Digital rock analysis: A case study on characterization of capillary transition zones in carbonate reservoirs

D. Dejia, H. Sun, H. Belhaj, A. Bera, L. Liu, G. Tao, S. Nizamuddi

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

    1 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The capillary transition zone (TZ) in carbonate reservoirs can contain large amounts of oil and it is essential to predict saturation profile versus depth to estimate the oil in place volumes in order to design oil recovery schemes. However, the characterization of TZ is extremely difficult because it may vary in thickness from a few feet in high permeability reservoirs to over hundreds of feet in some low permeability, thick and tight reservoirs. Previous works mainly focused on lab measurements which can provide, relatively, accurate rock properties for reservoir study, but from the lab, three-dimensional (3D) information on rock microstructures hardly can be known, which is very important for a better understanding of physical phenomena. Digital rock analysis (DRA) can directly image rock microstructures and accurately predict rock properties. Therefore, it can be used to better characterize the heterogeneity and the rock properties of TZ samples. In this paper, we use lab measurements and rock images, including thin section (TS) images and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, Micro computed tomography (MCT) scans, to characterize the heterogeneity and estimate TZ rock properties. By analyzing these rock images, lab measurements and simulations, the heterogeneity and rock properties of TZ are well characterized.

    Original languageBritish English
    Title of host publication80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018
    Subtitle of host publicationOpportunities Presented by the Energy Transition
    ISBN (Electronic)9789462822542
    StatePublished - 2018
    Event80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018: Opportunities Presented by the Energy Transition - Copenhagen, Denmark
    Duration: 11 Jun 201814 Jun 2018

    Publication series

    Name80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018: Opportunities Presented by the Energy Transition

    Conference

    Conference80th EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2018: Opportunities Presented by the Energy Transition
    Country/TerritoryDenmark
    CityCopenhagen
    Period11/06/1814/06/18

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