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Summary of “Petroleum Reservoir Quality Prediction”

In a scenario in which porosity and permeability play such important roles on the

economic viability of an oil accumulation, it is crucial to develop and establish specific

methods that guarantee a real and accurate prediction of the quality of a basin. This is

augmented if we consider the exploration and production of oil in increasingly challenging

scenarios. The text, “Petroleum reservoir quality prediction: Overview and contrasting

approaches from sandstone and carbonate communities” written by Worden, Armitage,

Butcher, Churchill, Csoma, Hollis, Lander and Omma, begins by establishing the definition of

reservoir quality, how to measure it and its possible benefits. To study these concepts, the

authors studied two different communities whose approaches varied, in order to extract

consequences and controversies. Then, the authors provide an overview of reservoir quality

controls in carbonates and sandstones, including explanations of the environment of

deposition and eodiagenesis. Regarding the methodology, they used analytical techniques,

modern analogues and experimental simulations of eodiagenesis.

The establishment of this theoretical background lays the ground for a discussion of

the controversies present in these somewhat notorious practices. Finally, a comparison and

contrast of sandstones and carbonates will be pertinent before establishing some last

conclusions on the subject. This brings us to a place where it is important to question what

scientific progress is being sidelined by the unwillingness of the communities present in the

field to create agreements.

Measuring the Quality of a Reservoir

The method to establish the quality of a reservoir is defined by two conditions: by its

hydrocarbon storage capacity as well as by its delivery capacity. The size of the deposit and

its porosity are what characterize the storage capacity of a hydrocarbon. On the other hand,

the delivery capacity is defined by its permeability. The porosity of a hydrocarbon is

measured by the percentage of interconnected pores that it presents. Permeability is the

ease with which a rock transits water or other fluids such as oil. This has a direct impact on

the speed at which fluids or gases flow from the reservoir to the wellbore.

Measuring the quality of the reservoirs with mesoscopic techniques or even using a

combination of wire logs is essential for the characterization and identification of reserves.

However, these techniques do not accurately reveal the quality of the reservoir beyond the

wellbore. It is important to measure factors such as grain type and mineralogy, pore type,

and matrix type and quantity to define the quality of a given reserve. In addition, the

authors of this text point out that quantifying and giving light to certain conditions that

allow us to understand the scenario in which the rock evolved is essential to understanding

it, which in turn allows researchers to make more credible quality predictions. Taking these

factors into account could mean not only a more precise prediction but also a reduction in

costs and a consequent greater return in investment.

Reservoir Quality Controls in Carbonates and Sandstones

Environment of Deposition

The deposition environment generally defines the characteristics of the grain, which

in turn will define the qualities of porosity and permeability. Factors that can vary in these

grains include size and their classification, sphericity, angularity, and matrix materials. Rocks

in an ideal deposition environment are well classified, have no matrix material, and have
well-rounded grains. There is notable evidence that external factors sometimes found in

settlement structures, such as seawater composition, have undergone changes over time,

and it is important to consider how these may affect reservoir quality predictions. The idea

of a more efficient database and methods capable of adapting to changes could definitely

help to understand possible changes and consequences in the stones at an internal level.

Eodiagenesis, Mesodiagenesis and Telediagenesis

Researchers are now more frequently studying the effects of eodiagenesis on

reservoir quality due to the direct consequences that this process causes on the porosity of

both sandstone and carbonate. However, there seems to be some resistance from the

sandstone community to accept the universal importance of these natural mechanisms.

There are many variables to take into account during the eodiagenesis process, such as the

salinity of the water that may be near the reservoirs, bioturbation, and microbial activity.

Considering that the process affects sandstone and carbonates differently due to their

structures, the need to a deep understanding of it is undeniable.

On the other hand, it is difficult to reach an agreement on what specifically are the

scenarios in which mesodiagenesis occurs. This is due to the fact that it may vary due to the

composition of the water with which it came into contact, the depth at which it is located or

the temperature of its sediments. The consequences on sandstone and carbonate vary

considerably during this process. The stage of diagenesis that takes place during the

emersion of a previously buried rock is known as telediagenesis.

Methodologies

Both carbonate and sandstone communities share a large number of methods in

common for reservoir prediction. In the first instance, a series of analytical techniques are

used to determine the quality of a reservoir. These techniques include seismic

interpretation and wireline logging to obtain information on sedimentary structures. There

are also new generations of tools capable of automating the identification and mapping of

areas. These tools are able to reveal the mineral distribution of the sample and its porosity.

The arsenic community has begun to develop and use modern analogs to help

predict reservoir quality, focusing on understanding the distribution presented in sediments

located in aquifers and different difficult-to-reach study areas. Researchers have also started

to use laboratory experiments such as the simulation of diagenesis in the search for new

understandings of reservoir quality. Although one should always take into account that it is

not possible to artificially reproduce natural conditions in an identical way, there are several

ways to speed up processes found in nature.

Cries of controversy arise from each side as to whether the techniques and analysis

performed by each community really have a valid impact on the reservoir quality prediction,

such as the role of petroleum emplacement during eodiagenesis and the ways in which

data and results are being gathered. The use of either open or closed systems used during

diagenesis and its repercussion on the samples is also an issue on which both communities

cannot reach an agreement.

The effect of petroleum emplacement on sandstone and carbonate diagenesis

Perhaps one of the most controversial techniques with regards to diagenesis is

petroleum emplacement. There is a school of thought that believes this accelerates how fast

inorganic chemical processes occur. However, there are also others that sustain that the

practice has the opposite, hindering effect. With regards to carbonate diagnesis in

particular, many practitioners have simply assumed that this will have an obstrucive effect.

Dolomitization is also an issue, especially near faults. These usually have irregular

shapes and one can find them in hanging walls or at the top of their arrais, in strike-slip
faults. Their formation is still a mystery, without a model that would help researchers

understand it. Therefore, this is still a natural and important source of information, as it is a

gap in knowledge that allows investigators to probe deeper into nature. Furthermore, there

is not sufficient evidence to state that they are significant reservoir targets.

Conclusion

One could think that science is universal, and that interpretation tends to be completely

objective. However, when one scratches a bit deeper, one sees that there are great divides

regarding how to interpret raw data. This even happens when the object of discussion is

something as hard and substantial as rocks. In fact, the scientific community that studies

sandstones analyzes their data in a very different way than do those in the carbonate study

community.

Sandstones and carbonates communities share a significant number of analytical tools

and techniques with which they process their precious objects. Nevertheless, it is important

to note the gap that exists between them due to the contradictory manners in which they

interpret common data. In turn, there are many factors that affect the quality of sandstone

and carbonate deposits, such as their deposit environment, types of grain, changes in

chemical levels of the water. It is also important to take into account that each factor affects

sandstone and carbonate sediments differently, giving rise to unresolved disputes in terms

of interpretations, which prevent the development of universally accepted models. While

developing new prediction methods focused on understanding that indicates the possibility

of a future with better tools and pro-efficient automated systems, both communities

present in the field need to get closer and achieve through communication the

establishment of quantifiable methods that could allow them to have a genuine

understanding and more effective predictions.