ABSTRACT: Reservoir Characterization--Principle and Practice

Carol Stanley, Peter M. Duncan, Joseph G. Richardson

Once a discovery is made, it becomes the task of the reservoir engineer to determine if the reservoir can be produced economically and how to go about developing the field most effectively. This poster presentation outlines in a very basic way the principles and practices employed in an engineering analysis of the reservoir volumetrics, the reservoir drive mechanism, and the reservoir development plan. The information on the field that the engineer needs to do his job is reviewed, and the tools available currently to derive that information are discussed. These tools include open-hole logs, whole cores, reservoir fluid samples, pressure gauges, depositional models, and well tests. Most of the measurements made with or determined from these nongeophysical tools are point m asurements at the well bore. Well control is usually limited during the exploratory phase of reservoir development, so the data must be extrapolated or correlated between wells. Geophysics can be very useful in helping to define the reservoir by providing data about the reservoir between the well control. More accurate reservoir models provide a better understanding of the reservoir volumetrics, drive mechanism and flow characteristics and are central to the evaluation of the economics of the development. More efficient development plans can be designed, leading to improved recovery of hydrocarbons.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91003©1990 AAPG Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 3-6, 1990