Skip to main content
Log in

Rock physics analysis as a tool for enhancing characterization of Niger Delta deep water sands

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Arabian Journal of Geosciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

A Correction to this article was published on 22 February 2022

This article has been updated

Abstract

This study is aimed at enhancing characterization of deepwater reservoir sands as a way of de-risking the exploration prospect in “N” field. The data used for the analysis consist of logs from suites of four wells. The petrophysical analysis of the two reservoirs (RES-1 and RES-2) of interest revealed that reservoir (RES-1) has fair to good petrophysical attributes while reservoir (RES-2) has good to excellent petrophysical attributes. Statistical relationships between compressional and shear velocity (Vp and Vs) were evaluated from dipole sonic log present in N-002 well using linear regression analysis. This localized relation with a correlation coefficient of 0.96 predicts VS from VP with high level of precision and fits a large population analysis of the wells. Compaction studies revealed that at depth of 3.2 km, quartz cementation of sands and velocity of sandstones became higher than that of shales. This depth represents a transition from mechanical to chemical compaction zone and therefore represents a significant seismic boundary in the studied field. Porosity-velocity crossplot of the reservoir sands revealed that only reservoir sand data points which contained 30 to 40% porosity plunge across the 15% clay line with most data points falling between 0.25 and 0.35 fraction and below 0.35 clay trend lines. This suggest high clay fraction within the sediments. Rock physics templates of constant, contact and friable showed that the reservoir sands are poorly cemented to unconsolidated. The two models indicate that the reservoir sands are both influenced by depositional and depth related diagenetic effects. This suggests that proper care has to be taken during the development of these reservoir sands due to high clay fraction which could affect oil and gas production.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

Change history

References

  • Abe JS, Edigbue PI, Lawrence SG (2018) Rock physics analysis and Gassmann’s fluid substitution for reservoir characterization of ‘BG’ field, Niger Delta. Arab J Geosci 656:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Asquith, G. B. and Gibson C. R. (1982). Basic well log analysis: AAPG Methods in Exploration Series, AAPG Tusla, Oklahoma, pp 120–150.

  • Avbovbo AA (1978) Tertiary lithostratigraphy of Niger Delta. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 62:295–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Avseth P, Flesche H, Van Wijngaarden AJ (2003) AVO classification of lithology and pore fluids constrained by rock physics depth trend. Lead Edge 22:1004–1011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avseth, P. (2010). Exploration rock physics the link between geological processes and geophysical observables (Chapter 18), Petroleum Geoscience by Bjørlykke K.: From Sedimentary Environments to Rock Physics, pp 403–426.

  • Avseth P, Mukerji T, Mavko G (2005) Quantitative seismic interpretation: applying rock physics tools to reduce interpretation risk. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Batzle ML, Wang Z (1992) Seismic properties of pore fluids. Geophysics 57:1396–1408

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castagna JP, Batzle ML, Eastwood RL (1985) Relationships between compressional-wave and shear-wave velocities in clastic silicate rocks. Geophysics 50(4):571–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman M. (2008). Nonlinear seismic response of rock saturated with multiple fluids. SEG Annual Meeting Abstract.

  • Doust, H., and Omatsola, E. (1990). Niger Delta, in, Edwards, J. D., and Santogrossi, P.A., eds., Divergent/passive Margin Basins: AAPG Memoir 48: Tulsa, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, pp 239–248.

  • Dvorkin J, Nur A (1996) Elasticity of high-porosity sandstones theory for two north sea data sets. Rock Physics Laboratory, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University. Stanford, California Geophysics 61(5):1363–1370

    Google Scholar 

  • Gassmann F (1951) Elastic waves through a packing of spheres. American Geological Institute 13(10):1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Han D, Nur A, Morgan D (1986) Effect of porosity and clay content on the wave velocities in sandstones. Geophysics 51(11):2093–2107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashin Z, Shtrikman S (1963) A variational approach to the theory of the elastic behaviour of polycrystals. J Mech Phys Solids 10:343–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, A., Lusser, C. U. and Norton, I. O. (1994). Tectonic map of the world, panel 10: Tulsa, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, scale 1:10,000,000.

  • Klett, T.R., Ahlbrandt, T.S., Schmoker, J.W., and Dolton, J.L. (997). Ranking of the world’s oil and gas provinces by known petroleum volumes: U.S. Geological Survey Open-file Report-97–463, CD-ROM.

  • Kulke, H. (1995). Regional petroleum geology of the world. Part II: Africa, America, Australia and Antarctica: Berlin, Gebrüder Borntraeger, pp 143–172.

  • Lander RH, Walderhaug O (1999) Predicting Porosity through Simulating Sandstone Compaction and Quartz Cementation. Am Assoc Pet Geol Bull 83:433–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Larionov WW (1969) Borehole radiometry. Nedra, Moscow, pp 127–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J., Clinch S., Meyer D., Richards M., Skirius C., Stokes R., and Zarra L. (2008). Exploration and appraisal challenges in the gulf of Mexico deep water Wilcox: part - exploration overview, reservoir quality, and seismic imaging. Chevron North America Exploration and Production Company. pp 398–414.

  • Marion, D. (1990) Acoustical, mechanical and transport properties of sediments and granular materials. Ph.D.-thesis.

  • Mavko, G., Mukerji, T. and Dvorkin, J. (1998). The rock physics handbook: tools for seismic analysis in porous media: Cambridge University Press.

  • Mindlin RD (1949) Compliance of elastic bodies in contact. J. Appl. Mech 16:259–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petroconsultants (1996a). Petroleum exploration and production database: Houston, Texas, Petroconsultants, Inc., [database available from Petroconsultants, Inc., P.O. Box 740619, Houston, TX 77274–0619].

  • Pettingill, G. (1998). Turbidite giants - lessons from the world’s 40 largest turbidite discoveries: EAGE/AAPG 3rd research symposium on developing and managing turbidite reservoirs, Almeria, expanded abstracts, A027.

  • Rider M (1986) The geological interpretation of well logs. Blackie, Glasgow, pp 151–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Weber KJ, Daukoru E (1975) Petroleum geology of the Niger Delta. Proceedings of the Ninth World Petroleum Congress 2:209–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. M. (1990). “The acoustic log hydrocarbon indicator.” Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts, 31st Logging Symposium.

  • Yin, H. (1992). Acoustic velocity and attenuation of rocks: isotropy, intrinsic anisotropy and stress induced anisotropy. PhD thesis, Stanford University.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Oluwaseun Daniel Akinyemi.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Narasimman Sundararajan

The original online version of this article was revised: In this article the author names were incorrectly given as “Akinyemi, Oluwaseun Daniel, Ayuk, Michael Ayuk” but should have been “Oluwaseun Daniel Akinyemi, Michael Ayuk Ayuk”.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Akinyemi, O.D., Ayuk, M.A. Rock physics analysis as a tool for enhancing characterization of Niger Delta deep water sands. Arab J Geosci 15, 98 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09370-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-021-09370-8

Keywords

Navigation