This document summarizes a methodology for reservoir characterization that involves determining the reservoir's architecture, fluid flow trends, and growth potential. It also describes two approaches for hydraulic flow unit determination and its application for predicting petrophysical properties. The approaches involve clustering analysis, relative quality indices, and normalized porosity to predict hydraulic flow units and construct capillary pressure curves for property estimation. Accurate reservoir characterization is important to reduce drilling costs and increase oil recovery.

1. An integration of available data to define the geometrygeometry, distributiondistribution of physical parameters and flow propertiesflow properties of a petroleum reservoir. Reservoir characterization methodology comprises
determining reservoir architecture, establishing fluid-flow trends, constructing reservoir model, and identifying reserve growth potential.
A New Approach in Hydraulic Flow Unit Determination and its Application for Prediction of
Petrophysical Properties
MOHAMMAD IZADI
Department of Petroleum Engineering at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
MATHEMATICAL MODELING:
INTRODUCTION:
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS:
1 1
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w s V
k
S F S
φ
φ φτ
× = ×
− −
(1 )1
(1 ). gr
w
s V
Sk
F S
φ
φ φτ
−
= ×
−
Approach 1
Approach 2
Routine and Special Core Analysis:
1) Cutting Sample
2) Labeling and drying
3) Measuring Porosity
4) Measuring the permeability
5) Capillary Pressure
6) Relative Permeability
7) XRD test
DATA ANALYSIS:
, , wK Sφ
Blocks of sandstone cut from Ohio outcrop
which is called Brea.
Samples are cut in
different sizes
which is usually 1 and 1.5
inch in diameter and
length like drilling bit.
Samples are dried in the oven for
a day and then labeled.
Now, the void space of every plug is measured
by porosity machine which are between 17 to 25 %.
To measure the ability of porous media for fluid flow
we use particular apparatus to flow different
fluids and calculate the permeability. The common
range for that in sandstone is 50-500 md.
In oil reservoirs, there are two phase flowing
at the same time and in that case a concept is
defined as capillary pressure. It is the
difference pressure between two phases and it
governs a distribution of phase in the reservoir
during the migration.
This machine measures the transmissibility
of every fluid phase in the reservoir which is
called relative permeability and in this case
the desired fluid is oil. We need this data to
predict the static reservoir model.
X-ray diffraction test is conducted for
different rocks to identify various
mineralogy and concentrations. The main
principle is sending rays to the rock and
collecting the reflection and predicting the
amount of minerals.
Conclusions:
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Inaccurate reservoir characterization methods causes a huge waste of money such as exploration, drilling costs which eventually results in
company bankruptcy. For example, Continental Oil Co lost $4 billion for one dry hole in land and Shell also did $6 billion for one dry
hole. Furthermore, it is critically needed to improve the characterization methods.
According to EIA( Energy Information Administration) in Eastern Hemisphere :
2001 Exploratory Wells
Oil well
Dry well
Gas Well
39 %
19%
2005 Exploratory Wells
Dry Well
Oil well
49 %
11%
2007 Exploratort well
Dry Well
Oil well
19%
44%
Estimating Sw Constructing Pc
Predict the HFUDo cluster analysisPlot RQI vs Norm.Poro
Approaches 1 &2
References:
1) More accurate reservoir characterization methods, less wasting money, more
oil recovery
2) More reliable data and experiments, perfect prediction of reservoir properties
1) Reservoir Engineering Laboratory Manual, ULL, Petroleum
Engineering Department, 2002.
2) Pictures are the courtesy of Core Laboratories.