1

Course outline
1. Introduction
2. Porosity
3. Rock compressibility
4. Fluid saturation
5. Rock resistivity
6. Permeability
7. Fluid-rock interaction
8. Relative permeability
2
1 - Introduction
Definition
Rock properties
Petroleum
Petroleum reservoir
Why study rock properties
3
Definition
Reservoir
rock
rock properties or petrophysics is the study of
rock properties, and
the interaction between fluids within pore space, and
the interactionbetween fluids and grain surfaces
4
The nature of petroleum
The nature of Petroleum
Petroleum is composed of a mixture of hydrocarbons found in
nature. This mixture occurs as:
Solids
Heavy hydrocarbon molecules like tars or asphalt
Liquids
The mixture contains large hydrocarbon molecules like crude oils
Gas
The mixture contains small hydrocarbon molecules like natural
gas
5
The petroleum reservoir
The Petroleum Reservoir
(Oil and Gas Traps)
A trap is defined as any geological
condition which presents an obstacle
to migrating oil or gas.
Traps should have porous and
permeable rock for storing
commercial quantities.
Traps should also have impermeable
cap to form a barrier to stop further
migration
Anticline
Sandstone
Anhydrite
Limestone
Shale
Sandstone
Petroleum
accumulation
Petroleum
source
An oil reservoir
6
Geological structures
Geological structures
Folds
If flexible layers are
subjected to horizontal
compression forces,
upward or downward
bending may occur. If
the bending is upward,
the structure is called an
"anticline", and if it is
downward, the structure
is called a "syncline"







A) Before


ANTICLINE ANTICLINE









SYNCLINE


Compression forces forming anticlines and syncline
Compression
al forces
Compressional
forces

7
Geological structures
Geological structures



TENSION TENSION



A) BEFORE













B) AFTER, NORMAL FAULT






GRABEN









C) AFTER, GRABEN FAULT


Tension Forces forming faults
Faults
If either tension or
compression forces
act on brittle layers,
fracturing may occur
which leads to
separation of the
layer into two blocks.
8
Geological structures
Geological structures
Dome
A dome is generated when a
subsurface body pierces into
upper layers. Domes are
convex in shape when
observed form the top and
the dip (inclination) of the
layers is uniform in all
directions
9
Sedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock
formed from weathered products of pre-existing
rocks transported by water, wind, and glaciers
Clastic sedimentary rocks
consist of broken fragments of silicate minerals
like siltstone, shale and sandstone, (SiO
2
,2.65 g/cm
3
)
Carbonate sedimentary rocks
chemical precipitation of carbonate minerals
(CO
3
group) like limestone (CaCO
3
, 2.71 g/cm
3
),
Dolomite (CaMg(CO
3
)
2
, 2.87 g/cm
3
)
2 CaCO
3
+ MgCl
2
CaMg(CO
3
)
2
+ CaCl
2
10
Why study rock properties
Help estimate reserves and recovery rate
Some rock properties determine the total volume of
petroleum in the traps
Others limit the fraction of this volume that can be
recovered and the rate at which it can be produced
11
Lab core analysis
Routine core analysis
Porosity
Permeability
Fluid saturation
Resistivity
Special core analysis
Compressibility
Capillary pressure
Relative permeability
Wettability