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Evaluating the Zubair reservoir (Main Pay) in selected wells of the Rumaila Oilfield, southern Iraq, using nuclear magnetic resonance logging and petrophysical analysis data

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Abstract

The main objective of this study is to evaluate and identify the fluid behavior of the Zubair Formation in the Rumaila oilfield in southern Iraq using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) log with petrophysical analysis. Through the integration of NMR logging with conventional open-hole logging (gamma Ray, resistivity, porosity logs), valuable additional data is provided for lithology and petrophysical parameter analysis, including porosity, permeability, pore size distribution, and fluid saturation, for wells (R-516, R-523, and Ru-382). The results indicate that the Zubair reservoir has good reservoir quality with high porosity and permeability values, and petrophysical log analysis results (gross thickness, net pay, and net/gross ratio) showed that the Zubair Formation can be divided into important reservoir units (D, F, L, and MN) with high movable hydrocarbons and low irreducible water saturation across all studied reservoir units, except for units (H and MN) in R-523 and Ru-382. 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, indicating that units have immovable hydrocarbons and reservoir water. Integrating the NMR log interpretation results with petrophysical interpretation, the Zubair reservoir was divided into different layers (oil, poor oil, water-flooded, tar, and dry). Fluid contacts in the Zubair reservoir are identified by combining the computer processing interpretation (CPI), NMR log, and reservoir saturation data. Pressure evaluation using formation pressure tests across Main Pay units is good for acquiring data, identifying fluids, and matching data with conventional logs. The correlation between the NMR-derived rock quality values (porosity and permeability) and conventional log data indicates that accurate results can be achieved by applying the NMR-modeled values. This study's findings confirm the importance of integrating NMR logs data and conventional logging results for the Zubair reservoir petrophysical analysis, where the NMR logs provide continuous estimates of producibility and permeability, along with direct data on bound fluids, which will optimize the evaluation of the Main Pay quality within the Zubair Formation.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    H. A. Chafeet & A. M. Handhal

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

    H. A. Chafeet

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  1. H. A. Chafeet
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  2. A. M. Handhal
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Contributions

H. A. Chafeet: Data collection, planning for the manuscript, Methodology, Interpretation, Divided reservoir zones with different petrophysical properties, technical support in the preparation of figures, writing-review & editing. A. M. Handhal: Supervision, Methodology, and review & editing.

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Correspondence to H. A. Chafeet.

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Chafeet, H.A., Handhal, A.M. Evaluating the Zubair reservoir (Main Pay) in selected wells of the Rumaila Oilfield, southern Iraq, using nuclear magnetic resonance logging and petrophysical analysis data. Carbonates Evaporites 39, 65 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-024-00977-y

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