Correlation between rock fabrics and physical properties of carbonate reservoir rocks

Abstract

 Three carbonate core samples from an oil and gas reservoir of the NW German basin were chosen to study the correlation between rock fabrics and physical properties of reservoir rocks. Detailed fabric analyses and texture investigations were carried out as well as laboratory measurements of different physical properties, e.g. density, porosity, permeability, electrical conductivity, seismic compressional and shear wave velocities. Although the three core samples come from a similar depositional facies, they show great differences in the occurrence and three-dimensional distribution of the rock fabric elements. These heterogeneities are the result of various diagenetic and tectonic processes. For the correlation between the rock fabrics and the physical properties four main rock fabric types have to be considered: (a) major constituents, e.g. fossils, ooides, peloides and crystals; (b) pore space with different pore types; (c) fractures; and (d) stylolites. The results of the correlation clearly show that the values and anisotropies of the petrophysical properties are fairly related to the observed fabric elements, with their different arrangements, spatial distributions and preferred orientations. These results also provide a fundamental understanding of the petrophysical responses, such as seismics, to the different geological features (e.g. fractures) and their dynamic changes with pressure, which can be converted to different depths. The knowledge gained from such correlations may lead to an improved interpretation of geophysical data for hydrocarbon exploration and production and therefore to an advanced reservoir characterization.