Permeability Estimation from Stoneley Waves in Carbonate Reservoirs

Abstract

Permeability is one of the petrophysical properties of oil and gas reservoirs and is defined as the ability of rock to transmit fluids through the porous media. After exploration of any reservoir, permeability information is necessary to optimize the well completion method, oil and gas production and field development. Permeability is determined by both direct and indirect methods. Direct methods are core analysis, well testing, and modular dynamic tester (MDT) and the indirect method is using well logging data such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and porosity. Determination of permeability from the Stoneley slowness is one of the indirect and continuous methods in the whole well-bore and has been chosen as the goal of this study. The result of this correlation has been plotted against other well logging data and there is a very good match between this result and other petrophysical properties. Due to the complex nature of permeability in carbonate reservoirs, most of the time there is not a good match between this parameter and other petrophysical properties. This study has been conducted on the data of a single well and correlation has been determined. The results show that in calculation of permeability from Stoneley waves, the effective parameters are porosity, lithology, Stoneley slowness and accuracy of the MDT tool. For more precise correlation in a reservoir or a specific geological area, more data from other wells or reservoirs are necessary.

Keywords

• Dipole Shear Sonic imager
• Carbonate reservoirs
• permeability
• stoneley waves

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