Microporosity is very common in limestone reservoirs globally and is especially significant in many large Mesozoic reservoirs in the Middle East. Despite its common occurrence there is:Wide variation in its definition,Uncertainty around characterization, genetic controls, and distributionA rudimentary understanding of its influence on reservoir performance and hydrocarbon recovery. The results of this study, based on a global survey of microporosity and specific Middle Eastern case studies, provide clarity on each of these topics. One volumetrically significant type of microporosity occurs between micron size subhedral crystals of low magnesium calcite in matrix and within grains. This micro-pore system is very homogenous in terms of pore size distribution with 90% of pores between 1 and 3 microns in diameter. Pore throat radii range between 0.1 and 1.5 microns. Porosity, permeability, and capillarity relationships reflect this homogeneity for rocks dominated by microporosity. Rocks with less than approximately 80% microporosity exhibit a marked increase in pore system heterogeneity. A pore geometry characterization approach incorporating digital image analyses of petrographic thin-sections was developed and provides a very effective means of rapidly characterizing and quantifying the total pore system, including microporosity. The lateral and stratigraphic distribution of microporosity is systematically related to the distribution of depositional facies and the regional extent of burial diagenetic processes. Factors that inhibit burial diagenesis, such as hydrocarbon charge, also have a strong influence on the nature and distribution of microporosity. Remaining oil saturation in microporous limestone, as measured from centrifuge capillary pressure and steady state (SS) core flood experiments, is negatively correlated with the percent fraction of microporosity. Due to the homogenous nature of the micro-pore system, rocks dominated by microporosity have more favorable oil recovery than rocks with mixed pore systems. In the specific cases studied here, water provides more favorable recovery than gas. These results have implications for resource assessment, field development planning and optimization of ultimate recovery in limestone reservoirs with significant microporosity.
Microporosity is very common in limestone reservoirs globally and is especially significant in many large Mesozoic reservoirs in the Middle East. Despite its common occurrence there is: Wide variation in its definition, Uncertainty around characterization, genetic controls, and distribution A rudimentary understanding of its influence on reservoir performance and hydrocarbon recovery. The results of this study, based on a global survey of microporosity and specific Middle Eastern case studies, provide clarity on each of these topics. One volumetrically significant type of microporosity occurs between micron size subhedral crystals of low magnesium calcite in matrix and within grains. This micro-pore system is very homogenous in terms of pore size distribution with 90% of pores between 1 and 3 microns in diameter. Pore throat radii range between 0.1 and 1.5 microns. Porosity, permeability, and capillarity relationships reflect this homogeneity for rocks dominated by microporosity. Rocks with less than approximately 80% microporosity exhibit a marked increase in pore system heterogeneity. A pore geometry characterization approach incorporating digital image analyses of petrographic thin-sections was developed and provides a very effective means of rapidly characterizing and quantifying the total pore system, including microporosity. The lateral and stratigraphic distribution of microporosity is systematically related to the distribution of depositional facies and the regional extent of burial diagenetic processes. Factors that inhibit burial diagenesis, such as hydrocarbon charge, also have a strong influence on the nature and distribution of microporosity. Remaining oil saturation in microporous limestone, as measured from centrifuge capillary pressure and steady state (SS) core flood experiments, is negatively correlated with the percent fraction of microporosity. Due to the homogenous nature of the micro-pore system, rocks dominated by microporosity have more favorable oil recovery than rocks with mixed pore systems. In the specific cases studied here, water provides more favorable recovery than gas. These results have implications for resource assessment, field development planning and optimization of ultimate recovery in limestone reservoirs with significant microporosity.
This paper presents a method to condition the permeability modeling of a thin, heterogeneous high-K dolomitized unit. The interval is an important drilling target for field development, so precise permeability modeling is required to optimize well placement and completion designs in order to maximize oil recovery and minimize early water breakthrough. Detailed core observations from 85 wells classify the unit into two groups: Group A, composed mainly of dolostone and Group B, comprised exclusively of calcareous dolostone. Regression analyses of plug porosity-permeability values are characterized by one regression line for each group by which dolostone represents a higher permeability trend relative to calcareous dolostone. Core-plug scaling is used to scale-up the porosity-permeability relationships from core plug- to modelscale (100 m by 100 m cells). The two regression lines accurately capture the permeability contrast within the dolomitized unit. To extend the method into a full-field model, it is necessary to calibrate the well logs to the core data. Comparison of cores with various log responses indicates the porosity log is the most useful tool to achieve this. Group A, characterized by higher dolomite content, is distinguished by a distinct decrease in the porosity due to progressive dolomitization. Porosity logs from 499 wells are interpreted and permeability values are assigned using the regression lines based on the detailed distribution map of both groups. The modeling approach using hundreds of well logs calibrated to cores yields a more detailed picture of the spatial permeability variations of the dolomitized unit. Dynamic data from ongoing history matching is also used to implicitly adjust the first-pass static model.
Lower Cretaceous-aged carbonate sediments in a supergiant Middle Eastern oil field are characterized by extensive diagenetic overprints (e.g., dolomitized burrows, dissolution fabrics and fractures) which occur over areas of several kilometers. Due to the permeability contrast with respect to surrounding fine-grained matrix, the diagenetic features are believed to play an important role in reservoir fluid-flow, particularly as a major contributor to early water breakthrough observed in the field. Uncertainties associated with three-dimensional subsurface reservoir models can be mitigated by incorporating the results of detailed reservoir characterization studies. How these study findings are successfully and meaningfully implemented into the reservoir model can be a challenge and requires an integrated effort by reservoir geologists, modelers, and engineers. This paper discusses a comprehensive reservoir characterization and modeling study conducted to capture the impact of diagenetic features on reservoir flow properties. A novel method was developed to map the spatial and stratigraphic distribution of these features from cores. Dolomitized burrows generally appear in core as randomly oriented features on a scale of cm to 10's of cm. They are characterized by grainier fill (packstone or grainstone), often dolomitized, within a background of muddier sediment (wackestone to packstone). Dissolution vugs are associated with algal rock type and can vary from few cms to 10's of cm. Fractures are generally layer specific and occur at the reservoir-dense boundaries. The origin of diagenetic processes and prediction of their occurrence is very difficult. However, the difference in texture and associated pore characteristics lead to heterogeneous porosity and permeability regimes that can have significant impact on sweep efficiency and recovery in oil fields that are subjected to waterflood. A simplified, fit-for-purpose, rapidly updateable static model has been developed to ensure accurate stratigraphic and lateral distribution of diagenetic features based on cores, logs and dynamic data. Whole core data revealed potential guidance for assigning permeability in diagenetic features. A consistent SCAL framework has been developed to capture the relative effects of these diagenetic features on flow. After incorporation in the model, simulation results clearly shows water movement through these features and rapid water cut. This is in agreement to the field observation that has experienced earlier than expected water breakthrough and steady increases in water cut over time.
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