Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Vol.18 No.3 (September 2017) 59 - 65

Iraqi Journal of Chemical and
ISSN: 1997-4884
University of Baghdad
Petroleum Engineering College of Engineering

Permeability Prediction By Classical and Flow Zone Indictor (FZI)

Methods for an Iraqi Gas Field
Waffa Mustafa Al-Qattan and Ahmed Habeeb Al Mohammed
Petroleum Engineering Department-College of Engineering-University of Baghdad-Iraq

Abstract
The permeability is the most important parameter that indicates how efficient the
reservoir fluids flow through the rock pores to the wellbore. Well-log evaluation and
core measurements techniques are typically used to estimate it. In this paper, the
permeability has been predicted by using classical and Flow zone indicator methods.
A comparison between the two methods shows the superiority of the FZI method
correlations, these correlations can be used to estimate permeability in un-cored wells
with a good approximation.

Key words: permeability, FZI method

Introduction
Rock permeability is a property of a Frequently, core analysis data are not
porous medium that quantifies the available because of the high cost of
capacity of a rock to transmit the coring and due to the borehole
fluids. In other word, It is a measure of condition. Thus, there are alternative
fluid conductivity of a porous media. It methods can been made to predict and
is an important rock property and one estimate permeability.one of the
of the most difficult of all inexpensive and readily available
petrophysical properties to predict and sources of inferring permeability is
determine. An accurate estimate of from well logs. To achieve this goal,
permeability is essential because it is various models have been used and
considered the key parameter that developed correlations to determine
controls strategies of reservoir permeability based on well log
management, well completion and measurements.
production. The studied field is Mansuriyah gas
Core analysis has been traditionally field at the east of Iraq Fig (1), and the
used to determine permeability. studied reservoir of this field is Jeribe
Kozeny (1927) and Archie (1942) were formation. Available core data for
amongst the first few people to wells (Mn-1, Mn-2, Mn-3 , Mn-4)
determine permeability based on provide information for Jeribe
electrical measurements made on core formation that can be depended to
sample . predict permeability by two methods
were chosen in this study.
Permeability Prediction By Classical and Flow Zone Indictor (Fzi) Methods for an Iraqi Gas Field

Figure (2) shows permeability vs.

porosity plot that used to drive
permeability model for Jeribe unit and
the formula for the equation with
correlation coefficient ( R ) . This low
percent for ( R ) coefficient refers to
high heterogeneity . The increase in
permeability does not necessary lead to
increase in porosity and the increase in
porosity does not necessary lead to
increase in permeability.
The limitation in the classical
method that the porosity value is not
the only parameter affecting
permeability.
Fig. 1, Al- Mansuriya field location Table (1) shows the formula,
correlation coefficient and sample
The two different methods of number was used to generate
permeability-porosity relationships permeability formula.
used to predict permeability are
Classical and Flow Zone Indicator Table 1, classical permeability formula
(FZI) method. and correlation coefficient
Formation Formula Samp Correlation
le No. Coefficient
Classical Method for Permeability (R)
Prediction Jeribe 451 0.4363
In this method, permeability can be K=0.063 x
directly derived from porosity. By e17.7770
using empirical correlation between
permeability and porosity that
generated from core data, permeability
can be predicted in un-cored well
sections. The general form for the
conventional permeability-porosity
relationship is usually expressed as(1):

( ) … (1)

k: permeability (md).
: Porosity (fraction) and
a and b : the constants to be fitted to
the case study.

Available core samples data for four

wells Mn-1, Mn-2, Mn-3 and Mn-4
Fig. 2, core porosity and permeability
collected together to generate
for jeribe formation
empirical correlation of Permeability
vs. porosity for Jirebe unit.

60 IJCPE Vol.18 No.3 (Sep. 2017) -Available online at: www.iasj.net

 Waffa Mustafa Al-Qattan and Ahmed Habeeb Al Mohammed

Correlation between porosity and

permeability applied for Jeribe
formation. Figures (3) to (6) show
predicted permeability for four wells ,
The figures show that predicted
permeability doesn’t strongly matched
with the measured core permeability ,
due to the Permeability – Porosity
classical correlation which is basic
method where permeability depend on
porosity only and does not cover all
factors effect on permeability ( pore
scale and structure).

Fig. 4, predicted permeability for well

Mn-2 by classical method

Fig. 3, predicted permeability for well

Mn-1 by classical method

Fig. 5, predicted permeability for well

Mn-3 by classical method

-Available online at: www.iasj.net IJCPE Vol.18 No.3 (Sep. 2017) 61

Permeability Prediction By Classical and Flow Zone Indictor (Fzi) Methods for an Iraqi Gas Field

In this approach, rock types are

classified according to the following
equations:

√ … (2)

=( ) … (3)

By substitute RQI and Φz with FZI can

be simplified as:

… (4)

By taking the logarithm of both side

of equation (4), the final approach can
written as follow:

= ( ) … (5)

Fig. 6, predicted permeability for well The above equation represents the
Mn-4 by classical method straight line on log-log plot of RQI vs.
Φz. The intercept of straight line at
Flow Zone Indicator Method Φz=1 is the specific flow zone
(FZI)(2)(3)(4) indicator of each group. Other FZI
Among the various quantitative rock- values of core samples will show on
typing techniques were presented, the different lines. Points that lie on the
Hydraulic Flow Unit method each straight line got same pore throat
(RQI/FZI) is more widely used. A description and, therefore, same a flow
hydraulic flow unit (HFU) is defined unit.
as the representative volume of total
reservoir rock within which geological According to values of FZI four
properties that control fluid flow are groups identified in permeability–
internally consistent and predictably porosity plot in figure (7) and
different from properties of other permeability formula generated for
rocks. This method is based on physics each group. The generated
of flow in pore scale and geological permeability formulas applied in un-
parameters .The Flow Zone indicator cored wells and intervals depending on
(FZI) method for classifying core data porosity value from log.
into Hydraulic Units with specific FZI.
This approach provides accurate
correlations between permeability and
porosity if FZI of the reservoir rock is
known. FZI is estimate from core data
in the cored wells and it is usually
applied to un-cored wells through
correlations with log attributes.

62 IJCPE Vol.18 No.3 (Sep. 2017) -Available online at: www.iasj.net

 Waffa Mustafa Al-Qattan and Ahmed Habeeb Al Mohammed

Fig. 7, cross plot log permeability vs.

porosity for specific FZI Values for
Jeribe formation

The generated permeability formulas

tabulate in table (2) applied in cored
well (Mn-1 , Mn-2, Mn-3 and Mn-4) to
compere the predicted permeability
Fig. 8, predicted permeability for well
values with measured core values as
Mn-1 by FZI method
shown in figure form(8) to (11).

Table 2, FZI Permeability formula for

Jeribe formation
FZI Permeability R2
Formula
FZI=0 K=99.128xѲ3.1643 0.7529
FZI=1 K=454.8xѲ3.3544 0.891
FZI=2 K=1643.7xѲ3.5632 0.8623
FZI=3 K=1786xѲ2.8709 0.9326

Fig. 9, predicted permeability for well

Mn-2 by FZI method

-Available online at: www.iasj.net IJCPE Vol.18 No.3 (Sep. 2017) 63

Permeability Prediction By Classical and Flow Zone Indictor (Fzi) Methods for an Iraqi Gas Field

Comparison between Permeability

Methods for Estimating Best
Method
Two permeability prediction
methods (Classical and FZI) were used
in this chapter that’s covered the
usefulness parameter that effect in
permeability. To suggest the best
method for this study, sample
correlation made between measured
and predicted permeability for two
methods in order choose the method
that gives the highest correlation
coefficient.
From the Figures (12) and (13)
shows that FZI method correlation
gives the highest correction coefficient
form classical method so it depended
for permeability prediction in this
study.

Fig. 10, predicted permeability for well

Mn-3 by FZI method

Fig. 12, accuracy of permeability

prediction by FZI method

Fig. 11, predicted permeability for well

Mn-4 by FZI method

64 IJCPE Vol.18 No.3 (Sep. 2017) -Available online at: www.iasj.net

 Waffa Mustafa Al-Qattan and Ahmed Habeeb Al Mohammed

References
1- Taslimi,M.,Bohloli,B.,Kazemzad, E
and Kamali, M.R,"Determining Rock
Mass Permeability in a Carbonate
Reservoir, Southern Iran Using
Hydraulic Flow Unitsand Intelligent
Systems", College of Science,
University of Tehran, Research
Institute of Petroleum Technology,
N.I.O, 2ndedtion,UK, (2008).
2- Balan,B.,Mohaghegh,S.andAmeri,S.,
"State - Of - The - Artin Permability
Determination From Well Log Data :
Part 1- A Comparative Study, Model
Development",SPE30978,WestVirginia
Fig. 13, accuracy of permeability ,U.S.A. ,(1995).
predictions by classical method 3- Semmelbeck,M.E.and Diyashev,I.R.,
"Application of Permlog–A New Log
Conclusions Based Permeability Estimation
1- The correlations developed to Method", SPE35650,Calgry,(1996).
predict permeability using only 4- Lim,S.J. and Kim,J. ,"Reservoir
Porosity and Permeability Estimation
porosity for Jeribe formation is
from Well Logs using Fuzzy Logic and
found to be unsuccessful due to the Neural Networks",SPE 88476 , (2004).
heterogeneity of Jeribe Formation.
2- The estimated results of
permeability using of FZI method is
more accurate comparing with the
classical method and greatly
enhances the prediction of
permeability.

Nomenclatures
1- Symbols
a , b : Constant are statistically
determined.
Fs : Effective pore throat shape
factor.
K: Permeability
(md)
R2 : Correlation Coefficient
(Dim.)
:Porosity (Fraction)

2- Abbreviations
FZI : Flow Zone Indicator
HFU: Hydraulic Flow Unit
RQI: Reservoir Quality Index

-Available online at: www.iasj.net IJCPE Vol.18 No.3 (Sep. 2017) 65