Several challenges are associated with the characterization of low permeability reservoirs, most significantly for the enhance oil recovery operations. The scope of this work presents the integration of petrophysics data and its application in selection of the Microfrac intervals to measure downhole fracture-initiation pressures in multiple carbonate reservoirs located onshore about 50 km from Abu Dhabi city. The objective of characterizing formation breakdown across several reservoirs is to quantify the maximum gas and CO2 injection capacity on each reservoir layer for pressure maintenance and enhance oil recovery operations. This study also acquires pore pressure and fracture closure pressure measurements for calibrating the geomechanical in-situ stress model and far-field lateral strain boundary conditions.
The case study concentrates on the multiple carbonate reservoirs that consists of a succession of clean limestone and intermittent dolomitic limestone. The complex carbonate lithology and fabric combined with low permeability presents a challenge to conventional logs and evaluation. Detailed integration of advanced and conventional logs (resistivity, neutron/density, advanced acoustic logs, Dielectric, NMR, Borehole image), Pressure testing & Sampling, Microfrac in-situ stress measurements and analysis plays a critical role in characterizing the reservoir properties and enhance oil recovery operations. Extensive data gathering is conducted with wireline suite, which covered Advanced Straddle Packer/Pressure Test & Sampling - Resistivity/Density/Neutron/Spectral GR – Acoustic logs – Resistivity Image – NMR – Dielectric technologies for reservoir properties of multiple carbonate reservoirs. The advanced acoustic analysis is performed in order to study elastic properties of the formation along with identifying transverse and azimuthal anisotropic intervals. The Geomechanical modeling is performed and stress profile is calculated to identify intervals with a stress contrast, which is important for the following stress measurement interval selection. The Microfrac in-situ stress measurements provide critical subsurface information to accurately predict wellbore stability, hydraulic fracture containment and CO2 injection capacity for effective enhance oil recovery within these reservoirs.
The conventional logs, advanced logs, and Microfrac in-situ measurements and analysis enabled reservoir characterization and development plans for enhance oil recovery operations. The NMR technology provided lithology independent total porosity, permeability estimations and reservoir rock quality. Advanced multifrequency Dielectric measurement provided the fluid saturation in the invaded zone and textural parameters. Advanced Acoustic and image logs provided the geomechanical properties that enable to choose the best intervals for the following Microfrac stress measurement. Geomechanical workflow allowed identifying stress measurement intervals with a good stress contrast in multiple carbonate reservoir intervals.
The data integration work illustrated in the paper is a key for any reservoir characterization that enabled property evaluation and successful Microfrac stress measurement. These measurements provide critical subsurface information to accurately predict wellbore stability, hydraulic fracture containment and CO2 injection capacity for effective enhance oil recovery within these reservoirs. This in-situ stress wellbore data represents the first of its kind in the field allowing petroleum and reservoir engineers to optimize the subsurface injection plans for efficient field developing.
