Comparison and Sensitivity Analysis of Water Saturation Models in Shaly Sandstone Reservoirs Using Well Logging Data (Published)
Shaly sandstone reservoirs have complex pore systems with ultra-low to low interparticle permeability and low to moderate porosity. This has leaded to development of several models to calculate water saturation in shaly sandstone reservoirs using different approaches, assumptions and certain range of conditions for application. This study has used actual well logging data from two different fields of South Texas and North Sea to evaluate and compare the most popular five shaly sandstone models for calculating water saturation. Identification of shale distribution for selection of suitable model is also presented. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis of tortuosity coefficient (a), cementation exponent (m) and water saturation exponent (n) is achieved to investigate their effects on computed values of water saturations using different models.The results indicated that identification of shale distribution is necessary and improper utilization of shaly sandstone models results in drastically erroneous values of water saturation. Therefore, shale distribution in the South Texas field is identified to be mainly laminated with few of structural ones while distribution is dispersed in the North Sea field. The results also showed that the increase of shale volume decreases water saturation calculated for all popular models. In addition, the increase of tortuosity coefficient and/or cementation exponent (m) causes overestimation of water saturation while the increase of saturation exponent (n) results in an underestimation values. The application of the attained results of this study will have real improvement in selection and application of the appropriate shaly model. This provides more accuracy and real improvement in formation evaluation, reserve estimation, reservoir characterization, and consequently in reservoir simulation.
Keywords: Sensitivity Analysis, Shaly Reservoirs, Water Saturation, Well Logging Data
DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER APPLICATION TO COMPUTE ARCHIE PARAMETERS FROM WELL LOG DATA (Published)
Computation of water saturation requires some parameters; tortuosity factor a, cementation coefficient m, and saturation exponent, n; collectively referred to as Archie parameters. Values 1, 2, and 2 are assigned to the parameters a, m and n respectively; without recourse to the in-homogeneities in local geology, due to the rigours involved in determining site-specific values. Arch_Param, a computer program written around the ‘conventional’ Archie parameter determination technique, saves the rigours and automate the process of determining these parameters for any oil field from well data, and consequently, enhances the accuracy of computed hydrocarbon saturation. It runs on computers with the python interpreter installed. Arch_Param was used to compute Archie parameters for three wells within PATJ oil field, Niger Delta. The study revealed that a, ranged from 1.00 to 1.49 and averaged 1.29; m, from 1.72 to 2.21 and averaged 1.94 and n, from 1.26 to 6.58. Computing Archie parameters for the different reservoir revealed that tortuosity factor a, decreased with depth, cementation exponent m, increased with depth while saturation coefficient n, had random values.
Keywords: Archie Parameters, Cementation Coefficient and Saturation Exponent, Tortuosity Factor, Water Saturation