5th Conference & Exposition on Petroleum Geophysics, Hyderabad-2004, India PP 95-100

Generalised Sonic Porosity Transform for Upper Assam Oil Fields

Lalaji Yadav, K. K. Prasad# & A. N. Bhattacharya
#

Well Logging Services, ONGC, Nazira, Assam

Well Logging Services, ONGC, Baroda, Gujrat

ABSTRACT : Several empirical and semi-empirical relationships between porosity and sonic transit time or velocity, have been
developed in the past for specific field conditions. Over the years Wyllie time average and RaymerHuntGardener equations
have been used for the determination of porosity from sonic transit time in Eastern Region of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation. For
unconsolidated sand reservoirs of Upper Assam, the transform needs modification using so called Lack of compaction correction,
an inconvenient, complicating factor. Another problem, associated with the transformation of sonic transit time into porosity
involves the selection of the proper matrix transit time, which is more difficult to ascertain in eastern region due to varying
complex lithology. An attempt has been made to develop such relationships through regression analysis of core derived porosity
data available over five hundred core measurements in the producing reservoirs of Upper Assam oil fields. It was not possible to
generate the relationships for every horizon field-wise due to paucity of data coupled with large scatter and having poor correlation
coefficient and high standard of errors. An effort has been made to pool all the available data together irrespective of horizons /
field to generate a generalized transform between porosity and sonic transit time. The equation has been generated through
regression analysis for the entire Upper Assam, = A + BT + CT2 + DT3, where A = - 0.922443, B = 0.02417986,
C = -0.0001697 and D = 4.8313 x 10-7. This empirical transform based on extensive field observations of transit time versus
porosity does not require the pre-knowledge of matrix transit time and compaction correction. This transform is essentially for
sandstones of Eastern Region and is presently valid up to 37% porosity.

INTRODUCTION
Sonic log has been overly favoured porosity log in
Eastern Region of Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. Several
empirical and semi-empirical relationships between porosity
and sonic transit time or velocity, have been developed in the
past for specific field conditions (references). Wyllie time
average equation has been widely used for converting the
recorded transit time to porosity, due to its simplicity. However,
of late RaymerHuntGardener transform, which is based on
field observations, is also being used.
It has been generally experienced that the porosity
values estimated from transit time values, using time average
relationship are higher than core and cross plot porosities,
viz., Neutron-Density as indicated in Fig. 1. A normalization
correction is generally imparted in the form of compaction
correction assuming that the departure in porosity values from
the expected values is only due to under compaction, which is
not totally valid. The magnitude of compaction correction is
based on shale transit time which exceeds 100 microsec/ft in
case of under compaction. However, in the field of eastern
region, the need of compaction correction is felt even though
the shale transit time recorded are in the neighborhood of 90
microsec/ft. Moreover, the compaction correction is a
multiplier only, which loses its utility at high transit times,

Figure 1: Comparison of neutron and density porosity with Core

derived porosity

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Generalised Sonic Porosity Transform

where calculated porosity values are still more overestimated.

Uncertainly on matrix transit time due to complex lithology
and uncertainty on shale correction in case of shaly sediments,
have been other two disturbing factors.
In order to overcome these difficulties, the present
exercise of developing an improved transit time porosity
transform for Upper Assam Valley was taken up by Yadav,
etal 1986. It was not possible to generate the relationships for
every horizon field-wise due to paucity of data coupled with
large scatter and having poor correlation coefficient and high
standard of errors. An effort has been made to pool all the
available data together irrespective of horizons/ field to
generate a generalized transform between porosity and sonic
transit time. Sonic porosity derived from the equation
corroborates with core measured porosity.
DATA ACQUISITION
The data has been taken from Lakwa, Lakhmani,
Geleki, Rudrasagar and Other Areas. The compilation of core
porosity (conventional and sidewall) has been done from all
the available sources (see references). Corresponding transit
time data was picked up from sonic logs. However, there are
several wells where core porosity data was available, but no
sonic log was recorded. Core data for such wells could not be
used for obvious reasons.

Figure 2: Wyllie and Raymer Hunt transform with Core porosity

Upper Assam oil fields

In case of Lakwa-Lakhmani area, core data is

available mostly from Tipam Sand 2, which is the main
producing horizon in these fields. The core data in Geleki
and Rudrasagar fields is mainly confined to deeper horizons
like TS-3, TS-5 and Barails, where the porosity is lower than
that of TS-2.

or t - (tf - tma) = tma

(1a)

or = A + B t

(1b)

FITTING OF WYLLIE AND RAYMER HUNT

TRANSFORMS TO THE EXISTING DATA

If we have n components of matrix, the equation 1,

can be written as

Both of these transforms are traced on the cross plot

of transit time and core porosity for an easy reference
(Fig. 2). The fluid and Matrix velocity values used for tracing
these transforms are 5300 ft/sec and 18000 ft/sec respectively.
Both transforms appear to be over estimating the porosity
values as compared to mean core porosity values.

t = tf + V1 tm 1 V2 tm2 + + Vn tmn

(2)

and + V1 + V2 + .. + Vn = 1

(3)

- tma
where A =
tf - tma

Wyllie time average equation :

where V1, V2 Vn are volume fractions of n

components of matrix. From equation (2) and (3), it is clear
that each porosity value, are having different matrix transit
times, i.e. volumetric averages of the components which is
again a function of . To calculate by knowing t and tf ,
tm1 tm2 .. tmn, we further require (n 1) independent
measurements to know V1, V2 .. Vn. So A and B in
equation (1b) are no more constants and vary with . To

DERIVATION OF THE GENERALISED

TRANSFORM

tlog = tfluid + (1 - ) tmatrix

1
B =
tf - tma

(1)

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Generalised Sonic Porosity Transform

account this variable portion, we have introduced another

variable depth with a coefficient in equation 1.b as
= AD + Bt + C

Regression Analysis Results : phi = A*D+ B* Delt + C

Fields/Areas
A

(4)

Regression Coefficients
B

where, D is depth.

Lakwa and
Lakhmani

To account different rates of variation with depth,

we have also introduced logarithm of depth instead of depth.
The equation (4) has been used for multivariable regression
analysis.

Geleki,
0.13840
Rudrasagar and other areas

A + Bt

A(1 + B/A t)

by simple Binomial expansion, we can write

B3
1
1
B
B2
= (1- t + t2 - t3 + ) (5)

A
A
A2
A3

1/ = a0 + a1t + a2t + a3t +

- - - -

0.65295

- 41.0375

0.9193

4.3578

0.740165

-45.6163

0.9799

2.9217

Regression Analysis Results : phi = A*logD+ B* Delt + C

Fields/Areas

Regression Coefficients
A
B
C

(6)

Similarly, a polynomial expression for can also

be written because 1/ is always a positive number and is
also a positive number less than 1, So
= a0 + a1t + a2t 2 + a3t 3 +

Standard
Error

Due to high standard errors of estimate, depth was

replaced by logarithm of depth and again multivariable linear
regression fitting of core porosity with transit time and depth
was done and results are shown in following table.

The series in the bracket is of converging nature

because B/A is always less than unity. So we can have a
converging series expression for 1/ in terms of powers of t as
2

Correlation
Coefficient

Apparent matrix transit time is decreasing as depth

is increasing. For Lakwa and Lakhmani fields the standard
errors of estimate are high. If depths are kept constant as 2000,
3000 and 4000 mts in these equations, these results bring out
the increase in porosity with depth for a constant transit time.
The magnitude of porosity increase for each 1000 mts increase
in depth is around 1.7%. This can be explained as the combined
effect of lithology variation and depth of burial (Yadav, etal
1986).

Now, to look for a more generalized transform

equation 1(b) can be written as :
1

0.190928

Correlation Standard
Coefficient
Error

Lakwa and 0.0174616 0.354616

Lakhmani

- 8.68399

0.95

2.7491

Geleki,
5.117588 0.6035242
Rudrasagar and other areas

-48.2099

0.83

2.7350

By rearrangement of equation 1b again we can have

a polynomial expression for 1/t as

In this case standard errors of estimate and

correlation coefficient have improved in Lakwa and
Lakhmani field. However, these are getting deteriorated in
Geleki, Rudrasagar and Other areas.

1/t = a0 + a1 + a2 2 + a3 3 +

(b) Least Square Polynomial Curve Fittings

- - - -

- - - -

(7)

(8)

Which is again of converging nature because is

always less than unity. These equations (7) and (8) form the
basis for polynomial curve fitting. It should be noted that a0,
a1, a2, a3 are different in different equations 6, 7 and 8. Equation
(8) appears to be a generalized transform which reduces to
Wyllie and Raymer Hunt transforms, when we consider it up
to second and third terms respectively.

Least Square Polynomial Curve Fitting of porosity

data with velocity i.e. inverse sonic transit time is done and
results presented in the following table.
Regression Analysis Results
1/DELT = A + B*Phi + C* phi **2 + D *phi**3
Fields/Areas
A

METHODOLOGY
(a) Multivariable Linear Regression Fitting
Multivariable linear regression fitting of core
porosity with sonic transit time for different fields, taking
depth into consideration are presented in following table.
97

Regression Coefficients
B
C
D

Correlation Standard
Coefficient Error

Lakwa 0.017966 -0.05531 0.127510 -0.08486

and Lakhmani

0.95

0.00056

Geleki, 0.017267 -0.03506 0.047442 -0.02436

Rudrasagar
and other areas

0.94

0.00063

Upper
Assam

0.96

0.00005

0.01733

-0.03103 0.017970 0.001021

Generalised Sonic Porosity Transform

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

!

It was not possible to generate the relationships for every

horizon field-wise due to paucity of data coupled with
large scatter and having poor correlation coefficient and
high standard of errors. An effort has been made to pool
all the available data together irrespective of horizons /
field to generate a generalized transform between
porosity and sonic transit time. The following equations
have been generated through regression analysis for the
entire Upper Assam ( Fig. 3 ).
= A + B t + C t 2 + D t 3
where A = - 0.922443, B = - 0.02417986,
C = - 0.0001697 and D = 4.8313 x 10-7

This transform does not require prior knowledge of

matrix transit time and compaction correction. It is
essentially for sandstones and is presently valid up to
transit time of 120 microsec/ft i.e. 37% porosity.
Behaviour of the equation at the boundadary conditions
i. e. 0 and 100 % porosity values are presented in
Fig. 4. Higher value of transit time at 100 % porosity is
due to uncompaction effects as illustrated on NeutronSonic transit time cross plot in Fig 5.

Figure 4: Extrapolation matrix and fluid transit times through

assam equation

Figure 3 : Deduction of generalised transform through Regression

analysis of core measurement

Figure 5: Effect of under compaction on fluid transit time

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Generalised Sonic Porosity Transform

Sonic porosity derived from the equation corroborates

with core measured porosity as indicated in Fig. 6 and
7. Comparison of the transform with other transforms
is presented in Fig 8.

As this transform is derived from least square fitting of

data, it represents only mean value of the porosity
independent of depth. High scatter of data above the
mean value represents data from deeper depths and lower
one represents data from shallower one in comparison
to mean value of 3000 m. So, this transform under and
over estimates the porosity values by 1.7 % at depths of
4000 m and 2000 m. respectively.

It is hoped that proposed transform will be useful for

the estimation of porosity in Eastern Region. There is
still a scope for further refinement as more data comes
in.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are grateful to ONGC authorities for the kind
permission to present and publish this article. Technical

Figure 6: Comparison of sonic porosity with core derived porosity

Figure 7 : Comparison of sonic porosity with core derived porosity

Figure 8 : Comparison of Assam transform with other transforms

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Generalised Sonic Porosity Transform

Singh, M. and Hansraj, 1979. Laboratory determination of

petrophysical parameters and their relationships for
TS-1 sand of LT-22 ( Lakwa # 159 ), IPE, ONGC,
unpublished report.
Verma, R. P. and Satyanarayana, M., 1982. Laboratory study for
determination of petrophysical parameters and their
relationships on core samples of Namti # 1, KDMIPE,
ONGC, unpublished report.
Raymer, L. L., Hunt, E.R. and Gardner, J. S., 1980, An improved
sonic transit time-to-porosity transform, Society of
Professional Well Log Analysts; 21st Annual Logging
Symposium Transactions; paper P, 1-13
Tao, G. and King, M. S., 1990, An improved acoustic velocities-toporosity transform for sonic log interpretation, Society
of Professional Well Log Analysts; International Well
Logging Symposium Transactions, Beijing Chapter; paper
B, 1-19
Yadav, L., Prasad, K. K. and Bansal, C. R., 1986, Improved Sonic
Transit Time Porosity Transform for Upper Assam, ERBC,
ONGC, unpublished report

discussions held with Sri. Aloke K. Bhanja and other

colleagues of well logging services are thankfully
acknowledged.
REFERENCES
Heysee, D.R., 1994, Sonic porosity transforms and
effects of pore shape and clay distribution
Society of Professional Well Log Analysts; 2nd
International Well Logging Symposium Transactions,
Beijing Chapter; 149-15.
Koithara, J., Hashmy, K. H. and Mehra, Y.M., 1969, Laboratory
measurements of logging parameters on Tipam sandstones
cores of Lakwa field ; ONGC unpublished report.
Nowhar, U.V.S. and Hansraj, H., 1980. Laboratory determination
of petrophysical parameters and their relationships for
TS-5 sands of Geleki Field, IPE, ONGC, unpublished
report.
Nowhar, U.V.S., Verma, R. P. and Hansraj, 1979. Laboratory
determination of petrophysical parameters and their
relationships for TS-1 and TS-2 sands of Lakhmani Field,
IPE, ONGC, unpublished report.

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