Application of integrated rock typing and flow units identification methods for an Iranian carbonate reservoir

Abstract

During the exploration phase of any oil and gas field, recognition of borehole type, its completion approach, and understanding of the future reservoir performance are directly interrelated to identification of the reservoir's rock types and flow units. Identifying different geological events, lithofacies characteristics, diagenetic processes, and level of heterogeneity can be the first step for knowing rock types and consequently flow units in its reservoir layers. These result in an acceptable dynamic model of a field development and relatively reliable production forecasts.Focus of this paper is on rock typing and flow unit classification for a carbonate reservoir of a green field. Four petrophysical methods including Rock Fabric Number (RFN), Winland porosity-permeability plot (R35), Reservoir Quality Index/Flow Zone Indicator (RQI/FZI), and Bulk Volume Water (BVW) were implemented on four exploration wells. At the next step graphical tools (Stratigraphic Modified Lorenz Plot (SMLP), Modified Lorenz Plot (MLP) and Stratigraphic Flow Profile (SFP) were used to locate established flow units and rock types within the reservoir column. Lastly, variation and frequency of defined flow units have been used to achieve a satisfactory understanding of the level of heterogeneity and the possible effect on well production.Integration of defined flow units by different methods inferred a high level of heterogeneity in the studied reservoir and the BVW was chosen as the best method of rock typing for feeding to the static model. The BVW method assists in considering main variation of reservoir properties meanwhile avoid complexity of models. During modelling, choosing an optimum number of rock types for fine-grid model with small dimensions cells (50 m*50 m*1 m) can help to separate different layers vertically without necessity of dividing them to many distinct subzones. Usually, groping numerous subzones during up scaling is confusing and complicate; likewise, in a coarse grid may omit or mix some frequency of thin seal and productive subintervals in reservoir zones. Comparing achieved flow unit classification with outcomes of production test showed in this reservoir with high level of heterogeneity an adequate type of well is vertical and highly deviated ones, moreover, dual completion can be the best type of production which separate high and low productive zones.