Effect of supercritical CO2 on carbonates: Savonnières sample case study

CO₂ geosequestration is an efficient way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Carbonate rock formations are one of the possible targets for CO₂ sequestration due to their relative abundance and ability to serve as a natural trapping reservoir. The injected supercritical CO₂ can change properties of the reservoir rocks such as porosity, permeability, tortuosity, and specific surface area due to dissolution and precipitation processes. This, in turn, affects the reservoir characteristics, i.e., their elastic properties, storage capacity, stability, etc. The tremendous progresses made recently in both microcomputed X‐ray tomography and high‐performance computing make numerical simulation of physical processes on actual rock microstructures feasible. However, carbonate rocks with their extremely complex microstructure and the presence of microporosity that is below the resolution of microcomputed X‐ray tomography scanners require novel, quite specific image processing and numerical simulation approaches. In the current work, we studied the effects of supercritical CO₂ injection on microstructure and elastic properties of a Savonnières limestone. We used microtomographic images of two Savonnières samples, i.e., one in its natural state and one after injection and residence of supercritical CO₂. A statistical analysis of the microtomographic images showed that the injection of supercritical CO₂ led to an increase in porosity and changes of the microstructure, i.e., increase of the average volume of individual pores and decrease in the total number of pores. The CO₂ injection/residence also led to an increase in the mean radii of pore throats, an increase in the length of pore network segments, and made the orientation distribution of mesopores more isotropic. Numerical simulations showed that elastic moduli for the sample subjected to supercritical CO₂ injection/residence are lower than those for the intact sample.     

Seismic time–frequency analysis as a robust method to estimate the fluid saturation: A case study of carbonates reservoir,Iran

The propagation of seismic waves through a saturated reservoir compresses the fluid in the pore spaces. During this transition, parts of seismic energy would be attenuated because of intrinsic absorption. Rock physics models make the bridge between the seismic properties and petrophysical reality in the earth. Attenuation is one of the significant seismic attributes used to describe the fluid behaviour in the reservoirs. We examined the core samples using ultrasonic experiments at the reservoir conditions. Given the rock properties of the carbonate reservoir and experiment results, the patchy saturation mechanism was solved for substituted fluid using the theory of modulus frequency. The extracted relationship between the seismic attenuation and water saturation was used in time–frequency analysis. We performed the peak frequency method to estimate the Q factor in the Gabor domain and determined the water saturation based on the computed rock physics model. The results showed how the probable fault in the reservoir has stopped the fluid movement in the reservoir and caused touching the water‐bearing zone through drilling.     

地震尺度下碳酸盐岩储层的岩石物理建模方法(英文)

碳酸盐岩油藏的强非均质性以及孔隙结构的复杂性,使得作为连接油藏参数与地震参数重要桥梁的岩石物理模型,以及作为油藏预测和定量表征最有效工具的流体替换成为岩石物理建模的难点与重点。在碳酸盐岩储层复杂孔隙结构与地震尺度下碳酸盐岩储层非均质性分析基础上,研究采用岩石网格化方法,将地震尺度下非均质碳酸盐岩储层岩石划分为具有独立岩石参数的均质岩石子体,根据岩石孔隙成因与结构特征采用不同岩石物理模型分步计算岩石子块干岩石弹性模量,并根据不同孔隙连通性进行流体替换,计算饱和不同流体岩石弹性模量。基于计算的岩石子块弹性模量,采用Hashin-Shtrikman-Walpole弹性边界计算理论方法实现地震尺度下碳酸盐岩储层弹性参数计算。通过对含有不同类型孔隙组合碳酸盐岩储层模型的弹性模量进行计算与分析,明确不同孔隙对岩石弹性参数的影响特征,模拟分析结果与实际资料认识一致。     

Rock physics modeling of heterogeneous carbonatereservoirs： porosity estimation and hydrocarbon detection

In heterogeneous natural gas reservoirs, gas is generally present as small patch-like pockets embedded in the water-saturated host matrix. This type of heterogeneity, alsocalled ＂patchy saturation＂, causes significant seismic velocity dispersion and attenuation. Toestablish the relation between seismic response and type of fluids, we designed a rock physicsmodel for carbonates. First, we performed CT scanning and analysis of the fluid distributionin the partially saturated rocks. Then, we predicted the quantitative relation between the waveresponse at different frequency ranges and the basic lithological properties and pore fluids.A rock physics template was constructed based on thin section analysis of pore structuresand seismic inversion. This approach was applied to the limestone gas reservoirs of the rightbank block of the Amu Darya River. Based on poststack wave impedance and prestack elasticparameter inversions, the seismic data were used to estimate rock porosity and gas saturation.The model results were in ~ood a~reement with the production regime of the wells.     

When 4D seismic is not applicable: Alternative monitoring scenarios for the Arab-D reservoir in the Ghawar Field

Ghawar, the largest oilfield in the world, produces oil from the Upper Jurassic Arab‐D carbonate reservoir. The high rigidity of the limestone–dolomite reservoir rock matrix and the small contrast between the elastic properties of the pore fluids, i.e. oil and water, are responsible for the weak 4D seismic effect due to oil production. A feasibility study was recently completed to quantify the 4D seismic response of reservoir saturation changes as brine replaced oil. The study consisted of analysing reservoir rock physics, petro‐acoustic data and seismic modelling. A seismic model of flow simulation using fluid substitution concluded that time‐lapse surface seismic or conventional 4D seismic is unlikely to detect the floodfront within the repeatability of surface seismic measurements. Thus, an alternative approach to 4D seismic for reservoir fluid monitoring is proposed. Permanent seismic sensors could be installed in a borehole and on the surface for passive monitoring of microseismic activity from reservoir pore‐pressure perturbations. Reservoir production and injection operations create these pressure or stress perturbations. Reservoir heterogeneities affecting the fluid flow could be mapped by recording the distribution of epicentre locations of these microseisms or small earthquakes. The permanent borehole sensors could also record repeated offset vertical seismic profiling surveys using a surface source at a fixed location to ensure repeatability. The repeated vertical seismic profiling could image the change in reservoir properties with production.     

Effect of oil composition on fluid substitution in heavy oil reservoirs

Unlike light oils, heavy oils do not have a well‐established scheme for modelling elastic moduli from dynamic reservoir properties. One of the main challenges in the fluid substitution of heavy oils is their viscoelastic nature, which is controlled by temperature, pressure, and fluid composition. Here, we develop a framework for fluid substitution modelling that is reliable yet practical for a wide range of cold and thermal recovery scenarios in producing heavy oils and that takes into account the reservoir fluid composition, grounded on the effective‐medium theories for estimating elastic moduli of an oil–rock system. We investigate the effect of fluid composition variations on oil–rock elastic moduli with temperature changes. The fluid compositional behaviour is determined by flash calculations. Elastic moduli are then determined using the double‐porosity coherent potential approximation method and the calculated viscosity based on the fluid composition. An increase in temperature imposes two opposing mechanisms on the viscosity behaviour of a heavy‐oil sample: gas liberation, which tends to increase the viscosity, and melting, which decreases the viscosity. We demonstrate that melting dominates gas liberation, and as a result, the viscosity and, consequently, the shear modulus of the heavy oils always decrease with increasing temperature. Furthermore, it turns out that one can disregard the effects of gas in the solution when modelling the elastic moduli of heavy oils. Here, we compare oil–rock elastic moduli when the rock is saturated with fluids that have different viscosity levels. The objective is to characterize a unique relation between the temperature, the frequency, and the elastic moduli of an oil–rock system. We have proposed an approach that takes advantage of this relation to find the temperature and, consequently, the viscosity in different regions of the reservoir.     

Quantitative geophysical pore‐type characterization and its geological implication in carbonate reservoirs

This paper discusses and addresses two questions in carbonate reservoir characterization: how to characterize pore‐type distribution quantitatively from well observations and seismic data based on geologic understanding of the reservoir and what geological implications stand behind the pore‐type distribution in carbonate reservoirs. To answer these questions, three geophysical pore types (reference pores, stiff pores and cracks) are defined to represent the average elastic effective properties of complex pore structures. The variability of elastic properties in carbonates can be quantified using a rock physics scheme associated with different volume fractions of geophysical pore types. We also explore the likely geological processes in carbonates based on the proposed rock physics template. The pore‐type inversion result from well log data fits well with the pore geometry revealed by a FMI log and core information. Furthermore, the S‐wave prediction based on the pore‐type inversion result also shows better agreement than the Greensberg‐Castagna relationship, suggesting the potential of this rock physics scheme to characterize the porosity heterogeneity in carbonate reservoirs. We also apply an inversion technique to quantitatively map the geophysical pore‐type distribution from a 2D seismic data set in a carbonate reservoir offshore Brazil. The spatial distributions of the geophysical pore type contain clues about the geological history that overprinted these rocks. Therefore, we analyse how the likely geological processes redistribute pore space of the reservoir rock from the initial depositional porosity and in turn how they impact the reservoir quality.     

An Estimation Method of Pore Structure and Mineral Moduli Based on Kuster-Toksöz (KT) Model and Biot’s Coefficient

Pore structure and mineral matrix elastic moduli are indispensable in rock physics models. We propose an estimation method of pore structure and mineral moduli based on Kuster-Toksöz model and Biot’s coefficient. In this technique, pore aspect ratios of five different scales from 100 to 10^?4 are considered, Biot’s coefficient is used to determine bounds of mineral moduli, and an estimation procedure combined with simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to handle real logs or laboratory measurements is developed. The proposed method is applied to parameter estimations on 28 sandstone samples, the properties of which have been measured in lab. The water saturated data are used for estimating pore structure and mineral moduli, and the oil saturated data are used for testing these estimated parameters through fluid substitution in Kuster-Toksöz model. We then compare fluid substitution results with lab measurements and find that relative errors of P-wave and S-wave velocities are all less than 5%, which indicates that the estimation results are accurate.     

非均质天然气藏的岩石物理模型及含气饱和度反演

非均质气藏中,天然气一般呈"斑块状"分布于含水岩石内部,这种非均匀分布特征会导致地震波显著的频散与衰减现象.为发展适用于碳酸盐岩储层中流体检测的岩石物理模型,本文基于Biot-Rayleigh波动方程,实现了对非饱和岩石的多尺度理论建模,预测了不同尺度下波响应与岩性、流体间的定量联系.将此项建模技术应用于阿姆河右岸的灰岩气藏,给出了多尺度的岩石物理学图板.通过与实验数据、测井精细解释结果及地震数据的对比分析,本文论证了图板的正确性与可适用性.结合叠后波阻抗反演与叠前弹性参数反演,基于地震资料进行了储层含气饱和度与孔隙度的反演,反演结果与各井实际的产气情况吻合.     

Measurements of the elastic and anelastic properties of sandstone flooded with supercritical CO2

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) injection on the elastic and anelastic properties of sandstone at seismic and ultrasonic frequencies. We present the results of the low‐frequency and ultrasonic experiments conducted on water‐saturated sandstone (Donnybrook, Western Australia) flooded with scCO₂. The sandstone was cut in the direction perpendicular to a formation bedding plane and tested in a Hoek triaxial pressure cell. During the experiments with scCO_2, the low‐frequency and ultrasonic systems and the pump dispensing scCO₂ were held at a temperature of 42°C. The elastic parameters obtained for the sandstone with scCO₂ at seismic (0.1 Hz–100 Hz) and ultrasonic (～0.5 MHz) frequencies are very close to those for the dry rock. The extensional attenuation was also measured at seismic frequencies for the dry, water‐saturated, and scCO₂‐injected sandstones. The applicability of Gassmann's fluid substitution theory to obtained results was also tested during the experiments.     

Quantitative gas saturation estimation by frequency‐dependent amplitude‐versus‐offset analysis

Seismic amplitudes contain important information that can be related to fluid saturation. The amplitude‐versus‐offset analysis of seismic data based on Gassmann's theory and the approximation of the Zoeppritz equations has played a central role in reservoir characterization. However, this standard technique faces a long‐standing problem: its inability to distinguish between partial gas and “fizz‐water” with little gas saturation. In this paper, we studied seismic dispersion and attenuation in partially saturated poroelastic media by using frequency‐dependent rock physics model, through which the frequency‐dependent amplitude‐versus‐offset response is calculated as a function of porosity and water saturation. We propose a cross‐plotting of two attributes derived from the frequency‐dependent amplitude‐versus‐offset response to differentiate partial gas saturation and “fizz‐water” saturation. One of the attributes is a measure of “low frequency”, or Gassmann, of reflectivity, whereas the other is a measure of the “frequency dependence” of reflectivity. This is in contrast to standard amplitude‐versus‐offset attributes, where there is typically no such separation. A pragmatic frequency‐dependent amplitude‐versus‐offset inversion for rock and fluid properties is also established based on Bayesian theorem. A synthetic study is performed to explore the potential of the method to estimate gas saturation and porosity variations. An advantage of our work is that the method is in principle predictive, opening the way to further testing and calibration with field data. We believe that such work should guide and augment more theoretical studies of frequency‐dependent amplitude‐versus‐offset analysis.     

基于流体替换技术的地震AVO属性气藏识别(英文)

传统上,油藏地球物理工程师是基于测井数据进行流体替换,计算油藏饱和不同流体时的弹性参数,并通过地震正演模拟分析油藏饱和不同流体时的地震响应,从而进行油气藏识别研究。该研究方案为油藏研究提供了重要的弹性参数和地震响应信息,但这些信息仅限于井眼位置。对于实际油藏条件,地下储层参数都是随位置变化而变化的,如孔隙度、泥质含量和油藏厚度等,因此基于传统流体替换方案得到的流体变化地震响应信息对于油气藏识别具有很大的局限性。研究通过设定联系油藏弹性参数与孔隙度、矿物组分等参数的岩石物理模型,并基于三层地质模型,进行地震正演模拟与AVO属性计算。得到油藏孔隙度、泥质含量和储层厚度变化时地震AVO属性,并建立了饱和水储层和含气储层对应AVO属性(包括梯度与截距)之间的定量关系。建立的AVO属性之间的线性关系可以实现基于地震AVO属性直接进行流体替换。最后,应用建立的流体替换前后AVO属性之间线性方程,对模拟地震数据直接进行流体替换,并通过流体替换前后AVO属性交汇图分析实现了气藏识别。     

Monitoring fluid substitution in rock samples from noise correlation

An alternative laboratory technique to measure the elastic constants of solid samples, based on the analysis of the cross‐correlation spectra of the vibratory response of randomly excited short solid cylinders, has been recently proposed. The aim of this paper is to check the ability of the technique called passive ultrasonic interferometry to monitor fluid substitution in different rock samples. Velocity variations due to fluid substitution are easily measured if the wave attenuation in the fluid‐saturated rock is not too large (typically in rocks with few cracks or microfractures). The experimental results are in agreement with the predictions of Biot–Gassmann poroelastic theory. The effect of substituting water with a stiffer saturating fluid, such as ethylene glycol, is to increase the overall bulk modulus of the rock, without any substantial effect on shear modulus. Furthermore, the experimental results compare well with those obtained independently with conventional pulse‐transmission technique using ultrasonic transducers. However, the measured pulse‐transmission bulk moduli are slightly larger than the corresponding measured ultrasonic interferometry moduli, with the deviation increasing with increasing fluid viscosity. This can be explained by dispersion due to wave‐induced flow of the viscous fluid since pulse‐transmission experiments involve higher frequencies than ultrasonic interferometry experiments.     

Pore fluid viscosity effects on P‐ and S‐wave anisotropy in synthetic silica‐cemented sandstone with aligned fractures

Ultrasonic (500 kHz) P‐ and S‐wave velocity and attenuation anisotropy were measured in the laboratory on synthetic, octagonal‐shaped, silica‐cemented sandstone samples with aligned penny‐shaped voids as a function of pore fluid viscosity. One control (blank) sample was manufactured without fractures, another sample with a known fracture density (measured from X‐ray CT images). Velocity and attenuation were measured in four directions relative to the bedding fabric (introduced during packing of successive layers of sand grains during sample construction) and the coincident penny‐shaped voids (fractures). Both samples were measured when saturated with air, water (viscosity 1 cP) and glycerin (100 cP) to reveal poro‐visco‐elastic effects on velocity and attenuation, and their anisotropy. The blank sample was used to estimate the background anisotropy of the host rock in the fractured sample; the bedding fabric was found to show transverse isotropy with shear wave splitting (SWS) of 1.45 ± 1.18% (i.e. for S‐wave propagation along the bedding planes). In the fractured rock, maximum velocity and minimum attenuation of P‐waves was seen at 90° to the fracture normal. After correction for the background anisotropy, the fractured sample velocity anisotropy was expressed in terms of Thomsen's weak anisotropy parameters ε, γ & δ. A theory of frequency‐dependent seismic anisotropy in porous, fractured, media was able to predict the observed effect of viscosity and bulk modulus on ε and δ in water‐ and glycerin‐saturated samples, and the higher ε and δ values in air‐saturated samples. Theoretical predictions of fluid independent γ are also in agreement with the laboratory observations. We also observed the predicted polarisation cross‐over in shear‐wave splitting for wave propagation at 45° to the fracture normal as fluid viscosity and bulk modulus increases.     

Anisotropic rock physics models for interpreting pore structures in carbonate reservoirs

We developed an anisotropic effective theoretical model for modeling the elastic behavior of anisotropic carbonate reservoirs by combining the anisotropic self-consistent approximation and differential effective medium models. By analyzing the measured data from carbonate samples in the TL area, a carbonate pore-structure model for estimating the elastic parameters of carbonate rocks is proposed, which is a prerequisite in the analysis of carbonate reservoirs. A workflow for determining elastic properties of carbonate reservoirs is established in terms of the anisotropic effective theoretical model and the pore-structure model. We performed numerical experiments and compared the theoretical prediction and measured data. The result of the comparison suggests that the proposed anisotropic effective theoretical model can account for the relation between velocity and porosity in carbonate reservoirs. The model forms the basis for developing new tools for predicting and evaluating the properties of carbonate reservoirs.     

An equivalent medium model for wave simulation in fractured porous rocks

Seismic wave propagation in reservoir rocks is often strongly affected by fractures and micropores. Elastic properties of fractured reservoirs are studied using a fractured porous rock model, in which fractures are considered to be embedded in a homogeneous porous background. The paper presents an equivalent media model for fractured porous rocks. Fractures are described in a stress‐strain relationship in terms of fracture‐induced anisotropy. The equations of poroelasticity are used to describe the background porous matrix and the contents of the fractures are inserted into a matrix. Based on the fractured equivalent‐medium theory and Biot's equations of poroelasticity, two sets of porosity are considered in a constitutive equation. The porous matrix permeability and fracture permeability are analysed by using the continuum media seepage theory in equations of motion. We then design a fractured porous equivalent medium and derive the modified effective constants for low‐frequency elastic constants due to the presence of fractures. The expressions of elastic constants are concise and are directly related to the properties of the main porous matrix, the inserted fractures and the pore fluid. The phase velocity and attenuation of the fractured porous equivalent media are investigated based on this model. Numerical simulations are performed. We show that the fractures and pores strongly influence wave propagation, induce anisotropy and cause poroelastic behaviour in the wavefields. We observe that the presence of fractures gives rise to changes in phase velocity and attenuation, especially for the slow P‐wave in the direction parallel to the fracture plane.     

求取岩石基质体积模量的线形拟合方法(英文)

岩石基质的体积模量或其倒数--压缩系数,在进行油气预测的流体替换和孔隙度反演时,是重要的输入参数,但是利用现有方法很难准确求得。文中提出了一种求取该参数的线形拟合方法,该方法通过对Gassmann方程的合理简化并引入Eshelby-Walsh干燥岩石椭球包体近似公式,获得了计算岩石基质压缩系数的拟合公式,可方便地利用公式计算该参数。实际碳酸盐岩岩样的岩石物理测试分析显示:利用饱和岩样和干燥岩样测得的基质压缩系数的差异小于1%,说明所求参数是正确的,可靠的。     

Multiscale rock-physics templates for gas detection in carbonate reservoirs

The heterogeneous distribution of fluids in patchy-saturated rocks generates significant velocity dispersion and attenuation of seismic waves. The mesoscopic Biot–Rayleigh theory is used to investigate the relations between wave responses and reservoir fluids. Multiscale theoretical modeling of rock physics is performed for gas/water saturated carbonate reservoirs. Comparisons with laboratory measurements, log and seismic data validate the rock physics template. Using post-stack and pre-stack seismic inversion, direct estimates of rock porosity and gas saturation of reservoirs are obtained, which are in good agreement with oil production tests of the wells.     

Quantitative detection of fluid distribution using time-lapse seismic

Although previous seismic monitoring studies have revealed several relationships between seismic responses and changes in reservoir rock properties, the quantitative evaluation of time‐lapse seismic data remains a challenge. In most cases of time‐lapse seismic analysis, fluid and/or pressure changes are detected qualitatively by changes in amplitude strength, traveltime and/or Poisson's ratio. We present the steps for time‐lapse seismic analysis, considering the pressure effect and the saturation scale of fluids. We then demonstrate a deterministic workflow for computing the fluid saturation in a reservoir in order to evaluate time‐lapse seismic data. In this approach, we derive the physical properties of the water‐saturated sandstone reservoir, based on the following inputs: V_P, V_S, ρ and the shale volume from seismic analysis, the average properties of sand grains, and formation‐water properties. Next, by comparing the in‐situ fluid‐saturated properties with the 100% formation‐water‐saturated reservoir properties, we determine the bulk modulus and density of the in‐situ fluid. Solving three simultaneous equations (relating the saturations of water, oil and gas in terms of the bulk modulus, density and the total saturation), we compute the saturation of each fluid. We use a real time‐lapse seismic data set from an oilfield in the North Sea for a case study.     

Determination of the elastic wave velocities in porous rocks with the change of overburden pressure and its universal significance

Typical rock samples with different lithologic characteristics were collected from exploring wells drilled in sandstone-conglomerate sedimental reservoirs with positive rhythm. In different pore fluid states (fully saturated with gas, water and oil), the velocities of compressional and shear waves (Vp, Vs) were measured under different overburden pressure in laboratory. The effects of pore fluid and different fluid types on the velocities were analyzed. The velocities (Vp, Vs) of the samples fully saturated with water were calculated by use of Gassmann's formula that is suitable for low frequency. The calculated values were compared with the experimental values obtained at high frequency. The result shows that Gassmann's theory can be used to calculate elastic wave velocities in porous rocks saturated with fluid. By this result, the change of elastic velocities with the change of fluid can be predicted. The error is allowable in petroleum engineering. This conclusion is useful for sonic logging interpretation and seismic datum processing.