4.1.

Archie Saturation Equation

1/12/2006

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4.1.2

Archies Saturation Equation

Objectives
Review Archies experiments
Effects of changing water filled volume
Effects of changing water saturation
Effects of changing water salinity

Review several ways of using Archies equation

To compute formation water saturation
To compute formation water resistivity
To forecast formation resistivity

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4.1.2

Archies Experiment
Ohm Meter

= 100%
Sw = 100%

Formation
Water only

Rt = Rw

Cube 1 filled with Formation Water

Voice Over Text

The basis for all initial interpretations of logging data collected via Wireline or LWD is
the empirically derived equation known as Archies equation. This empirical formula is
used to estimate water saturation in a reservoir using formation Resistivity, porosity
and formation water Resistivity. To explain the Archies equation a cube is used as a
model so that the reading is directly calibrated to Resistivity as explained in the
previous section. In the first experiment the cube was filled with formation water. The
porosity was 100% since there was no rock in the cube. The water saturation was
100% since all the available pore space was filled with formation water. Under such
conditions the measured cube Resistivity was the same as formation water Resistivity.
Screen Text
Archies equation is the basis of all initial interpretations of logging data. This empirical
formula is used to estimate SW in a reservoir using Rt , and RW . To explain the
Archies equation a cube is used as a model so that the reading is directly calibrated to
Resistivity, as explained in the previous section. In the first experiment the cube was
filled with formation water. The was 100% since there was no rock in the cube. The
SW was 100% since all the available pore space was filled with formation water. Under
such conditions the measured cube Resistivity (Rt ) was the same as RW .

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4.1.2

Archies Experiment
Ohm Meter

= 70%
Sw = 100%

Rt > Rw

Formation Water

Rock Matrix
Cube 2 filled with Formation Water & Sand

Rt 1/ 2
with Sw = constant.

Voice Over Text

In the second experiment sand was added to the cube so that the porosity was 70%.
The water saturation was still 100% as there were no hydrocarbons in the cube. The
measured cube Resistivity was found to be higher than the formation water Resistivity
since the conductive water was replaced by non-conductive sand. By varying the
porosity it was found that the Resistivity reading varied inversely to the square of the
porosity.
Screen Text
In the second experiment sand was added to the cube so that the was 70%. The SW
was still 100% as there were no hydrocarbons in the cube. The measured cube
Resistivity (Rt ) was found to be higher than RW since the conductive water was
replaced by non-conductive rock. By varying the it was found that Rt 1/ 2 with S w
= constant.

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4.1.2

Archies Experiment
Ohm Meter

= 70%
Sw = 50%

Sw
Formation Water

Sh
Hydrocarbon
Rock Matrix
Cube 3 filled with Formation Water, Sand & Oil

Rt > Rw
Rt 1/ Sw 2
with = constant.

Voice Over Text

In the third experiment half the water from the previous experiment was replaced with
oil. This resulted in an unchanged porosity of 70% and the water saturation of 50%
since half the pore space is now occupied by oil. The Resistivity reading was found to
be higher than the Rt from the previous experiment since half the conductive water
was replaced by non-conductive oil. By varying the amount of water saturation with a
fixed porosity it was found that the Resistivity reading varied inversely to the square of
the water saturation.
Screen Text
In the third experiment half the water from the previous experiment was replaced with
oil. This resulted in an unchanged of 70% and the Sw of 50% since half the pore
space was now occupied by oil. The measured cube Resistivity (Rt ) was found to be
higher than the Rt from the previous experiment since half the conductive water was
replaced by non-conductive oil. By varying the Sw it was found that Rt 1/ Sw2 with
= constant.

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4.1.2

Archies Experiment
Ohm Meter

Salinity increased

Sw

Formation Water

Sh
Hydrocarbons
Rock Matrix
Cube 4 filled with Formation Water, Oil & Sand

= 70%
S w = 50%
R w reduced

Rt reduced

Rt Rw
with Sw , = constant

Voice Over Text

In the fourth experiment the salinity of the formation water was increased by adding
some salt to it, resulting in a reduced formation water Resistivity. By varying the
salinity and holding the porosity and water saturation constant it was found that the
measured cube Resistivity was directly proportional to the formation water Resistivity.
Screen Text
In the fourth experiment the salinity of the formation water was increased by adding
some salt to it, resulting in the reduced R w. By varying the salinity, it was found that Rt
R w with S w , = constant.

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4.1.2

Archies Experiment: Conclussions

Rt 1/ 2
Rt 1/ Sw 2
Rt Rw

with Sw = constant.
with = constant.
with Sw, = constant

Archies Equation

Rt =

Rw

Sw =

2 Sw 2

1 Rw
Rt

Generalized Archies Equation

Rt =

a Rw
m Sw n

Sw n =

a Rw
m Rt

Rw =

m Sw n Rt
a

Voice Over Text

Thus the Archies equation was developed. Since it was developed in 1942, petrophysicists
have tested this equation by repeating the experiments for almos t every conceivable rock type.
While Archies equation held true for most non-shaly formation types, their experiments showed
that it needed to be updated for variables such as cementation, tortuosity, granular shape and
size. Thus the generalized Archies equation was proposed for non-shaly formation types,
where
A is the local correction factor to take into account a myriad of variables that can affect a
formation at a given location.
M is the cementation factor which represents how the grains in a formation are held together.
It also varies based on local formation characteristics.
N is the saturation exponent.
The values of A, M and N can be found experimentally from log data and core analysis.
Screen Text
Thus the Archies equation was developed. Since it was developed in 1942, petrophysicists
have tested this equation by repeating the experiments for almos t every conceivable rock type.
While Archies equation held true for most non-shaly formation types, their experiments showed
that it needed to be updated for variables such as cementation, tortuosity, granular shape and
size. Thus the generalized Archies equation was proposed for non-shaly rocks, where :
a : is the local correction factor to take into account a myriad of variables that can affect a
formation at a given location
m : is the cementation factor which represents how the grains in a formation are held together.
It also varies based on local formation characteristics
n : is the saturation exponent
The values of a, m and n can be found experimentally from log data and core analysis.

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4.1.2

Archies Saturation Equation

Summary
Formation resistivity is affected by changing:
water volume
water saturation
water salinity

Archies equation can be used to compute:

Forecast formation resistivity, Rt: needs a, m, n, , Sw, Rw
Formation water saturation, Sw: needs a, m, n, , Rw, Rt
Formation water resistivity, Rw: needs a, m, n, , Sw, Rt

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