Rock Typing Approaches for Effective Complex Carbonate Reservoir Characterization

For highly heterogeneous complex carbonate reef reservoirs, rock typing with respect to depositional conditions, secondary processes, and permeability and porosity relationships is a useful tool to improve reservoir characterization, modeling, prediction of reservoir volume properties, and estimation of reserves. A review of various rock typing methods has been carried out. The basic methods of rock typing were applied to a carbonate reservoir as an example. The advantages and disadvantages of the presented methods are described. A rock typing method based on a combination of hydraulic flow units and the R35 method is proposed. Clustering methods for rock typing are used. The optimum clustering method is identified, and for each rock type, the permeability-porosity relationships are built and proposed for use in the geomodelling stage.

Automated summary

For highly heterogeneous complex carbonate reef reservoirs, rock typing based on depositional conditions, secondary processes, and permeability and porosity relationships is beneficial for improving reservoir characterization, modeling, predicting reservoir properties, and estimating reserves. This review explores various rock typing methods and presents a method combining hydraulic flow units and the R35 method. Clustering methods are utilized for rock typing, and the optimal clustering method is identified. Permeability-porosity relationships are developed for each rock type, providing useful input for geomodelling.