Reservoir Quality

The assessment of reservoir quality distribution within clastic and carbonate sedimentary successions is key to successful field development and production. The assessment of reservoir quality distribution within clastic and carbonate sedimentary successions is key to improving understanding of field development and production issues. Badley Ashton's clastic and carbonate reservoir quality expertise spans three decades and has been acquired from analyses of tens of thousands of metres of core and sedimentary rock samples from hundreds of wells drilled in a wide range of reservoirs.

Quantitative and Qualitative Petrography Tailored to the Study

The following provides a summary of the methodology commonly used to collect, interpret and integrate petrographical data for reservoir quality evaluation. This methodology is tailored specifically to the project and data.

• Conventional core analysis data, coded by sedimentological descriptors (lithotype, facies, package, reservoir horizon etc.), are plotted on the 1:200 scale well summary sheet(s), which makes direct comparison between the core sedimentological log, wireline (BHI if available) and core analysis data intuitive.

• Quantitative modal (conventional or Touchstone-compliant) and textural analysis (long grain axis measurements) form the basis for pore-scale reservoir quality assessment. Touchstone-compliant data, suitable for subsequent use in diagenetic modelling, includes the quantification of grain coat coverage.

• Focused thin-section descriptions provide documentation of rock texture and fabric, detrital and authigenic mineralogy, paragenesis and pore system make-up, as appropriate for the aims of the study. This is supported by a focussed in-depth review of pore system characteristics, as well as clay composition and morphology, using up-to-date secondary electron and backscattered SEM imaging and EDX element detection systems.

One-stop Integrated Reservoir Quality Information

All descriptive rock observations, summary modal and textural data, XRD results and any associated sample-based data, such as poroperm, MICP, high-resolution sample scans, thin-section, as well as relevant SEM photomicrographs, are integrated in a searchable database.

• The searchable petrological database (Access) either forms a direct deliverable, for client in-house use, or is used to produce high quality, integrated sample description hardcopy outputs, forming a powerful one-stop source of pore-scale reservoir quality information.

• The geological controls on relative rock quality (eg. texture, detrital composition, compaction, authigenic mineralogy etc.) are determined from the interrogation of petrological results and conventional core analysis data (porosity and permeability), coded by sedimentological descriptors and interpretations.

• Variations in the reservoir quality attributes, in both the stratigraphic and lateral sense and in poroperm cross-plots, are investigated. Rock quality mapping/rock typing is routinely undertaken if considered appropriate, and factors of potential interest for the prediction of formation damage are highlighted in the integrated report.

• Technical Assurance of all petrographical/reservoir quality data and interpretations, assessed via a rigorous quality management system.

Download the Integrated Reservoir Solutions poster

We believe that the best reservoir models are generated via the integration of data gathered from a variety of different techniques. This high resolution A3 poster shows just how we go about producing these models. (7.0mb)