A Saturation Computation

Saturation Computation

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© Schlumberger 1999 1
 Saturation Computation

Saturation
The saturation of a formation represents the
amount of a given fluid present in the pore space.

S w = S w irr + S w "free"

water S o = S o residual + S o "free"

oil

Matrix

The porosity logs react to the pore space.

The resistivity logs react to the fluids in the pore
space.
The combination of the two measurements gives
the saturation

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 Saturation Computation

Basics 1
Rw = resistivity of water in the pore space.
Define Ro = resistivity of a rock totally filled
with water.
R0
F
Rw
F: Formation Factor.
At constant porosity F is constant.
As porosity increases, Ro decreases and F
decreases.

Experiments have shown that F is inversely

proportional to m.
a
F m

m: is called the "cementation exponent".
a: is called the "lithology" constant.
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 Saturation Computation

Basics 2
Saturation can be expressed as a ratio of the
resistivities:
n R0
Sw 
Rt
where n is the "saturation exponent", an
empirical constant.
Substituting for Ro:

n FR w
Sw 
Rt
Substituting for F:

a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt

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 Saturation Computation

Saturation Equation
a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt

The Archie equation is hence very simple. It links

porosity and resistivity with the amount of water
present, Sw.

Increasing porosity,, will reduce the saturation

for the same Rt.

Increasing Rt for the same porosity will have the

same effect.

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 Saturation Computation

Invaded Zone
The same method can be applied to the invaded
zone. The porosity is identical, the lithology is
assumed to be the same, hence the constants a, n,
m are the same.
The changes are the resistivities which are now
Rxo and Rmf.
Rmf is measured usually on surface and Rxo is
measured by the MSFL tool.

The equation is then:

n aR mf
Sxo  m
 R xo

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 Saturation Computation

Other Relationships
Dividing for Sxo and Sw, with n set to 2
1
Sw  R xo R t 2
  
Sxo R mf R w 
Observations suggest:
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Sxo  Sw 5

Hence:
5
 R xo R t 8
Sw   
R mf R w 

providing a quick look saturation answer when

porosity is not available.
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 Saturation Computation

Archie parameters
Rw = resistivity of connate water.
m = "cementation factor", set to 2 in the
simple case.
n = "saturation exponent", set to 2 in the
simple case.
a = constant, set to 1 in the simple case.
All the constants have to be set.
Two common sets of numbers for these constants
are:
In a simple carbonate, the parameters are
simplified to:
m = 2, n = 2, a=1
In a sandstone the following values are often
quoted:
m = 2.15, n = 2, a = 0.62

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 Saturation Computation

Rw determination
Rw is an important parameter.

Sources include:

Client.

Local tables / knowledge.

SP.

Resistivity plus porosity in

water zone.

RFT sample.

From Rxo and Rt tools.

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 Saturation Computation

Rw from Rwa
If Sw = 1, the saturation equation can become:
2
Rw   R t

Assuming simple values for a, m, n.

Procedure is to:

Compute an Rwa (Rw apparent) using this

relationship.
Read the lowest value over a porous zone which

This is the method employed by all computer

based interpretation systems.

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 Saturation Computation

Rw from resistivity
In a water zone Sw = 1, thus the alternative
saturation equation becomes:

The value of Rmf is measured;

Rxo and Rt are measured, the value of Rw can be

calculated.

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 Saturation Computation

Other Archie Parameters

The constants a, m, n are an integral part of
Archie's saturation equation.

They can, and do, vary.

They are usually taken from local knowledge if at

all possible.

n is dependent on the wettability of the rocks; in

the common water wet case it is usually close to 2.

a and m are dependent on the lithology and pore

systems of the rock.

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 Saturation Computation

Effects of parameters
Example of variations in the Archie
parameters

a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt
The following are measurements
 = 25%, Rt = 5 ohm-m, Rw = .02 ohm-m
Assuming a simple formation with
a = 1, m = 2, n = 2
Sw = 25%

Changing n to 2.5, changes the Sw to 33%

Changing m to 3 changes Sw to 50%
Hence the choice of these constants is
important
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 Saturation Computation

F Relation chart

2.5 5 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10,000

50

40

30
25

20
1
m FR= m
ø
15
, Porosity (pu)

1
FR = 2
ø
10
9
8
7
6 0.62
FR = 2.15
ø
5
4

3 0.81
FR = 2
ø

©Schlumberger

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2.5 5 10 20 50 100 200 500 1000 2000 5000 10,000

F R, Formation Resistivity Factor

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 Saturation Computation

F-relations

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 Saturation Computation

Computing Saturation

The standard saturation equation can be used

with special attention taken to obtain the
correct value for the cement exponent ‘m’.

In vuggy formations this will be greater than 2.

The resistivity logs see read higher as the
“pathway” is more tortuous.

Saturations calculated with an ‘m’ of 2 will

show too much hydrocarbon

In fractured formations ‘m’ will be less than

one as the resistivity pathways are straight.
In this case saturations computed with ‘m’ = 2
will show too much water.

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 Saturation Computation

Variation of m

m reflects the tortuosity of the formation, the

pathway for electrical current flow
Carbonates have complex porosities and hence
current pathways an values of m

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 Saturation Computation

Variable m

Hence in a carbonate the major problem is the

determination of ‘m’
There are two methods of determining m using
logs

1) In a water zone, rearranging Archies formula

Log Rt = - m log + log (aRw)

Slope will give m, and the intercept a

The assumption is that m is constant through

the entire reservoir.

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 Saturation Computation

Variable m
line, slope = m
Perfect plot

cloud of points in water zone

log Rt

log 

line, slope = m
More common
Alternate lines
output
Cloud of points
log Rt

with no obvious
cloud of points in water zone
lines

log 

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 Saturation Computation

Variable m measurement
2)In a clean formation the following are measured
by the standard methods:

porosity, 
water resistivity, Rw, Rmf
formation resistivity, Rt, Rxo

The saturation Sw, Sxo, m and n are unknown (a

is taken as 1)

Assume that n is 2 , (valid in most circumstances)

If the saturation is measured using a non-

resistivity tool (i.e. not using Archies formula) the
only unknown is m.

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 Saturation Computation

Variable m measurement

The Electromagnetic Propagation Tool,

EPT, is used
This measures Sxo independently of
Archies Equation

The advantage is that m is calculated over

the entire reservoir and variations taken
into account

The disadvantage is that the tool only

measures in the invaded zone hence the
assumption that this is the same as the
virgin zone.

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 Saturation Computation

Variable m example

Secondary Porosity
0 'm'
25 Limestone

2 7 Dolomite

Residual h.c.

Moved h.c.

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 Saturation Computation

Char
t

This chart gives the value of the fracture or vug

porosity as a function of the total porosity and
the cementation factor, m.

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