Develope rs

Referenc es

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Titlepage Topic Overview 1 General Aspects 2 Idealised Models 3 Measurements of Porosity

Fracture porosity is a form of secondary porosity generated by tectonic fracturing of the rock Such porosity can develop in any rock, allowing the p g y productive reservoir in rocks development of highly p

2. Fracture porosity

Develope rs

A strongl fract red chalk from an area of only mild strongly fractured onl deformation. Such fractures are commonly late diagenetic, and postdate most other diagenetic features in the rock.

Referenc es

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Titlepage Topic Overview 1 General Aspects 2 Idealised Models 3 Measurements of Porosity

3.Micro- porosity
Micro-porosity is that part of the pore space that has a characteristic dimension less than 1 micron In general, this includes not only very small pores but also the porosity associated with surface roughness The water in this pore space is part of the capillary-bound water and the small-pore water water. Water in micropores is not expected to flow on production The term is also defined as porosity that cannot be p y seen at magnifications less than 50x

Develope rs

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4. Vugular porosity
Titlepage Topic Overview 1 General Aspects 2 Idealised Models 3 Measurements of Porosity

Vugular porosity is the pore space consisting of cavities or vugs Vugular porosity can occur in rocks prone to dissolution, such as limestone, in which case is secondary porosity limestone

Vuggy porosity. Probably solution enlarged. Porosity is black.

Develope rs

Referenc es

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Titlepage Topic Overview 1 General Aspects 2 Idealised Models 3 Measurements of Porosity

5. Intragranular porosity

Unfilled intraparticle porosity (within a large coral fragment). p p y( g g ) Porosity is black.

Develope rs

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Types of Reservoir Rocks

Sandstone rock: A consolidated reservoir rock S d t k lid t d i k composed of sand particles. Carbonate rock: A reservoir rock of chemical origin and composed of calcium carbonate. d f l i b t Dolomite rock: A reservoir rock composed of calcium magnesium carbonates. Shale Rock: It consists of compacted clay material. It S f has very high porosity (40%). It serves as a cap or base rock.

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27. 28.

29.

Homogeneous porosity distribution: Reservoir rock porosity is constant. Heterogeneous porosity distribution: Reservoir rock g p y porosity is not constant, but rather changes from one point to the next. Isoporosity map: A map showing lines (contours) of constant porosity. The increment between any two neighboring lines is constant called contour interval. The contour lines do not intersect. They are continuous and terminate at the edge of map or reservoir. Two adjacent contour lines have the same value only when there is reversal in direction to reflect a minimum or maximum value.

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Significance of Porosity
30. 30

Hydrocarbon volume in a reservoir: The volume of oil and gas that exist in the pores of a reservoir rock is in the units of Reservoir Barrels (RB). ( )

VHC = 7758 AhS HC

VHC = hydrocarbon volume in reservoir (RB) A = reservoir areal extension (acres) h = average reservoir net thickness (feet) = average effective porosity (fraction) S HC = average hydrocarbon saturation (fraction)

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Significance of Porosity
31.

Initial oil-in-place (N): The amount of oil in a reservoir in units of Stock Tank Barrels (STB).

N = 7758 AhS o / Bo
1B 1 = 5.61459 f 3 614 9 ft3

Bo = oil formation volume factor (RB/STB).

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Significance of Porosity
32.

Initial gas-in-place (G): The amount of g p ( ) natural gas in a reservoir in units of standard cubic feet (scf).

G = 7758 AhS g / Bg where Bg = gas formation volume factor (RB/scf) o or G = 43,560 AhS g / Bg where Bg = gas formation volume factor (ft3/scf) here ol me

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Porosity Averaging
33. 33

Average porosity: The average porosity of n rock samples is given by general average equation:

General average porosity equation :

avg =

V
i =1 n i =1

pi

V A h w L h
i =1 n bi i

bi

V
i =1

i =1 n

i i i

bi

Ah
i =1

i =1 n

i i i

i i

w Lh
i =1 i

i i

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Porosity Averaging
V
i =1 n n bi i

Volume averaged porosity :

avg =

V
i =1 n

bi

Area averaged porosity :

avg =

A
i =1 n

i i

A
i =1 n i =1 n

Thickness averaged porosity :

avg =

h h
i =1 i

i i

Arithmetic average porosity :

avg

1 n = i n i =1

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