Alternative Shaly Sands Water Saturation Equations

Comparison
on Equations

Shaly sands: the effect of clay on the conductivity

The negatively charged clay

surfaces provide an additional
conductive path.

•Clean sands – Archie equation

•Assumes that the only conducting component in the reservoir is w
1 1 1
 
RT R1 R2
•In shaly sands the clays provide a parallel conductive path hence
•Shaly sand saturation equations account for the extra conductivity
R1
1
C  CT  C1
R

R2
 R2
Several equations are shown at left in conductivity form which facil
The similarities and differences between equations are apparent.
Source: Senergy Software
 The additional conductive
path reduces the resistivity
of the formation.
If this effect is not taken
into account this has the
effect of increasing the
calculated water saturation
above it’s real value.
Shaly sand interpretation
corrects for this effect to
calculate Sw.

in the reservoir is water.

nductive path hence R t is lower than it would be with the same S w in the absence of clay
he extra conductivity provided by the shales.

CT  C1  C 2
vity form which facilitates comparison.
ions are apparent.
the absence of clays.
Indonesia Equation
Has the advantage that it can be used without core derived parameters (a
Equation developed by Poupon & Leveaux
𝑆_𝑤𝑒=(1/√(𝑅_𝑡 ) × 1/(√( 〖∅ _𝑒 〗 ^𝑚
 m
V
(1 ( cl )) 
1  e V 2  n ×𝑅_𝑤 ))+ 〖𝑉 _𝑐𝑙 〗 ^((1−
  cl   S we 2
(𝑉_𝑐𝑙/2)))/√(𝑅_𝑐𝑙 )))^(2/𝑛)
Rt  a  Rw Rcl
 

Where, Swe = Effective water saturation (v/v)

Øe = Effective porosity (v/v)
a = Tortuosity constant
m = Cementation exponent
n = Saturation exponent
Rw = Formation water resistivity (ohm.m)
Rcl = Clay resistivity (ohm.m)

Indonesia Equation Calculation

Rt Vcl Rcl Øe a m n Rw Swe
#DIV/0!
erived parameters (although core derived m and n are preferred).

𝑅_𝑡 ) × 1/(√( 〖∅ _𝑒 〗 ^𝑚/(𝑎 Use of Indonesia Equation

_𝑐𝑙 〗 ^((1− •Calculate Vcl from logs.
(𝑅_𝑐𝑙 )))^(2/𝑛)
•Use conventional methods for Vcl (typically GR a
•Calculate Øe from logs.
•Effective porosity from density, sonic or density/
•Cross-plot Rt versus Vcl to determine Rcl.
•Determine Rcl as the value of Rt as Vcl tends to 1
•Investigate the need for Rcl variation by zone.
•Compare saturations with Swirr from Pc data and Dean-St

Source: Senergy Software

ity (ohm.m)
ds for Vcl (typically GR and D/N)

ensity, sonic or density/neutron logs:

e of Rt as Vcl tends to 1.
Rcl variation by zone.
m Pc data and Dean-Stark saturations if available. Tune parameters as necessary.
Waxman Smits Equation
Has the advantage that it does not require Vcl as input and uses Ø
However it is best applied when core measurements of Cation Exchange
Equation developed by Waxman & Smits

𝑆_𝑤𝑡= ((𝑎^∗ × 𝑅_𝑤)/( 〖∅ _𝑡 〗 ^(𝑚^∗ )× 𝑅_𝑡 )

m*
1 t  S wt
n*
 R 
  1  B  Qv  w  × 1/((1+𝐵× 𝑄_𝑣 × 𝑅_𝑤/𝑆_𝑤𝑡 ) ))^(1/𝑛^∗ )
Rt a *  Rw  S wt 

Where, Swt = Total water saturation (v/v)

Øt = Total porosity (v/v)
a* = WS Tortuosity constant
m* = WS Cementation exponent
n* = WS Saturation exponent
1
Rw = Formation water resistivity (ohm.m)
 a R  n
S w   m * w  B = Cation Mobility (mho cm2/meq)
 Rt 
Qv = Cation Exchange Capacity (meq/ml)

Archie Calculation
Rt Øt a m n Rw Swt T
#DIV/0!
 and uses Øt rather than Øe.
of Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) or Qv are available.

Use of Waxman Smits Equation

_𝑡 〗 ^(𝑚^∗ )× 𝑅_𝑡 ) •Calculate Øt from logs.
) ))^(1/𝑛^∗ )
•Calculate B using the Thomas equation:

 1.28  0.225T  0.0004059T 2

B 1.23
1  Rw (0.045T  0.27)

Where, B = Cation Mobility (mho cm2/meq)

T = Formation temperature (ºC)
Rw = Formation water resistivity @ T (ohm.m)
•Obtain a relationship between Qv and Øt using special core analysis data
ity (ohm.m) •a* m* and n* are best determined from SCAL.
Swt on the right is calculated initially from the Archie Equation using m* and
ity (meq/ml) Source: Senergy Software & Paul Glover

Waxman & Smits Calculation

Rw B Rt Øt a* m* n* Qv Swt
-1.28 #DIV/0!
 Qv Interpretation if not in SCAL data

𝑄_𝑣= 𝑎/∅_𝑡
+𝑏

a b Øt Qv

#DIV/0!

@ T (ohm.m)
cial core analysis data.

Equation using m* and n* in place of m and n.

Waxman Smits Chart (Typical & Correlation) for Quic
tion) for Quick Look (Paul Glover)
Water Saturation – Juhasz
~Replacing Qv in the Waxman-Smits equation with a dimensionless expression of Q
~By using the concept of the normalised Qv the Waxman-Smits equation can be co
~with the exception of the saturation exponent n*, can be obtained from logs. 
~Swt on the right is calculated initially from the Archie Equation using in place of m 

 1.28  0.225T  0.00040

1 Tm  SwT n  Rw  B
  1  Bn Qvn 
1.23
1  Rw (0.045T  0.27
Rt a  Rw  SwT 
𝑆_𝑤𝑡= ((𝑎 × 𝑅_𝑤)/( 〖∅ _𝑡 〗
Vcl  Tclay 1/((1+𝐵_𝑛× 𝑄_𝑣𝑛 × 𝑅_𝑤/𝑆_𝑤𝑡
Qvn 
T
Source: Senergy Software

1
 a R  n
S w   m * w 
 Rt 

Archie Calculation
Rt Øt a m n Rw Swt T
#DIV/0!
 ionless expression of Qv defined as "normalised Qv"
mits equation can be converted into a "normalised" form in which all parameters,
ained from logs. 
on using in place of m and n.

1.28  0.225T  0.0004059T 2

1.23
1  Rw (0.045T  0.27)

= ((𝑎 × 𝑅_𝑤)/( 〖∅ _𝑡 〗 ^𝑚× 𝑅_𝑡 ) ×

+𝐵_𝑛× 𝑄_𝑣𝑛 × 𝑅_𝑤/𝑆_𝑤𝑡 ) ))^(1/𝑛)

Juhasz Calculation
Rw Bn Øt Vcl Øtclay Qvn Rt a m n
-1.28 #DIV/0!
 Swt
#DIV/0!
Water Saturation – Dual Water
~The dual water method is perhaps the most widely used of the techniques that go
~It faces the reality that there is no way to measure cation-exchange capacity (CEC
~So Vcl methods are used to correct porosity for clay content and to calculate the b
~The bound-water and free-water resistivities are determined from nearby shales a
Swt on the right is calculated initially from the Archie Equation using in place of m a
Equation developed by Coates & Clavier
𝑆_𝑤𝑡= (𝑎/( 〖∅ _𝑡 〗
1 Tm  SwT n  1 Swb  1 1  +𝑆_𝑤𝑏/𝑆_𝑤𝑡 × (1/𝑅_𝑤
       
Rt a  Rw SwT  Rwb Rw  
Source: Senergy Software

1 e
 a R  n Swb  1 
S w   m * w  t
 Rt 

Archie Calculation
Rt Øt a m n Rw Swt Øe
#DIV/0!
 he techniques that go beyond the shale-volume methods.
change capacity (CEC) directly from logs and that CEC measurements on cores are rare,
t and to calculate the bound-water saturation (Swb ).
d from nearby shales and clean sands, and the apparent water resistivity (Rw) in the sand of interest
n using in place of m and n.

𝑆_𝑤𝑡= (𝑎/( 〖∅ _𝑡 〗 ^𝑚× 𝑅_𝑡 ) × 1/((1/𝑅_𝑤

+𝑆_𝑤𝑏/𝑆_𝑤𝑡 × (1/𝑅_𝑤𝑏 −1/𝑅_𝑤 )) ))^(1/𝑛)

Dual Water Calculation

Øt Swb Rt a m n Rw Rwb Swt
#DIV/0! #DIV/0!
res are rare,

in the sand of interest is calculated.

Water Saturation – Simandoux
~The Simandoux equation (1963) is among the most used ones.
~It reduces mathematically to the Archie equation when n=2 and Vcl=0.

𝑆_𝑤= ((𝑎 × 𝑅_𝑤)/(2 × ∅^𝑚 )) × [√((𝑉_𝑐𝑙/𝑅_𝑐𝑙 )^2+

(4 × ∅^𝑚)/( 〖𝑎 ×𝑅 〗 _𝑤×𝑅_𝑡 )) − 𝑉_𝑐𝑙/𝑅_𝑐𝑙 ]

Source: Asquith & Krygowski

Simandoux Calculation
Rt Vcl a m Rcl Ø Rw Sw
#DIV/0!
and Vcl=0.
Water Saturation – Fertl
~The Fertl (1975) equation for shaly sands has the advantage that does not depend
~It uses instead a reservoir dependent empirically adjusted 0.25 ≤ α ≤ 0.35, α=0.25

𝑆_𝑤= 1/∅^(𝑚/2) × [√( 〖𝑎 ×𝑅 〗 _𝑤/𝑅_𝑡 + ( 〖𝛼 ×𝑉 〗

_𝑐𝑙/2)^2 ) − 〖𝛼 ×𝑉 〗 _𝑐𝑙/2]

Source: Asquith & Krygowski

Fertl Calculation
Rt Vcl Ø a m Rw α Sw
#DIV/0!
e that does not depend upon Rshales / Rclay
.25 ≤ α ≤ 0.35, α=0.25 in the Gulf Coast and α=0.35 in the Rocky Mountains.
Conversion of Total and Effective Saturations
•If saturations are determined by a number of different methods are to b
with reference to total porosity Swt is to be compared with that calculated

•Conversion from Swe and Swt is achieved by:

(1  S wt )  t  (1  S we )   e

Water Saturation – Total Phi Models

•Total porosity
•øt = øe + Vcl x øtclay
•Clay porosity Øtclay
•Entered as a fixed parameter
•Calculated from density dry and wet clay parameters
•Best method of obtaining this is from core analysis data
Source: Senergy Software
ations
ent methods are to be compared care is needed if water saturation is calculated
with that calculated relative to effective porosity, S we.

Clean Matrix Dry Clay Bound Water

Water

Wet Clay Volume (VWCL)

Total Porosity (PhiT)

Sw = WaterVol / Effective Porosity
Effective Porosity (Phie)
SwT = WaterVol / Total Porosity
WaterVol
arameters
analysis data
s calculated

Water Oil / Gas

al Porosity (PhiT)

Effective Porosity (Phie)

WaterVol HydVol
Source: Crain's Petrophysical Handbook