Petroleum Reservoir Petrophysics

Module code: GL3103

Petroleum reservoir petrophysics is the study of fluid distribution in hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. Fossil fuels remain an important component of the UK energy strategy and understanding how we quantify the amount of oil or gas in a formation is important, whether we wish to exploit that resource or discuss alternative energy scenarios. Petrophysics aims to evaluate the nature and distribution of different fluids (water, oil, and gas) and to quantify the amounts of each fluid present.

In this module, you will discover how fluid and solid properties, capillary pressure, porosity, and permeability control the distribution of fluids in a conventional reservoir and then compare these properties and characteristics with unconventional reservoirs. Measurements on core recovered from a borehole or made in situ down the hole can differentiate lithologies and fluids and enable the calculation of volumes of oil and gas. Many of the rock properties and techniques we will discuss are applicable in adjacent disciplines such as environmental management of the near surface, carbon sequestration, and nuclear waste storage.

Topics covered

• Introduction to petroleum bearing formations
• Petrophysical properties: porosity, saturation, permeability, capillary pressure
• Core analysis and special core analysis
• Downhole measurements  
• Petrophysical analysis