From the Pore Scale to Reservoir Scale: Lithohydraulic Flow Unit Characterization of a Shallow Shelf Carbonate Reservoir, North Robertson Unit, West Texas
Richard K. Vessell and David K. Davies
This paper presents the results of integrated geological-petrophysical
reservoir characterization performed as part of the US Department of Energy
Class II reservoir program. Petrographic image analysis
, using a specially
equipped SEM, allowed for the identification of 8 petrophysical rock types at
the North Robertson Unit. Detailed
log
analysis
resulted in the development of
algorithms for the
log
-based identification of these rock types in 109 wells.
Porosity was related to permeability for each Rock Type: thus permeability is
determined from
well
log
data. Evaluation of porosity, permeability, Sw and HPV
distribution has allowed for the identification of 12 lithohydraulic flow units.
These flow units have been mapped across the unit.
The technique allows for the development of log
-based reservoir models that
are simulator-ready. The results of this study have application to all
heterogeneous, shallow shelf carbonate reservoirs, they demonstrate that large
fields can be successfully characterized using few cores and emphasize the
importance of integrated geological-engineering
analysis
in reservoir
characterization.
AAPG Search and Discover Article #91019©1996 AAPG Convention and Exhibition 19-22 May 1996, San Diego, California