Geological/Stochastic Mapping of Heterogeneity in a Carbonate Reservoir

Two major problems in estimating interwell porosity and permeability patterns are estimating permeability profiles in uncored wells and interpolating wellbore information between wells. This paper reports on a technique combining core analysis, rock fabrics, and wireline logs used to estimate permeability values at 1-ft intervals in 32 wells in Section 15 of the Dune field. Stochastic geologic interpolation was generated with a geostatistical method known as conditional simulation. Simulation of water-flooding showed that the stochastic realizations with a low degree of continuity gave the most realistic results. Infill drilling to achieve an average well spacing of 2.5 acres increased recovery by 27 to 32%.