Fluid Saturation

Geologists noted that initially the rock pores filled with water, and
then hydrocarbon moved to displace the water to some minimum
residual saturation. Therefore more than one fluid is normally
present in oil reservoir (oil, gas, water etc). Fluid saturation is the
measure of the gross void space in a reservoir rock that is
occupied by a fluid (such as water, oil, or gas) and often measured
in routine core analysis. For example oil saturation is:
So=(Oil Volume )/(Total Pore Volume)×100
Therefore saturation of any given fluid in a pore space is the ratio
of the volume of that fluid to the pore space volume, not gross
reservoir volume. For example, an oil saturation of 70% means
that 7/10 of the pore space is filled with oil; the balance is filled
with something else (water, gas, air, etc.). Saturation data is often
reported in percentage units.
The saturation of each individual phase ranges between zero to
100 percent. By definition, the sum of the saturations is 100%,
therefore:
Sg + So + Sw = 100%

Fluid saturation is how much each fluid is present in pore

spaces of a rock. This will affect the ability of each fluid flow
through porous media. This is one of critical values for
reservoir engineering since many engineering calculations
need fluid saturation values

2. Archie’s parameter determination techniques

2.1. Core sample preparation

Core samples (70 mm × 35 mm) were selected from the carbonate and
sandstone core samples of various Malaysian fields and characterized by
different ranges of permeability and porosity. Most of the carbonate
cores have a different pore space distribution known as vugs, shown in
figure 1. The heterogeneity of the petrophysical properties of the
carbonate core samples is mainly influenced by the vugs, the
dolomitization process and the sandstone core samples with a certain
degree of heterogeneity. Then, the selected core samples were subjected
to a preparation process. This starts by trimming and smoothing both
ends of the core using gypsum to remove any defects. The core samples
were then cleaned with toluene for 6 h to eliminate residual hydrocarbon
and cleaned with methanol for 12 h to dissolve and remove the salt
present inside the pore space. The core samples were dried in an oven at
a temperature of 175 °F for 3 days, and the weight was recorded for each
day to ensure the core samples were 100% dry. Then the core samples
were saturated with brine at 2000 psi, and to ensure the pores inside the
core samples were fully saturated, a desiccator was used and oil was
injected to displace the water, starting from 80% water up until 20%
water remained inside the core using a benchtop permeability system
(BPS 550).

2.2. Electrical testing and measurement

All core samples undergo electric testing and a measurement process. In

this project, two-pole and four-pole resistivity is used to measure the
resistivity of rock when 100% saturated with 30 000 ppm of NaCl brine
(Ro) and the resistivity of the core is partially saturated with oil (Rt) for
80% of water remaining until 20% water remains. The computer system
measures and records the temperature, pore pressure, confining pressure
and brine displacement during the experiment. The electrical
measurement is recorded continuously during this process for each core
sample until the resistivity and desaturation equilibrium is reached. All
the resistivity readings during data processing are adjusted to a
temperature of 80 °C which is the actual reservoir condition. When
temperature equilibrium is achieved, the confining pressure is increased
from 2000 psi to 2500 psi and the volume of brine expelled from the
core samples is recorded. After the first stages of electrical measurement
are complete, the desaturation of the core samples is performed
gradually from 0 psi to 120 psi pore pressure. Despite four-pole
resistivity being used to determine the electrical parameters, two-pole
resistivity is also recorded to control any contact problems that might
happen during the resistivity measurement process.

2.3. Conventional determination of Archie’s parameter

technique

In the preliminary stages of the development of the formation evaluation

technique, Archie (1942) proposed a set of equations establishing the
quantitative relationship between porosity (φ),(φ), rock resistivity (Ro)
and the hydrocarbon saturation of reservoir rocks. Based on Archie’s
experimental work, it is shown that the resistivity of a clean formation is
inversely proportional to the resistivity of the brine saturating the rock.
At this moment, Archie comes out with a set of promising equations to
determine the water saturation present inside the formation
(Archie 1942, 1952) 
Sw=[aRw/φmRt]1/n
Next, he introduces the resistivity of rock 100% saturated with brine
(Ro) and relates it to the brine resistivity equal to (Rw). The formula to
represent the value of rock resistivity in terms of formation factors is as
follows: Next, he introduces the resistivity of rock 100% saturated with
brine (Ro) and relates it to the brine resistivity equal to (Rw). The
formula to represent the value of rock resistivity in terms of formation
factors is as follows: 
 Ro=F×Rw.

The formation factor is rearranged and replaced by other terms, which

are the tortuosity factor (a), the cementation factor (m) and the
porosity (φ).(φ). Then, the previous formation factor formula is
changed into a new set of equations as below: 
F=a/φm.

Method for determining fluid saturation in a subsurface

formation

Abstract:
A subsurface formation surrounding a borehole is flushed with at
least one fluid having a density difference from that of the water
content of the formation. Borehole gravity logs are recorded.
Porosity is also recorded. From the density, gravity and porosity
indications, water and oil saturation of the formation is
determined.

Claims:
What is claimed is:

1. A method for carrying out a log-inject-log operation in a

formation surrounding a borehole having a drilling fluid invasion
zone immediately surrounding the borehole, comprising the steps
of:
(a) flushing said formation to an extended distance beyond the
drilling fluid invasion zone surrounding said borehole with a first
fluid having a density greater than that of the water present in said
formation,
(b) recording a first borehole gravity log of said flushed formation,
(c) flushing said formation to said extended distance beyond the
drilling fluid invasion zone surrounding said borehole with a
second fluid having a density greater than that of the water
present in said formation and differing from that of said first fluid,
and
(d) recording a second borehole gravity log of said flushed
formation.

2. A method for determining the fluid saturation condition of a

subsurface formation surrounding a borehole, and having a
drilling fluid invasion zone immediately surrounding the borehole
comprising the steps of:
(a) flushing said formation beyond said drilling fluid invasion zone
with a first fluid of known density (ρw1,),
(b) recording a first borehole gravity log (ρb1) of the flushed
formation,
(c) flushing said formation beyond said drilling fluid invasion zone
with a second fluid of known density (ρw2) differing from the
density of said first fluid,
(d) recording a second borehole gravity log (ρb2) of the flushed
formation,
(e) recording the porosity (φ) of said subsurface formation, and
(f) determining water saturation (Sw) in accordance with the
following expression: Sw =(ρb1 -ρb2)/φ(ρw1 -ρw2),
whereby the influence of the drilling fluid invasion immediately
surrounding the borehole on the water saturation determination is
minimized.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first and second fluids are
brines with salt content so as to yield a higher density fluid than
the existing water content of the formation.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said first and second fluids are
immiscible hydrocarbons which do not affect the oil in place in the
formation.

5. A method for carrying out a log-inject-log operation in a

formation of known water density surrounding a borehole,
comprising the steps of:
(a) recording a first borehole gravity log of said formation,
(b) flushing said formation at least to the depth of investigation of
said borehole gravity log with a fluid having a density differing
from that of the water present in said formation, and
(c) recording a second borehole gravity log of said flushed
formation.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said fluid is a brine with salt

content so as to yield a higher density fluid than the existing water
content of the formation.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said fluid is an immiscible

hydrocarbon which does not affect the oil in place in the
formation.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said depth of investigation is in

the order of tens of feet.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said depth of investigation is in

the order of 100 feet.
10. The method of claim 5 wherein the depth of investigation is in
the order of five times the distance between depth measurement
points for the recordings of said first and second borehole gravity
logs.

11. A method for carrying out a log-inject-log operation in a

subsurface formation surrounding a borehole, comprising the
steps of:
(a) recording the pore water density of said subsurface formation,
(b) recording the porosity of said subsurface formation,
(c) recording a first borehole gravity log of said formation,
(d) flushing said formation at least to the depth of investigation of
said first borehole gravity log with a fluid having a density greater
than said pore water density,
(e) recording a second borehole gravity log of said first formation,
and
(f) determining water saturation from said density recordings, said
borehole gravity log recordings and said porosity recording.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a new and improved method for
determining residual oil saturation in a subsurface formation
surrounding a borehole by carrying out borehole gravity
measurements in accordance with a log-inject-log operation.
The log-inject-log operation has been utilized with thermal neutron
capture logs of subsurface formations to determine residual oil
saturation. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,748,474; 3,757,575; 3,812,353 and
3,825,752 all disclose such use. Theoretically, such residual oil
saturation may be represented by the following
expressions: Σformation =Σrock (1-φ)+93 fluid φ(1) Σfluid =Σoil
Soil +Σwater Swater ( 2) Soil =1-Swater ( 3)
where
Σ represents macroscopic absorption cross section,
S represents saturation (or volume fraction of a particular fluid in
phase), and
φ represents porosity.
In many instances the macroscopic absorption cross section of
the rock matrix (Σr) cannot be known or estimated with good
accuracy. Strongly absorbing trace elements are usually too
abundant in the rock matrix to permit an accurate determination of
Σr from the rock's major constituents. The log-inject-log technique
has been utilized to overcome this problem.

How To Measure Fluid Saturation

 Two methods to determine fluid saturation are 1) core sample and 2) wireline logging.
Core sample is a direct method because it is a physical measurement. However,
wireline logging is an indirect method because the values are derived from
mathematical models.

Measurement of saturation
 1: Direct methods Direct measurement methods rely simply on the removal of all liquids – by
evaporation or extraction - from a core sample and determining their individual volumes. Dividing each
fluid volume by the pore volume of the sample yields the saturation of that fluid. One device used
commonly for this purpose is the Modified ASTM Extraction Unit ( below Fig.). The procedure starts with
placing the core sample in a paper thimble and weighing them together. The thimble is then placed in
the flask, the heater is turned on, and water flow through the condenser is started. Asthe toluene in the
flask boils, its vapors rise and exit the flask, condense in the condenser and accumulate in the
condenser’s graduated tube. Once the tube is full, excess toluene refluxes back into the flask flowing
through the thimble. Oil present in the core sample is extracted by the refluxing toluene and ends up
dissolved in the bulk toluene mass

Fig.: ASTM extraction unit The water present in the sample evaporates and condenses back into the
graduated tube. Since water is heavier than toluene, it sinks to the bottom of the tube rather than
returning to the flask. Extraction is continued until no more water accumulates in the tube at which
point heating is stopped and the volume of water is read. When the unit cools down, the sample and
thimble are removed and placed in a vacuum oven to dry, after which they are both weighed again. The
mass of the oil is computed by a mass balance on the core sample before and after extraction as follows

mo = Δmc – Vw ρ w and Vo = mo / ρ o where mo : mass of oil extracted, g Δmc : reduction in mass of

core sample, g Vo : volume of oil extracted, cm 3 Vw : volume of water extracted, cm 3 The pore volume
of the sample is determined and the liquid saturations are then computed. It should be noted that if oil
and water saturations do not add up to 100%, gas must have been present in the sample.

2: Indirect methods Fluid saturations can also be estimated through indirect methods such as capillary
Pressure Measurement, measurement of rock resistivity and well logging. Where the electrical
conductivity depends primarily on water saturation therefore the resistivity can be used to estimate the
saturation within reservoir rock. Where resistivity is a measure of the resistance of a substance to the
flow of electrical current.