Estimation of Permeability from NMR Logs Based on Formation Classification Method in Tight Gas Sands

The Schlumberger Doll Research (SDR) model and cross plot of porosity versus permeability cannot be directly used in tight gas sands. In this study, the HFU approach is introduced to classify rocks, and determine the involved parameters in the SDR model. Based on the difference of FZI, 87 core samples, drilled from tight gas sandstones reservoirs of E basin in northwest China and applied for laboratory NMR measurements, were classified into three types, and the involved parameters in the SDR model are calibrated separately. Meanwhile, relationships of porosity versus permeability are also established. The statistical model is used to calculate consecutive FZI from conventional logs. Field examples illustrate that the calibrated SDR models are applicable in permeability estimation; models established from routine core analyzed results are effective in reservoirs with permeability lower than 0.3 mD, while the unified SDR model is only valid in reservoirs with permeability ranges from 0.1 to 0.3 mD.     

Monitoring Well Completion Evaluation with Borehole Geophysical Density Logging

Grout continuity and the location of the bentonite seal and sand pack in PVC-cased monitoring wells can be evaluated with cased-hole geophysical density logs. This method relies upon density contrasts among various completion conditions and annular materials. Notably, the lack of annular material behind pipe (i.e., void space) creates a low-density zone that is readily detected by borehole density measurements.
Acoustic cement bond logging has typically been applied to the evaluation of cement in the annular space of completed oil and gas production wells, and in some cases to ground water monitoring wells. These logs, however, can only be obtained in the fluid-filled portion of the borehole, and their interpretation is severely hindered by the presence of the micro-annulus between casing and cement. The influence of the micro-annulus on cement bond logs can be mitigated in steel-cased wells by pressurizing the wellbore during acquisition of the log, but this procedure is not feasible in PVC-cased monitoring wells. The micro-annulus does not affect cased-hole density logs or their interpretation.
Empirical measurements made in the laboratory with density probes provide information on their depths of investigation and response to specific completion conditions. These empirical data, and general knowledge of the density of annular completion materials (sand, bentonite, cement), are used to support interpretations of cased-hole density logs acquired in the field. Three field examples demonstrate the applicability of geophysical density logs to the evaluation of PVC-cased monitoring well completions.     

A modelling of effects of variable saturation in invaded zone near borehole on neutron tool response in the gas-bearing Miocene formations of the Carpathian foredeep,Poland

Invasion of mud filtrate from the borehole into the surrounding formation can significantly alter the response of logging tools.In this paper the neutron tool response was calculated for a gas-bearing rock crossed by the borehole.The invaded zone is characterized by variable fluid and gas saturation and is defined by a specific hyperbolic function. The saturation function is based on the characteristics of Polish Carpathian Foredeep Miocene formations reached in gas-bearing rocks. The whole system including neutron tool equipped with Am-Be neutron source and a set of neutron detectors, borehole, invaded zone, and virgin zone, was numerically modeled and used as the input to the Monte-Carlo neutron transport code. The response of each detector was calculated for different combinations of porosity and saturation of invaded zone and virgin zone.     

Fuzzy inference system for identification of geological stratigraphy off Prydz Bay, East Antarctica

The analysis of well logging data plays key role in the exploration and development of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Various well log parameters such as porosity, gamma ray, density, transit time and resistivity, help in classification of strata and estimation of the physical, electrical and acoustical properties of the subsurface lithology. Strong and conspicuous changes in some of the log parameters associated with any particular geological stratigraphy formation are function of its composition, physical properties that help in classification. However some substrata show moderate values in respective log parameters and make difficult to identify the kind of strata, if we go by the standard variability ranges of any log parameters and visual inspection. The complexity increases further with more number of sensors involved. An attempt is made to identify the kinds of stratigraphy from well logs over Prydz bay basin, East Antarctica using fuzzy inference system. A model is built based on few data sets of known stratigraphy and further the network model is used as test model to infer the lithology of a borehole from their geophysical logs, not used in simulation. Initially the fuzzy based algorithm is trained, validated and tested on well log data and finally identifies the formation lithology of a hydrocarbon reservoir system of study area. The effectiveness of this technique is demonstrated by the analysis of the results for actual lithologs and coring data of ODP Leg 188. The fuzzy results show that the training performance equals to 82.95% while the prediction ability is 87.69%. The fuzzy results are very encouraging and the model is able to decipher even thin layer seams and other strata from geophysical logs. The result provides the significant sand formation of depth range 316.0- 341.0 m, where core recovery is incomplete.     

Comparison of formation and fluid-column logs in a heterogeneous basalt aquifer

Deep observation boreholes in the vicinity of active production wells in Honolulu, Hawaii, exhibit the anomalous condition that fluid-column electrical conductivity logs and apparent profiles of pore-water electrical conductivity derived from induction conductivity logs are nearly identical if a formation factor of 12.5 is assumed. This condition is documented in three boreholes where fluid-column logs clearly indicate the presence of strong borehole flow induced by withdrawal from partially penetrating water-supply wells. This result appears to contradict the basic principles of conductivity-log interpretation. Flow conditions in one of these boreholes was investigated in detail by obtaining flow profiles under two water production conditions using the electromagnetic flowmeter. The flow-log interpretation demonstrates that the fluid-column log resembles the induction log because the amount of inflow to the borehole increases systematically upward through the transition zone between deeper salt water and shallower fresh water. This condition allows the properties of the fluid column to approximate the properties of water entering the borehole as soon as the upflow stream encounters that producing zone. Because this condition occurs in all three boreholes investigated, the similarity of induction and fluid-column logs is probably not a coincidence, and may relate to aquifer response under the influence of pumping from production wells.     

Using wavelet‐domain adaptive filtering to improve signal‐to‐noise ratio of nuclear magnetic resonance log data from tight gas sands

In tight gas sands, the signal‐to‐noise ratio of nuclear magnetic resonance log data is usually low, which limits the application of nuclear magnetic resonance logs in this type of reservoir. This project uses the method of wavelet‐domain adaptive filtering to denoise the nuclear magnetic resonance log data from tight gas sands. The principles of the maximum correlation coefficient and the minimum root mean square error are used to decide on the optimal basis function for wavelet transformation. The feasibility and the effectiveness of this method are verified by analysing the numerical simulation results and core experimental data. Compared with the wavelet thresholding denoise method, this adaptive filtering method is more effective in noise filtering, which can improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio of nuclear magnetic resonance data and the inversion precision of transverse relaxation time T₂ spectrum. The application of this method to nuclear magnetic resonance logs shows that this method not only can improve the accuracy of nuclear magnetic resonance porosity but also can enhance the recognition ability of tight gas sands in nuclear magnetic resonance logs.     

含流体致密砂岩的纵波频散及衰减:基于双重双重孔隙结构模型描述的特征分析

致密砂岩普遍具有低孔、低渗及微裂缝发育的地质特征,并且呈现出很强的非均匀性.致密砂岩储层与常规砂岩储层比较,具有明显的岩石物理性质、渗流力学性质方面的差异.致密砂岩内部的非均匀性对弹性波频散、衰减有显著影响,其中包括孔隙结构的非均匀性,即岩石内部孔隙参数的不均一性,以及孔隙内部不相混溶流体的非均匀分布;此外,非均匀性的尺度也决定了波出现显著频散与衰减的频段.综合考虑致密砂岩孔隙结构非均匀性及流体斑块状饱和的非均匀性,本文采用双双重孔隙介质结构模拟了致密砂岩的弹性波响应,分析了同时具备两类非均质性岩石中的波传播特征.调查分析了两组分别来自中国鄂尔多斯盆地苏里格气田及四川盆地广安气田的不同类型致密砂岩储层的岩芯超声波实验数据,给出了岩石样本的弹性波速度频散与衰减曲线.结果显示理论模型预测结果与完全饱和、部分饱和岩石的实验数据吻合良好.对两个地区致密砂岩岩芯数据进行对比分析,苏里格致密砂岩样本总体上比广安致密砂岩渗透率高,在各孔隙度范围内,特征模拟显示苏里格样本的裂隙尺寸明显大于广安样本.广安致密砂岩在低孔隙度范围内发育了更多、更小的颗粒裂隙/接触.致密砂岩的速度频散与衰减结果受流体黏度、晶体破裂及流体斑块状饱和的共同影响.此外,孔隙度越大,部分饱和岩石中斑块状饱和机制对总衰减的贡献越低,与之相对,结构非均质性所占的比重则有所增强.     

NMR Parameters Determination through ACE Committee Machine with Genetic Implanted Fuzzy Logic and Genetic Implanted Neural Network

Free fluid porosity and rock permeability, undoubtedly the most critical parameters of hydrocarbon reservoir, could be obtained by processing of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) log. Despite conventional well logs (CWLs), NMR logging is very expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, idea of synthesizing NMR log from CWLs would be of a great appeal among reservoir engineers. For this purpose, three optimization strategies are followed. Firstly, artificial neural network (ANN) is optimized by virtue of hybrid genetic algorithm-pattern search (GA-PS) technique, then fuzzy logic (FL) is optimized by means of GA-PS, and eventually an alternative condition expectation (ACE) model is constructed using the concept of committee machine to combine outputs of optimized and non-optimized FL and ANN models. Results indicated that optimization of traditional ANN and FL model using GA-PS technique significantly enhances their performances. Furthermore, the ACE committee of aforementioned models produces more accurate and reliable results compared with a singular model performing alone.     

利用成像测井自动判别礁滩储层沉积相和岩性

礁滩储层是我国海相碳酸盐岩油气勘探的重要目标,也是我国油气产能的重要接替领域之一。由于礁滩储层储集空间类型多样,非均质性极强,依靠常规测井判别其沉积相和岩性非常困难。成像测井能够清晰地反映礁滩储层的结构组分和沉积构造,为沉积相和岩性的判别提供了可靠的依据。在对大量礁滩储层的成像和岩心对比观察的基础上,我们提出了9种典型的成像解释模式,建立了利用成像解释模式自动判别礁滩储层沉积相和岩性的方法并研制了相应的处理软件。该方法在塔中和川东北地区礁滩储层的实际应用中取得了良好的效果。     

New combined log and tracer test interpretation method for identifying transfers in fissured aquifers

Tracer tests represent the most appropriate approach for assessing hydrodispersive parameters such as transversal and longitudinal dispersivities or kinematic porosity on an aquifer scale. They are generally carried out by injecting a tracer in a borehole and measuring its concentration over time in neighboring boreholes by extracted volume sampling or downhole measurements. Logging is one of the most suitable methods for evaluating fissured reservoirs. But short circuits between fractures with different hydraulic potential through boreholes induce mixing phenomena that cannot be avoided without packers. This mixing can shift the breakthrough curves deduced from the logs for each producing fracture and distort determination of their location.
The method proposed in this paper aims at measuring the flow rate and the solute breakthrough for hydraulically active fractures, in open boreholes. It involves estimating a velocity profile along the borehole column by the analysis of two successive logs: a shift function according to depth is thus determined by comparison between log portions on each successive one. The velocity gradients reflect the inward or outward flow rates produced by each fracture. On the basis of these flow rates, it is possible to determine the mixing effects inside the borehole and then to plot unbiased breakthrough curves for each producing fracture.
This method was applied at a granitic site in the eastern Pyrenees. In spite of some questionable limitations, the results showed that the method seems adapted to situations with many fractures. The precise hydraulic pattern which is obtained at the borehole scale is discussed in terms of a dual porosity model. Furthermore, interpretation of the breakthrough curves for fractures corrected for mixing effects revealed that Peclet numbers are strongly underestimated if this phenomenon is not considered.     

塔河油田碳酸盐岩缝洞型储层的测井识别与评价方法研究

塔河油田奥陶系以碳酸盐岩为主，油气的主要储渗空间为裂缝和溶蚀孔洞，具有很强的非均质性．本文利用常规及成像测井资料，对碳酸盐岩缝洞型储层的识别与评价方法进行研究．为了综合各种测井方法识别裂缝，建立了综合裂缝概率模型，计算综合裂缝概率指示裂缝的发育程度．利用地层微电阻率扫描成像测井资料进行裂缝和溶蚀孔洞的定性、定量解释．定量计算的裂缝参数为：裂缝密度、裂缝长度、裂缝平均宽度、平均水动力宽度、裂缝视孔隙度；定量计算的溶蚀孔洞参数有：面孔率、孔洞密度．根据缝洞型储层孔隙空间类型及其中子孔隙度、补偿密度、声波、双侧向电阻率的测井响应物性特征，建立缝洞型碳酸盐岩储层复杂孔隙介质解释模型，用于确定裂缝、溶蚀孔洞孔隙度和评价储层．     

Gas hydrate saturation at Site C0002, IODP Expeditions 314 and 315, in the Kumano Basin,Nankai trough

The degree of gas hydrate saturation at Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site C0002 in the Kumano Basin, Nankai Trough, was estimated from logging‐while‐drilling logs and core samples obtained during IODP Expeditions 314 and 315. Sediment porosity data necessary for the calculation of saturation were obtained from both core samples and density logs. Two forms of the Archie equation (‘quick‐look’ and ‘standard’) were used to calculate gas hydrate saturation from two types of electrical resistivity log data (ring resistivity and bit resistivity), and a three‐phase Biot‐type equation was used to calculate gas hydrate saturation from P‐wave velocity log data. The gas hydrate saturation baseline calculated from both resistivity logs ranges from 0% to 35%, and that calculated from the P‐wave velocity log ranges from 0% to 30%. High levels of gas hydrate saturation (>60%) are present as spikes in the ring resistivity log and correspond to the presence of gas hydrate concentrations within sandy layers. At several depths, saturation values obtained from P‐wave velocity data are lower than those obtained from bit resistivity data; this discrepancy is related to the presence of free gas at these depths. Previous research has suggested that gas from deep levels in the Kumano Basin has migrated up‐dip towards the southern and seaward edge of the basin near Site C0002. The high saturation values and presence of free gas at site C0002 suggest that a large gas flux is flowing to the southern and seaward edge of the basin from a deeper and/or more landward part of the Kumano Basin, with the southern edge of the Kumano Basin (the location of site C0002) being the main area of fluid accumulation.     

Fuzzy ruling between core porosity and petrophysical logs: Subtractive clustering vs. genetic algorithm–pattern search

Porosity, the void portion of reservoir rocks, determines the volume of hydrocarbon accumulation and has a great control on assessment and development of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Accurate determination of porosity from core analysis is highly cost, time, and labor intensive. Therefore, the mission of finding an accurate, fast and cheap way of determining porosity is unavoidable. On the other hand, conventional well log data, available in almost all wells contain invaluable implicit information about the porosity. Therefore, an intelligent system can explicate this information. Fuzzy logic is a powerful tool for handling geosciences problem which is associated with uncertainty. However, determination of the best fuzzy formulation is still an issue. This study purposes an improved strategy, called hybrid genetic algorithm–pattern search (GA–PS) technique, against the widely held subtractive clustering (SC) method for setting up fuzzy rules between core porosity and petrophysical logs. Hybrid GA–PS technique is capable of extracting optimal parameters for fuzzy clusters (membership functions) which consequently results in the best fuzzy formulation. Results indicate that GA–PS technique manipulates both mean and variance of Gaussian membership functions contrary to SC that only has a control on mean of Gaussian membership functions. A comparison between hybrid GA–PS technique and SC method confirmed the superiority of GA–PS technique in setting up fuzzy rules. The proposed strategy was successfully applied to one of the Iranian carbonate reservoir rocks.     

Azimuthal anisotropy analysis of walkaround vertical seismic profiling vertical seismic profiling: a case study from Saudi Arabia

Understanding fracture orientations is important for optimal field development of fractured reservoirs because fractures can act as conduits for fluid flow. This is especially true for unconventional reservoirs (e.g., tight gas sands and shale gas). Using walkaround Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) technology presents a unique opportunity to identify seismic azimuthal anisotropy for use in mapping potential fracture zones and their orientation around a borehole. Saudi Aramco recently completed the acquisition, processing and analysis of a walkaround VSP survey through an unconventional tight gas sand reservoir to help characterize fractures. In this paper, we present the results of the seismic azimuthal anisotropy analysis using seismic traveltime, shear‐wave splitting and amplitude attenuation. The azimuthal anisotropy results are compared to the fracture orientations derived from dipole sonic and image logs. The image log interpretation suggests that an orthorhombic fracture system is present. VSP data show that the P‐wave traveltime anisotropy direction is NE to SW. This is consistent with the cemented fractures from the image log interpretation. The seismic amplitude attenuation anisotropy direction is NW to SE. This is consistent with one of the two orientations obtained using transverse to radial amplitude ratio analysis, with the dipole sonic and with open fracture directions interpreted from image log data.     

A new velocity model for clay-sand mixtures1

None of the standard porosity-velocity models (e.g. the time-average equation, Raymer's equations) is satisfactory for interpreting well-logging data over a broad depth range. Clays in the section are the usual source of the difficulty through the bias and scatter that they introduce into the relationship between porosity and P-wave transit time. Because clays are composed of fine sheet-like particles, they normally form pores with much smaller aspect ratios than those associated with sand grains. This difference in pore geometry provides the key to obtaining more consistent resistivity and sonic log interpretations. A velocity model for Clay–sand mixtures has been developed in terms of the Kuster and Toksöz, effective medium and Gassmann theories. In this model, the total pore space is assumed to consist of two parts: (1) pores associated with sand grains and (2) pores associated with clays (including bound water). The essential feature of the model is the assumption that the geometry of pores associated with sand grains is significantly different from that associated with clays. Because of this, porosity in shales affects elastic compliance differently from porosity in sand-Stones. The predictive power of the model is demonstrated by the agreement between its predictions and laboratory measurements and by its ability to predict sonic logs from other logs over large depth intervals where formations vary from unconsolidated to consolidated sandstones and shales.     

Geostatistics applied to cross-well reflection seismic for imaging carbonate aquifers

Cross-well seismic reflection data, acquired from a carbonate aquifer at Port Mayaca test site near the eastern boundary of Lake Okeechobee in Martin County, Florida, are used to delineate flow units in the region intercepted by two wells. The interwell impedance determined by inversion from the seismic reflection data allows us to visualize the major boundaries between the hydraulic units. The hydraulic (flow) unit properties are based on the integration of well logs and the carbonate structure, which consists of isolated vuggy carbonate units and interconnected vug systems within the carbonate matrix. The vuggy and matrix porosity logs based on Formation Micro-Imager (FMI) data provide information about highly permeable conduits at well locations. The integration of the inverted impedance and well logs using geostatistics helps us to assess the resolution of the cross-well seismic method for detecting conduits and to determine whether these conduits are continuous or discontinuous between wells. A productive water zone of the aquifer outlined by the well logs was selected for analysis and interpretation. The ELAN (Elemental Log Analysis) porosity from two wells was selected as primary data and the reflection seismic-based impedance as secondary data. The direct and cross variograms along the vertical wells capture nested structures associated with periodic carbonate units, which correspond to connected flow units between the wells. Alternatively, the horizontal variogram of impedance (secondary data) provides scale lengths that correspond to irregular boundary shapes of flow units. The ELAN porosity image obtained by cokriging exhibits three similar flow units at different depths. These units are thin conduits developed in the first well and, at about the middle of the interwell separation region, these conduits connect to thicker flow units that are intercepted by the second well. In addition, a high impedance zone (low porosity) at a depth of about 275 m, after being converted to ELAN porosity, is characterized as a more confined low porosity structure. This continuous zone corresponds to a permeability barrier in the carbonate aquifer that separates the three connected conduits observed in the cokriging image. In the zones above and below this permeability barrier, the water production is very high, which agrees with water well observations at the Port Mayaca aquifer.     

用地震资料预测孔隙度的广义协克里格法

在Doyen工作的基础上,本文对简单协克里格法作了一些改进,提出了用地震资料预测孔隙度的广义协克里格法,详细推导证明了其基本公式.并分别用3种方法预测了松辽盆地宋站地区扶余油层含气砂岩储层的孔隙度分布.井孔处的交互检验证明,广义协克里格法比线性回归法和简单协克里格法预测孔隙度的均方根误差分别小40％和30％以上.     

Diagenetic fluids evolution and genetic mechanism of tight sandstone gas reservoirs in Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Sichuan Basin,China

The reservoirs of the Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation in Sichuan Basin have the characteristics of low compositional maturity, low contents of cements and medium textural maturity. The general physical properties of the reservoirs are poor, with low porosity and low permeability, and there are only a few reservoirs with medium porosity and low permeability in local areas. Based on the diagenetic mineral association, a diagenetic sequence of cements is established: early calcites (or micrite siderites) →first quartz overgrowth→chlorite coatings→dissolution of feldspars and debris→chlorite linings→ second quartz overgrowth (quartz widen or filled in remain intergranular pores and solution pores)→dissolution→third quartz overgrowth (quartz filled in intergranular and intragranular solution pores)→intergrowth (ferro) calcites→dolomites→ferro (calcites) dolomites→later dissolution→veins of quartz and calcites formation. Mechanical compaction is the main factor in making the reservoirs tight in the basin, followed by the second and third quartz overgrowth. In a long-term closed system, only feld-spars and some lithic fragments are dissolved by diagenetic fluids, while intergranular cements such as quartz and calcit are not dissolved and thus have little influence on the porosity of the Xujiahe Formation. This is the third factor that may have kept the sandstones of Xujiahe Formation tight finally. The hydrocarbon was extensively generated from organic materials after the second quartz overgrowth, and selectively entered favorable reservoirs to form tight sandstone gas reservoirs.     

Detection of Contaminant Plumes by Borehole Geophysical Logging

Two borehole geophysical methods—electromagnetic induction and natural gamma radiation logs—were used to vertically delineate landfill leachate plumes in a glacial aquifer. Geophysical logs of monitoring wells near two land-fills in a glacial aquifer in west-central Vermont show that borehole geophysical methods can aid in interpretation of geologic logs and placement of monitoring well screens to sample landfill leachate plumes.
Zones of high electrical conductance were delineated from the electromagnetic log in wells near two landfills. Some of these zones were found to correlate with silt and clay units on the basis of drilling and gamma logs. Monitoring wells were screened specifically in zones of high electrical conductivity that did not correlate to a silt or clay unit. Zones of high electrical conductivity that did not correlate to a silt or clay unit were caused by the presence of ground water with a high specific conductance, generally from 1000 to 2370 μS/cm (microsiemens per centimeter at 25 degrees Celsius). Ambient ground water in the study area has a specific conductance of approximately 200 to 400 μS/cm. Landfill leachate plumes were found to be approximately 5 to 20 feet thick and to be near the water table surface.     

Determination of paleo-pressure for a natural gas pool formation based on PVT characteristics of fluid inclusions in reservoir rocks--A case study of Upper-Paleozoic deep basin gas trap of the Ordos Basin

It has been proved to be a difficult problem to determine directly trapping pressure of fluid inclusions. Recently, PVT simulation softwares have been applied to simulating the trapping pressure of petroleum inclusions in reservoir rocks, but the reported methods have many limitations in practice. In this paper, a method is suggested to calculating the trapping pressure and temperature of fluid inclusions by combining the isochore equations of a gas-bearing aqueous inclusion with its coeval petroleum inclusions. A case study was conducted by this method for fluid inclusions occurring in the Upper-Paleozoic Shanxi Formation reservoir sandstones from the Ordos Basin. The results show that the trapping pressure of these inclusions ranges from 21 to 32 MPa, which is 6-7 MPa higher than their minimum trapping pressure although the trapping temperature is only 2-3℃ higher than the homogenization temperature. The trapping pressure and temperature of the fluid inclusions decrease from southern area to northern area of the basin.The trapping pressure is obviously lower than the state water pressures when the inclusions formed. These data are consistent with the regional geological and geochemical conditions of the basin when the deep basin gas trap formed.