Electrical Properties

Archies Law

Rock containing pores saturated

with water and hydrocarbons
Non-shaly rock, 100% saturated
with water having resistivity,
Rw

Rt
= 20%
Sw = 20%

Ro

Cube of water
having resistivity,
Rw

= 20%
Sw = 100%

Rw

Saturation
Equation

Res

istiv
ity

Formation Factor
Equation

= 100%
Sw = 100%

Formation Factor
The formation factor (F) depends on
Porosity of the formation,
Pore geometry - tortuosity
Lithology of the formation
Degree of cementation, and
Type and amount of clay in the rock

From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

Formation Factor Equation

Archies equation for formation factor is a
power law model:
1000

F=a-m

Rock type 1

100

10

Note: Sw=1

Rock type 2

1
.01

.1

1.0
From NExT, 1999

Formation Factor - Example Core Data

From J. Jensen, PETE 321

Lecture Notes

Formation Factor

F=a-m
a = constant 1.0 for most formations
m = cementation factor 2 for most formations

Other commonly used values

Sandstones:
F = 0.8/2 (Tixier)
0.62/2.15 (Humble)

Carbonates
F = 0.8/2

From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

Saturation Equation
Power Law
Model

Rock type 1

-n

100

Each curve for a

specific core
sample
Neglects effects
of conductive
materials (clay)

IR =

Rt
R0

IR=Rt/R0=Sw

1000

Rock type 2

10

1
.01

.1

1.0

Sw
From NExT, 1999

LAB EVALUATION OF N
100

Rt / Ro

n = Slope
10

1
10

Sw (%)

100
From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

R0 Appears in Both Equations

Ro
a
= m
Rw
Rt
1
=
n
R o Sw

when Sw = 100%

when = constant

From NExT, 1999

Archies Equation (Combined)

Empirical constant
(usually near unity)

Sw = n

Water
saturation,
fraction
Saturation
exponent
(also usually
near 2)

a Rw
m
Porosity,
fraction

Resistivity of
formation water,
-m

Rt

Cementation
exponent
(usually near 2)

True formation
resistivity, -m

From NExT, 1999

IDEALIZED
LOG SET

R=4
= 0.30
R = 0.4

R=8

= 0.07

Shale

Sand

From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

R = 0.3

= 0.35

DRILLING DISTURBS FORMATION

Drilling and rock crushing
Damage zone

Mud systems and invasion

Oil Base Mud
Small conductivity mud
Shallow invasion
Thin cake

Mudcake
Damaged zone

Water Base Mud

Moderate to very conductive mud
Shallow to deep invasion
Thin to thick cake
From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

Invading filtrate

Effect of Filtrate Invasion Rnear_well Rt (permeability present)

Invaded
Zone (Rxo)

Uninvaded
Zone
(Rt)

Wellbore
Mud
(Rm)

Uninvaded
Zone
(Rt)

ion
t
i
s
n
a
Tr
ne
o
Z

Mud Cake
(Rmc)

Modified from J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

EXAMPLE LOG WITH RESISTIVITY

001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16

ILDC
0.2

200
SNC

0.2

200
MLLCF

0.2

200

RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15

DT
150 us/f 50

ILDC
0.2

200

10700

SNC
0.2

200
MLLCF

0.2

200

10800

10900

Resistivity
Log
From NExT, 1999

Laboratory Resistance

From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes

Laboratory Resistivity
Resistivity

( )

V
2
(ohms ) * A m
R(ohm meters ) = I
L(m )

From J. Jensen, PETE 321 Lecture Notes