Using the Continuous NMR Fluid Properties Scan to Optimize Sampling with Wireline Formation Testers* Chanh Cao Minh1, Peter Weinheber1, Wich Wichers1, Adriaan Gisolf1, Emmanuel Caroli2, Francois Jaffuel2, Yannick Poirier2, Davide Baldini3, Marisa Sitta3 and Loris Tealdi3 Search and Discovery Article #40434 (2009) Posted August 10, 2009
*Adapted from expanded abstract prepared for AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Cape Town, South Africa, October 26-29, 2008. 1
Schlumberger (
[email protected]) Total 3 ENI 2
Abstract One of the most important objectives of fluid sampling using wireline formation testers (WFT) is to ensure that representative samples of the different fluids encountered in the formation are obtained. Usually the wireline or LWD petrophysical logs will guide the sample acquisition program. This typically means that resistivity and nuclear logs are used to infer basic fluid types, caliper log is used to verify that the borehole is suitable for sampling, and NMR logs are used to gauge if permeability is sufficient for a sample to be taken. However these logs are not able to capture variations in the hydrocarbon column to allow the operator to ensure that all representative fluids are sampled. The most important information, a continuous fluids type and property log, is still not widely used in the industry. Modern NMR logging tools can deliver – in addition to conventional porosity and permeability information – a continuous fluid log of oil, gas, water and OBM filtrate (OBMF) at multiple depths of investigation. The radial fluid profiling allows discrimination of OBMF versus native oil. Additionally, within the hydrocarbon column the NMR measurements can be used to provide continuous logs of oil viscosity and gas-oil ratio (GOR). With this information acquired before the sampling operation, it is easier to ensure that a full suite of representative samples are acquired and that we do not indulge in needless over sampling. When NMR data is acquired after the sampling operation, the continuous logs of viscosity and GOR can be calibrated with WFT data to provide fluid information in places where WFT did not sample.
List of Figures
Figure 1. Signatures of oil and OBM filtrate in Diffusion-Relaxation maps for 1) an oil that is more viscous than OBMF – the oil has shorter T2 and lower D than OBMF (left), 2) an oil that is as viscous as OBMF – both have the same T2 and D (center), and 3) an oil that is less viscous than OBMF – the oil has longer T2 and higher D than OBMF (right).
Figure 2. Comparison of MDT and NMR derived viscosity measurements.
Figure 3. Fluid identification with MDT gradients and NMR fluid typing.
Figure 4. Comparison of MDT and NMR viscosities in very heavy oil.
Selected References Cao Minh, C. et al., 2003, Planning and Interpreting NMR Fluid-Characterization Logs: SPE 84478, 2003 SPE Annual Technical Conference, Denver, Colorado, USA. Cao Minh, C. et al., 2006, Evaluation of Congo Heavy Oil Reservoir with Novel NMR logging: Abstract from 2006 SPWLA Annual Logging Symposium, Veracruz, Mexico. Cao Minh, C. et al, 2008, Using the Continuous NMR Fluid Properties Scan to Optimize Sampling with Wireline Formation Testers: SPE 115822, 2008 SPE ATCE, Denver CO, USA. Castelijns, K. et al., 1999, Combining NMR and Formation Tester Data for Optimum Hydrocarbon Typing, Permeability and Producibility Estimation: 1999 SPWLA Annual Logging Symposium, Oslo, Norway. Freedman, R. et al., 2001, A New NMR Method of Fluid Characterization in Reservoir Rocks: Experimental Confirmation and Simulation Results: SPE Journal December 2001. Heaton, N. J. et al., 2004, Saturation and Viscosity from Multidimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Logging: SPE 90564, presented at the 2004 SPE Annual Technical Conference, Houston, Texas, USA. Hürlimann, M. et al., 2008, Hydrocarbon Composition from NMR Diffusion and Relaxation Data: 2008 SPWLA Annual Logging Symposium, Edinburgh, U.K. Jackson, R. et al., 2007, Pressure Measurements and Pressure Gradient Analysis: How Reliable for Determining Fluid Density and Compositional Gradients? SPE 111911, 2007 SPE Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition, Abuja, Nigeria. Kleinberg, R.L. and H.J. Vinegar, 1996, NMR Properties of Reservoir Fluids: The Log Analyst, v. 37/6, p.20-32. Lo, S.W. et al., 2000, Mixing Rules and Correlations of NMR Relaxation Time with Viscosity, Diffusivity, and Gas/Oil Ratio of Methane/Hydrocarbon Mixtures: SPE 63217, 2000 SPE ATCE, Dallas, Texas, USA. Mullins, O. et al., 2001, Gas-Oil Ratio of Live Crude Oils Determined by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Applied Spectroscopy, v. 55/2. O’Keefe, M. et al., 2007, In-situ Density and Viscosity Measured by Wireline Formation Testers: SPE 110364, 2007 SPE Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition, Jakarta, Indonesia.