# Numerical Simulation Modeling of Carbonate Reservoir Based on Rock Type

Authors: Peiqing Lian; Cuiyu Ma; Bingyu Ji; Taizhong Duan; Xuequn Tan
Journal: Journal of Engineering
 (2017)

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## Abstract

There are many types of carbonate reservoir rock spaces with complex shapes, and their primary pore structure changes dramatically. In order to describe the heterogeneity of K carbonate reservoir, equations of porosity, permeability and pore throat radii under different mercury injection saturations are fitted, and it shows that 30% is the best percentile.R30 method is presented for rock typing, and six rock types are divided according to R30 value of plugs. The porosity-permeability relationship is established for each rock type, and their relevant flow characteristics of each rock type have been studied. Logs are utilized to predict rock types of noncored wells, and a three-dimensional (3D) rock type model has been established based on the well rock type curves and the sedimentary facies constraint. Based on the relationship betweenJ function and water saturation, the formula of water saturation, porosity, permeability, and oil column height can be obtained by multiple regressions for each rock type. Then, the water saturation is calculated for each grid, and a 3D water saturation model is established. The model can reflect the formation heterogeneity and the fluid distribution, and its accuracy is verified by the history matching.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

K reservoir is a large carbonate reservoir, the storage space is dominated by secondary interstices and vugs, and there are few fractures.K reservoir buried depth is very deep and is affected by the strong diagnosis. Its primary pore structure changes dramatically, and the reservoir physical property distribution has strong heterogeneity. Rock typing is an essential step in the process of the carbonate reservoir characterization and geological modeling, and it is the method of classifying reservoir rocks which have the same fluid flow features into groups [1–6]. Rock typing is an effective way to obtain accurate permeability, and it enables us to get better understanding of the fluid movement and to enhance oil recovery [7–11].There are several well-known models for the rock type discrimination. Leverett introduced the famousJ Function which could be used for rock typing [12, 13]. Winland [14] used the mercury injection-capillary pressure curves to develop an empirical relationship among porosity, permeability, and pore throat radii to different mercury saturations and found that the 35th percentile gave the best correlation. Amaefule et al. [15, 16] introduced a hydraulic flow unit concept and developed a method to predict the permeability of cored and uncored intervals; they grouped different rock samples based on their pore attributes similarity.In this paper, we focus on the high heterogeneity ofK reservoir and study the rock typing method for carbonate reservoirs. The capillary pressure curves and the relative permeability curves are assigned to each rock type, and different flow units are generated. Based on geological model, the numerical simulation model has been established, and the accuracy of the model is verified by the history production matching.


## 2. Rock Typing Method

Darcy’s law is an equation that describes the flow of a fluid through porous medium. It can be expressed as follows:(1)q=KApμ·ΔPLp,where q is volumetric flow rate, K is permeability, Ap is cross-sectional area of plug, μ is viscosity, Lp is length of plug, and ΔP is pressure drop.Poiseuille’s equation can be used to determine the pressure drop of a constant viscosity fluid exhibiting laminar flow through a rigid pipe.(2)q=nπri48μ·ΔPLa,where n is number of capillary tubes, ri is pore throat radius of ith tube, and La is apparent length of fluid flow path.For homogenous plug samples, porosity can be calculated by the following equation:(3)φ=nπri2Ap·LaLp,where φ is effective porosity.By applying Darcy’s and Poiseuille’s Laws, a relationship between porosity and permeability can be derived as the following equation:(4)K=ri2φ8τ2,whereτis tortuosity, τ=(La/Lp)2.Converting (4) into logarithmic form, we can derive the following equation:(5)log⁡ri=C+Alog⁡K-Blog⁡φ,where A, B, and C are constant parameters.ForK reservoir, porosity, permeability, and mercury injection experiments have been carried out for 206 plugs, and the throat radii with the mercury saturation ranging from 10% to 85% are calculated for each plug. Taking R10 (throat radius at the mercury saturation of 10%) as an example, each plug has a R10 value, porosity, permeability, and R10 of 206 plugs consist of three vectors. By adopting the multiple regression method, the coefficients of (5) can be fitted. Using the same method, the equations of porosity, permeability, and pore throat radii under different mercury injection saturations are fitted.It is shown in Figure1 that the radius at mercury saturation 30% has the best correlation with porosity and permeability.Figure 1
Correlation coefficients of fitting equations of porosity, permeability, and pore throat radii under different mercury injection saturations.The fitting equation at mercury injection saturation of 30% is(6)log⁡R30=0.611+0.509log⁡K-0.694log⁡φ,Based on the pore throat distributions of plugs, we define five typical pore throat radii; they are separately 0.1μm, 0.3μm, 1.0μm, 3.0μm, and 10.0μm, and six rock types can be distinguished by five typical pore throat radii. As shown in Figure 2, five typical curves divide the points into six regions. The relationship between porosity and permeability of each region can be fitted, and the correlation coefficients of fitting equations are reasonably high.(1)
Rock type 1:K =19.076φ1.0431, R2=0.7341(2)
Rock type 2:K = 1.4015φ1.2853, R2=0.9334(3)
Rock type 3:K = 0.1749φ1.3659, R2=0.9021(4)
Rock type 4:K = 0.0176φ1.4183, R2=0.9011(5)
Rock type 5:K = 0.0022φ1.3722, R2=0.8569(6)
Rock type 6:K =0.0004φ1.1005, R2=0.6858Figure 2
Rock type classification ofK reservoir.


## 3. Flow Characteristics of Each Rock Type

### 3.1. Capillary Pressure Curve of Each Rock Type

Capillary pressure curve is useful in characterizing rock type, because it is an indication of pore throat distribution within one rock type. According to the principle of rock typing, the plugs are classified into six groups. Rock type 6 is very tight with low porosity; the fluid cannot flow in this rock type. Therefore, it could be regarded as a barrier.We useJ function to make unique dimensionless drainage capillary pressure curves. For mixed-wet conditions, J function does not work well because the value of permeability depends on the capillary pressure [17]. For K reservoir, the average J function value of each rock type is obtained by data regression.(7)JSwn=Pc,aveσcos⁡θ·Kaveφave,(8)Swn=Sw-Swc1-Sor-Swc,where Pc,ave, Kave, and φave are average capillary pressure, permeability, and porosity of plugs under the same water saturation; σ is interfacial tension; θ is wetting angle; Swn is normalized water saturation; Sw is water saturation; Swc is connate water saturation; Sor is irreducible oil saturation.The average porosity, average permeability, andJ function for each rock type are shown in Table 1. An inverse transformation is performed on (7), and the capillary pressure curve of each rock type can be obtained. As shown in Figure 3, we can find that the capillary pressure curves have obvious regular rules except for rock type 1, and as the rock type number increases, the capillary pressure becomes higher under the same water saturation. The plugs of rock type 1 have fractures, it is easy for fluid to enter fractures, but it is difficult to enter matrix; therefore, the feature of capillary pressure curve is different from others.Table 1
Average porosity, average permeability, and J function for each rock type.
Rock type K a v e, mD φ a v e, % sqrt(Kave/φave) J function 1 117.32 3.26 59.99 J = 0.1399 S w n - 1.664 2 40.57 13.44 17.37 J = 0.1316 S w n - 1.637 3 7.64 12.48 7.82 J = 0.0805 S w n - 1.594 4 1.03 11.24 3.03 J = 0.0410 S w n - 1.543 5 0.11 8.76 1.12 J = 0.0157 S w n - 1.510Figure 3
Capillary pressure curves of five rock types.


### 3.2. Relative Permeability Curve of Each Rock Type

We have carried out relative permeability tests for 66 plugs; they cover from rock type 1 to rock type 5. Because of the heterogeneity of carbonate reservoir, we have not found any rules from the endpoint distributions of relative permeability curves, so we calculate the average value of each rock type, as shown in Table2.Table 2
Endpoint values of relative permeability curve of each rock type.
Rock type Swi Kro@Swi Sorw krw @ Sorw 1 0.33 0.69 0.41 0.42 2 0.20 0.65 0.31 0.31 3 0.23 0.59 0.33 0.28 4 0.26 0.55 0.35 0.25 5 0.30 0.52 0.38 0.20Corey saturation function is derived to fit the average relative permeability curves [18]. Based on the fit results and the average normalized relative permeability, the denormalized relative permeability curves are calculated and plotted for each rock type. As shown in Figure 4, the relative permeability curves show obvious regular rules except for rock type 1. As the rock type number increases, the irreducible water saturation increases, the two-phase flow region become narrow, and the relative permeability at isotonic point decreases. The plugs of rock type 1 have fractures, and the relative permeability curves have different characteristics.Figure 4
Relative permeability curves of five rock types.


## 3.1. Capillary Pressure Curve of Each Rock Type

Capillary pressure curve is useful in characterizing rock type, because it is an indication of pore throat distribution within one rock type. According to the principle of rock typing, the plugs are classified into six groups. Rock type 6 is very tight with low porosity; the fluid cannot flow in this rock type. Therefore, it could be regarded as a barrier.We useJ function to make unique dimensionless drainage capillary pressure curves. For mixed-wet conditions, J function does not work well because the value of permeability depends on the capillary pressure [17]. For K reservoir, the average J function value of each rock type is obtained by data regression.(7)JSwn=Pc,aveσcos⁡θ·Kaveφave,(8)Swn=Sw-Swc1-Sor-Swc,where Pc,ave, Kave, and φave are average capillary pressure, permeability, and porosity of plugs under the same water saturation; σ is interfacial tension; θ is wetting angle; Swn is normalized water saturation; Sw is water saturation; Swc is connate water saturation; Sor is irreducible oil saturation.The average porosity, average permeability, andJ function for each rock type are shown in Table 1. An inverse transformation is performed on (7), and the capillary pressure curve of each rock type can be obtained. As shown in Figure 3, we can find that the capillary pressure curves have obvious regular rules except for rock type 1, and as the rock type number increases, the capillary pressure becomes higher under the same water saturation. The plugs of rock type 1 have fractures, it is easy for fluid to enter fractures, but it is difficult to enter matrix; therefore, the feature of capillary pressure curve is different from others.Table 1
Average porosity, average permeability, and J function for each rock type.
Rock type K a v e, mD φ a v e, % sqrt(Kave/φave) J function 1 117.32 3.26 59.99 J = 0.1399 S w n - 1.664 2 40.57 13.44 17.37 J = 0.1316 S w n - 1.637 3 7.64 12.48 7.82 J = 0.0805 S w n - 1.594 4 1.03 11.24 3.03 J = 0.0410 S w n - 1.543 5 0.11 8.76 1.12 J = 0.0157 S w n - 1.510Figure 3
Capillary pressure curves of five rock types.


## 3.2. Relative Permeability Curve of Each Rock Type

We have carried out relative permeability tests for 66 plugs; they cover from rock type 1 to rock type 5. Because of the heterogeneity of carbonate reservoir, we have not found any rules from the endpoint distributions of relative permeability curves, so we calculate the average value of each rock type, as shown in Table2.Table 2
Endpoint values of relative permeability curve of each rock type.
Rock type Swi Kro@Swi Sorw krw @ Sorw 1 0.33 0.69 0.41 0.42 2 0.20 0.65 0.31 0.31 3 0.23 0.59 0.33 0.28 4 0.26 0.55 0.35 0.25 5 0.30 0.52 0.38 0.20Corey saturation function is derived to fit the average relative permeability curves [18]. Based on the fit results and the average normalized relative permeability, the denormalized relative permeability curves are calculated and plotted for each rock type. As shown in Figure 4, the relative permeability curves show obvious regular rules except for rock type 1. As the rock type number increases, the irreducible water saturation increases, the two-phase flow region become narrow, and the relative permeability at isotonic point decreases. The plugs of rock type 1 have fractures, and the relative permeability curves have different characteristics.Figure 4
Relative permeability curves of five rock types.


## 4. Numerical Simulation Based on Rock Type

### 4.1. 3D Rock Type Model

Each plug has a coring depth, and we can find the logging data at corresponding depth. The rock type number and the logging data of each plug compose a sample. By using these samples, a link is set up between rock types and log responses by the KNN (K Nearest Neighbor) method. Logs are utilized to predict rock types of noncored wells according to this link, and then the rock type curves of all wells can be obtained. Using this method, a 3D rock type model is established based on well rock type curves and sedimentary facies constraint, as shown in Figure 5.Figure 5
3D rock type model.The porosity model is built up based on logging data, seismic attribution, and sedimentary facies control. According to the relationship between porosity and permeability of each rock type, 3D permeability model can be established. The capillary pressure curve and the relative permeability curve are assigned to each rock type, and different flow units are generated.


### 4.2. 3D Water Saturation Model

The capillary pressure can be transformed into oil column height under formation conditions; (7) can be written into the following form:(9)JSwn=Howc-Hρw-ρogσcos⁡θ·Kaveφave,where Howc is the depth of water/oil contact; H is the height of arbitrary point in transition zone; ρw and ρo are the density of water and oil; g is the acceleration of gravity.According to (9), water saturation, porosity, permeability, and oil column height relationship can be obtained by multiple regressions. The oil column height can be calculated based on the depth difference between water/oil contact and grid depth, and the water saturation is calculated for each grid. There are different J functions for different rock types; with the changes of the physical properties of formation, water saturation will show different characteristics.


### 4.3. History Performance Matching

As the numerical simulation model has been established, we have to testify the accuracy of the model. We use fixed oil production rate as the inner boundary condition, and the actual production process of the simulation area has been reappeared by the history matching. The fitting rates of the daily oil production rate and water cut are up to 99.8% and 93.6%.Taking wells K2 and K8 as an example (their formation thickness is similar), we calculate the thickness proportion of different rock types of these two wells. As shown in Figure6, rock types 4 and 5 are the main types for the well K2, and for K8, rock types 2 and 3 are the main. The reservoir property near K8 is better than that of K2, and the daily production rate of K8 is much higher than that of K2. This proves that the rock type classification is in coincidence with the production performance, and the model is reliable for the further design of the development plan.Figure 6
The thickness proportion of different rock types of wells K2 and K8.
(a)
K2 (b)
K8


## 4.1. 3D Rock Type Model

Each plug has a coring depth, and we can find the logging data at corresponding depth. The rock type number and the logging data of each plug compose a sample. By using these samples, a link is set up between rock types and log responses by the KNN (K Nearest Neighbor) method. Logs are utilized to predict rock types of noncored wells according to this link, and then the rock type curves of all wells can be obtained. Using this method, a 3D rock type model is established based on well rock type curves and sedimentary facies constraint, as shown in Figure 5.Figure 5
3D rock type model.The porosity model is built up based on logging data, seismic attribution, and sedimentary facies control. According to the relationship between porosity and permeability of each rock type, 3D permeability model can be established. The capillary pressure curve and the relative permeability curve are assigned to each rock type, and different flow units are generated.


## 4.2. 3D Water Saturation Model

The capillary pressure can be transformed into oil column height under formation conditions; (7) can be written into the following form:(9)JSwn=Howc-Hρw-ρogσcos⁡θ·Kaveφave,where Howc is the depth of water/oil contact; H is the height of arbitrary point in transition zone; ρw and ρo are the density of water and oil; g is the acceleration of gravity.According to (9), water saturation, porosity, permeability, and oil column height relationship can be obtained by multiple regressions. The oil column height can be calculated based on the depth difference between water/oil contact and grid depth, and the water saturation is calculated for each grid. There are different J functions for different rock types; with the changes of the physical properties of formation, water saturation will show different characteristics.


## 4.3. History Performance Matching

As the numerical simulation model has been established, we have to testify the accuracy of the model. We use fixed oil production rate as the inner boundary condition, and the actual production process of the simulation area has been reappeared by the history matching. The fitting rates of the daily oil production rate and water cut are up to 99.8% and 93.6%.Taking wells K2 and K8 as an example (their formation thickness is similar), we calculate the thickness proportion of different rock types of these two wells. As shown in Figure6, rock types 4 and 5 are the main types for the well K2, and for K8, rock types 2 and 3 are the main. The reservoir property near K8 is better than that of K2, and the daily production rate of K8 is much higher than that of K2. This proves that the rock type classification is in coincidence with the production performance, and the model is reliable for the further design of the development plan.Figure 6
The thickness proportion of different rock types of wells K2 and K8.
(a)
K2 (b)
K8


## 5. Conclusions

(1) By applying Darcy’s and Poiseuille’s Laws, the relationships among porosity, permeability, and different pore throat radii have been fitted, and the typical pore throat radiusR30 has been selected.(2)R30 method is presented to define six petrophysical rock types with different reservoir properties. The capillary pressure curves and the relative permeability curves are assigned to each rock type, and difference flow units are generated.(3) Based on geological model, the numerical simulation model has been established, and it can reflect the heterogeneity and the fluid distribution of formation very well and can be used to design the further development plan.



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