Imaging Unconventional Reservoir Pore Systems

This Memoir covers recent advances in the acquisition and application of high-resolution image data to unconventional reservoirs. The value of integrating multiple techniques is a common theme. Chapters address imaging methods, recognition of artifacts, and case studies that explore nanopore systems within particular depositional settings. The importance of mineralogy, organic matter content, and fabric to reservoir quality issues such as wettability, porosity, and formation damage are addressed. This volume will prove useful to anyone interested in the methods for observing and quantifying the pore systems that control hydrocarbon storage and flow in unconventional reservoirs. Unconventional reservoirs studied include Bakken, Barnett, Bossier, Eagle Ford, Geneseo, Green River, Horn River, Marcellus, Mississippi Lime, Monterey, Niobrara, Wolfcamp, and Woodford formations.
A Comparison of Measurement Techniques for Porosity and Pore Size Distribution in Shales (Mudrocks): A Case Study of Haynesville, Eastern European Silurian, Niobrara, and Monterey Formations
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Published:January 01, 2016
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CiteCitation
Milad Saidian, Utpalendu Kuila, Manika Prasad, Saul Rivera Barraza, Lemuel J. Godinez, Leo Alcantar-Lopez, 2016. "A Comparison of Measurement Techniques for Porosity and Pore Size Distribution in Shales (Mudrocks): A Case Study of Haynesville, Eastern European Silurian, Niobrara, and Monterey Formations", Imaging Unconventional Reservoir Pore Systems, Terri Olson
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Abstract
Porosity and pore size distribution (PSD) are required to calculate reservoir quality and volume. Numerous inconsistencies have been reported in measurements of these properties in shales (mudrocks). We investigate these inconsistencies by evaluating the effects of fine grains, small pores, high clay content, swelling clay minerals and pores hosted in organic content. Using mudrocks from the Haynesville, Eastern European Silurian, Niobrara, and Monterey formations, we measured porosity and pore or throat size distribution using subcritical nitrogen (N2) gas adsorption at 77.3 K, mercury intrusion, water immersion, and helium porosimetry based on Gas Research Institute standard methodology. We used scanning electron microscope (SEM) images to understand the pore structure at a microscopic scale. We separated the samples from each formation into groups based on their clay and total organic carbon (TOC) contents and further investigated the effects of geochemical and mineralogical variations on porosity and PSD. We find that differences in the porosity and PSD measurement techniques can be explained with thermal maturity, texture, and mineralogy, specifically clay content and type and TOC variations. We find that porosity and PSD measurement techniques can provide complementary information within each group provided the comparison is made between methods appropriate for that group. Our intent is to provide a better understanding of the inconsistencies in porosity measurements when different techniques are used.
- adsorption
- case studies
- Central Europe
- clastic rocks
- Cretaceous
- electron microscopy data
- Europe
- Haynesville Formation
- Jurassic
- measurement
- Mesozoic
- mineral composition
- Monterey Formation
- mudstone
- Niobrara Formation
- nitrogen
- organic compounds
- Paleozoic
- petroleum
- porosimetry
- porosity
- reservoir properties
- sedimentary rocks
- SEM data
- shale
- Silurian
- stress
- techniques
- textures
- thermal maturity
- total organic carbon
- United States
- Upper Cretaceous
- Upper Jurassic
- variations