Making Best Use of

Routine Core Analysis Data

Craig Lindsay
Senior SCAL Engineer
Helix RDS Limited

28th. March 2007

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Making Best Use of Routine Core Analysis Data

Aim to demonstrate how basic core data can be put to effective use
Core material
Routine core analysis (RCA) data types
Example applications of RCA data
-

Quantifying Permeability Heterogeneity

Sampling for Special Core Analysis (SCAL) Studies

Conclusions

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Core
Core Plug

Core Slab

Resinated
Core

Whole Core

3.8 cm
10 cm
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10 cm

Routine Core Analysis Samples

RCA Tests
sidewall (< 2.54 cm.)

Kv

core plugs (2.54 3.80 cm.)

horizontaland
vertical

full diameter ( 15 30 cm. (L), 10 15 cm. (D) )

whole core (up to 60 cm. (L), 10 15 cm.(D))

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Kh
Screen

Routine Core Analysis Data

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Applying routine core analysis data

Many possible applications of RCA data

Examine two example applications of RCA data to obtain best VOI
-

Quantifying Permeability Heterogeneity

Sampling for Special Core Analysis (SCAL) Studies

Issues of upscaling and application in reservoir models beyond the scope

of the presentation

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Measuring Core Permeability - Summary

Plug
permeameter

Confining Pressure
P1

P2
Pa

In

Plug
Qa

Regulator

Regulator
Coreholder
Manometer

Gas in: Qi, Pi

Core Plug

Atmospheric Pressure, Pa

L
Qa
A

Probe
permeameter

Tip Seal
Rock Surface

Pi

Pa
Gas flow lines

2000Qa a Pa L
ka
Pi 2 Pa2 A

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2000Qi i Pi

k a
.F
P 2 P 2
i

Permeability Data Presentation

Tabular data
Depth plots / x-plots most useful
1000

Air Permeability, mD.

100

10

0.1

0.01
0.05

0.07

0.09

0.11

0.13

0.15

Helium Porosity, frac.

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0.17

0.19

Permeability How well is it Quantified from

core?
Core plug measurements at 1 per ft may not fully characterise the
level of permeability heterogeneity especially in laminated formations
How do we know?
Hurst and Rosvoll 1 proposed method to determine minimum
number of measurements (No) to determine Arithmetic Mean
Permeability +-20%
Reducing the tolerances unrealistic number of measurements
Calculate coefficient of variation,
Cv = Standard Deviation / Arithmetic Average
No = 100 Cv2
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Permeability How well was it Quantified

Based upon Cv Corbett and Jensen2 proposed heterogeneity classes:
-

0 - < 0.5 Homogeneous

0.5 - <1 Heterogeneous

>1

Very heterogeneous

Three examples of applying these principles:

Rotliegend reservoir SNS
150 plugs acquired (1 per ft.)
Cv = 2.5, No = 625

Very heterogeneous

Plug alone data did not quantify permeability heterogeneity probe

permeability data @ 5 measurements per ft = 729 points.
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Permeability How well was it Quantified

Forties Sandstone (marginal) - NNS
118 plugs acquired (1 per ft.)
Cv = 1.6, No = 261

Heterogeneous

Plug data did not quantify permeability heterogeneity probe

permeability data @ 5 measurements per ft = 590 points.
Forties Sandstone (main channel) - NNS
75 plugs acquired (1 per ft.)
Cv = 0.9, No = 81

Heterogeneous

Plug data did effectively quantify permeability heterogeneity

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Selecting samples for SCAL - Background

Static SCAL capillary pressure (fluid contacts, Sw distribution), Sw

model parameters - m, n, Qv, m*, n* (water saturation), porosity
compaction, liquid permeability, PV compressibility (primary recovery)
Dynamic SCAL wettability, relative permeability, imbibition capillary
pressure (secondary recovery)
Formation damage studies
Geomechanical / specialist studies

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Selecting samples for SCAL - Caveats

Exact sampling protocols depend upon the specific objectives

SCAL can be only be performed on a sub-set of samples due to cost
and time constraints
This example based upon assumption that RCA plugs can be employed

where RCA sample preparation has been proven to be non-

damaging and fresh state core is not required

Correct use of RCA during sample selection essential

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Selecting samples for SCAL from poro / perm

Poro perm x-plot sufficient? No very crude
Initially check reservoir zonation
1000

1000

100

100

Zone X

10

Air Permeability, mD.

Air Permeability, mD.

Zone Y

10

0.1

0.1

0.01
0.05

0.07

0.09

0.11

0.13

0.15

0.17

0.19

Helium Porosity, frac.

0.01
0.05

0.07

0.09

0.11

0.13

0.15

Helium Porosity, frac.

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0.17

0.19

Selecting samples for SCAL FZI and HFU

Determine FZI (Amaefule et al3) from RCA poro perm data
FZI - a unique parameter that incorporates the geological attributes
of texture and mineralogy in the discrimination of distinct reservoir
hydraulic or flow units (HFU)
k
RQI 0.0314
e

z e
1 e

RQI
FZI
z

HFU - a mappable portion of the total reservoir within which

geological and petrophysical properties that affect the flow of fluids
are consistent and predictably different from the properties of other
reservoir rock volumes
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Selecting samples for SCAL - HFU

1.0

0.8

Frequency

HFU -

0.6

0.4

0.2

HU 1
0.0
-0.70

HU 2
-0.50

-0.30

HU 4

HU 3
-0.10

0.10

HU 5
0.30

0.50

Log FZI
1000

1000

100

100

10

Air Permeability, mD.

Air Permeability, mD.

HU 5
HU 4
HU 3
HU 2
HU 1

0.1

0.01
0.05

0.1

0.07

0.09

0.11

0.13

0.15

0.17

0.19

Helium Porosity, frac.

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10

E N E R G Y

0.01
0.05

0.07

0.09

0.11

0.13

0.15

Helium Porosity, frac.

S O L U T I O N S

0.17

0.19

Selecting reservoir representative samples for

SCAL
HFU number and FZI range defined but..
Need to determine:
-

How representative is the cored interval of the reservoir unit

(use log / analogue data to determine)?

-

Are entire / part zones represented?

What proportion of each interval does each HFU represent?

Need to consider:
-

Static SCAL whole range of rock qualities represented

Dynamic (flow) SCAL bias sample selection towards best rock

quality

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Selecting samples for SCAL other issues

Other considerations:
-

Economic how many tests can be performed for the available

budget?
-

Minimum number of data points to define a property, e.g. 4 5

to define cementation exponent (m).?

Formation Factor at 3685 psig (-)

100

m=1.97

10

1
0.1

1
Porosity at 3685 psig (-)

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Selecting samples for SCAL Loranz diagram

Define Storage Hydraulic Units (SHU) and Flow Hydraulic Units
(FHU) use of Lorenz diagram (Jensen et al.4)- a graphical
presentation of the Lorenz coefficient (Lc)
Lorenz Plot
10000

1.3

1.1

1000

1.0
Transmissivity HU

0.9

Air Permeability, mD

Fraction of total flow capacity (k*h), fi

1.2

0.8
0.7
Storativity HU
0.6
0.5
0.4

100

10
Transmissive HU
1

Storage HU

0.3

0.1

0.2
0.1
0.0

0.01
0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Fraction of total storage capacity (phi*h), ci

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0.1

0.2
Helium Porosity, fraction

0.3

0.4

Selecting samples for SCAL SHU and FHU

Zonal distribution of SHU & FHU
Air Permeability, mD.

Porosity, frac.
0.00
8800

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.01
8800

0.30

0.1

8820

8820

8840

8840

8860

8880

Depth, ft. TVDSS

Depth, ft. TVDSS

THU
SHU

THU
SHU

8860

8880

8900

8900

8920

8920

8940

8940

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10

100

1000

Selecting samples for SCAL - Example

The example SCAL programme:
-

Confined to Static properties (m, n and drainage Pc), therefore

all HU to be represented

The cored interval represented 1 entire reservoir zone, 2 part

zones
-

The part represented zones were considered representative of

the whole zone

-

Budgetary constraints on programme costs

Time constraints FF/RI pairs rather than same samples

Minimum number of sample for m, n etc. would be 4 per zone

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Selecting samples for SCAL - Summary

The SCAL programme:
-

5 HU, 3 zones

4 FF / RI pairs per zone

Zonal HU
s represented appropriately

Zone Xbudgetary
HU Actual
SCAL timeZone
Y
HU Actual
SCAL
Met
and
constraint
criteria

HU
HU1
HU2
HU3
HU4
HU5

H E L I X

16
5
1

73%
23%
5%

E N E R G Y

75%
25%
-

16
53
5

S O L U T I O N S

22%
72%
7%

25%
75%
-

Zone Z
1
11
8
16
18

HU Actual
2%
20%
15%
30%
33%

SCAL
25%
25%
25%
25%

Conclusions
Presented are some examples of how basic RCA data can be
employed to derive considerable VOI
Tools employed are straightforward documented procedures
Important to benefit from use of published and current research
Methodologies employed were fit for purpose other techniques
available
Issues of application and upscaling beyond the scope of this
presentation
Don
t overlook the value of appropriately derived RCA data

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References
1Hurst,

A. and Rosvoll, K. 1991. Permeability variations in sandstones and their relationship to sedimentary

structures, Reservoir Characterisation II, Academic Press, San Diego, p. 166-196

2Corbett,

P.W.M., and Jensen, J.L., 1992. Estimating the mean permeability: How many measurements do you

need? First Break, 10, p89-94.

3Amaefule

et al. Enhanced Reservoir Description: Using Core and Log Data to Identify Hydraulic (Flow) Units

and Predict Permeability in Uncored Intervals / Wells, SPE 26436, 1993

4Jensen,

J.L., Lake, L.W., Corbett, P.W.M., and Goggin, D.J., 1997, Statistics for Petroleum Engineers and

Geoscientists, Prentice-Hall, New Jersey

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Acknowledgements

AFES
Thank You for your attention!

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