Carbonate and Fracture Petrophysics - A Roadmap

Approximately half of the world's proven reserves of oil and gas are in carbonate or fractured reservoirs. The main elements of fracture evaluation are incorporated into this course because carbonates, basement and tight clastics are often fractured. Log analysis in these reservoirs is often misleading. So, more than in any other reservoir type, training and data integration are essential to avoid expensive operational mistakes.
Although the same fundamental petrophysical principles apply to all reservoirs, carbonates and fractures are far more problematic. Different features dominate the petrophysical data, like the extremely diverse pore geometries of micro bio porosity, vugs, fractures and the absence of clay minerals as the controlling factor for effective porosity. Such characteristics force a back-to-basics, first principles, approach if economic decisions are to be securely grounded on fit-for-purpose petrophysical results.
This intermediate-level course details the primary problems of carbonate and fracture evaluations and how to optimise data acquisition and data integration for useful output. A wide variety of examples from high porosity/ low permeability carbonates, detrital carbonates, low porosity fractured carbonates and basement fractured reservoirs are employed to demonstrate the often severe shortcomings of conventional approaches. Conventional approaches are juxtaposed with the purpose-designed, core-log-test, data gathering and evaluation techniques which have proven successful in providing increased accuracy for reserve estimating and simulation in these difficult reservoirs. Classic problems are circumvented or reduced by this key uncertainties, objectives-driven information flow, demonstrated via practical, worked examples. All theory is closely interleaved with short, simple exercises to clarify and consolidate the principles under discussion. The role of conventional logs as well as special purpose logs is covered in this context, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
Basic petrophysical principles and log analysis are reviewed in this course, however a years experience in formation evaluation is desirable. This course is rooted in the real world of operating energy companies, not the university lecture theatre. It includes numerous 'real world' useful tips and will provide a new found familiarity, understanding and confidence for geoscientists faced with the daunting prospect of managing these confusing reservoirs. A calculator and post 1994 chart book are useful to demonstrate relationships between variables.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
All Petrophysicists, Wellsite Geologists, Operations Geologists, Carbonate or Fracture Reservoir Geologists or Reservoir Engineers, Core Analysts. Anyone involved with the formation evaluation of carbonates or fractured reservoirs or who use their petrophysical results for reserves or reservoir simulation.