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Sccktty of Petroleum Engineers

SPE 46245

Accurate Oil Saturation Determination and Monitoring in a Heavy Oil Reservoir

Paul Harness, SPE, Noel Shotts, SPE, Texaco Exploration and Production, Inc., Jim Hemingway, David Rose,
Schiumberger GeoQuest, Roy van der Sluis, SPE, Schlumberger Wireline and Testing

Copyright 1SS8, %ciely of Petroleum Enginwrs, Inc.

This paper was prepared for presenlalicm at the 199S SPE Western Regienel Meeting held in
Bakersfield, California, 10-13 May 1S98.
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information contained in an ebstract submiiad by the author(s) Contents of the p=spw, .ss
presented, have not bean reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engmaers and are subii to
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acknowkdgmant of tiare and by vdmm the patwr was prasented. Writa Librarian, SPE, P.O.
Sox 833336, Richardson, TX 750S3-383S, U. S. A., fax 01-972.952-9435
Abstract
The ability to determine oil saturation changes through time in
the Kern River field is critical to heat management and
optimization of reserves depletion. The Kern River reservoir is
a complex multi-layered fresh water braided river deposit
undergoing varying stages of thermal recovery. In the past, the
practice had been to selectively core when new well locations
were identified. An alternative to open hole core saturation
measurements is the Carbon Oxygen Ratio (COR) log, which
yields accurate and repeatable data that can be used to identify
and monitor reserves depletion.
In this field, time-lapse 4D oil saturation images are being
generated from a grid of several hundred observation wells.
Over 360,000 feet of COR data have been acquired. The
project is realizing accuracies comparable to core data -- bore
out from a database containing 36,000 feet of core. In 1993,
nine observation wells were drilled and cored. Atler casing
was cemented in place, the wells were logged immediately to
reduce uncertainties associated with subsequent production.
Full field monitor logging was implemented in 1996 and again
in 1997. Small changes in the COR oil saturation
measurement over time are being monitored with a
measurement precision of +/- 3.2 saturation units (SU) with a
confidence level of 9570. The highly accurate and precise data
were made possible in part by reservoir conditions, well bore
conditions, and a process improvement program incorporating
all major steps from acquisition to data processing. A shared
database tracked progress and monitored quality throughout
the project. The project deliverables were in digital form only.
Log-to-core data comparisons, steps to determine precision
and accuracy, as well as time-lapse 4D images showing
reservoir dynamics, will be discussed.
Introduction
The 100-year-old Kern River field is a series of nine
interbedded unconsolidated fresh water channel sands’. The
beds dip to the southwest at approximately four degrees. On a
gross scale the nine sands can be modeled as a shallow dipping
layer cake. However, on a fine scale the depositional
environment of a meandering stream channel makes well-to-
well correlation past several well locations very difficult at
best. Oil saturation determination from open hole logs in Kern
River sands has always been a problem due to the fresh
connate water. Until recently, reserves had to be determined by
a yearly campaign of adding new core information to past
production adjusted core data. Adding to the complexity of oil
saturation determination and monitoring, different parts of the
field and individual sand bodies can be at varying stages of
primary, secondary, and tertiary enhanced oil recovery
processes such as Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD).
This paper addresses the use of Carbon Oxygen logging2’
3“4as a novel approach to state-of-the-art reservoir monitoring
in a mature, geologically complex field such as Kern River.
Cmbon oxygen logging was investigated for several years as a
way to determine and monitor oil saturation in the Kern River
field. However, the accuracy and precision of existing COR
measurements did not meet the stringent requirements for
reserves estimation and monitoring. Recent improvements in
tool design, normalization, acquisition, processing, and
interpretation have raised the state-of-the-art in COR
measurements to a high enough level of accuracy and precision
that large scale reservoir monitoring of the whole Kern River
field is now practical using COR measurements alone. The
goal for precision was set at -f-l- 5 su with a 95% confidence
for a random set of logging tools. This aggressive goal
required a tool screening process, observation well screening
process, and multiple logging passes. The actual measured
precision achieved in the project exceeded expectations by
36%. Accuracy was verified by comparison to a core
database. Standard cross-plots of core versus log data do not
reflect the true relationship between the two measurements.
Instead, a method commonly used in geostatistics was used to
determine the log-to-core relationship. This new approach will
be described below, along with a general discussion of
2 HARNESS, SHOTTS, HEMINGWAY,
processes used to collect COR data from a grid of several
hundred observation wells over a period of five years.
Recent Improvements
Over the course of planning, acquiring, and processing the log
data for this project, several process improvements were made
that increased both data precision and accuracy, contributing
to the successful application of COR logging technology using
the Reservoir Saturation Tool (RST-A*)
Gas Correction. One of the first problems encountered was
that COR-derived oil saturations were too high in the gas
(steam) saturated zones when compared to core-derived oil
saturation. The effect gets worse as steam saturation
approaches 1()()% and diminishes as the steam saturation
decreases. An empirical steam correction for the RST oil
saturation was then developed to avoid an over calculation of
residual oil in the steam zone’s:
First, the RST capture cross section (2) measurements was
made over the same interval and used to compute gas
saturation;
Calculating the gas saturation in this manner was possible
in the Kern River field because the capture cross-section for
the connate fresh water (-300 ppm) and the heavy oil (-13
API) was roughly equivalent at -23 cu., and thus a ~liquidcan
be generalized. The V.i,Y, Vsmdand ~, are typically determined
from open hole log measurements. The gas correction to the
original COR-derived oil saturation was then made;
S0 (corrected)= S0 (uncomected)*( 1-SJ
This simple correction, though empirical, compares very
favorably with core oil saturations (Figure 1) and has been
consistently applied to all RST COR logs run in California
steamfloods, since 1994.
Recycled Alpha. Measurement accuracy was of primary
importance for the initial base COR logging pass because the
COR derived oil saturations were used to generate a 3D grid
of oil in place. In subsequent years, the same monitoring wells
were logged again to monitor changes in oil and steam
saturation. On these subsequent time-lapse passes, the
precision of the measurement became the primary concern.
A processing technique was developed for the RST that
took advantage of both the more accurate spectroscopy-based
COR and the more precise windows-based COR. This
technique, called recycled alphad, uses the standard alpha
processing in the computation of the oil saturation on the base
* Mark of Schlumberger
ROSE, VAN DER SLUIS SPE 46245 8
pass. The recycled alpha technique also benefits from the new
elemental yield standards, implemented in this project to
enhance the accuracy of the spectroscopy-based COR.
In the standard alpha processing used on the base year’s
data, a spectral tit COR and windows COR were both
calculated. The spectral fit COR was found to be more
accurate than windows based COR, although it was more
statistically uncertain. The windows based COR was more
statistically precise than the spectral fit COR, but not as
accurate. An “alpha” correction was applied to the windows
COR, which is the difference between the two computed over
a running average, typically 6.5’. In characterized conditions,
the alpha correction is zero. A non-zero alpha correction is
associated with a zone in the well where the data does not
exactly fit the characterized well conditions, such as a washed-
out borehole or poor cement in the annulus.
In the recycled alpha processing used on subsequent time-
lapse passes, only a windows COR was computed. The alpha
from the base year was added to the windows COR to yield a
final COR that is used to compute oil saturation:
alpha_processed_COR (time-lapse year x) =
windows_COR (time-lapse year x)
+ alpha (base year y)
The alpha computed in the base year was primarily
dependent on well bore effects, and these do not change with
time in a water-filled monitoring well that is not on production.
With this technique, the changes in oil saturation are
determined from changes in the more repeatable windows
measurement. This decreases the statistics on the time-lapse
measurement and decreases the chances of mistaking a
statistical variation for a real oil saturation change (Figure 2).
The improvement in precision using the recycled alpha
technique is a function of porosity. For the Kern River field,
the precision improvement is 4570 based on an average
porosity of 3 I %. Another study in a reservoir having an
average porosity of 17% showed a precision improvement of
66%. These results are consistent with the expected
improvement based on theory.
Tool-to-Tool Normalization. During the initial evaluations
of using COR to monitor oil saturation, only one logging tool
was used in the comparisons to core. The response of this tool
was well understood and considered benchmarked to core.
Once the decision was made to log the entire network of
observation wells over the span of a few months, five different
tools needed to be employed. These tools were run
simultaneously in different parts of the field. Once into the
processing, it was noticed that some tools showed a higher oil
saturation in the mudstones, which should have shown a
consistent oil saturation of about zero.
An experiment was devised to investigate tool-to-tool
response differences as a function of tool hardware and
environmental parameters. All five tools were logged in two
● SPE 46245 ACCURATE OIL SATURATION DETERMINATION
separate Kern River wells, one with 7“ casing, 9-7/8”
borehole, and the other with 4-1/2” casing, 6-1/2” borehole.
Two different casing sizes probed sensitivity to near well bore
geometry. The results of these tests indicated that there was a
small offset in COR between the tools. However, the offsets
were constant throughout the logging pass, and also consistent
between the two wells of different sized casing and borehole.
This enabled a tool hardware dependent COR offset to be
calculated and applied to the data in the processing. The
original tool that had been benchmarked against core was
used as the standard to which the others were normalized.
Acquisition Improvements. The goal of the acquisition was
to both accurately log some several hundred wells and to
complete the logging in a short time frame, thereby getting a
snapshot picture in time of the field.
A database was constructed that contained all the pertinent
information for each well, including items such as location
data and well completion type, logging intervals and logging
speeds. This allowed the lead project coordinator to effectively
plan and dispatch all the jobs to the logging crews to maximize
efficiency. After completion of the logging, all pertinent
logging information was also recorded on the dispatch form
and forwarded along with the Log Quality Control (LQC) logs
to the coordinator for final review before going to the
processing center. The accuracy of the conversion from COR
to oil volume depends on the correct input of well completion
data, hence the importance of setting up and maintaining an
effective information management system right from the start
of acquisition.
Two improvements were made to the acquisition software.
First, a new LQC format was developed with tight tolerances
on the tool operating parameters, allowing the loggers to verify
that the tool hardware was operating within specification, and
if not, to take any required corrective action. Second,
improvements were made to the down hole signal processing
regulation of the two detectors, further stabilizing their
performance in the high temperature gradients encountered
under steam flood conditions.
In order to obtain the desired +1-5 su precision with a 95%
confidence , logging speeds ranged from 18 ft/hr to 115 ft/hr,
depending on the completion size, see Table 1. The logging
speeds were selected using a planner based on a number of
specific data points characterized in the lab, and then
interpolating using an empirical model. After all observation
wells in 1996 were logged, the standard deviations were
computed and sorted by completion type in order to compare
the actual versus predicted average standard deviations . The
actual standard deviations ( also shown in Table 1) were then
used to iterate on the estimate of the logging speeds required
for each completion type to get to the desired +/- 5 su
precision. The iterated estimates were used to fine tune the
logging speeds for the 1997 campaign. It is evident that in the
majority of the completion types the precision achieved clearly
exceeded the goal, and only the 9-3/4” borehole with 4-1/2”
AND MONITORING IN A HEAVY OIL RESERVOIR 3
casing required the logging speeds to be adjusted downward.
Dedicated Well bores. All the wells logged in Kern River
were TO (Temperature Observation) wells. None of these
wells have ever been perforated, and they were all filled with
fresh water. This was a major factor in the excellent results
obtained in Kern River, as any uncertainty in the conditions of
the near well bore area can degrade the accuracy and
precision. Figure 3 is an example of an idle injection well.
This cross plot of Near and Far COR ratios indicates that
there may be oil present in the near well bore area. There are
processing techniques that have been developed to handle
these conditions, they however may introduce additional
uncertainties due to there empirical nature, Figure 4. Retaining
the desired precision would require some reduction in logging
speed, since the logging speed depends on conditions near the
well bore as well as formation .
It was decided that for a long term project with yearly
monitoring, it would not be cost effective, or operationally
efficient to log wells that required slower logging speeds,
hence the decision was made to use only TO wells. All the TO
wells were also reviewed, and those with borehok
configurations that required slower logging speeds were also
eliminated from the project for the same reasons.
Ideal Well Bore. The depth of investigation of COR logging
is typically only 6“ - 8“, thus making the condition of the well
bore completion a major factor in the accuracy that may be
obtained. In some cases, precision may also be affected. The
more formation the tool sees, the better the dynamic range of
the signal on which the answers are based. In Kern River some
40 different well bore completions were logged, ranging from
a 6-lA” borehole with 3-1%” - 9.3# casing to 9-7/8” borehole
with 7“-32# casing, all with varying degrees of cement quality
and borehole washouts. To achieve the required accuracy and
precision, the logging speeds ranged from 115 fdhr to 18 fthr.
Other factors that contribute to systematic uncertainty in the
accuracy include - the position of the casing in relation to the
well bore, the cement quality (which varied greatly in this
field), and borehole washouts.
Anticipating the drilling of future TO wells, a team was
put in place to define the ideal well bore for COR logging in
Kern River. The configuration chosen was a 6-1/4” borehole
with 4-%” - 11.6 # casing. Although a smaller configuration
would theoretically provide better results, this choice had the
following benefits:
. The team felt they could drill in-gauge-holes at 6-1/4”.
. A 6-1/4” hole could be logged with the latest generation
open hole (OH) logging tools to ensure accurate
interpretation of porosity and V.l,Y required to later get
accurate oil saturation. Recall that COR logging
measures oil volume, which requires an accurate steam
correction and total porosity to get to oil saturation.
. This configuration reduced the cement annulus to the
minimum required to achieve a good cement job, yet still

4 HARNESS, SHOITS, HEMINGWAY,
reduced tool standoff from the formation to a minimum.
Results on TO wells drilled in 1997 were phenomenal. Many
of the wells had near gun barrel holes, washouts were minimal,
and the cement jobs were generally excellent.
Results
Precision. In reservoir monitoring, the precision and
repeatability of the saturation measurement must be well
known. The monitoring time interval is selected to match the
period over which a statistically discernible change in the
reservoir saturation is expected to occur. As stated previously,
a tool benchmarking process was implemented to study the
realized repeatability for the project. A well of interest was
chosen as a standardization well for comparison of all tools
used in the project. At the beginning of each monitoring
interval, all the tools to be used in the project were logged in
the standardization well for benchmarking . In the 1997
project, five tools were logged at three passes each, for a total
of 15 passes in each well. The LQC log provided an algorithm-
computed standard deviation in saturation units for each pass,
This was checked against the pass-to-pass and tool-to-tool
standard deviation computed for all tools involved in the
benchmarking process. The latter quantifies the realized
repeatability for the entire project. Figure 5 shows the
calculated improvement in precision from +/-5.8 su in 1993 to
+/- 3.2 su in 1997 with 9590 confidence. The benchmarking
logs proved to be a vital step for quality control and for
normalizing tool-to-tool variability.
Accuracy. The question of accuracy is also a search for the
truth. What is the absolute value of the oil saturation at a
particular depth. Transforming COR values into saturations
requires a knowledge of the completion geometry and the
formation lithology and porosityg’to. An accurate
transformation can only be achieved if the well bore radius,
cement sheath thickness, hydrocarbon density, well bore fluid,
casing thickness and invasion effects are well known and
characterized, and if tool-to-tool variability is minimized.
Assuming that uncertainties have been minimized for the
COR, the next step is to compare log to core data via the
cross-plot technique. For lack of better knowledge, core data is
assumed to be ground truth. Regression analysis of log to core
data is then used for the final step of correcting any shifts in
log data. There is no exception to this process in this paper.
However, with the improvements implemented through the
project, the accuracy and precision of core must also be
considered in the comparison] 1’]2. API does not publish
information on accuracy and precision of core data. However,
core data does have some inherent errors from the
measurement process such as, porosity determination, flushing
and grain alteration due to the physical nature of the extraction
process.
Another factor to consider when comparing logs to core is
the sample volume under investigations. A 1/2 by 2 inch core
plug is assumed to represent a one foot interval. The COR
. ,.
ROSE, VAN DER SLUIS “ SPE 46245 ‘
measurement is a 5.5 foot moving average reported every one
half foot. Figure 6 is an example of a section of core image
plotted with the COR and core results. This section of
information is considered representative of the vertical
variability in the Kern River depositional environment. Figure
6 demonstrates the ability of a small sample volume to respond
to rapid changes but may not be representative of a larger
sample mean.
First, a look at a log comparing COR and core oil
saturation is shown in Figure 7. Core-to-log compared
favorably on visual inspection. Several features are present in
this example. In zone A log and core agree. Zone B is an
example of core flushing. Zone C is an example of the COR
response in mudstone. COR output has not been characterized
in mudstones, as well core inspection reveals some mudstones
do encase some streaks of oil-bearing sand, and as a result
small quantities in saturation show up when using the total
porosity processing technique. The effective porosity
technique forces mudstones to zero saturation. The advantage
to the total porosity technique is that it is a good quality
control indicator, in that if a calibration or well bore parameter
induces a shift, it can be easily spotted as a shift in oil
saturation relative to an established mudstone “line”.
Figure 8 is a cross-plot of COR (x-axis) to core (y- axis).
At first glance the data scatter is significant. The regression
analysis calculates a correlation coefficient of 0.68 with log
data, requiring a 10% correction to core data. It is believed
that a significant source of the scatter is due to the mis-match
in the volume of investigation between log and core. Befure
judgment is made on the quality of the comparison, an
interesting comparison of core to core helps characterize the
matter. There are few studies of core-to-core data in the
literature. However, some data was available in the Kern
River database. Figure 9 is a cross-plot of core-to-core data.
This is a comparison of two lab reports of the same depth
interval. Each lab received one half of a foot of core. Scatter is
showing up in core data that was only one half foot apart. It is
the author’s opinion that the scatter is due more to the variable
nature of the formation than errors induced from the different
laboratory measurement techniques. Where does this leave us
in the search for truth?
The Q-Q plot. A technique commonly used in geostatistics
provides a satisfactory way of comparing two data sets that are
derived from different measurements 14. The quantile-quantile
or Q-Q plot (Appendix - Q-Q plots) in Figure 10 is simply a
crossplot of the sample distribution COR data to the sample
distribution of core data. Q-Q plots in geostatistics are used to
compare the similarity of one distribution to another. A 45
degree line means the two distributions are exactly the same. A
straight line but off the 45 degree angle means the distributions
are similar, and a curve .indicates dissimilarity between the two
distributions. Clearly Figure 10 indicates log and core data are
nearly identical in certain intervals. The plot also helps reduce
the scatter of Figure 8 and allows for interpretation of data
 —

‘ SPE46245 ACCURATE OIL SATURATION DETERMINATION AND MONITORING IN A HEAVY OIL RESERVOIR 5

deviating from the 45 degree line in the lower oil saturation V,I.Y = Volume of Clay
intervals. Temperature information from the z dimension Z,I.Y = Sigma of Clay
indicated the lower oil saturation intervals are most effected by v,..~ = Volume of Sand
heating from SAGD processes. Core flushing (Appendix - Oil E..ti= Sigma of Sand
Flushing) will tend to pull the data to the right of the 45 degree @ = Total Porosity
line as will well bore effects. In general however, log and core .Z\i~Ui~
= Sigma liquid
data agree. With an understanding of the errors in each W/O = water borehole/oilformation point
measurement, the Q-Q plot suggests both measurements on WN = water borehole/ water formation point
average give the same answer. Two measurements converging 0/0 = oil borehole/oilformation point
on the same answer lends weight to that answer being correct. O/w = oil borehole/ water formation point

4D Imaging Acknowledgments
Figure 12 is data from one of the nine wells drilled, cored and The authors would like to thank the management of Texaco
COR logged in 1993, 1996 and 1997. Shaded data from COR Exploration and Production Inc., Schlumberger GeoQuest and
1993 to 1997 highlights intervals were being depleted due to Schlumberger Wireline and Testing for the time and resources
SAGD processes. Incorporating this data into a to complete this paper. Special thanks to Ivanna Albertin
geostatistically derived lithologic framework enables a Ph.D. Schlumberger Wireline and Testing for her time and
visualization of the changes in oil saturation over time, thus valuable input.
extending reservoir imaging to 4D (Figure 13), Visualization
can help to identify continuous and compartmentalized “flow References
bodies”. Figure 13 is a visual display of changes in oil 1. Eacmen, J.C., Kodl, E.J., and Cobum, M.G.: “A Geologic
saturation over a one-year period. Modeling indicates the Update of the Emplacement Mechanism within the Kern River
upper sand body is one flow unit spanning several steamfiood Formation at the Kern River Field:Swucrure, Stratigraphy and
patterns. Several other sand bodies are depleting but not Hydrocarbon Occurrences of the San Joaquin Basin,
connecting, indicating compartmentalization or “baffling”. Calfomia, AAPG #GB65, (1990)59
Production-constrained 4D oil saturation modeling and
2. Stoner, C., Scott, H.D., Plasek, R.E., Lucas, A.J., and Adolph,
R.A.: “Field Tests of a Slim Carbon/Oxygen Tool for Reservoir
imaging can be used as a means of calculating reserves, input
Saturation Monitoring,” presented at the Asia Pacific Oil and
to reservoir simulation, refinements to reservoir Gas Conference, Singapore, February 8-10, 1993.
characterization, and help with operational decisions in SAGD 3. Adolph, R.A., Stoner, C., Brady, J., Flaum, C., Melcher, C.,
reservoir management. Acquisition of accurate and precise Roscoe, B.A., Vittachi, A., and Schnorr, D.; “Saturation
data is paramount to minimize propagation of uncertainties Monitoring With the RST Reservoir Saturation TooL” Oil Field
prior to extrapolation into reservoir characterization models. Review (January 1994): 29-39.
4. Zalan, T.A., et al.: “Pulsed Neutron Spectroscopy Logs Add
Conclusions Value to Steam FIood Management Process by Monitoring Oil
Saturation in Kern River Field, Califomia~ paper SPE 29650
1. COR logging technology is a valuable tool for saturation
presented at the Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, CA
determination and reservoir depletion monitoring.
March 8-10, 1995
2. The COR gas correction developed for this project 5. Plasek, R.E., Adolph, R.A., Stoner, C., Willis, D.J. and Bordon,
provides accurate oil saturation estimates in the steam E.E.: “Improved Pulsed Neutron Capture Logging With a Slim
chest. Carbon-Oxygen Toolsfl paper SPE 30598 presented at the SPE
3. Significant improvements in COR precision to +/- 3.2 su Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, Dallas, TX October
have been realized. 22-25, 1995.
4. The accuracy of COR-derived oil saturation is equal to 6. Hemingway, J., Zalan, T.A., and Nalepa, R.; “A Method to
core derived oil saturation. Improve Oil Saturation Precision when Monitoring Steam or
Water Floods’” presented at the AAPG Conference, San Diego,
5. RST recycled alpha processing improves precision
May 19-22, 1996.
6. The Q-Q plot is an effective petrophysical evaluation tool 7. Roscoe, B.A., Adolph, R.A., Stoner, C., Boutemy, Y.,
for comparing log versus core data. Cheeseborough III, J.C., Hall, J.S., McKeon, D.C., Pittman, D.
7. Dedicated well bores for monitoring improved accuracy And Seeman, B.: “A New Through-Tubing Oil Saturation
and precision of COR data. - - Measurement System; paper SPE 21413 presented at the SPE
Middle East Oil Show, Bahrain, November 16-19, 1991.
Nomenclature 8. Scott, H.D., Stoner, C., Roscoe, B.A., Plasek, R.E., and Adolph,
COR = Carbon Oxygen Ratio R.A.: “A New Compensated Through-Tubing Carbon/Oxygen
Tool for Use in Flowing Wells” Transactions of the 32ti
S~ = Gas Saturation
Annual SPWLA Logging Symposium, Midland, TX, June 16-
S0 = Oil Saturation
19, 1991, paper MM.
S. U. = Saturation units 9. Woodhouse, R., and Kerr, S.: “The Evahtation of Oil Saturation
Z= Sigma (capture cross section) through Casing Using CarbotiOxygen Logs: paper SPWLA
6 HARNESS, SHOTTS, HEMINGWAY, ROSE, VAN DER SLUIS SPE 46245

Log Analyst January- February 1992. and COR data records a higher oil saturation. The cased hole
10. Jacobson, L.A, et al.:’’Response Characterization of An Induced COR measurement of oil saturation will become more of an
Gamma Spectrometer Tool Using A Bismuth Germanate advantage over time as SAGD areas spread through out the
Scintillator;’ 32ti Annual SPWLA Logging Symposium, field.
Midland, Texas June 16-19, 1991.
11. Ostermeier, R. M.;’ Comparison of Core and Log
Carbon/Oxygen Ratios in South Behidge Diatomite/’ SPWLA
34’hAnnual Logging Symposium, June 13-16,1993.
12. Table 1 RST-A logging speeds
1. Hook, J.R.,’’The Precision of Core Analysis Data and Some
Implications for Reservoir Evaluation+” SPWLA Twenty-Fourth
Annual Logging Symposium, June 27-30,1983.
2, Enderlin, M.B., and Hansen, K.T., and Hoyt, B.R;’The Role of ~titize ~: ~sin9 Logging AvgOtStdD97Plan Normalized
Speedto
Rock Volumes in Log to Core Integration” CWLS Twelfth Weight Speed w Speed 5%precision
Formation Evaluation Symposium, Calgary, Alberta September 6.125 3.5 9.3 115 4,51 44 141
26-29, 1989. 55 4,5 11.6 65 3.12 67 167
3. Isaaks, E., and Srivastava, R.: Applied Geostatistics, Oxford 6.5 55 17 50 2.86 53 153
University Press, Oxford (1989), and p 22-28 6,75 35 93 50 3,98 46 79
675 4.5 116 70 3.68 ri9 129
Appendix - Q-Q Plots 7,875 4.5 11 75 3,97 77 119
Two different sample volume means will approach the 7,875 45 12 75 4.00 82 117
7,875 5 15 70 3.$5 70 132
population mean as the number of samples in a distribution
7,815 5 18 80 4,59 83 95
increase. For the Q-Q plot technique to work a large number 7,875 5 115 4.89 115 t20
23
of cores need to be acquired in each well and the environment 7,815 55 17 55 3.28 57 128
of deposition may not vary vertically or at least through the 7,875 55 23 75 3.71 78 136
sequence under investigation. Fortunately, at Kern River a 7,875 7 23 35 2.06 31 206
large database of core exists. Over one hundred wells have 875 55 23 $0 4.14 62 87
8.75 7 23 35 2.39 37 153
been cored from top oil to bottom oil, with most wells having
9,815 45 11,6 75 5,62 81 59
upwards of three to six hundred plugs analyzed, providing
9875 5 23 30 4,37 32 39
sufficient number of samples for statistical analysis. 9815 55 17 40 414 41 58
Depositional concerns can be addressed with a histogram plot. 9875 55 20 30 4.27 33 41
Figure 11 is a histogram plot of porosity over the entire Kern 9875 7 23 25 2.98 26 71
River sand series. The single modal distribution, high kurtosis 9.875 7 29 19 3.3$ 19
10,75 55 17 34 4.78 34 ;
and low standard deviation indicate that the environment of
deposition indeed varies little over the Kern River series sand
sequence. A Q-Q plot is simply a plot of the one quantile
distribution in the x-coordinate versus the quantile distribution
of another set in the y-coordinate. If the two distributions
being compared have the same number of data samples, then
calculation of the quintiles of each distribution is not a
necessary step. Instead, one can sort the values from each
distribution in ascending order and plot the corresponding pair
values14.

Appendix - Oil Flushing

Expansion of SAGD operations has complicated oil saturation
determination. Flushing can be a factor in active SAGD
zones where the Heavy Oil is heated to improve mobility,
where a steam chest over riding the oil layer is present and
reservoir pressure has been reset to the steam chest pressure
plus a liquid gradient for every individual sand body. In these
cases flushing of heated oil can occur during the drilling
process. In these intervals, log and core may agree as in
Figure 2, verifying the zone has been depleted. Other zones
can appear flushed according to core data even after taking
precautions in the retrieval process. After the well is
completed, the formation fluids stabilized back to equilibrium
Mo
550
. .
.
560
570
.
0.———.. ——. 1 o-------1
Oil Saturation (s.u.)
Solid = Gas Corrected
Dashed = Standard
Fig. 1- Shown is a section of C/O derived oil
saturations and core derived oil saturations across
a steam flooded sand, The dashed line shows the
uncorrected C/O oil saturation which agrees well
with the core data in the siltstones and the oil
zone (563-578’), where the steam saturation is low.
In the zone where the steam saturation increases
(540-563’), the uncorrected oil saturation is too
high. The solid line is the steam corrected C/O
derived oil saturation which agrees very well with
the core data over the whole interval.
Standard Recycled Alpha
.I-,+
,.’:. .
,.
o-—----1
Oil Saturation (SU) Oil Saturation (su)
Dashed-93 Dotted-96 SoIid-97
FFig. 2- Shown is the same time lapse C/O data,
from 3 different years, 1993,1996, and 1997,
processed with two different methods. The
interval shown is from a cold section of the field
with no active steam injection in the area, so no
change in oil saturation is expected due to the
high oil viscosity. The depth is shallow and the
gas shown on the volumetric analysis is air in
the vadose zone. The data processed with the
recycled alpha technique shows better
repeatability from year to year. The standard
alpha processed data shows more statistical
variations.
 .. ..—— ...— —.—

RST CKI Nemr vs I%

0.4 345

362

373

l//wrq W-Water I lo
380
0 005 0.1 0,15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0 0.1 0.2 0.30.4
NCOR () PIGE (WYftq

Fig. 3- Crossplot of near and far COR for same zone as Fig. 3 indicates oil in the near wellbore area.
If there was no oil in the near wellbore area then the points would plot on the left side of the trapezoid,
as is the case for all the TO wells. Bottom of the trapezoid represents 100% water in the formation, and
top of the trapezoid represents 100% oil in the formation. The left part of the trapezoid is 100% water in
the well, right is 100°A oil.

----------- ~ ~corr ●hd)

---------------
0 1

,. d ,,,
I I Mlilll
,..
....
...
..
II ly~!l
11
I I [)lll\

Fig, 4 Hold-up corrected oil saturation

 ., . .- —
I
19975 Tools

1- .. —.. STUDY07.$05_1
— .. —.. — ..-. .— 1 1993 Pre-Normalization
.. 1997 I 1996
—---
ST UDY97,
——-—
S03—1
--- Pre-Recycled Alpha
u-
STU DY97. SOZ_ 7
7
Avg.:Std .016 Avg.. Std
D~P-& . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..r Avg.. Std .029
STUDV97. SO1 —. ST UDY97. STD—1 sruDY9s.
srD_1
t

Fig. 5- improvements hI precision overtime at one standard deviation or 68”A confidence. 95% confidence would
be .032, .020, and .028 respectively

C09607.S096—7
,1

k’”
DSIPJH
c:ORE.HCSO_l
e v/v
o

486

488

490

492

Col IL II

494
i

1
496

Fig. 6- Sample by sample comparison of

log and core data plotted along the side of
the core photo. Plot shows resolution
response of the two measurements
relative.

Fig. 7-1993 Comparison of

Log and Core data.
 .=—
. .
,

, ,,,=,.
00
@0 Oo$j:::
::.. ~.oo
g~o:~o
do :0
b
00

-1.00
1. 1.00 1

O.QO 0 O.QO
0

o 0.80
0. 0.80

0 0.70
0. 0.70

m. 0.60
0. 0.80 .0
(0
Jo 0.50
0. 0.50 A
3
Qo 0.40
0 0.40
~
Oo 0.30
0. 0.30 0
0 0.20
0. 0.20
0 0.10
0, 0.10
0 0.00
0. 0.00

000000 0000- Core (S.U.) Lab A

COR (S. U.) Fig.9 - Crossplot of Core vs. Core -
showing scatter in the same type data
Fig. 8- Crossplot of data from two different Labs. Samples at 1
from Fig.7Regression Analysis cc .68 foot depth intervals. Regression
y=.ol 5 + .90X cc .94 y = .013+ .912X

1.0

0,10 0.9

0.08
3,7

M
0.06
0.5

0.4
0.04
0.3

0+2
0.02
0,1

0.00 0.0

QO.COR93_l () ogDul a U)aul

o l-r ~tj ;q:: ;

Oatitiooo 0000

Porosity (P. U.)

Fig. 10- q-q Plot. A 45 degree line Fig. 11- Histogram of core porosity shows uni
indicates that two distributions modal distribution over same interval as data from
are the same. Figures 4 &8. Mean= .32 Std. = .028 Kunosis =
739
:’~’’~’’’’:”’c6$~65stif72-f
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:“”-””-”” v-?%’”-”’ -“”-

~=.= –
_,_. .—.. _—
—----- ~ .--—-..- .--.T ‘-, -> . . . .
.—
— -—.,...._...—— .--7

/
I ~ Connecting Geobodies

;[r~!
I
iI
!
I

/
r

._-.-~.
.
i
~’

___
● ●

\
-800-

!
]
i

~, ,,
,,~

,<<,.
--”
..
H

..=-’

.,...,...... ,.,e~,,
L- ......

., -,,, ,, ,,,-
✎✎

““’,- ,-. ..,., ,,,.,,.,

-. .......,..

Fig. 12- Shaded area shows Fig. 13- 4D image of changes in oil
changes in oil saturation over a saturation over time in an active
four year interval. steamflood pattern. (Dimensions
X,Y,Z,Time)