Denver Colorado USA

Archie, Hingle, and Pickett:

Determining fluid saturation for fun and
profit
Dan Krygowski
2
Where Dan hopes to go today
Answer the question, So, why do we care
about fluid saturation, anyway?
A review of Archies equation.
A look at some graphical solutions to Archies
equation (Hingle and Pickett plots) which
quickly provide saturation answers, and also
predict some Archie parameters that wed
otherwise have to estimate.
A few closing remarks (and a run for the
door).
Hawking
3
Formation fluid saturation
Formation fluid saturation is an important
quantity:
It is necessary to determine the volume of fluids
(water and hydrocarbons) present;
It may give us some indication as to what will be
produced.
But
We often have to estimate several parameters that are
needed to make the saturation calculation.
4
A reminder of history
1927
Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger run the first log in
Pechelbron field in France. Electric coring is born.
1942
Gus Archie presents a paper at the AIME meeting in
Dallas quantifying the relationship between fluid
saturation and formation resistivity.
So it took 15 years to go from a qualitative
response to a quantitative, but empirical,
relationship.
5
Archies equation
Defining the terms:
n
m
t
w
w
R
R a
S
1

water saturation
tortuosity factor
formation water resistivity
saturation exponent
cementation exponent
porosity formation resistivity
6
Archies equation
Defining the terms:
n
m
t
w
w
R
R a
S
1

water saturation
tortuosity factor
formation water resistivity
saturation exponent
cementation exponent
porosity formation resistivity
Traditional sources:
electric logs,
induction logs, laterologs
sonic, density, neutron,
nuclear magnetic resonance,
resistivity logs
samples, SP logs
core
core
core
7
Another history lesson: pC
No, not preCambrian, preComputer:
When big, burly guys (usually engineers) stood
over you while you looked at the log data, and
said, Hey, do I run pipe or call for cement?
Youre costing me money here
So, we needed techniques to get quantitative
answers quickly.
If they helped in other ways, so much the
better
A pattern recognition approach.
8
So its not just equations
two examples for illustration:
1. Last Chance High Country #1
A constructed well to illustrate the techniques.
2. Bill Barrett Last Dance 43C-3-792
Mamm Creek, Piceance Basin, Colorado
(a small section of the Mesaverde)
A well to bring us back to reality.
9
Last Chance High Country #1
10
Barrett Last Dance 43C-3-792
Mamm Creek, Piceance Basin, Colorado
11
Enter Tom Hingle
A graphical solution to Archies equation so
that plotting resistivity against porosity will
produce arrangements of the data (which are
recognizable as patterns):

m
w
n
w
m
t
R a
S
R
1 1
1
Y-axis X-axis A family of lines from
which information can be
discerned.
+b (b=0) m*x y =
[1959, SEG 29
th
Annual Meeting]
12
Hingle plot
The y-axis is built from
but scaled in
resistivity or
conductivity so the
points can be plotted
directly on the graph.
The y-axis becomes
(very) non-linear.
The x-axis is scaled so that
porosity increases from
left to right. Porosity,
bulk density, or sonic
traveltime can be
plotted.
Water-bearing line
porosity
(data)
The water-bearing line is placed by
the location of the data points.
Zero porosity
(= RHOmatrix
or DTmatrix)
Lines of decreasing
water saturation
m
t
R
1
1

The y-axis on this plot is

constructed using m=2.0
Conductivity Resistivity, Rt
13
So, with the Hingle plot
One can determine water saturation directly
from the plot, without
knowing Rw, or
having to calculate porosity.
In addition, the plot will predict matrix values
of sonic or density, so porosity can be more
confidently calculated.
But, one has to assume values for a, m, n,
And special paper must be used, which
depends on the assumed value of m.
14
Looking at our
ideal data
1.0
2.0
1.5
2.5
3
5
10
15
20
50
100
500
2000
2.2 2.0 2.4 2.8 2.6
Sw = 1.0
0.50
0.25
Hingle Plot; m = 2.0
Baker Atlas, 1985
Bulk Density
Rt
15
Looking at
real data
Bulk Density
V
s
h
a
l
e
1
0
Sw = 1
0.25
0
2.8
2.2
(
1
/
R
t
)
^
(
1
/
m
)
Hingle plot
2.65
16
Enter Dick Pickett
A graphical solution to Archies equation so
that plotting resistivity against porosity (both
on logarithmic scales) will produce linear
arrangements of the data:
( ) ( ) ( )
w w t
R a S n R
m
+ = log log log
1
) log(
(graph paper format)
m*x
Y-axis X-axis A family of lines from
which information can
be discerned.
+ b y =
Y-intercept
[1966, SPE (JPT)
1973, SPWLA]
17
Pickett plot
Both scales are
logarithmic.
To save calculations
DT-DTma or
RHOma-RHOB could
be used on the y-
axis instead of
porosity.
Resistivity
P
o
r
o
s
i
t
y
No special graph
paper is needed.
(data)
The water-bearing line is
placed by the location of
the data points.
Lines of decreasing
water saturation
Water-bearing line.
Slope = -1/cementation exponent
The intercept of the water-
bearing line at Phi = 1 is a*Rw.
The plot can be
done in Excel.
18
So, with the Pickett plot
One can determine water saturation directly
from the plot, without
knowing Rw, or
knowing m.
In addition, the plot will predict Rw and m.
But, one has to assume matrix values if sonic
or density is used for porosity.
And the plot can be done on readily available
graph paper, or more easily in MS Excel.
19
Looking at our ideal data
Pickett Plot
0.01
0.1
1
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000
Rt
P
h
i
D
Sw = 1 0.5 0.25
20
Looking at our real data
V
s
h
a
l
e
1
0
Sw = 1
1
0.1
0.01
0.1 1 10 100
D
e
n
s
i
t
y

P
o
r
o
s
i
t
y
0.75 0.5 0.25
Pickett plot
Deep Resistivity
21
So, what happens now?
Well, we have two graphical methods to quickly
determine water saturation, and other
parameters:
Hingle: Porosity matrix values
Pickett: Rw, and cementation exponent, m
Q: Can we use them in concert?
A: Well, sort of
22
Pickett and Hingle in concert
Bassiouni (1974, SPE) shows
a method to use both to
resolve several
parameters,
BUT it is painful to do by
hand.
AND, while interactive
Pickett plots are common
in many software
packages, few packages
have Hingle plots, and
only one has linked
interactive Pickett and
Hingle plots.
SO its possible, but
tedious.
Iterate until convergence
m

ma
m
m

ma
23
In conclusion
Pickett and Hingle plots are two slightly
different graphical solutions of Archies
saturation equation.
While fluid saturation is needed for the
calculation of volumetrics, it is less useful in
predicting production.
And, are other quantities, like Bulk Volume Water, more
helpful there?
24
In conclusion
Pickett and Hingle plots also predict some
other Archie or porosity parameters.
Each can give a quick and useful view of the
data, even when you have a computer to do
the grunt calculation work for you.
In the information age, pattern recognition is
alive and well, and it may provide some
insights to the subsurface that numbers
wont.