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SPE 46245
processes used to collect COR data from a grid of several pass. The recycled alpha technique also benefits from the new
hundred observation wells over a period of five years. elemental yield standards, implemented in this project to
enhance the accuracy of the spectroscopy-based COR.
Recent Improvements In the standard alpha processing used on the base year’s
Over the course of planning, acquiring, and processing the log data, a spectral tit COR and windows COR were both
data for this project, several process improvements were made calculated. The spectral fit COR was found to be more
that increased both data precision and accuracy, contributing accurate than windows based COR, although it was more
to the successful application of COR logging technology using statistically uncertain. The windows based COR was more
the Reservoir Saturation Tool (RST-A*) statistically precise than the spectral fit COR, but not as
accurate. An “alpha” correction was applied to the windows
Gas Correction. One of the first problems encountered was COR, which is the difference between the two computed over
that COR-derived oil saturations were too high in the gas a running average, typically 6.5’. In characterized conditions,
(steam) saturated zones when compared to core-derived oil the alpha correction is zero. A non-zero alpha correction is
saturation. The effect gets worse as steam saturation associated with a zone in the well where the data does not
approaches 1()()% and diminishes as the steam saturation exactly fit the characterized well conditions, such as a washed-
decreases. An empirical steam correction for the RST oil out borehole or poor cement in the annulus.
saturation was then developed to avoid an over calculation of In the recycled alpha processing used on subsequent time-
residual oil in the steam zone’s: lapse passes, only a windows COR was computed. The alpha
First, the RST capture cross section (2) measurements was from the base year was added to the windows COR to yield a
made over the same interval and used to compute gas final COR that is used to compute oil saturation:
saturation;
alpha_processed_COR (time-lapse year x) =
windows_COR (time-lapse year x)
+ alpha (base year y)
Recycled Alpha. Measurement accuracy was of primary Tool-to-Tool Normalization. During the initial evaluations
importance for the initial base COR logging pass because the of using COR to monitor oil saturation, only one logging tool
COR derived oil saturations were used to generate a 3D grid was used in the comparisons to core. The response of this tool
of oil in place. In subsequent years, the same monitoring wells was well understood and considered benchmarked to core.
were logged again to monitor changes in oil and steam Once the decision was made to log the entire network of
saturation. On these subsequent time-lapse passes, the observation wells over the span of a few months, five different
precision of the measurement became the primary concern. tools needed to be employed. These tools were run
A processing technique was developed for the RST that simultaneously in different parts of the field. Once into the
took advantage of both the more accurate spectroscopy-based processing, it was noticed that some tools showed a higher oil
COR and the more precise windows-based COR. This saturation in the mudstones, which should have shown a
technique, called recycled alphad, uses the standard alpha consistent oil saturation of about zero.
processing in the computation of the oil saturation on the base An experiment was devised to investigate tool-to-tool
response differences as a function of tool hardware and
environmental parameters. All five tools were logged in two
* Mark of Schlumberger
● SPE 46245 ACCURATE OIL SATURATION DETERMINATION AND MONITORING IN A HEAVY OIL RESERVOIR 3
separate Kern River wells, one with 7“ casing, 9-7/8” casing required the logging speeds to be adjusted downward.
borehole, and the other with 4-1/2” casing, 6-1/2” borehole.
Two different casing sizes probed sensitivity to near well bore Dedicated Well bores. All the wells logged in Kern River
geometry. The results of these tests indicated that there was a were TO (Temperature Observation) wells. None of these
small offset in COR between the tools. However, the offsets wells have ever been perforated, and they were all filled with
were constant throughout the logging pass, and also consistent fresh water. This was a major factor in the excellent results
between the two wells of different sized casing and borehole. obtained in Kern River, as any uncertainty in the conditions of
This enabled a tool hardware dependent COR offset to be the near well bore area can degrade the accuracy and
calculated and applied to the data in the processing. The precision. Figure 3 is an example of an idle injection well.
original tool that had been benchmarked against core was This cross plot of Near and Far COR ratios indicates that
used as the standard to which the others were normalized. there may be oil present in the near well bore area. There are
processing techniques that have been developed to handle
Acquisition Improvements. The goal of the acquisition was these conditions, they however may introduce additional
to both accurately log some several hundred wells and to uncertainties due to there empirical nature, Figure 4. Retaining
complete the logging in a short time frame, thereby getting a the desired precision would require some reduction in logging
snapshot picture in time of the field. speed, since the logging speed depends on conditions near the
A database was constructed that contained all the pertinent well bore as well as formation .
information for each well, including items such as location It was decided that for a long term project with yearly
data and well completion type, logging intervals and logging monitoring, it would not be cost effective, or operationally
speeds. This allowed the lead project coordinator to effectively efficient to log wells that required slower logging speeds,
plan and dispatch all the jobs to the logging crews to maximize hence the decision was made to use only TO wells. All the TO
efficiency. After completion of the logging, all pertinent wells were also reviewed, and those with borehok
logging information was also recorded on the dispatch form configurations that required slower logging speeds were also
and forwarded along with the Log Quality Control (LQC) logs eliminated from the project for the same reasons.
to the coordinator for final review before going to the
processing center. The accuracy of the conversion from COR Ideal Well Bore. The depth of investigation of COR logging
to oil volume depends on the correct input of well completion is typically only 6“ - 8“, thus making the condition of the well
data, hence the importance of setting up and maintaining an bore completion a major factor in the accuracy that may be
effective information management system right from the start obtained. In some cases, precision may also be affected. The
of acquisition. more formation the tool sees, the better the dynamic range of
Two improvements were made to the acquisition software. the signal on which the answers are based. In Kern River some
First, a new LQC format was developed with tight tolerances 40 different well bore completions were logged, ranging from
on the tool operating parameters, allowing the loggers to verify a 6-lA” borehole with 3-1%” - 9.3# casing to 9-7/8” borehole
that the tool hardware was operating within specification, and with 7“-32# casing, all with varying degrees of cement quality
if not, to take any required corrective action. Second, and borehole washouts. To achieve the required accuracy and
improvements were made to the down hole signal processing precision, the logging speeds ranged from 115 fdhr to 18 fthr.
regulation of the two detectors, further stabilizing their Other factors that contribute to systematic uncertainty in the
performance in the high temperature gradients encountered accuracy include - the position of the casing in relation to the
under steam flood conditions. well bore, the cement quality (which varied greatly in this
In order to obtain the desired +1-5 su precision with a 95% field), and borehole washouts.
confidence , logging speeds ranged from 18 ft/hr to 115 ft/hr, Anticipating the drilling of future TO wells, a team was
depending on the completion size, see Table 1. The logging put in place to define the ideal well bore for COR logging in
speeds were selected using a planner based on a number of Kern River. The configuration chosen was a 6-1/4” borehole
specific data points characterized in the lab, and then with 4-%” - 11.6 # casing. Although a smaller configuration
interpolating using an empirical model. After all observation would theoretically provide better results, this choice had the
wells in 1996 were logged, the standard deviations were following benefits:
computed and sorted by completion type in order to compare . The team felt they could drill in-gauge-holes at 6-1/4”.
the actual versus predicted average standard deviations . The . A 6-1/4” hole could be logged with the latest generation
actual standard deviations ( also shown in Table 1) were then open hole (OH) logging tools to ensure accurate
used to iterate on the estimate of the logging speeds required interpretation of porosity and V.l,Y required to later get
for each completion type to get to the desired +/- 5 su accurate oil saturation. Recall that COR logging
precision. The iterated estimates were used to fine tune the measures oil volume, which requires an accurate steam
logging speeds for the 1997 campaign. It is evident that in the correction and total porosity to get to oil saturation.
majority of the completion types the precision achieved clearly . This configuration reduced the cement annulus to the
exceeded the goal, and only the 9-3/4” borehole with 4-1/2” minimum required to achieve a good cement job, yet still
. ,.
4 HARNESS, SHOITS, HEMINGWAY, ROSE, VAN DER SLUIS “ SPE 46245 ‘
reduced tool standoff from the formation to a minimum. measurement is a 5.5 foot moving average reported every one
Results on TO wells drilled in 1997 were phenomenal. Many half foot. Figure 6 is an example of a section of core image
of the wells had near gun barrel holes, washouts were minimal, plotted with the COR and core results. This section of
and the cement jobs were generally excellent. information is considered representative of the vertical
variability in the Kern River depositional environment. Figure
Results 6 demonstrates the ability of a small sample volume to respond
Precision. In reservoir monitoring, the precision and to rapid changes but may not be representative of a larger
repeatability of the saturation measurement must be well sample mean.
known. The monitoring time interval is selected to match the First, a look at a log comparing COR and core oil
period over which a statistically discernible change in the saturation is shown in Figure 7. Core-to-log compared
reservoir saturation is expected to occur. As stated previously, favorably on visual inspection. Several features are present in
a tool benchmarking process was implemented to study the this example. In zone A log and core agree. Zone B is an
realized repeatability for the project. A well of interest was example of core flushing. Zone C is an example of the COR
chosen as a standardization well for comparison of all tools response in mudstone. COR output has not been characterized
used in the project. At the beginning of each monitoring in mudstones, as well core inspection reveals some mudstones
interval, all the tools to be used in the project were logged in do encase some streaks of oil-bearing sand, and as a result
the standardization well for benchmarking . In the 1997 small quantities in saturation show up when using the total
project, five tools were logged at three passes each, for a total porosity processing technique. The effective porosity
of 15 passes in each well. The LQC log provided an algorithm- technique forces mudstones to zero saturation. The advantage
computed standard deviation in saturation units for each pass, to the total porosity technique is that it is a good quality
This was checked against the pass-to-pass and tool-to-tool control indicator, in that if a calibration or well bore parameter
standard deviation computed for all tools involved in the induces a shift, it can be easily spotted as a shift in oil
benchmarking process. The latter quantifies the realized saturation relative to an established mudstone “line”.
repeatability for the entire project. Figure 5 shows the Figure 8 is a cross-plot of COR (x-axis) to core (y- axis).
calculated improvement in precision from +/-5.8 su in 1993 to At first glance the data scatter is significant. The regression
+/- 3.2 su in 1997 with 9590 confidence. The benchmarking analysis calculates a correlation coefficient of 0.68 with log
logs proved to be a vital step for quality control and for data, requiring a 10% correction to core data. It is believed
normalizing tool-to-tool variability. that a significant source of the scatter is due to the mis-match
in the volume of investigation between log and core. Befure
Accuracy. The question of accuracy is also a search for the judgment is made on the quality of the comparison, an
truth. What is the absolute value of the oil saturation at a interesting comparison of core to core helps characterize the
particular depth. Transforming COR values into saturations matter. There are few studies of core-to-core data in the
requires a knowledge of the completion geometry and the literature. However, some data was available in the Kern
formation lithology and porosityg’to. An accurate River database. Figure 9 is a cross-plot of core-to-core data.
transformation can only be achieved if the well bore radius, This is a comparison of two lab reports of the same depth
cement sheath thickness, hydrocarbon density, well bore fluid, interval. Each lab received one half of a foot of core. Scatter is
casing thickness and invasion effects are well known and showing up in core data that was only one half foot apart. It is
characterized, and if tool-to-tool variability is minimized. the author’s opinion that the scatter is due more to the variable
Assuming that uncertainties have been minimized for the nature of the formation than errors induced from the different
COR, the next step is to compare log to core data via the laboratory measurement techniques. Where does this leave us
cross-plot technique. For lack of better knowledge, core data is in the search for truth?
assumed to be ground truth. Regression analysis of log to core
data is then used for the final step of correcting any shifts in The Q-Q plot. A technique commonly used in geostatistics
log data. There is no exception to this process in this paper. provides a satisfactory way of comparing two data sets that are
However, with the improvements implemented through the derived from different measurements 14. The quantile-quantile
project, the accuracy and precision of core must also be or Q-Q plot (Appendix - Q-Q plots) in Figure 10 is simply a
considered in the comparison] 1’]2. API does not publish crossplot of the sample distribution COR data to the sample
information on accuracy and precision of core data. However, distribution of core data. Q-Q plots in geostatistics are used to
core data does have some inherent errors from the compare the similarity of one distribution to another. A 45
measurement process such as, porosity determination, flushing degree line means the two distributions are exactly the same. A
and grain alteration due to the physical nature of the extraction straight line but off the 45 degree angle means the distributions
process. are similar, and a curve .indicates dissimilarity between the two
Another factor to consider when comparing logs to core is distributions. Clearly Figure 10 indicates log and core data are
the sample volume under investigations. A 1/2 by 2 inch core nearly identical in certain intervals. The plot also helps reduce
plug is assumed to represent a one foot interval. The COR the scatter of Figure 8 and allows for interpretation of data
—
‘ SPE46245 ACCURATE OIL SATURATION DETERMINATION AND MONITORING IN A HEAVY OIL RESERVOIR 5
deviating from the 45 degree line in the lower oil saturation V,I.Y = Volume of Clay
intervals. Temperature information from the z dimension Z,I.Y = Sigma of Clay
indicated the lower oil saturation intervals are most effected by v,..~ = Volume of Sand
heating from SAGD processes. Core flushing (Appendix - Oil E..ti= Sigma of Sand
Flushing) will tend to pull the data to the right of the 45 degree @ = Total Porosity
line as will well bore effects. In general however, log and core .Z\i~Ui~
= Sigma liquid
data agree. With an understanding of the errors in each W/O = water borehole/oilformation point
measurement, the Q-Q plot suggests both measurements on WN = water borehole/ water formation point
average give the same answer. Two measurements converging 0/0 = oil borehole/oilformation point
on the same answer lends weight to that answer being correct. O/w = oil borehole/ water formation point
4D Imaging Acknowledgments
Figure 12 is data from one of the nine wells drilled, cored and The authors would like to thank the management of Texaco
COR logged in 1993, 1996 and 1997. Shaded data from COR Exploration and Production Inc., Schlumberger GeoQuest and
1993 to 1997 highlights intervals were being depleted due to Schlumberger Wireline and Testing for the time and resources
SAGD processes. Incorporating this data into a to complete this paper. Special thanks to Ivanna Albertin
geostatistically derived lithologic framework enables a Ph.D. Schlumberger Wireline and Testing for her time and
visualization of the changes in oil saturation over time, thus valuable input.
extending reservoir imaging to 4D (Figure 13), Visualization
can help to identify continuous and compartmentalized “flow References
bodies”. Figure 13 is a visual display of changes in oil 1. Eacmen, J.C., Kodl, E.J., and Cobum, M.G.: “A Geologic
saturation over a one-year period. Modeling indicates the Update of the Emplacement Mechanism within the Kern River
upper sand body is one flow unit spanning several steamfiood Formation at the Kern River Field:Swucrure, Stratigraphy and
patterns. Several other sand bodies are depleting but not Hydrocarbon Occurrences of the San Joaquin Basin,
connecting, indicating compartmentalization or “baffling”. Calfomia, AAPG #GB65, (1990)59
Production-constrained 4D oil saturation modeling and
2. Stoner, C., Scott, H.D., Plasek, R.E., Lucas, A.J., and Adolph,
R.A.: “Field Tests of a Slim Carbon/Oxygen Tool for Reservoir
imaging can be used as a means of calculating reserves, input
Saturation Monitoring,” presented at the Asia Pacific Oil and
to reservoir simulation, refinements to reservoir Gas Conference, Singapore, February 8-10, 1993.
characterization, and help with operational decisions in SAGD 3. Adolph, R.A., Stoner, C., Brady, J., Flaum, C., Melcher, C.,
reservoir management. Acquisition of accurate and precise Roscoe, B.A., Vittachi, A., and Schnorr, D.; “Saturation
data is paramount to minimize propagation of uncertainties Monitoring With the RST Reservoir Saturation TooL” Oil Field
prior to extrapolation into reservoir characterization models. Review (January 1994): 29-39.
4. Zalan, T.A., et al.: “Pulsed Neutron Spectroscopy Logs Add
Conclusions Value to Steam FIood Management Process by Monitoring Oil
Saturation in Kern River Field, Califomia~ paper SPE 29650
1. COR logging technology is a valuable tool for saturation
presented at the Western Regional Meeting, Bakersfield, CA
determination and reservoir depletion monitoring.
March 8-10, 1995
2. The COR gas correction developed for this project 5. Plasek, R.E., Adolph, R.A., Stoner, C., Willis, D.J. and Bordon,
provides accurate oil saturation estimates in the steam E.E.: “Improved Pulsed Neutron Capture Logging With a Slim
chest. Carbon-Oxygen Toolsfl paper SPE 30598 presented at the SPE
3. Significant improvements in COR precision to +/- 3.2 su Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, Dallas, TX October
have been realized. 22-25, 1995.
4. The accuracy of COR-derived oil saturation is equal to 6. Hemingway, J., Zalan, T.A., and Nalepa, R.; “A Method to
core derived oil saturation. Improve Oil Saturation Precision when Monitoring Steam or
Water Floods’” presented at the AAPG Conference, San Diego,
5. RST recycled alpha processing improves precision
May 19-22, 1996.
6. The Q-Q plot is an effective petrophysical evaluation tool 7. Roscoe, B.A., Adolph, R.A., Stoner, C., Boutemy, Y.,
for comparing log versus core data. Cheeseborough III, J.C., Hall, J.S., McKeon, D.C., Pittman, D.
7. Dedicated well bores for monitoring improved accuracy And Seeman, B.: “A New Through-Tubing Oil Saturation
and precision of COR data. - - Measurement System; paper SPE 21413 presented at the SPE
Middle East Oil Show, Bahrain, November 16-19, 1991.
Nomenclature 8. Scott, H.D., Stoner, C., Roscoe, B.A., Plasek, R.E., and Adolph,
COR = Carbon Oxygen Ratio R.A.: “A New Compensated Through-Tubing Carbon/Oxygen
Tool for Use in Flowing Wells” Transactions of the 32ti
S~ = Gas Saturation
Annual SPWLA Logging Symposium, Midland, TX, June 16-
S0 = Oil Saturation
19, 1991, paper MM.
S. U. = Saturation units 9. Woodhouse, R., and Kerr, S.: “The Evahtation of Oil Saturation
Z= Sigma (capture cross section) through Casing Using CarbotiOxygen Logs: paper SPWLA
6 HARNESS, SHOTTS, HEMINGWAY, ROSE, VAN DER SLUIS SPE 46245
Log Analyst January- February 1992. and COR data records a higher oil saturation. The cased hole
10. Jacobson, L.A, et al.:’’Response Characterization of An Induced COR measurement of oil saturation will become more of an
Gamma Spectrometer Tool Using A Bismuth Germanate advantage over time as SAGD areas spread through out the
Scintillator;’ 32ti Annual SPWLA Logging Symposium, field.
Midland, Texas June 16-19, 1991.
11. Ostermeier, R. M.;’ Comparison of Core and Log
Carbon/Oxygen Ratios in South Behidge Diatomite/’ SPWLA
34’hAnnual Logging Symposium, June 13-16,1993.
12. Table 1 RST-A logging speeds
1. Hook, J.R.,’’The Precision of Core Analysis Data and Some
Implications for Reservoir Evaluation+” SPWLA Twenty-Fourth
Annual Logging Symposium, June 27-30,1983.
2, Enderlin, M.B., and Hansen, K.T., and Hoyt, B.R;’The Role of ~titize ~: ~sin9 Logging AvgOtStdD97Plan Normalized
Speedto
Rock Volumes in Log to Core Integration” CWLS Twelfth Weight Speed w Speed 5%precision
Formation Evaluation Symposium, Calgary, Alberta September 6.125 3.5 9.3 115 4,51 44 141
26-29, 1989. 55 4,5 11.6 65 3.12 67 167
3. Isaaks, E., and Srivastava, R.: Applied Geostatistics, Oxford 6.5 55 17 50 2.86 53 153
University Press, Oxford (1989), and p 22-28 6,75 35 93 50 3,98 46 79
675 4.5 116 70 3.68 ri9 129
Appendix - Q-Q Plots 7,875 4.5 11 75 3,97 77 119
Two different sample volume means will approach the 7,875 45 12 75 4.00 82 117
7,875 5 15 70 3.$5 70 132
population mean as the number of samples in a distribution
7,815 5 18 80 4,59 83 95
increase. For the Q-Q plot technique to work a large number 7,875 5 115 4.89 115 t20
23
of cores need to be acquired in each well and the environment 7,815 55 17 55 3.28 57 128
of deposition may not vary vertically or at least through the 7,875 55 23 75 3.71 78 136
sequence under investigation. Fortunately, at Kern River a 7,875 7 23 35 2.06 31 206
large database of core exists. Over one hundred wells have 875 55 23 $0 4.14 62 87
8.75 7 23 35 2.39 37 153
been cored from top oil to bottom oil, with most wells having
9,815 45 11,6 75 5,62 81 59
upwards of three to six hundred plugs analyzed, providing
9875 5 23 30 4,37 32 39
sufficient number of samples for statistical analysis. 9815 55 17 40 414 41 58
Depositional concerns can be addressed with a histogram plot. 9875 55 20 30 4.27 33 41
Figure 11 is a histogram plot of porosity over the entire Kern 9875 7 23 25 2.98 26 71
River sand series. The single modal distribution, high kurtosis 9.875 7 29 19 3.3$ 19
10,75 55 17 34 4.78 34 ;
and low standard deviation indicate that the environment of
deposition indeed varies little over the Kern River series sand
sequence. A Q-Q plot is simply a plot of the one quantile
distribution in the x-coordinate versus the quantile distribution
of another set in the y-coordinate. If the two distributions
being compared have the same number of data samples, then
calculation of the quintiles of each distribution is not a
necessary step. Instead, one can sort the values from each
distribution in ascending order and plot the corresponding pair
values14.
550
. .
.
Standard Recycled Alpha
.I-,+
,.’:. .
,.
560
570
.
362
373
l//wrq W-Water I lo
380
0 005 0.1 0,15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0 0.1 0.2 0.30.4
NCOR () PIGE (WYftq
Fig. 3- Crossplot of near and far COR for same zone as Fig. 3 indicates oil in the near wellbore area.
If there was no oil in the near wellbore area then the points would plot on the left side of the trapezoid,
as is the case for all the TO wells. Bottom of the trapezoid represents 100% water in the formation, and
top of the trapezoid represents 100% oil in the formation. The left part of the trapezoid is 100% water in
the well, right is 100°A oil.
,. d ,,,
I I Mlilll
,..
....
...
..
II ly~!l
11
I I [)lll\
1- .. —.. STUDY07.$05_1
— .. —.. — ..-. .— 1 1993 Pre-Normalization
.. 1997 I 1996
—---
ST UDY97,
——-—
S03—1
--- Pre-Recycled Alpha
u-
STU DY97. SOZ_ 7
7
Avg.:Std .016 Avg.. Std
D~P-& . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..r Avg.. Std .029
STUDV97. SO1 —. ST UDY97. STD—1 sruDY9s.
srD_1
t
Fig. 5- improvements hI precision overtime at one standard deviation or 68”A confidence. 95% confidence would
be .032, .020, and .028 respectively
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Fig. 12- Shaded area shows Fig. 13- 4D image of changes in oil
changes in oil saturation over a saturation over time in an active
four year interval. steamflood pattern. (Dimensions
X,Y,Z,Time)