Petroleum Engineering 311 — Reservoir Petrophysics — Spring 2006
Syllabus and Administrative Procedures
Instructor: Dr. Bryan Maggard
Office: RICH 501U
Sections 901 & 902
Lecture: MWF 10:20-11:10 a.m. RICH 302
901 Lab: T 11:10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
RICH 208 / RICH 212L
902 Lab: R 11:10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
RICH 208 / RICH 212L
Office Hours: MWF 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Office Hours: TR 12-12:30 p.m.
Phone: (979) 845-0592
e-mail: bmaggard@tamu.edu
website : people.tamu.edu/~bmaggard
Instructor: Dr. Peter Valko
Office: RICH 501E
Sections 903 & 904
Lecture: MWF 12:40-1:30 p.m. RICH 302
903 Lab: T 2:20-5:10 p.m.
RICH 208 / RICH 212L
904 Lab: R 2:20-5:10 p.m.
RICH 208 / RICH 212L
Office Hours: M 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Office Hours: R 11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
Phone: (979) 862-2757
e-mail: p-valko@tamu.edu
Lab Help Sessions: Mr. Frank Platt, RICH 401L, 847-8855/229-8703, f-platt@tamu.edu
Office Hours for Tuesday Labs: F 9-10 a.m. RICH 407M
Office Hours for Thursday Labs: M 9-10 a.m. RICH 407M
Writing Help Sessions: Ms. Darla-Jean Weatherford, RICH 407E, 845-2205,
darla-jean@tamu.edu, Office Hours: MTWRF 1-5 p.m.
Texts and Materials:
1. (ABW) Amyx, J.W., Bass, D.M. and Whiting, R.L.: Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, 3rd
edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York, (1960). (Available at TEES Copy
Center, 221 WERC, $6.50)
2. (JC1) Jorden, J.R. and Campbell, F.L.: Well Logging I—Rock Properties, Borehole
Environment, Mud and Temperature Logging, SPE Monograph Series No. 9, SPE,
Richardson, TX (1984). (Available from SPE: 800-456-6863, SPE members receive
discount). OPTIONAL
3. (JC2) Jorden, J.R. and Campbell, F.L.: Well Logging II—Electric and Acoustic Logging,
SPE Monograph Series No. 10, SPE, Richardson, TX (1984). (Available from SPE: 800456-6863, SPE members receive discount). OPTIONAL
4. (L) Lecture notes from class. These materials may include handouts provided in class or
computer files available on university servers.
Basis for Course Grade:
Lab (Writing Grade)....................................................................................25%
Examinations (3 Exams: 15%,15%, 20%, Cumulative) .............................50%
Homework................................................................................................. 10%
Weekly Tests ............................................................................................. 15%
total = 100%
NOTE: If necessary, a final will be given. In that case, examinations, homework, and
weekly tests will be adjusted to 50%, and the final will count 25% while the lab remains 25%.
A: 100.00 to 90.00%
B: 89.99 to 80.00%
C: 79.99 to 70.00%
D: 69.99 to 60.00%
F:
< 60.00%
Reservoir Petrophysics — Spring 2006
Course Description and Objectives
Course Description
Systematic theoretical and laboratory study of physical properties of petroleum reservoir
rocks; lithology, porosity, relative and effective permeability, fluid saturations, capillary
characteristics, compressibility, rock strength, and rock-fluid interaction.
Course Objectives (These are minimum skills to be achieved/demonstrated)
By the last day of class, the student should be able to:
1. Define porosity, discuss the factors which affect porosity, and describe the methods of
determining values of porosity.
2. Define the coefficient of isothermal compressibility of reservoir rock and describe
methods for determining values of formation compressibility.
3. Reproduce the Darcy equation in differential form, explain its meaning, integrate the
equation for typical reservoir systems, discuss and calculate the effect of fractures and
channels, and describe methods for determining values of absolute permeability.
4. Explain boundary tension and wettability and their effect on capillary pressure, describe
methods of determining values of capillary pressure, and convert laboratory capillary
pressure values to reservoir conditions.
5. Describe methods of determining fluid saturations in reservoir rock and show relationship
between fluid saturation and capillary pressure.
6. Define resistivity, electrical formation resistivity factor, resistivity index, saturation
exponent, and cementation factor and show their relationship and uses; discuss laboratory
measurement of electrical properties of reservoir rocks; and demonstrate the calculations
necessary in analyzing laboratory measurements.
7. Define effective permeability, relative permeability, and permeability ratio; reproduce
typical relative permeability curves and show effect of saturation history on relative
permeability; illustrate the measurement of relative permeability; and demonstrate some
uses of relative permeability data.
8. Describe three-phase flow in reservoir rock and explain methods of displaying three-phase
effective permeabilities, including ternary diagrams.
9. Demonstrate the techniques of averaging porosity, permeability, and reservoir pressure
data.
10. Demonstrate capability to perform calculations relating to all concepts above.
11. Design and conduct experiments to determine porosity, rock compressibility, absolute and
relative permeability, fluid saturation, capillary pressure, and electrical properties of
reservoir rocks; analyze and interpret experimental data; and prepare laboratory reports.
2
Petroleum Engineering 311 — Reservoir Petrophysics — Spring 2006
Date
January
February
Topic
16 M
18 W
20 F
LAB
No Class, MLK Day
Review of Syllabus — Course Introduction
Definition of Porosity
Lab Introduction: Procedures & Safety
23 M
25 W
27 F
LAB
Laboratory Determination of Porosity
Subsurface Measurement of Porosity
Compressibility of Porous Rocks
Lab 1: Measurement Error, Core Descriptions
ABW 43-57
ABW 43-57
ABW 57-64
30 M
1 W
3 F
LAB
Introduction to Permeability
Flow of Liquids in Porous Media
Flow of Gases in Porous Media
Lab 2: Sieve Analysis, Porosity Models
ABW 64-71, JC1 2.2.3
ABW 71-78
ABW 71-78
6 M
8 W
10 F
Conversion Factors for Oilfield Units
Flow in Layered Systems
Flow in Channels and Fractures, Analogies to
Darcy's Law
Lab 3: Porosity Measurement
ABW 78-79
ABW 79-83
ABW 83-86
ABW 86-96
15 W
17 F
LAB
Laboratory Measurement of Permeability, and
Factors which affect Permeability Measurements
Factors which affect Permeability Measurements
Introduction to Fluid Saturations
Lab 4: Gas Permeability
20 M
22 W
24 F
LAB
Laboratory Determination of Fluid Saturations
Optional Attendance, Review for Exam 1
Electrical Properties of Reservoir Rocks
Lab 5: Liquid Permeability
ABW 100-110
…
ABW 111-117, JC2 6.3.2
27 M
Measurement of Electrical Properties of
Reservoir Rocks
Effect of Clay on Electrical Properties
Boundary Tension and Wettability
Lab 6: Fluid Saturation
ABW 117-120, JC2 6.3.4 (Archie
Model only)
ABW 121-124, JC2 6.3.2
ABW 133-135
ABW 135-140
ABW 141-142, JC1 2.2.1
10 F
LAB
Introduction to Capillary Pressure
Capillary Pressure and Saturation History, and
Capillary Pressure in Reservoir Rock
Laboratory Measurement of Capillary Pressure
Lab 7: Resistivity, Cementation Exponent
13 M
15 W
17 F
LAB
No Class; Spring Break
No Class; Spring Break
No Class; Spring Break
No Lab; Spring Break
…
…
…
20 M
22 W
24 F
LAB
Capillary Pressure/Saturation Relations
Optional Attendance, Review for Exam 2
Capillary Pressure Averaging and Correlations
Lab 8: Capillary Pressure
ABW 150-155
…
ABW 155-161
LAB
13 M
March
Reading Assignment (prior to class)
1 W
3 F
LAB
6
8
M
W
3
ABW Chapter 1, JC1 2.0-2.1
ABW 36-43, JC1 2.2,2.2.2
ABW 91-96
ABW 100-110
ABW 142-155
…
April
May
27 M
29 W
31 F
LAB
Capillary Pressure/Permeability Relations
Effective and Relative Permeability
Three Phase Relative Permeability
Lab 8: Capillary Pressure (cont’d)
ABW 167-174
ABW 174-181
ABW 181-184
3 M
5 W
7 F
LAB
Laboratory Measurement of Relative Permeability
Laboratory Measurement of Relative Permeability
Relative Permeability from Capillary Pressure Data
Lab 9: Relative Permeability
ABW 184-195
ABW 184-195
ABW 195-199
10 M
12 W
14 F
LAB
Field Determination of Relative Permeability Ratios, ABW 203-209
and Correlation of Relative Permeability Ratios
Use of Relative Permeability Data
ABW 203-209
No Class, Reading Day
Lab 9: Relative Permeability (cont’d)
17 M
19 W
21 F
LAB
Relative Permeability Correlations
Relative Permeability Correlations
Relative Permeability Correlations
No Lab
Handout
Handout
Handout
24 M
26 W
28 F
LAB
Statistical Analysis of Reservoir Data
Optional Attendance, Review for Exam 3
Statistical Analysis of Reservoir Data
No Lab
Handout
…
Handout
1
2
Special Topics
Last Class; Redefined Day (Friday Classes),
Review for Final Exam
Handout
M
T
Petroleum Engineering 311 — Reservoir Petrophysics
Examination Schedule — Spring 2006
Common Exams:
Exam 1: Thursday, February 23, 2006, 7-9 p.m., 106 RICH
Exam 2: Thursday, March 23, 2006, 7-9 p.m., 127B ZACH
Exam 3: Thursday, April 27, 2006, 7-9 p.m., 106 RICH
Final Exam: (if necessary)
Sections 901/902: Tuesday, May 9, 2006, 8:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. (classes meeting MWF 10:20 a.m.-11:10 a.m.)
Sections 903/904: Monday, May 8, 2006, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (classes meeting MWF 12:40-1:30 p.m.)
Academic Integrity Statement:
“An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.” Collaboration on examinations and assignments
is forbidden except when specifically authorized. Students violating this policy may be removed from the class
roster and given a grade of F in the course or other penalties as outlined in the Texas A&M University Student Rules.
For additional information regarding Honor Council rules and procedures please visit www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor.
ADA Policy Statement:
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil
rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with
disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If
you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Department of Student Life,
Services for Students with Disabilities, in Room B118 Cain Hall or call 845-1637.
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Petroleum Engineering 311 — Reservoir Petrophysics — Spring 2006
Lab Reports
The policy of this department is that good laboratory work requires both good technology and
good reporting. Therefore, you will receive a single grade on each lab report that reflects both the
accuracy of the work you have completed in the lab and the quality of the report you have
written.
 Most lab reports will be due one week after the lab meets; your TA will notify you of any
changes in due dates.
 You will follow the guidelines published in Writing Reports With Confidence and Style and
the SPE Publications Style Guide for writing your lab reports.
 Please format each lab report as a technical memo (do not include a cover sheet) and attach a
copy of the grading criteria at the back of the report. You can download the grading criteria
from the course site on WebCT. (Go to webct.tamu.edu and logon using your Net ID.)
 Note that if your results are outside expected ranges or if you have serious errors in other
parts of the report, you may receive an R on the report. You must revise and resubmit any
paper that receives an R; if not, the grade will be changed to 50 at the end of the semester.
Note that style and grammar are only a small portion of the report grade; you will mostly
need to respond to comments about the technical and logical accuracy of your report to
improve the R grade. Ask for help if you need it.
 You may revise any report for Labs 1 through 8 to improve your grade. Each revision
(including revisions of R papers) will “cost” three points; that is, if your score on a first
revision is 100, you will receive a 97 in the grade book; if it is 100 on a second revision, you
will receive a 94, and so forth. You may revise Lab 8 only one time; you will not have an
opportunity to revise Lab 9.
 Revisions of lab reports are due on the date stamped on the report, usually two weeks after
the report was returned to you. Any revision returned after the stamped date will lose an
additional 5 points during the first week and 10 points for each week thereafter. Please
submit revisions as follows:
o Cover memo explaining that the attachment is a revision and asking for reconsideration
of the grade.
o The revised report.
o The original, graded report.
o The original grade criteria.
Shortly after your report has been graded, you will see the grade in WebCT and it will be
returned to you in class. After the entire set of reports has been graded, I will post general
comments about common errors and misunderstandings in a file called Lab Report Notes on
WebCT. If you choose to revise your report, please read through the notes first.
You may get individual help during my office hours, 1 to 5 p.m. daily. You may e-mail me at
darla-jean@tamu.edu to set up an appointment or to ask questions; if several of you need
assistance on the same lab, I will arrange time for help sessions.
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Petroleum Engineering 311 — Reservoir Petrophysics — Spring 2006
Homework Format Guidelines
Homework Topics: (These are intended topics, addition and/or deletion of certain problems may
occur as other problems become available. Multiple assignments from each
topic are possible.)









Porosity (fundamentals and laboratory measurements).
Permeability (fundamentals and laboratory measurements).
Compressibility of reservoir rocks (derivations/applications).
Steady-state flow of liquids and gases in porous media (derivations/applications).
Flow in channels and layered reservoir systems (derivations/applications).
Capillary pressure (fundamentals, laboratory measurements, and correlations).
Electrical properties (fundamentals and laboratory measurements).
Relative permeability (fundamentals, laboratory measurements, and correlations).
Statistical analysis and correlation of reservoir data.
Homework Format Guidelines:
I. General Instructions: You must use engineering analysis paper or lined notebook paper, and
this paper must measure 8.5 inches in width by 11 inches in height
1. You must write only on the front of the page.
2. Number all pages in the upper right-hand corner and staple all pages together in upper
left-hand corner. You must also put your name (or initials) in the upper right corner of
each page next to the page number (e.g. John David Doe (JDD) page 4/6).
3. Use a staple to fasten pages.
II. Outline of Homework Format (see attached)
1. Problem
2. Theory
3. Assumptions
4. Solution
A. Sketches and Diagrams
B. Calculations (Including Units)
5. Conclusions: Provide a short summary that discusses the problem results.
6
Problem Layout
7