A Saturation Computation

Saturation Computation

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© Schlumberger 1999 1
 Saturation Computation

Saturation
The saturation of a formation represents the
amount of a given fluid present in the pore space.

S w = S w irr + S w "free"

water S o = S o residual + S o "free"

oil

Matrix

The porosity logs react to the pore space.

The resistivity logs react to the fluids in the pore
space.
The combination of the two measurements gives
the saturation

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 Saturation Computation

Rock Wettability

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 Saturation Computation

Basics 1
Rw = resistivity of water in the pore space.
Define Ro = resistivity of a rock totally filled
with water.
R0
F
Rw
F: Formation Factor.
At constant porosity F is constant.
As porosity increases, Ro decreases and F
decreases.

Experiments have shown that F is inversely

proportional to m.
a
F m

m: is called the "cementation exponent".
a: is called the "lithology" constant.
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 Saturation Computation

Basics 2
Saturation can be expressed as a ratio of the
resistivities:
n R0
Sw 
Rt
where n is the "saturation exponent", an
empirical constant.
Substituting for Ro:

n FR w
Sw 
Rt
Substituting for F:

a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt

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 Saturation Computation

Archie’s Equation

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 Saturation Computation

Archie parameters
Rw = resistivity of connate water.
m = "cementation factor", set to 2 in the
simple case.
n = "saturation exponent", set to 2 in the
simple case.
a = constant, set to 1 in the simple case.
All the constants have to be set.
Two common sets of numbers for these constants
are:
In a simple carbonate, the parameters are
simplified to:
m = 2, n = 2, a=1
In high porosity sandstone the following values
are often quoted:
m = 2.15, n = 2, a = 0.62

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 Saturation Computation

Variation of m
m reflects the tortuosity of the formation, the
pathway for electrical current flow
Carbonates have complex porosities and hence
current pathways give different values of m

For Fractures m = 1.3 to 1.8

For Vugs m = 2.3 to 3.0

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 Saturation Computation

Basic Ro/Rt Calculation

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 Saturation Computation

Ro/Rt Calculation

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 Saturation Computation

Rw determination
Rw is an important parameter.

Sources include:

Client.

Local tables / knowledge.

SP.

Resistivity and porosity in

water zone. (Rwa technique)

RFT sample.

From Rxo and Rt tools.

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 Saturation Computation

Rw from Rwa
If Sw = 1, the saturation equation can become:

Rw   Rt 2

Assuming simple values for a, m, n.

Procedure is to:

Compute an Rwa (Rw apparent) using this

relationship.

Read the lowest value over a porous zone which

will be where Rwa = Rw

This is the method employed by all computer

based interpretation systems.

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 Saturation Computation

Sw Calculation - 2

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 Saturation Computation

Basic Archie - Sw Calculation

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 Saturation Computation

An Interpretation
Calculation
Rt = 10
 = .28
Rwa = .014
Gas

Rw
Sw
2


 Rt
2

Water zone .014

Sw
2


 10 2x

Sw = .13
Sh = .87

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 Saturation Computation

Saturation Equation
a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt

The Archie equation is hence very simple. It links

porosity and resistivity with the amount of water
present, Sw.

Increasing porosity,, will reduce the saturation

for the same Rt.

Increasing Rt for the same porosity will have the

same effect.

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 Saturation Computation

Computing Saturation

The standard saturation equation can be used

with special attention taken to obtain the
correct value for the cement exponent ‘m’.

In vuggy formations this will be greater than 2.

The resistivity logs read higher as the
“pathway” is more tortuous.

Saturations calculated with an ‘m’ of 2 will

show too much hydrocarbon – Sw too low

In fractured formations ‘m’ will be less than

two as the resistivity pathways are straight.
In this case saturations computed with ‘m’ = 2
will show too much water – Sw too high.

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 Saturation Computation

Effects of parameters
Example of variations in the Archie
parameters
a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt
The following are measurements
 = 25%, Rt = 5 ohm-m, Rw = .02 ohm-m
Assuming a simple formation with
a = 1, m = 2, n = 2
Sw = 25%

Changing n to 2.5, changes the Sw to 33%

Changing n to 8, changes the Sw to 71%
Changing m to 3 changes Sw to 50%
Hence the choice of these constants is
important

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 Saturation Computation

Invaded Zone
The same method can be applied to the invaded
zone. The porosity is identical, the lithology is
assumed to be the same, hence the constants a, n,
m are the same.
The changes are the resistivities which are now
Rxo and Rmf.
Rmf is measured usually on surface and Rxo is
measured by the MCFL tool.

The equation is then:

n aR mf
Sxo  m
 R xo

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 Saturation Computation

Other Relationships
Dividing for Sxo and Sw, with n set to 2
1
Sw  R xo R t 2
  
Sxo R mf R w 
Observations suggest:
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Sxo  Sw 5

Hence:
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 R xo R t 8
Sw   
R mf R w 

providing a quick look saturation answer when

porosity is not available.
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 Saturation Computation

Rxo/Rt vs Rmf/Rw

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 Saturation Computation

F Relation chart

2.5 5 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10,000

50

40

30
25

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1
m FR=
, Porosity (pu)

m
ø
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1
FR = 2
ø
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6 0.62
FR = 2.15
ø
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3 0.81
FR = 2
ø

©Schlumberger

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2.5 5 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10,000

FR, Formation Resistivity Factor

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 Saturation Computation

Variable m measurement
In a clean formation the following are
2)
measured by the standard methods:

porosity, 
water resistivity - Rw, Rmf
formation resistivity - Rt, Rxo

The saturation Sw, Sxo, m and n are unknown (a

is taken as 1)

Assume that n is 2 , (valid in most circumstances)

If the saturation is measured using a non-

resistivity tool (i.e. not using Archies formula) the
only unknown is m.

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