(PETE 663 — Formation Evaluation and the Analysis of Reservoir Performance (Fall 2003))

Module for:
Resistivity Theory
(adapted/modified from lectures in PETE 321 (Jensen/Ayers))

J. L. Jensen
W.B. Ayers
T.A. Blasingame
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116
 Openhole Well Log Evaluation
Most abundant data for formation evaluation and
determination of fluid saturations

Well Log
SP Resistivity

From NExT, 1999

Idealized Well Log Set

R=4

φ = 0.30
R = 0.4

R=8 φ = 0.07

Shale

Sand R = 0.3
φ = 0.35
Four Components of Sandstone (Schematic Diagram)
Geologist’s Classification

1.Framework Note different use of "matrix"

Engineering
2.Matrix by geologists and engineers
"matrix"
3.Cement
4.Pores

PORE
FRAMEWORK
CEMENT (QUARTZ) MATRIX

FRAMEWORK
(FELDSPAR)

0.25 mm

Ayers, 2001
 Fluid Saturations
Grain Water Gas Oil
and matrix

z Initially, water fills pores and wets the rock surface

z Hydrocarbons migrate into the reservoir rock, displacing some water
z Hydrocarbon distribution determined by gravity and capillary forces,
and by wettability
Modified from NExT, 1999
Resistivity of Rocks Containing Fluid
Resistivity – Definition of the Ohm-Meter

From Halliburton (EL 1007)

 Resistivity

Resistivity
zThe voltage required to cause one amp to
pass through a cube having a face area of
one square meter
zUnits are ohm-m2/m; usually ohm-m (Ω.m)

1
Resistivit y =
Conductivi ty
 Resistivity Measurement

z Resistivity

V 2
(ohms) A(m )
R(ohm − meters) = I
L ( m)
Resistivity of Earth Materials

1
Resistivity =
Conductivity

(1) Rock

Conductivity
Increasing
(2) Gas
Increasing
Resistivity

(3) Oil
(4) Fresh Water
(5) Salt Water
Factors Affecting Resistivity

zResistivity of water
zPorosity of the formation,
zPore geometry - tortuosity
zLithology of the formation
zDegree of cementation, and
zType and amount of clay in the rock

From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

 Electricity And Earth Materials

z Electrical conduction is by ions in water

z Na+ and Cl- are very common
z Other monovalent ions: K+ and OH-
z Common bivalent ions: Ca++, Mg++
 Resistivity Multipliers for Various Materials

z Water resistivity
controlled by:
„ Ion concentrations.
„ Type of ions.
„ Temperature.
z Chart GEN-4 to
convert to NaCl
equivalent.
z Chart GEN-5 for
temperature/resist
for NaCl.

From Schlumberger
 Resistivity
of NaCl
Solutions
____

Chart
GEN-5H
or
GEN-9S

From Schlumberger
 Chart GEN-8

TDS = 20,850 ppm

0.81

0.45

Ca = 460 ppm
S04 = 1,400
Na + Cl = 19,000
TDS = 20,860

(460)(0.81)+(1,400)(0.45)+(1)(19,000) = 20,000 ppm

T = 75 deg. F

From Schlumberger
75 deg. F

Chart
GEN-9

From Schlumberger
 Arp's Formula
z For constant solution
– R1(T1 + 7) = R2(T2 + 7) (T in deg F)
– R1(T1 + 21.5) = R2(T2 + 21.5) (T in deg C)

z Example
– Rm = 0.32 ohm-m @ surface (25 deg C/77 deg F)
– What is Rm at 145 deg C (293 deg F)?
– R2 = R1(T1 + 21.5)/(T2 + 21.5)
– R2 = 0.32(25+21.5)/(145+21.5) = 0.089 ohm-m
– Check this on the chart!
Archie's First Equation (for Porosity)
z Relates rock resistivity to Rw
Ro = F R w
Ro = Resistivity of a rock that is 100%
saturated with formation water, Ω-m
Rw = Resistivity of formation water, Ω-m
F = Formation factor
z As the salt water content increases, the formation
resistivity will decrease.
z A rock containing oil or gas will have a higher
resistivity than the same rock completely satu-
rated with salt water.
z As the shale content increases, the rock matrix
will become more conductive.
Rock containing pores saturated
with water and hydrocarbons

Non-shaly rock, 100% saturated

with water having resistivity, Rw

Rt
Cube of water
φ= 20%
Sw = 20%
having resistivity, Rw
SHC =80%
Ro
φ= 20%
Sw = 100%
R es
istiv Rw
ity
φ= 100%
Sw = 100%
(1) Rock
Conductivity
Increasing
Resistivity
Increasing

(2) Gas
(3) Oil
a
(4) Fresh Water
F = Ro =
(5) Salt Water Rw φm
 Formation Factor

The formation factor (F) depends on:

zPorosity of the formation.
zPore geometry.
zLithology of the formation.
zDegree of cementation.
zType and amount of clay in the rock.
 Formation Factor Correlation with Porosity
z For a clean formation (no shale), the formation
factor can usually be empirically correlated with
porosity.
a
F=
φ m

a = constant ≅ 1.0 (most formations).

m = cementation factor ≅ 2 (most formations).

z Common values
– F = 0.8/φ2 (Tixier) or 0.62/φ2.15 (Humble) for sandstones.
– F = 0.8/φ2 for carbonates.
Archie Relation for Formation Factor
Formation Factor
Ideal Considerations
 Formation Factor
Experiments with Unconsolidated
and Artificially Consolidated Materials
 Formation Factor
Generalized Correlation (Schlumberger)
 Formation Factor
Type Curve Solution (Blasingame/Unpublished)
 Formation Factor
Effect of Clay/Shale
z The formation factor (F) is constant for a clean
sand; F decreases for shaly sand as value of Rw
increases.
 How Archie's Formation Factor Equation Works

z Archie's equation is based on the follow-

ing relationships
1000
Rock type 1

100
FR

10 Rock type 2

1
.01 .1 1.0
When water saturation is 100 percent φ From NExT, 1999
 Saturation

z Amount of water per unit volume = φ Sw

z Amount of hydrocarbon per unit volume = φ (1 - Sw)

φ (1-Sw)
φ Hydrocarbon
φ Sw Water

1−φ Matrix
Archie's Second Equation (For Saturation)
z Relates Sw to Rt .
z If Rt = Ro, then the formation is 100 percent
saturated with formation water. However, if Rt >
Ro, then the formation contains oil or gas.
z General formula:

n Ro Rw a Rw
Sw = =F =
Rt Rt φ m Rt
z For clean sands, n = 2 is common.
z Like a and m, n is measured in the lab.
Archie Relation for Sw
Visualization of Rt/Ro versus Sw
Hydrocarbon Resistivity Index (I=Rt/Ro)
Effects of Clay and Pyrite
Hydrocarbon Resistivity Index (I=Rt/Ro)
Effects of Wettability
Hydrocarbon Resistivity Index (I=Rt/Ro)
Type Curve Solution - No Shale Case (Blasingame/Unpublished)
Hydrocarbon Resistivity Index (I=Rt/Ro)
Type Curve Solution - Shale, n=1.2 (Blasingame/Unpublished)
Hydrocarbon Resistivity Index (I=Rt/Ro)
Type Curve Solution - Shale, n=2.0 (Blasingame/Unpublished)
 Drilling Disturbs Formation
zDrilling and rock crushing
„Damage Zone
zMud systems and invasion
„Oil-based Mud
Mudcake
— Small conductivity mud Damaged zone
— Shallow invasion
— Thin cake
„Water-based Mud
— Moderate to very
Invading filtrate
conductive mud
— Shallow to deep invasion
— Thin to thick cake
Effects of Drilling Mud and
Mud Filtrate Invasion
 Mud Filtrate Invasion

Uninvaded
Zone
(Rt)
Invaded
Zone (Rxo)

Wellbore
Mud
(Rm)

it i on
Uninvaded ran
s Mud Cake
Zone T
o ne (Rmc)
Z
(Rt)

Modified from J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

 Resistivity of zone
Resistivity of the water in the zone
Water saturation in the zone
Mud
Symbols used Rm
Adjacent bed
in Log Rs
Interpretation
Uninvaded
hmc Flushed zone
zone Zone of
Rmc R1
transition
(Bed dh or Rw
thickness) annulus
Mudcake Rxd
Sw
h Rm1

Sxo
Rs
di
dj
Adjacent bed

(Invasion diameters)

∆rj

dh
Hole
diameter
From NExT, 1999, after Schlumberger
 Common Terminology
Borehole
Rm: Borehole mud resistivity
Rmc: Mud cake resistivity
Invaded zone
Rmf: Mud filtrate resistivity
Rxo: Invaded zone resistivity
Sxo: Invaded zone water saturation
Uninvaded zone
Rw: Interstitial water resistivity
Rt: Uninvaded zone resistivity
Sw: Uninvaded zone water saturation
 Summary — Resistivity

z Resistivity is a very important property

z Resistivity inversely proportional to ion
volumes present in water
z Water resistivity depends on:
„ Concentration
„ Temperature
„ Ion species
z Archie's First Law relates rock resistivity to Rw
z Archie's Second Law relates Sw to Rt
(PETE 663 — Formation Evaluation and the Analysis of Reservoir Performance (Fall 2003))

Module for:
Resistivity Theory
(adapted/modified from lectures in PETE 321 (Jensen/Ayers))

End of Presentation
J. L. Jensen
W.B. Ayers
T.A. Blasingame
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3116