PNN Annual Conference 2006

PNN in tight carbonate reservoirs, North-West Texas a case study

Maria Fencl, Hotwell, Klingenbach, Austria

Introduction
This case study should give an introduction to PNN interpretation in low porosity carbonates. The
anhydritic dolomite of the Clearfork Formation in Southwest Westbrook Field, Texas is used as
example. Generally the porosity is low throughout the whole formation, but with the help of PNN
measurement it is possible to distinguish between low porous and non-porous intervals and to
evaluate good saturated layers.

Geological overview
The Southwest Westbrook Field is located in Mitchell County,
Texas and was one of the earliest Permian Basin discoveries in
1920. The Southwest Westbrook Unit is a stratigraphic trap and
produces out of Clearfork Formation. This formation is Permianage and a lenticular anhydritic fine-crystalline dolomite with
occasional small vugs and rare fractures. Gypsum and silty
laminations are common. Clastic-rich intervals, periodically
deposited along with the anhydritic dolomite are important
because they are commonly reservoir seals and are a time
stratigraphic marker.

Figure 1: Map of Texas,

highlighted Mitchell County

The Formation can be divided into Upper, Middle and Lower Clearfork. The porosity in the pay
of Upper Clearfork Formation ranges from 4 to 16 % and averages 7.4 %. Permeabilities average
around 0.5 md, but can reach 50 md occasionally. The Lower Clearfork Formation shows better
porosity. Average dolomite porosity is around 8 %, with 1 md permeability.
The depositional environment of the Upper Clearfork is believed to be low-energy tidal flat or
lagoon, the pay of the Lower Clearfork is a series of stacked shoal complexes. This thick interval
is actually a series of stacked shallowing upward carbonate shelf sequences and intraformational
clastic-rich seals.
Various depositional environments can be distinguished in core samples (open shelf, reef, open
lagoon, restricted lagoon, island, tidal flat, supratidal). Due to this inhomogeneous pattern of
sediment deposit, because of patch reefs instead of one shelf edge with one large reef, there is
only erratic distribution of good producing wells in some parts of the Lower Clearfork. The debris
aprons and shoals around these reefs typically have good quality. In addition, smaller and less
developed reefs and bioherms have been noted in the upper portions of the Middle and Upper
Clearfork.
In some parts of the Middle Clearfork natural fracturing appears, caused by dissolution of
carbonate beneath extensive exposure surfaces. Parts of the unit were only partially exposed,
most probably a series of small islands and associated carbonate sand beaches. The rock fabrics
are distinguished here according to their porosity distribution, which is influenced by the varying
presence of anhydrite nodules.
The reefs themselves are non-porous and tight. Whereous the surrounding reef talus and reef
debris aprons are very porous and permeable, containing some of the highest permeabilities in the
Clearfork Formation.
The low-permeability and low-porosity Clearfork Formation is an economic target for infill
drilling and secondary recovery because of its thickness (400 m; 1,300 ft) and discontinuity.
PNN in tight carbonate reservoirs, N-W-Texas a case study

Author/s: Maria Fencl

PNN Annual Conference 2006

Figure 2: Generalized
structure of the Permian
Basin, red arrow showing
Mitchell County, located
at a carbonate shelf

Figure 3: Cross section through the western part of Central Basin platform showing
relationship between structure and startigraphy of Paleozoic strata. Oil fields are shown in
black (after Ward et al, 1986)

PNN processing and interpretation

Six wells out of Westbrook Southwest Unit have been analysed by Hotwell Austria in 2006.
For explanation of the added images, the presentation of the final output is shown as following
First track with open-hole GR, SP (if available) and GRPNN
Second track with quantitative interpretation of original water saturation (from openhole if available) and PNN water saturation in scale 100 0%. Sigma curve is also
presented in this track.
Third track with total count rate curves (SSN & LSN) plotted in compatible scales in
order to show possible gas saturation and tight zones. Count rate curves are presented
together with open-hole porosity, PNN porosity saturated with oil/gas, and PNN porosity
saturated with water curve in scale 50 0%.
Fourth track with lithologies and porosity.
PNN in tight carbonate reservoirs, N-W-Texas a case study

Author/s: Maria Fencl

PNN Annual Conference 2006

If only PNN data are available, porosities in these wells are calculated using PNN Ratio Porosity.
Therefore a Ratio from early channels, at the beginning of thermalisation process, is extracted and
calibrated to a Compensated Neutron curve. The resulting RATPOR curve can be used as an
equivalent for CN in analysis. The good matching of a PNN Ratio Porosity curve and Neutron
Porosity can be seen in Figure 7. A typical image of alternating porous and non-porous layers can
be seen in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Analysis log from Southwest Westbrook Field showing dolomite with low
Sigma value and big SSN/LSN separation indicating tight zone and below this, porous
zone showing hydrocarbon saturation

Capture cross section shows generally low values in carbonate lithology. In

some of these wells, values around and below 10 can be used as indication
for a tight layer.
High Sigma values do indicate shale in sandstone lithology. In carbonates a
high Sigma value (eg. 25 and more) can indicate either some kind of
(siliciclastic) interlayer or some good porous zone being water saturated.
See blue arrow in Figure 6, pointing at a good porous but high Sigma zone.
Figure 5: Sigma Image
The separation between the short and long spaced detector total count rate curve, in compatible
scales, are usually used to distinguish gas and oil in a shaly sand reservoir.
In carbonate environment the count rates can be generally a bit higher and in most cases good
separation can be used as indicator for rather low porosity (see Figure 4). Little separation to none
is common in better porous layers showing some hydrocarbon saturation. In Figures 6 most of the
small hydrocarbon saturated lobes are showing small SSN/LSN separation.

PNN in tight carbonate reservoirs, N-W-Texas a case study

Author/s: Maria Fencl

PNN Annual Conference 2006

Figure 6: Example
of PNN analysis
without OH data.
Black line is core
porosity data,
showing similar like
calculated porosity

Conclusion
PNN offers a solution for low porosity carbonates, and
permits to distinguish porous from non-porous layers.
Having enough information about the field and also
some OH data available, we are able to find good
porous hydrocarbon bearing zones.
The lateral correlation of these wells is generally
possible, certain layers or sequences can be recognized
in most cases. As the Clearfork dolomite layers are
showing an inhomogeneous pattern and layers may not
continue over long distances, we cannot be sure that
each by each zone can be correlated.

PNN in tight carbonate reservoirs, N-W-Texas a case study

Author/s: Maria Fencl