Petrophysicist

WHAT IS
PETROPHYSIC?
Petra means rock Physis means nature

The study of chemical and physical rock

properties and their interactions with fluids
 WHAT IS
PETROPHYSICIST’S
JOB?

TO HELP RESERVOIR ENGINEER AND GEOSCIENTIST UNDERSTAND

ROCK PROPERTIES OF THE RESERVOIR, PARTICULARLY HOW PORES
IN THE SUBSURFACE ARE INTERCONNECTED, CONTROLLING
ACCUMULATION AND MIGRATION OF HYDROCARBON
FORMATION EVALUATION TECHNIQUES

Core analysis

Fluid analysis

Pressure and flow test

Well Logging
Rw : The formation water resistivity

R0 : The resistivity while the rock is fully saturated with water

Rt : The resistivity of a rock saturated with unknown fluids

 ARCHIE’S LAW
Sw = (R0/Rt)1/n
Because R0 = FRw , then
F is the formation resistivity factor
n is the saturation exponent (ranging from 1 to 2.5)
Sw = (FRw/Rt)1/n

Because F = aø-m, then

a is tortuosity factor
Ø is porosity of the rock
m is cementation exponent of rock (ranging 1.8-2 for sandstone)

Sw = (aRw/ømRt)1/n

For clean, consolidated sands, the value of appears to

be close to 2.0, so

Sw = (aRw/ømRt)1/2
 CALIPER
Used to:
 Indication of hole diameter and volume
 Qualitative indication of permeability
 Correlation
 Log Quality Control
 SPONTANEUS POTENTIAL

A record of Direct Current (DC) voltage (or Potential) that develops naturally
(spontaneous) between a moveable electrode in the well and a fixed electrode located
at the surface

SP response created by electric voltages arising from electrochemical factors in the

borehole and adjacent rocks.

SP readings are caused by differences in salinities between mud filtrate and formation
waters in permeable beds.

SSP (Static Spontaneous Potential) is maximum SP that a thick, shale free, porous, and
permeable formation can have for a given ratio between Rmf and Rw

PSP (Pseudostatic Spontaneous Potential) is SP response when shale is present

 SPONTANEUS POTENTIAL

Used to:

 Detect permeable beds

 Detect boundaries of permeable beds

 Determine formation water resistivity (Rw)

 Determine the volume of shale in permeable beds

 Detection of hydrocarbons by the suppression of the SP curve

 GAMMA RAY
Measures the natural radioactivity in formations (on Potassium, Uranium, and Thorium)

Used to identify lithologies, correlation and Vsh calculation

Shale-free ss and carbonates have low concentration of radioactive material and give low GR
readings, and vice versa

Vsh = GRlog – GRmin

GRmax - GRmin
WATER SATURATION
 POROSITY

PORE VOLUME DIVIDED BY BULK VOLUME

Vp/Vb
 PERMEABILITY

Measure of the ability of a porous material to allow

fluids to pass through it