PNGE 312

Reservoir Rock & Fluid Properties/Lab

MWF: 11:00-11:50 AM, R: 02:00-05:00 PM (Lab)
Vincent Science Center 212

Mohammad Kazemi

mo.kazemi@sru.edu
Office: VSC 104C
Office Hours: MWF: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM and R: 12:00-01:00 PM
(724)738-4958

Welcome to PNGE 312, Reservoir Rock & Fluid Properties/Lab. This document contains all the
information you need to know about the course. Your job is to read this document carefully in the
first week of class and familiarize yourself with how the course works and maintain that familiarity
throughout the semester.
Prerequisites: EGEO 201 and PHYS 211 and MATH 225
Credit Hours: 4
Appointments: You don’t need an appointment for office hours; just drop in. If you need a face-
to-face meeting outside of office hours, there will be special times set up for appointments during
the week.
Texts:
• (ABW) Amyx, J.W., Bass, D.M. and Whiting, R.L.: Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, 3rd
edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, NY, 1960. (Available at TEES Copy Center,
221 WERC, Price approximately)

• Tiab, Djebbar, and Erle C. Donaldson. Petrophysics: theory and practice of measuring reser-
voir rock and fluid transport properties. Gulf professional publishing, 2015.

• Dandekar, Abhijit Y. Petroleum reservoir rock and fluid properties. CRC press, 2013.

Course Description: The overall objective of the course is to provide the student with basic
understanding of the petroleum reservoirs rock and fluid properties; and expand his/her ability
to perform quantitative calculations related to fluid storage capacity, fluid-flow performances of
reservoirs, and fundamental properties of reservoir fluids using both theoretical and experimental
instructions.

Course Objectives:

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

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 • Define porosity, discuss the factors which effect porosity, and describe the methods of deter-
mining values of porosity.

• Define the coefficient of isothermal compressibility of reservoir rock and describe methods for
determining values of formation compressibility.

• Reproduce the Darcy equation in differential form, explain its meaning, integrate the equation
for typical reservoir system, discuss and calculate the effect of fractures and channels, and
describe methods for determining values of absolute permeability

• Explain boundary tension and wettability and their effect on capillary pressure, describe
methods of determining values of capillary pressure, and convert laboratory capillary pressure
values to reservoir conditions.

• Describe method of determining fluid saturations in reservoir rock and show relationship
between fluid saturation and capillary pressure.

• Define resistivity, electrical formation resistivity factor, resistivity index, saturation exponent,
and cementation factor and show their relationship and uses; discuss laboratory measurement
of electrical properties of reservoir rocks; and demonstrate the calculations necessary in ana-
lyzing laboratory measurements.

• Define effective permeability, relative permeability, permeability ratio; reproduce typical rel-
ative permeability curves and show effect of saturation history on relative permeability; il-
lustrate the measurement of relative permeability; and demonstrate some uses of relative
permeability data.

• Describe three-phase flow in reservoir rock and explain methods of displaying three-phase
effective permeabilities

• Demonstrate the techniques of averaging porosity, permeability, and reservoir pressure data.

• Demonstrate capability to perform calculations relating to all concepts above.

• Determine the viscosity and density of petroleum fluids.

Graded Work and Course Grades in PNGE 312

Your course grade in PNGE 312 will be determined by the quantity and quality of evidence you
can provide that you have mastered the concepts of the course. There are five primary kinds of
assignments that will provide that evidence:

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 Assessments What it is
Online Quizzes Theses quizzes are taken
from reading assignment an-
nounced in the beginning of
the semester. Quizzes over def-
initions, theorem statements, and
basic computations.
Weekly Quizzes Theses quizzes are taken from
materials taught on the week of
quiz. Expect 10 quizzes. You
should expect these quizzes on each
Friday
Homework assign- Take-home assignments that ex-
ments tend the basics to solve challenging
problems. Expect 10 assignments.
There will be a engineering math
module in each homewrok.
Group Project Several groups are formed and
projects are assigned. Project top-
ics will be assigned later in the
semester. It will familiarize you
with real world problems.
Exams There will be three exams
.
.
How it’s graded
Pass or Fail: You should be able to
answer all of the questions in order
to pass.
Satisfactory (S) or Progressing (P)
EMRN rubric, a four-level rubric
that marks the work with grades of
E (”Excellent” or ”Exemplary”), M
(”Meets Expectations”), R (”Needs
Revision”), or N (”Not assessable”).
The visual in appendix shows how
these are assigned.
Rubric will be provided during the
semester.
Each exam will be 100 points
but each problem in the exam
will be graded on a Pass/Fail
basis

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 How Your Grade is Calculated?

In order to get D:
• You should earn Satisfactory grade in 60% of weekly quizzes and pass at least 50% of
the online quizzes.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) on 70% lab assignments.

• Earn at least 150 cumulative points in three exams.

• You do NOT need to submit homework assignments or project.

In order to get C:
• Finish requirements for D grade.

• You should earn Satisfactory grade in 70% of weekly quizzes and pass at least 70% of
the online quizzes.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) grade on 70% of homework assignments.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) on 90% lab assignments.

• Earn at least 200 cumulative points in three exams.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) on the project.

In order to get B:
• Finish requirements for C grade.

• You should earn Satisfactory grade in 80% weekly quizzes and pass at least 80% of the
online quizzes.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) grade on 80% of homework assignments.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) on all lab assignments.

• Earn at least 240 cumulative points in three exams.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) grade on the project.

In order to get A:
• Finish requirements for B grade.

• You should earn Satisfactory grade in 90% weekly quizzes and pass at least 90% of the
online quizzes.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) grade on 90% of homework assignments.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) on all lab assignments.

• Earn at least 270 cumulative points in three exams.

• Earn Excellent (E) or Meet Expectation (M) grade on the project.

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 Revision Process

At the heart of the learning process in PNGE 312 is a system of submission and revision of your
work that will allow you make improvements to your work based on instructor feedback. Most
grades on work are not final; you will have the chance on almost every submitted item to revise
and resubmit to improve its quality. First let’s detail how to submit your work in the first place.

• Submission of Work
Weekly quizzes are taken at the class. For homework assignments, lab reports, and
final project, you will need to submit them to D2L Dropbox. I will submit your
grades (EMRN rubric) on D2L.

• Revision
i. Quizzes
You can redo weekly quizzes with restrictions. The following restrictions apply to weekly
quizzes revisions:

– You can redo any quiz, however, you are allowed to redo one quiz per week.
– You also have only one week after any quiz grade submission date to redo
that particular quiz.
– Further quizzes redo can be done using ”tokens” discussed later.

ii. Homework Assignments and Lab Reports

– You must submit any assignment or lab report by its deadline.

– Assignments and lab reports that are submitted after the deadline WILL
NOT BE ACCEPTED and will be graded N or Not Assessable.

– You can only revise three homework assignments and three lab reports that
are marked R (Needs Revision).
– Further assignment and lab report revisions can be done using ”tokens” discussed later.

• Tokens
Tokens are a ”currency” in the course that you can use to purchase exceptions to the course
rules, especially the rules for revisions. Each student begins the course with five tokens, and
tokens can purchase any of the following:

– A token must be spent to revise any submission of a homework that is marked

”N” (Not Assessable). This is in place to ensure students do not submit incomplete
or significantly flawed work just to get feedback.
– No more than two homework assignment submissions per week may be made.
This can be two new submissions, a new submission and a revision, or two revisions.
A third submission may be made if a token is spent. This restriction is in place to
ensure that students don’t procrastinate until the end of the course to work on these
assignments. Further tokens may not be spent to obtain fourth, fifth, etc. submissions.
– A token must be spent to revise any submission of a lab report that is marked ”N” (Not
Assessable).

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 Opportunities to earn more tokens may be made available during the semester.

Course Policies

• General

– Computers are not to be used unless instructed to do so.

– Quizzes and exams are closed book, closed notes.

• Academic Integrity

– The integrity of the classes offered by any academic institution solidifies the founda-
tion of its mission and cannot be sacrificed to expediency, ignorance, or blatant fraud.
Therefore, I will enforce rigorous standards of academic integrity in all aspects and as-
signments of this course. For the detailed policy of Slippery Rock University regarding
the definitions of acts considered to fall under academic dishonesty and possible ensuing
sanctions, please see the Student Conduct Code: http://www.sru.edu/offices/student-
conduct/code-of-conduct.
– Students are expected to work independently unless otherwise instructed. Offering and
accepting solutions from others is an act of plagiarism, which is a serious offense
and all involved parties will be penalized according to the Academic Honesty
Policy. Discussion amongst students is encouraged, but when in doubt, direct your
questions to the professor, tutor, or lab assistant.
– Should you have any questions about possibly improper research citations or references,
or any other activity that may be interpreted as an attempt at academic dishonesty,
please see me before the assignment is due to discuss the matter.

• Attendance and Absences

– Attendance is very important for this course. Please show up on time with the assigned
textbook. If you are not in class, whether excused or unexcused, you still must com-
plete any assignment or makeup quizzes. Except for truely exceptional circumstances,
late work is considered Not Assessable and you will have to use your tokens to submit
the assignment. If you are going to miss a class or quiz, please make arrangements
beforehand.

• ADA Compliance

– ”SRU is committed to accommodating students with disabilities and helping them to

achieve academic success.”
– If you are a person with a disability and anticipate needing any type of accommodation
in order to participate in this class, please advise me and make appropriate arrangements
with Office of Disability Services (724.738.4877). For more information on SRU’s Diver-
sity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, please see: http://www.sru.edu/academics/academic-
services/services-for-students-with-disabilities

• Title IX

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– Slippery Rock University and its faculty are committed to assuring a safe and productive
educational environment for all students. In order to meet this commitment and to com-
ply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and guidance from the Office
for Civil Rights, the University requires faculty members to report incidents of sexual
violence shared by students to the University’s Title IX Coordinator. The only excep-
tions to the faculty member’s reporting obligation are when incidents of sexual violence
are communicated by a student during a classroom discussion, in a writing assignment
for a class, or as part of a University-approved research project. Faculty members are
obligated to report sexual violence or any other abuse of a student who was, or is, a
child (a person under 18 years of age) when the abuse allegedly occurred to the per-
son designated in the University protection of minors policy. Information regarding the
reporting of sexual violence and the resources that are available to victims of sexual vio-
lence is set forth at:http://www.sru.edu/offices/diversity-and-equal-opportunity/sexual-
misconduct-and-victim-resources.

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 General Advice for Study and Class Preparation*

The most important element of your education is your participation. No matter how hard we as
faculty try (or don’t try) to prepare you to learn, we cannot force you to work. We can only
provide examples of how you should perform and we can only evaluate your performance — not
your intentions or your personality, nor can we make allowances for your personal problems or your
lack of preparation.
We can of course provide some pretty unpleasant alternatives as incentives (e.g., poor grades), but
poor grades are a product of only two issues, a lack of subject mastery, or apathy. We as faculty
can do much to prepare you for a rewarding career, not only as engineers, but also as productive
members of society in whatever capacity you wish to serve. But—we cannot make you care, we
cannot make you prepare, and we cannot make you perform — only you can do this.
We have chosen our path in life to help you find yours, we want you to succeed (perhaps sometimes
more than you do) and we will do our best to make your education fulfilling and rewarding. As we
embark on what will likely be a tedious and challenging experience, we reaffirm our commitment to
seeing that you get the most out of your education. When it seems as though we are overbearing
taskmasters (and we may well be), remember that we are trying to prepare you for challenges where
there is no safety net — and where there may be no second chance.
Our goal is to be your guide — we will treat you with the respect and consideration that you
deserve, but you must have the faith to follow, the dedication to prepare, and the determination
to succeed — it will be your turn to lead soon enough.
General Procedures for Studying: (Adapted from Arizona State U., 1992)

• Before each lecture you should read the text carefully, don’t just scan topics, but try to resolve
sections of the reading into a simple summary of two or three sentences, emphasizing concepts
as well as methods.

• During the lecture take careful notes of what your instructor says and writes, LISTEN to
what is being said as well as how it is emphasized. Don’t try to be neat, but do try to get
every detail you can — think of the lecture as an important story that you will have to tell
again later.

• As soon as possible after the lecture (and certainly the same day), reread the text and your
”messy” lecture notes, then rewrite your lecture notes in a clear and neat format — redrawing
the figures, filling in missed steps, and reworking examples. You are probably thinking that
no one in their right mind would do this—but the secret is that successful students always
review and prepare well in advance of exams.

• Prepare a list of questions or issues that you need clarified, ask your instructor at the start
of the next class (so others can benefit) or if you need one-on-one help, see your instructor as
soon as possible, do not assume that it will ”come to you later.”

• Work one homework problem at a time, without rushing. You are not learning if you are
rushing, copying, or scribbling. Spread the problems out in time and write down any questions
you have.

• ASK QUESTIONS. In class, during office hours, ANY chance you get. If you do not under-
stand something you cannot use it to solve problems. It will not come to you by magic. ASK!
ASK! ASK!

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 • Practice working problems. In addition to assigned problems, work the unassigned ones.
Where do you think faculty take exam questions? You should establish a study group and
distribute the load — but you should work several of each type of problem that you are
assigned.

• Before a test, you should go over the material covered by preparing an outline of the important
material from your notes as well as the text. Then rewrite your outline for the material about
which you are not very confident. Review that material, then rewrite the notes for the material
about which you are still not confident. Continue until you think that you understand ALL
of the material.

• ”Looking over” isn’t learning, reading someone else’s solution is insufficient to develop your
skills, you must prepare in earnest — work lots and lots of problems, old homework, old
exams, and study guide questions.

• Speed on exams is often critical. It is not just a test of what you know, but how well you
know it (and how fast you show it). The point is not just to ”understand” but to ”get it in
your bones.”

• Participate in class. The instructor must have feedback to help you. Force the issue if you
must, it is your education.

*Adapted from Texas A&M University

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 Date Topic ABW Text
January 23 W Course Introduction—Review of the Syllabus Syllabus
24 R Introduction to the lab Lab handout
25 F Methods of Coring Handout
28 M Definition of Porosity 36-43
30 W Laboratory Determination of Porosity 43-57
31 R Lab 1: Porosity Measurement Lab handout
February 1 F Subsurface Measurement of Porosity Handout
4 M Compressibility of Porous Rocks 57-64
6 W Introduction to Permeability 64-71
7 R Lab 2: Porosity Measurement
8 F Flow of Liquids in Porous Media 71-78
11 M Flow of Gases in Porous Media 71-78
13 W Conversion Factors for Oilfield Units 78-79
14 R Lab 3: Pore volume compressibility
Laboratory Measurement of Permeability and
15 F 86-96
Factors which affect Permeability Measurements
18 M Factors which affect Permeability Measurements 91-96
20 W Flow in Layered Systems 79-83
21 R Lab 4: Liquid permeability
22 F Flow in Channels and Fractures, Analogies of Darcy’s Law 83-86
25 M Introduction to Determination of Fluid Saturations 100-110
27 W Laboratory Determination of Fluid Saturations 100-110
28 R Lab 5: Gas Permeability
March 1 F Exam 1
4 M Laboratory Determination of Fluid Saturations 100-110
6 W Electrical Properties of Reservoir Rocks 111-117
7 R Lab 6: Measurement of Electrical Properties of Reservoir Rocks 117-120
8 F Effect of Clay on Electrical Properties 121-124
10-17 Spring Break
18 M Boundary Tension and Wettability 133-135
20 W Introduction to Capillary Pressure 135-140
21 R Course Review
Capillary Pressure and Saturation History and
22 F 141-142
Capillary Pressure in Reservoir Rock
25 M Laboratory Measurement of Capillary Pressure 142-155
27 W Capillary Pressure/Saturation Relations 150-155
28 R Lab 7: Capillary pressure
29 F Capillary Pressure Averaging and Correlations 155-161
April 1 M Capillary Pressure/Permeability Relations 167-174
3 W Effective and Relative Permeability 174-181
4 R Exam Review
5 F Exam 2
8 M Laboratory Measurement of Relative Permeability 184-203
10 W Laboratory Measurement of Relative Permeability 184-203
11 R Project Presentation 1
Field Determination of Relative Permeability Ratios and
12 F 203-209
Correlations of Relative Permeability Ratios
15 M Use of Relative Permeability Data 203-209
17 W Relative Permeability from Capillary Pressure Data 195-199
18 R Lab 8: Relative Permeability measurements
19 F Relative Permeability Correlations Handout
22 M Stress-Strain Handout
24 W Reservoir rock stresses Handout
25 R Lab 9: Interfacial tension measurements
26 F Hook’s law Handout
29 M Statistical Analysis of Reservoir Data Handout
May 1 W Statistical Analysis of Reservoir Data Handout
2 R Final Project Presentations
3 F Special Topic Handout
5 M Course review
10 F Final Exam (Exam 3)
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Appendix

Figure 1: Homework assignments’ EMRN rubric.

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