Integrated Core Analysis of Tight Gas Sand Play

Abstract

This presentation focuses on integrated core analysis for a tight gas sand. The fluid transport effects of pore-filling clays, remaining open porosity, grain contacts, and clay modality are discussed. The flow structure of the rock is explored using various imaging methods including multi-scale x-ray Computed Tomography (CT), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Focused Ion Beam (FIB)-SEM in two- and three-dimensions complemented by definition of mineralogy. Laboratory measurements of porosity and permeability are standard when carefully performed. However, due to the low permeability of Tight Gas Sand (TGS) systems, it is difficult to perform relative permeability and capillary pressure gas-water laboratory experiments. This presentation focuses on building the rock structure, establishing routine analysis properties digitally and experimentally, and finally, developing digitally special core analysis property estimates. This integrative work offers a way to obtain Special Core Analysis (SCAL) data that are essential for TGS field production optimization and development.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90360 © 2019 AAPG Middle East Region Geoscience Technology Workshop, 3rd Edition of the Siliciclastic Reservoirs of the Middle East, Muscat, Oman, October 28-30, 2019