Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S.

Kadhim)

DETERMINATION Of INITIAL OIL AND GAS IN PLACE

1. Initial Oil in Place

For under saturated crude, the reservoir contains only connate water and oil with their respective
solution gas contents. The initial or original oil in place can be estimated from the volumetric
equation:

The constant 7,758 is the number of barrels in each acre-ft, Vb is bulk volume in acre-ft, Ф is the
porosity (ФVb is pore volume), Soi is the initial oil saturation, Boi is the initial oil formation volume
factor in reservoir barrels per stock tank barrel, A is area in ft², h is reservoir thickness in ft, and Swi
is the initial water saturation.
 Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
2. Initial Gas in Place

For the foregoing case of an under-saturated oil (at the bubble point with no free gas), the gas in
solution with the oil is:

where G is the initial gas in solution in standard cubic feet (scf ), Rs is gas solubility in the oil or
solution gas-oil ratio (dimensionless).

3. Free Gas in Place

Free gas within a reservoir or a gas cap when no residual oil is present can be estimated:

where G = gas-in-place, scf, A = area of reservoir, acres, h = average reservoir thickness, ft.
Ф = porosity. Swi = water saturation, and, Bgi = gas formation volume factor, ft^3/scf
 Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Gas produced = Initial gas − Remaining gas
 Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)

:
Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Example

The Big Butte Field is a solution gas-drive reservoir that is under consideration for a water flood
project. The volumetric calculations of the field indicate that the areal extent of the field is 1,612.6
acres. The field is characterized by the following properties:

Thickness = 25 ft
Porosity = 15%
Initial water saturation = 20%
Initial pressure, pi = 2377 psi
Bo= 1.706 bbl/STB
Rs= 921 scf/STB

G=7758(1612.6)(25)(0.5)(1-0.2)(921)/(1.706)=
 Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Fracture Porosity Determination

Hensel in 1989 established that the range of fracture porosity, Фf, is 0.1% to 5%, depending on the
degree of solution channelling, as shown in the following Figure, and on fracture width and spacing, as
shown in the following Tables. In some fields, like the La-Paz and Mara fields in Venezuela, fracture
porosity may be as high as 7%. Accurate measurement of fracture porosity is essential for the efficient
development and economical exploitation of naturally fractured reservoirs. If oil is trapped in both
the matrix and fissures, then the total oil in place in the reservoir is given by the following equation:

Where: Nom and Nof are, respectively, the oil volumes trapped in the matrix and fractures.
 Formation Evaluation Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)

Assuming a volumetric system, these two volumes, expressed in STB, are calculated as follows:
Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Fracture porosity can be expressed as the ratio of the fracture pore volume (Vpf) over the total bulk
volume (Vbt):

The sonic log only measures the matrix porosity. However, neutron porosity is the combination of
both the matrix and fracture porosity. Thus fracture porosity can be estimated from well logs as:

Aguilera in 1976 developed the following equation that relates the total formation resistivity factor,
Ft, for dual porosity systems, to the total porosity based on the Pirson model of fully water-
saturated rocks :

Where: Ro is the resistivity of porous rock 100 percent saturated with brine, and Rw is the
formation water resistivity, both expressed in Ohm-m. The term ν is commonly referred to as the
“porosity partitioning coefficient.” This coefficient represents the apportioning of total porosity
(Фt) between the matrix (intergranular) porosity, Фm, and secondary pores (vugs, fractures, joints,
and fissures), Фf.
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
If only the matrix porosity is present in the system, the porosity partitioning coefficient, ν, is equal to
zero. Thus Equation 6 simplifies to Equation 7, which is the same as for a consolidated matrix:

If only fracture porosity is present in the system, such as in only naturally fractured reservoirs
without matrix porosity, the porosity the partitioning coefficient is equal to unity (i.e. ν=1). In this
case the formation resistivity factor can be expressed as:

Laboratory tests indicate that the tortuosity factor, a, and the fracture porosity exponent, mf, are
approximately unity in systems with open and well connected fractures. In naturally fractured
reservoirs contains matrix porosity, the formation resistivity factor can be more generally expressed
as:

Where: mm is the matrix porosity exponent . If only matrix porosity is present, i.e. Фf = 0, Equation
8b simplifies to Archie’s equation, where m = mm . On the other hand, if only fracture porosity is
present such as in Type-1, Equation 8b simplifies to Equation 8a. If only the total porosity is known,
then F can be estimated from:
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)

Most of these parameters can be measured on either cores or well logs. The water saturation of the
flushed zone can be estimated only from correlations. Each formation seems to require a slightly
different correlation. One of these correlations is:

(9)

The exponent C (typically 0.20 to 0.25) is assumed arbitrarily, depending on the experience of the
mud-log analyst and results obtained in nearby wells. In a high-porosity and high-permeability
formation C ≈ Sw. Because mud filtrate and formation water are miscible, in a water-bearing zone
Sxo = 1. In an oil-bearing zone Sxo = 1 - Soxo,, where Soxo is the residual oil saturation in the flushed
zone, typically in the range of 0.20 to 0.30. It is generally assumed that the amount of residual oil or
gas is the same in both the flushed zone and the invaded zone. The flushed zone is that which
immediately surrounds the wellbore (3 to 6 in. radius). The invaded zone is that beyond the flushed
zone (several feet thick). The presence of fissures near the borehole may increase the radius of both
zones.

In low-porosity (Фt < 10%) and low-permeability formations (k < 5 mD), any mud invasion would be
very limited; but if k is high then mud filtration could be high and deep into the formation. In this
case the range of the residual oil saturation is 10 to 20 percent. In high-porosity (Фt > 15%) and high-
permeability (k > 100 mD) formations, a low mud invasion results, with residual oil saturation of
approximately 30%. In the case of high porosity and low permeability, Soxo, is in the order of 20%.
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Porosity Partitioning Coefficient

Reservoirs with a fracture-matrix porosity system-such as found in many carbonate rocks due to the
existence of vugs, fractures, fissures, and joints-differ considerably from reservoirs having only one
porosity type. The secondary porosity strongly influences the movement of fluids, whereas the
primary pores of the matrix, where most of the reservoir fluid is commonly stored, are poorly
interconnected.

Laboratory-measured values of permeability for naturally fractured cores can be significantly

different from the in-situ values determined by well pressure analysis. The difference is attributed to
the presence of fractures, fissures, joints and vugs, which are not adequately sampled in the core
analysis. One of the earliest methods used to analyse full-sized naturally fractured cores was
developed by Locke and Bliss in 1950. The method consists of injecting water into a core sample and
measuring the pressure values as a function of the cumulative injected volume of water as shown in
the following Figure . The secondary pore space, Vf, because of its high permeability, will be the first
to fill up with water. A sharp increase in pressure is recorded later, indicating that the matrix porous
space, Vm, has to fill up. The total pore volume, Vt = Vf + Фf.Vm, is considered to be filled up when a
pressure of 1,000 psi is reached in the test. If the fraction of total pore volume in the secondary
porosity is ν, then:

(10)

The term v is commonly referred to as the “porosity partitioning coefficient.” This coefficient
represents the apportioning of total porosity (Фt) between the matrix (intergranular) porosity, Фm,
and secondary pores (vugs, fractures, joints, and fissures), Фf.
Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
The value of v ranges between zero and unity for dual porosity systems. For total porosity equal to
matrix porosity (absence of fracture porosity),ν= 0. For total porosity equal to fracture porosity,
ν = 1. This coefficient can be estimated from core analysis using the Locke and Bliss method,
pressure analysis, and well logging data. By assuming that the fractures and matrix are connected in
parallel, as shown in the following Figure. Pirson in 1970 suggested the following equations for
short and long normal or induction tools. If the drilling fluid used is non-conductive, the following
correlations can be used to estimate the porosity partitioning coefficient and fracture intensity
index:
1. Short Normal

2. Long Norma1

Combining above Equations and solving explicitly for the porosity partitioning coefficient, ν, yields:
Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)

If the total porosity Ф, is known from logs or cores, the matrix porosity and fracture porosity may be
estimated from:

The porosity partitioning coefficient v, commonly used by the Petrophysicists, is physically equivalent
to the storage capacity ratio, ɷ, which is more commonly used in well test analysis. But, because of the
difference in scale, it is unlikely that the two values would ever be equal for the same formation.
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Example

I. A newly drilled well in a naturally fractured reservoir was logged. The average total porosity of
the system was estimated from cores as 13%. Other known characteristics are:

A = 3,000 acres, h = 52ft, Sw = 0.22, Bo = 1.25 bbl/STB, Rmf = 0.17 ohm-m, Rw = 0.19 ohm-m,
Rt = 95ohm-m, m = 1.75, Фt=0.2

1. Estimate the porosity partitioning coefficient.

2. Estimate the matrix porosity and fracture porosity.
3. Calculate the total oil in place, STB.

II. The following characteristics of a naturally fractured formation were obtained from core
analysis:

Фf = 0.037, Фm = 0.15, mf = 1.5, mm = 2, Ro = 1.77 ohm-m, Rw = 0.035 ohm-m

Estimate the tortuosity factor for this formation.

 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
Solution

I.1 In order to calculate the porosity partitioning coefficient ν, assuming a=1 and C=2 then we need to
determine first the resistivity in the flushed zone.

The porosity partitioning coefficient is:

I.2 We now can estimate the matrix porosity and fracture porosity from the following Equations:
 Well Logging Lectures (Prepared by Dr. Fadhil S. Kadhim)
I.3 Assuming the water saturation in the fractures is equal to the water saturation in the matrix, the
initial oil in place in the matrix and fractures are calculated from Equations 2 and 3, respectively:

II. The formation resistivity factor is:

The tortuosity is: