Journey From Well Logs/Cores to Integrated Geological and Petrophysical Properties Simulation: A Methodology and Application

Abstract

Summary Reservoir studies performed in the industry are moving towards an integrated approach. Most data available for this purpose are mainly from well cores and/or well logs. The translation of these data into petrophysical properties, i.e., porosity and permeability, at interwell locations that are consistent with the underlying geological description is a critical process. This paper presents a methodology that can be used to achieve this goal. The method has been applied at several field applications where full reservoir characterization study is conducted. The framework developed starts with a geological interpretation, i.e., facies and petrophysical properties, at well locations. A new technique for evaluating horizontal spatial relationships is provided. The technique uses the average properties of the vertical data to infer the low-frequency characteristics of the horizontal data. Additionally, a correction in calculating the indicator variogram, that is used to capture the facies' spatial relationship, is provided. A new co-simulation technique to generate petrophysical properties consistent with the underlying geological description is also developed. The technique uses conditional simulation tools of geostatistical methodology and has been applied successfully using field data (sandstone and carbonate fields). The simulated geological descriptions match well the geologists' interpretation. All of these techniques are combined into a single user-friendly computer program that works on a personal computer platform.