Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Petrophysical, NMR, and MDT analysis to evaluate the Zubair formation in the Rumaila Oilfield, Southern Iraq

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

Abstract

The evaluation of the Rumaila Oilfield in Southern Iraq, focusing on the characteristics and fluid behavior of the Zubair Formation of the Early Cretaceous age, includes applying petrophysical analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) log, and modular formation dynamics tester (MDT). The integration of the NMR logging with conventional open hole logging provides valuable additional data for lithology and petrophysical parameters analysis in wells (R-516, R-523, and Ru-382). The study involves multifaceted techniques, including NMR T2 distributions, permeability, fluid saturation calculations, and porosity curves alongside CPI interpretations. MDT data offers direct measurements of pressure, mobility, and permeability. Permeability evaluations indicate good reservoir quality with porosity (13–23%) and permeability (45.97–157.32 md) values; the results showed that the main pay in the Zubair Formation can be divided into multiple reservoir zones (6 units) with different petrophysical characteristics. Accurate calculations of net pay, and net/gross ratio, and the logs interpretation detect the presence of movable hydrocarbons and irreducible water saturation across all studied reservoir units, except for units (H and MN) in R-523 and Ru-382, indicating that units have immovable hydrocarbons and free reservoir water. Fluid contacts in the Zubair reservoir units are identified using formation pressure tester data, CPI interpretations, and reservoir saturation data. The study confirms the high resolution of the NMR log, providing additional data while noting generally good borehole conditions, excluding intervals with washouts and shale layers, with a few NMR measurement effects. MDT tools are utilized for formation pressure gradient analysis related to liquid pressure in permeable formations. Pressure evaluation across main pay units is good in acquiring data, identifying fluids, and matching data with conventional logs. Integrating these three data types enables a comprehensive understanding of the main pay in the Zubair Formation; this method can give a better understanding of reservoir characterization, fluid typing, estimation of reservoir properties, and decision-making in oil and gas development operations.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data supporting this study’s findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

References

  • Abudeif AM, Attia MM, Al-Khashab HM, Radwan AE (2018) Hydrocarbon type detection using the synthetic logs: a case study, Baba Member, Gulf of Suez, Egypt. J African Earth Sci 144:176–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2018.04.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Asadi Y (2021) 4D geomechanical modelling for Rumaila stacked oil reservoirs with applications to field development planning. Dissertation, University of Basrah

  • Almalikee HS (2018) Mechanical earth model (1D) to optimize high angle wells design in Rumaila Oilfield, Southern Iraq. Dissertation, University of Basrah

  • Almutury WGh, Al-Asadi MM (2008) Tectonostratigraphic history of Mesopotamian passive margin during Mesozoic and Cenozoic, South Iraq. J Kirkuk Univ Sci Stud 3(1):31–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Sakini JA (1992) Summary of petroleum geology of Iraq and the Middle East: Kirkuk, Northern Oil Company Press, Iraq. in Arabic 179P

  • Aqrawi AAM, Goff JC, Horbury AD, Sadooni FN (2010) The petroleum geology of Iraq. Scientific Press Ltd., Beaconsfield, Bucks, UK. 424P

  • Archie GE (1942) The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoir characteristics. Trans AIME 146(01):54–62. https://doi.org/10.2118/942054-G

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asquith GB, Krygowski D, (with sections by Steven Henderson and Neil Hurley) (2004) Basic well log analysis. 2nd Edition. Volume 16. AAPG. Tulsa, Oklahoma. https://doi.org/10.1306/Mth16823

  • Bradley HB (1987) Petroleum engineering handbook: Richardson, TX. Society of Petroleum Engineers. 600P

  • Cannon S (2015) Petrophysics: a practical guide; Chichester: John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. 224P

  • Coates G, Marschall D, Mardon M, Galford J (1997) A new characterization of bulk-volume irreducible using magnetic resonance, paper presented at the SPWLA 38th Annual Logging Symposium, Houston, Texas, pp. 9–16. SPWLA-1997-QQ

  • Coates GR, Xiao L, Prammer MG (1999) NMR logging: principles and applications; Haliburton Energy Services. Houston iii. 234P

  • Conrad KM (1962) Application of the wireline formation tester. In Proceedings of the Drilling and Production Practices Conference, Beaumont, Texas, SPE-356-MS. https://doi.org/10.2118/356-MS

  • Dunn K-J, Bergman DJ, LaTorraca GA (2002) Nuclear magnetic resonance: petrophysical and logging applications, 1st ed. Elsevier, New York: Handbook of Geophysical Exploration: Seismic Exploration, Pergamon Press 32

  • Freedman R, Minh CC, Gubelin G, Freeman JJ, McGinness T, Terry B, Rawlence D (1998) Combining NMR and density logs for petrophysical analysis in gas-bearing formations. In Proceedings of the SPWLA 39th Annual Logging Symposium. https://doi.org/10.1306/00AA86DE-1730-11D7-8645000102C1865D

  • Galford JE, Marschall DM (2000) Combining NMR and conventional logs to determine fluid volumes and oil viscosity in heavy-oil reservoirs. In Proceedings of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, Texas. https://doi.org/10.2118/63257-MS

  • Jawad Sh M (2018) Identification of heavy oil (Tar Mats) deposits, their distribution and forming mechanism in the main pay of the Zubair Formation in North Rumaila Oil Field, Southern Iraq. Dissertation, University of Basrah

  • Liu H (2017) Principles and applications of well logging. 2nd Edition. Springer Berlin, Heidelberg. 356P. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-54977-3

  • Minh CC, Gubelin G, Ramamoorthy R, McGeoch S (1999) Sonic-magnetic resonance method: a source less porosity evaluation in gas-bearing reservoirs. In Proceedings of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas.https://doi.org/10.2118/56767-MS

  • Nolen-Hoeksema R (2014) Defining and determining permeability. Oilfield Review 26(3)

  • Poupon A, Leveaux J, (1971) Evaluation of water saturation in Shaly Formations. The Log Analyst 12 (04). SPWLA-1971-vXIIn4a1

  • Ramamoorthy R, Boyd A, Neville TJ, Seleznev N, Flaum C, Ma J (2010) A new workflow for petrophysical and textural evaluation of carbonate reservoirs. In Proceedings of the SPWLA 49th Annual Logging Symposium. OnePetro. Petrophysics 51:17–31

  • ROO, Rumaila Operating Organization (2016) Integrated subsurface description. Unpublished report, 140P

  • Rumaila.iq. (2018) A rare super-giant field. Rumaila Operating Organization. URL www.rumaila.iq/english/the-oilfield.php.

  • Sadooni FN, Aqrawi AAM (2000) Cretaceous sequence stratigraphy and petroleum potential of the Mesopotamian Basin, Iraq, Middle East Models of Jurassic/Cretaceous Carbonate Systems, SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology, pp 315–334. https://doi.org/10.2110/pec.00.69.0315

  • Schlumberger (1972) Schlumberger log interpretation: principles, 1st ed. Schlumberger Limited, Houston

  • Schlumberger (1997) Cased-hole log interpretation principles/applications, 4th ed. 203P

  • Sharland PR, Archer R, Casey DM, Davies RB, Hall SH, Heward AP, Horbury AD, Simmons MD (2001) Arabian plate sequence stratigraphy. GeoArabia, GeoArabia Special Publication, Bahrain Gulf PetroLink. 2(374)

  • Worthington PF (1985) The evolution of shaly-sand concepts in reservoir evaluation. The Log Analyst 26 (01). SPWLA-1985-vXXVIn1a2

  • Worthington PF, Hattingh SKF (2014) Optimizing the value of reservoir simulation through quality-assured initialization. Pet Geosci 20(3):283–301. https://doi.org/10.1144/petgeo2013-012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zdravkov BD, Čermák JJ, Šefara M, Janků J (2007) Pore classification in the characterization of porous materials: a perspective. Cent Eur J Chem 5:385–395. https://doi.org/10.2478/s11532-007-0017-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, College of Science, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq

    Hussein A. Chafeet & Amna M. Handhal

  2. Department of Oil and Gas Engineering, College of Oil and Gas Engineering, Basrah University for Oil and Gas, Basrah, Iraq

    Hussein A. Chafeet

Authors
  1. Hussein A. Chafeet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Amna M. Handhal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hussein A. Chafeet.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors want to declare that they do not have any conflict of interest to disclose or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: François Roure

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 13 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chafeet, H.A., Handhal, A.M. Petrophysical, NMR, and MDT analysis to evaluate the Zubair formation in the Rumaila Oilfield, Southern Iraq. Arab J Geosci 17, 127 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-11936-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-024-11936-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation