Calculating Electrical Properties (A, M, and N)

Crain's Petrophysical Handbook - CALCULATING ELECTRICAL PR...
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CALCULATING ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES (A, M, and N)

Electrical Properties Tortuosity Factor A Cementation Exponent M
Variable M Models
Core Analysis Methods
Saturation Exponent N
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES BASICS

Electrical properties are terms used in the Archie water saturation equation,
and in its shale corrected cousins, to calibrate water saturation to the
physical properties of the pore geometry of the rock. The parameters required
are:
1: tortuosity constant A
2: cementation exponent M
3: saturation exponent N
These three terms are usually written in lower case font (a, m, n) but in
keeping with the policy of this Handbook that input parameters be capitalized,
they are referred to here and elsewhere in upper case
M is defined as the slope of the best fit line drawn through a graph of formation
factor (F = R0 / RW) versus porosity, and A is the intercept of that line on the F axis.
A sample of such a plot is show at the left and is discussed in more detail later in
this Chapter.
N is defined as the slope of the best fit line on a graph of resistivity index (RI = RT /
R0) versus water saturation. A sample plot is shown at the left and discussed in
more detail later..
Although there is not a lot of evidence to support the assertion, N is often taken as
equal to M, probably because M can sometimes be found from available log data in
the absence of core data, and N cannot.
Pore geometry in sandstones varies with lithology, grain size, sorting, shape, roughness, and shale volume. In
carbonates, it varies with pore type and how well the pores are connected. Some examples are shown below, and
combinations of these pore geometries are common. For example, fractured, moldic, intercrystalline porosity is
relatively common.
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Examples of different pore geometry models

The cementation exponent has been studied the most and the following illustrations, keyed to the pore geometry
shown above, give some idea of the complexity of the problem. The two images below are from "Cementation
Exponents in Middle Eastern Carbonate Reservoirs" by J. W. Focke and D. Munn, SPE Paper 13175, June 1987.
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Formation factor plot and M versus porosity plot for intergranular and sucrosic pore geometry.
A = 1.00, M = 2.00, and do not vary with porosity.
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Similar plots for a moldic limestone. Formation factor data is scattered and M increases with
increasing porosity. A variable M method is required for a satisfactory water saturation calculation.
The equation for M is: M = 1.40 + 6.57 * PHIe where PHIe is a decimal fraction.(permeability
regime 0.1 - 1.0 md)
The slope and intercept of the variable M plots will of course vary from one reservoir to another, and vary with the
permeability regime, which is an indicator of the connectedness of the moldic porosity.
There are a number of methods for finding and adjusting the electrical properties of rocks. The common approaches
are listed here.
TORTUOSITY CONSTANT (A) FROM LOG AND RW DATA

This is easy if there is a clean water zone on the log which also tested water. The formula is:
1: A = (RW@FTlog) / (RW@FTdst)
WHERE:
A = cementation exponent (unitless)
RW@FTlog = RW@FT with A = 1.0 and M = 2.0 calculated from a water zone on logs (ohm-m)
RW@FTdst = RW@FT from DST measured in the laboratory (ohm-m) and converted to formation temperature
Data from several wells may be averaged to obtain a good value. The parameter A varies with grain size, so wells
used should come from similar geologic settings (depth, distance from source of sediment, etc.).
CEMENTATION EXPONENT (M) FROM SPECIAL CORE DATA

Plot porosity vs lab measured formation factor on log-log axes. Fit regression or eyeball line to data. Slope of line is
M. Intercept at PHIe = 1 is A. The line force-fitted through F = PHIe = 1.0 is called a pinned line. Some people prefer
the pinned line but most data sets do not support this approach. Strictly speaking, the line must pass through F = 1 =
PHIe, so the line must be non-linear approaching this point on the graph. An example is shown below.
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Find A and M from special core data (electrical properties data) - M is slope of best fit line
(pinned or free regression - your choice), A is intercept at PHIe = 1.0.
SATURATION EXPONENT (N) FROM SPECIAL CORE DATA

Plot brine saturation from core analysis versus formation resistivity index (RESD / R0) on log-log axes. Draw line
through the data to intercept at SW = 1.0. The slope of this line is N. Data from several wells may have to be
combined to get a reasonable fit.
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Find N from special core data (electrical properties data). Slope is N and line must pass
through Sw = 1.0 at RI = 1.0..
CEMENTATION EXPONENT (M) FROM LOG DATA

A variety of approaches are available to assess the electrical property M from log data. There is no direct method for
finding N from log data, but there is an indirect approach. If you are satisfied that A, M, and RW are correct, you can
compare the log analysis SW with the capillary pressure SW. Any difference can be repaired by adjusting N.
Changing N will make no difference in a water zone, so it helps to be able to calibrate A, M, and RW in the water
zones first.
Pickett Plot Method

Pickett proposed that the Archie formation factor and saturation equations be rearranged as follows:
2: log(RESD) = - M * log(PHIe) + log(A*RW@FT)
3: log(RESS) = - M * log(PHIe) + log(A*RMF@FT)
In water zones:
4: M = (log(A*RW@FT) - log(RESD)) / log(PHIe)
In invaded water or hydrocarbon zones:
5: M = (log(A*RMF@FT) - log(RESS)) / log(PHIe)
WHERE:
A = tortuosity exponent (unitless)
M = cementation exponent (unitless)
PHIe = porosity from any source (fractional
RESD = deep resistivity of rock with water and oil (or mercury) (ohm-m)
RESS = shallow resistivity of rock with water and oil (or mercury) (ohm-m)
RW@FT = water resistivity at formation temperature (ohm-m)
RMF@FT = mud filtrate resistivity at formation temperature (ohm-m)
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COMMENTS
Equation 1 represents a plot of deep resistivity vs effective porosity FROM KNOWN WATER ZONES on log-log paper.
Draw a line through southwest data points. Slope of this line is M and intercept at PHIe = 1 is A*RW@FT.
Equation 2 may work in hydrocarbon zones if invasion is well developed and residual hydrocarbon is small. M will be
too high if ROS is high.
Find M and A*RW from Pickett plot

Make a separate graph FOR EACH ROCK TYPE. Typical rock types in carbonates are intergranular (clastic texture),
intercrystalline (fine, medium, or coarse), vuggy (fine, medium, or large), microporosity (unconnected pores),
oomoldic, and fractured zones (with any other rock type). Rock typing is usually done from sample or core
description.
M can be made to vary by solving equation 1 or 2 for each data point instead of fitting a line through the average of
the data set.
Shell Method
Analysts at Shell Oil proposed a formula to vary M in carbonates with porosity. Other relationships could be found by
fitting non-linear curves to the data used for the Pickett plot or by plotting individual M values versus porosity:
6: M = 1.87 + 1.9 * PHIe
Focke and Munn l Method

The Focke and Munn paper referred to earlier shows a variety of data sets, in which M increases with porosity, as
shown below:
7: M = 1.20 + 12.76 * PHIe (perm < 0.10)
8: M = 1.40 + 6.57 * PHIe (perm = 0.1 - 1.0)
9: M = 1.20 + 6.29 * PHIe (perm = 1.0 - 100)
10: M = 1.22 + 3.49 * PHIe (perm > 100)
WHERE:
M = cementation exponent (unitless)
PHIe = porosity from any source (fractional
Nugentl Method
An equation proposed by Nugent uses the secondary porosity concept:
11: M >= 2 * log(PHIsc) / log(PHIxnd)
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PHIsc represents the matrix porosity and PHIxnd represents the effective porosity in the carbonate rock. Both should
be shale corrected as described in Chapter Seven.
Use Nugent's method in intergranular, intercrystalline, vuggy, and fossilmoldic rock types. Results are too low in
oomoldic rock type.
PHIsc must be calculated with a matrix value (DELTMA) that varies with the rock lithology. This can be derived from
the results of a two or three mineral model or sample description with DELTMA = V1 * DELTMA1 + V2 * DELTMA2 + V3
* DELTMA3.
Nurmi Method
In oomoldic porosity, Nurmi proposed the following:
12: PHIvug = 2 * (PHIxnd - PHIsc)
13: PHIma = PHIxnd - PHIvug
14: M >= 2 * log(PHIma) / log(PHIxnd)
Use Nurmi method in oomoldic rock type.
PHIsc must be calculated with a matrix value (DELTMA) that varies with the rock lithology. This can be derived from
the results of a two or three mineral model or sample description.
Rasmus Method
The same techniques used to derive M for various carbonate rock types can also be used to find M in fractured
carbonates. A standard Pickett plot in water zones, or a Pickett plot using a shallow resistivity log in the invaded
zone, will usually suffice. The M value so derived will be the result of BOTH fractures and the rock type in the zone
covered by the crossplot. Normally, M is chosen once for each fractured interval from Pickett plots over well-defined
rock type zones or layers.
However, there is no reason to believe M is a constant in a zone because fracture intensity probably varies
dramatically from foot to foot within the layer.
A method proposed by Rasmus, based on secondary porosity concepts, solves this problem:
11: Md = log((1 - (PHIxnd - PHIsc)) * (PHIsc^Mb) + (PHIxnd - PHIsc)) / log(PHIe)
Mb is the formation factor exponent for the bulk matrix (un-fractured) rock and Md is the value for the combined
matrix plus fracture, or double porosity, porosity. Mb should be determined separately in un-fractured zones if
possible.
"META/FRF" -- Electrical Properties Spreadsheet

This spreadsheet provides a tool for summarizing Electrical Properties dara and includes crossplots to find
A, M, and N.
Electrical Properties Analysis, includes crossplots to find A, M, and N. English and Metric Units
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Sample output from "META/FRF" spreadsheet for summarizing electrical properties.
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E. R. (Ross) Crain, P.Eng.
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