Effects of depositional facies and diagenesis on calculating petrophysical properties for wireline logs in Permian carbonate reservoirs of west Texas
- Univ. of Texas, Austin (United States)
The complex interplay between depositional facies and diagenesis in carbonate rocks presents numerous problems for calculating petrophysical properties from wireline logs. If carbonate reservoirs are divided into flow units of similar depositional and diagenetic textures, empirical equations that apply specifically to that geologically identified flow unit can be developed to accurately measure porosity and water saturation. In Guadalupian and Leonardian reservoirs, carbonate mudstones deposited in subtidal marine settings are predominantly dolomite, although they contain some shale. The shale in these rocks can be detected with gamma-ray logs and empirical equations for calculation of porosity from log must include a gamma-ray component to compensate for the presence of shale. Because porosity in these rocks is dominantly intercrystalline, capillary pressure characteristics are predictable and saturations can be calculated with the Archie equation. Subtidal carbonate packstones and grainstones are composed of dolomite, anhydrite, and gypsum. The matrix acoustic transit times of these three minerals are similar, and acoustic logs are the best tool for measuring porosity. Neutron logs are the least accurate porosity tools if gypsum is present. Photo-electric density logs can distinguish gypsum from anhydrite. Because porosity in these rocks is dominantly interparticle and/or moldic, dual porosity cementation exponent corrections are needed to calculate saturations with the Archie equation, and capillary pressure saturation relationships are variable. Carbonates deposited in tidal-flat environments are generally composed of dolomite, sulfate minerals, and quartz silt, requiring a full suite of open-hole logs to make reliable porosity measurements. Diagenesis influences reservoir mineralogy and pore types. A common style of burial diagenesis in Guadalupian and Leonardian reservoirs is hydration of anhydrite to gypsum and leaching of sulfate cement and dolomite matrix.
- OSTI ID:
- 6899583
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9404148--
- Journal Information:
- AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States) Vol. 78:3; ISSN 0149-1423; ISSN AABUD2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ANHYDRITE
CALCULATION METHODS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
DEPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIAGENESIS
DOLOMITE
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
GYPSUM
MICROSTRUCTURE
MINERALOGY
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDE MINERALS
PERMIAN BASIN
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PORE STRUCTURE
POROSITY
QUARTZ
RESERVOIR ROCK
ROCKS
SATURATION
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SHALES
SULFATE MINERALS
TEXAS
USA
USES
WATER SATURATION
WELL LOGGING EQUIPMENT