--> Abstract: Carbonate Petrophysical Parameters Derived from 3-D Images, by Mark Knackstedt, Mahyar Madadi, Christoph Arns, Gregor Baechle, Gregor Eberli, and Ralf J. Weger; #90078 (2008)

Datapages, Inc.Print this page

Carbonate Petrophysical Parameters Derived from 3-D Images

Mark Knackstedt1, Mahyar Madadi1, Christoph Arns1, Gregor Baechle2, Gregor Eberli2, and Ralf J. Weger2
1Applied Maths, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2Comparative Sedimentology Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, FL

Carbonate rocks are extremely diverse and their pore spaces complex and heterogeneous. Large uncertainties in the petrophysical properties of carbonates are due to wide variations in pore type, pore shape and interconnectivity. Petrophysical properties such as acoustic velocity, permeability and resistivity are directly correlated to the amount and type of porosity, the dominant feature size and the interconnectivity of different porosity types. Accurately measuring these attributes requires the quantitative 3D analysis of the pore structure of carbonates. In this paper we describe the imaging and analysis of 3 types of carbonate core; a set of vuggy, recrystallized dolostones, a set of oomoldic limestones and a set of skeletal grainstones. The structure and topology of the pore space is accurately determined via micro-CT analysis and the porosity shown to be in agreement with experimental data. Acoustic-porosity and porosity permeability relationships are derived directly on the image data via numerical simulation and found to be in excellent agreement with measured data on the same rock types. Pore structural properties (pore size, aspect ratios, pore and throat shape and connectivity) are determined. The correlations between pore geometry and topology and elastic and flow properties can be directly probed in a systematic manner. Three dimensional imaging and analysis of carbonate core material can provide a basis for more accurate petrophysical modeling and improve carbonate reservoir characterization.

 

AAPG Search and Discover Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas