Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acoustic-electrical properties and rock physics models for shale-oil formations: prediction of reservoir properties of interbedded sandstone and shale layers

  • Borehole Geophysics and Rock Properties
  • Published:
Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In recent years, the Yanchang shale-oil formations of the Ordos Basin are rich in reserves with complex lithology and structure characteristics, low porosity and low permeability, and weak anomalies for oil and water discriminations, have been the key targets of unconventional oil/gas resource exploration and development in the relevant areas. The joint acoustic-electrical (AE) properties can be used to interpret reservoir lithology, mineralogy, pore structure, and fluid saturation. To conduct tests of thin section analysis, X-ray diffraction, and ultrasonic and electrical experiments at different pressures and saturation degrees, cores from the shale-oil formations in the Q area of the basin are collected. The variations in AE properties with respect to clay content, porosity, pressure (microfracture), and saturation are analyzed. The experimental results indicate that the rock physics behaviors of sandstones with different clay contents vary significantly. The AE properties of clean sandstones are basically dependent on the microfractures (pressure), while for muddy sandstones, the clay content is an important factor affecting the responses. The target reservoir consists of interbedded sandstone and shale layers. The AE equivalent medium equations and the Gurevich theory are applied to establish the joint models for the different lithologies and simulate the variations in AE properties with respect to fluid type, pore structure, and mineral components. The three-dimensional joint templates of clean and muddy sandstones, as well as shale, are developed based on the elastic and electrical attributes and then calibrated using the experimental and well-log data. The reservoir properties are estimated with the templates and validated by the log data. The results indicate that the joint templates based on lithology characteristics can effectively characterize the properties of interbedded sandstone and shale layers. Furthermore, the combined application of AE data provides more beneficial information for the assessment of rock properties, leading to precise estimates that conform with the actual formation conditions.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguilera, M. S., and Aguilera, R., 2003, Improved models for petrophysical analysis of dual porosity reservoirs: Petrophysics, 44(01), 21–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amalokwu, K., Best, I.A., Sothcott, J., et al., 2014, Water saturation effects on elastic wave attenuation in porous rocks with aligned fractures: Geophysical Journal International, 197(2), 943–947.

    Google Scholar 

  • Archie, G., 1942, The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoir characteristics: Transactions of the AIME, 146(1), 54–62, doi: https://doi.org/10.2118/942054-G.

    Google Scholar 

  • Asami, K., 2002, Characterization of heterogeneous systems by dielectric spectroscopy: Progress in Polymer Science, 27(8), 1617–1659.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ba, J., Xu, W., Fu, L., et al., 2017, Rock anelasticity due to patchy-saturation and fabric heterogeneity. A double-double porosity model of wave propagation: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 122(3), 1949–1976, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013882.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batzle, M., and Wang, Z., 1992, Seismic properties of pore fluids: Geophysics, 57(11): 1396–1408.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berryman, J. G., 1980, Long-wavelength propagation in composite elastic media: Journal of Acoustical Society of America, 68(6), 1809–1831.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berryman, J. G., 1992, Single-scattering approximations for coefficients in Biot’s equations of poroelasticity: Acoustical Society of America Journal, 91(2), 551–571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berryman, J. G., 1995, Mixture theories for rock properties. Rock physics phase relation: A Handbook Physics Constants, 3, 205–228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, S., Tisato, N., Quintal, B., et al., 2016, Seismic attenuation in partially saturated Berea sandstone submitted to a range of confining pressures: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 121(3), 1664–1676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cilli, P., and Chapman, M., 2021, Linking elastic and electrical properties of rocks using cross-property DEM: Geophysical Journal International, 225(3), 1812–1823.

    Google Scholar 

  • David, E. C., and Zimmerman, R. W., 2012, Pore structure model for elastic wave velocities in fluid-saturated sandstones: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 117(B7), B07210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutilleul, J., Bourlange, S., Géraud, Y., et al., 2020, Porosity, pore structure, and fluid distribution in the sediments entering the northern Hikurangi margin, New Zealand: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125(11), e2020JB020330. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan, J. F., Shi, J., Wan, X. et al., 2022, Classification evaluation method for Chang 7 oil group of Yanchang formation in Ordos Basin: Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology, 12(11), 825–834. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-021-01338-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng, S., Niu, X., Liu, F., et al., 2013, Characteristics of Chang7 tight oil reservoir space in Ordos basin and its significance: Journal of Central South University, 44(11), 4574–4580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabàs, A., Macau, A., Benjumea, B., et al., 2016, Joint audio-magnetotelluric and passive seismic imaging of the Cerdanya Basin: Surveys in Geophysics, 37(5), 897–921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gassmann, F., 1951, Elasticity of porous media: Vierteljahrsschrder Naturforschenden Gesselschaft, 96, 1–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, C. T., Dvorkin, J., and Vanorio, T., 2010, Laboratory measurements of porosity, permeability, resistivity, and velocity on Fontainebleau sandstones: Geophysics, 75(6), E191–E204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurevich, B., Makarynska, D., de Paula, O. B., et al., 2010, A simple model for squirt-flow dispersion and attenuation in fluid-saturated granular rocks: Geophysics, 75(6), N109–N120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo, M. Q., Fu, L. Y., Ba, J., 2009, Comparison of stress-associated coda attenuation and intrinsic attenuation from ultrasonic measurements: Geophysical Journal International, 178(1), 447–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, T., 2018, Joint elastic-electrical properties of artificial porous sandstone with aligned fractures: Geophysical Research Letters, 45(7), 3051–3058.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, T., Best, A., Sothcott, J., et al. 2011. Joint elastic-electrical properties of reservoir sandstones and their relationships with petrophysical parameters: Geophysical Prospecting, 59(3), 518–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, T., Wei, Z., and Li, F., 2020, How the effective pore and grain shapes are correlated in Berea sandstones: Implications for joint elastic-electrical modeling: Geophysics, 85(3), MR147–MR154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwamori, H., Ueki, K., Hoshide, T., et al., 2021, Simultaneous analysis of seismic velocity and electrical conductivity in the crust and the uppermost mantle: A forward model and inversion test based on grid search: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126(9), e2021JB022307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji, X., Wang, H., Ge, Y., et al., 2022, Empirical mode decomposition-refined composite multiscale dispersion entropy analysis and its application to geophysical well log data: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208(12), 109495, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.petrol.2021.109495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazatchenko, E., Markov, M., and Mousatov, A., 2004, Joint modeling of acoustic velocities and electrical conductivity from unified microstructure of rocks: Journal of Geophysical Research, 109(B1), B01202, doi:https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JB002443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirichek, A., Chassagne, C., and Ghose, R., 2019, Predicting the dielectric response of saturated sandstones using a 2-electrode measuring system: Frontiers in Physics, 6 (148), doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2018.00148.

  • Leveaux, J., and Poupon, A., 1971, Evaluation of water saturation in shaly formations: The Log Analyst, 12(4), SPWLA–1971–vXIIn4a1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, M., Tang, Y., Bernabé, Y., et al., 2015, Pore connectivity, electrical conductivity, and partial water saturation: network simulations: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 120(6), 4055–4068.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, X., Li, C., Li, B., et al., 2020, Response laws of rock electrical property and saturation evaluation method of tight sandstone: Petroleum Exploration and Development, 47(1), 214–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z., 2018, Processing and comprehensive interpretation of geophysical well-logging data: Beijing Geological Publisher (in Chinese).

  • Liu, Q., Li, P., Jin, Z. et al., 2022, Organic-rich formation and hydrocarbon enrichment of lacustrine shale strata: A case study of Chang 7 Member: Science China Earth Sciences, 65(1), 118–138.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, R., and Ba, J., 2020, Coda and intrinsic attenuations from ultrasonic measurements in tight siltstones: Journal of Geophysical Research, 125(4), e2019JB018825.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mavko, G., Mukerji, T., and Dvorkin, J., 2009, The rock physics handbook: tools for seismic analysis of porous media: Cambridge University Press.

  • Monachesi, L., Wollner, U., and Dvorkin, J., 2020, Effective pore fluid bulk modulus at patchy saturation: An analytic study: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 125(1), e2019JB018267, doi. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JB018267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborn, J. A., 1945, Demagnetizing factors of the general ellipsoid: Physical review, 67(11–12), 351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pang, M., Ba, J., Carcione, J., et al., 2019, Estimation of porosity and fluid saturation in carbonates from rock-physics templates based on seismic Q: Geophysics, 84(6), M25–M36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pang, M., Ba, J., and Carcione, J. M., 2021a, Seismic identification of tight-oil reservoirs by using 3D rock-physics templates: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 201(8), 108476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pang, M., Ba, J., Carcione, J. M., et al., 2021b, Elastic-electrical rock-physics template for the characterization of tight-oil reservoir rocks: Lithosphere, Special 3, 3341849.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pang, M., Ba, J., Carcione, J. M. et al., 2022, Acoustic and electrical properties of tight rocks: A comparative study between experiment and theory: Surveys in Geophysics, 43(3), 1761–1791, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-022-09730-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pride, S. R., Berryman, J. G., Commer, M. et al., 2017, Changes in geophysical properties caused by fluid injection into porous rocks: Analytical models: Geophysical Prospecting, 65(3), 766–790.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shi, J., Zou, Y., Cai, Y., et al., 2021, Organic matter enrichment of the Chang 7 member in the Ordos Basin: Insights from chemometrics and element geochemistry: Marine and Petroleum Geology, 135(3–4), 105404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solazzi, S.G., Guarracino, L., Rubino, J.G. et al., 2019, Saturation Hysteresis Effects on the Seismic Signatures of Partially Saturated Heterogeneous Porous Rocks: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124(11), 11316–11335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soleymanzadeh, A., Kord, S., and Monjezi, M., 2021, A new technique for determining water saturation based on conventional logs using dynamic electrical rock typing: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 196(3–4), 107803.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, H., Duan, L., Liu, L., et al., 2019, The influence of micro-fractures on the flow in tight oil reservoirs based on pore-network models: Energies, 12(21), 4104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Q., Tao, S., and Guan, P., 2020, Progress in research and exploration & development of shale oil in continental basins in China: Natural Gas Geoscience, 31(3), 417–427.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S., Tan, M., Wang, X., et al., 2022, Microscopic response mechanism of electrical properties and saturation model establishment in fractured carbonate rocks: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 208(1), 109429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wollner, U., and Dvorkin, J., 2018, Effective bulk modulus of the pore fluid at patchy saturation: Geophysical Prospecting, 66(6), 1372–1383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan, W., Sun, J., and Golsanami, N., et al., 2019, Evaluation of wettabilities and pores in tight oil reservoirs by a new experimental design: Fuel, 252, 272–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yan, W., Sun, J., Zhang, J., et al., 2018, Studies of electrical properties of low-resistivity sandstones based on digital rock technology: Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 15(1), 153–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, H., Niu, X., Xu, L., et al., 2016, Exploration potential of shale oil in Chang7 Member, Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, NW China: Petroleum Exploration and Development, 43(4), 511–520.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Z., and Zou, C., 2019, Exploring petroleum inside source kitchen: connotation and prospects of source rock oil and gas: Petroleum Exploration and Development, 46(1), 173–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziarani, A. S., and Aguilera, R., 2012, Pore-throat radius and tortuosity estimation from formation resistivity data for tight-gas sandstone reservoirs: Journal of Applied Geophysics, 83, 65–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zou, C., Zhang, G., Yang, Z., et al., 2013, Geological concepts, characteristics, resource potential and key techniques of unconventional hydrocarbon: on unconventional petroleum geology: Petroleum Exploration and Development, 40(4), 385–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L., Ba, J., Carcione, J. M., et al., 2019, Estimation of pore microstructure by using the static and dynamic moduli: International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 113: 24–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L., Ba, J., and Carcione, J. M., 2021, Wave propagation in infinituple-porosity media: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 126(4): e2020JB021266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, L., Ba, J., Carcione, J. M., et al., 2022, Seismic wave propagation in partially saturated rocks with a fractal distribution of fluid-patch size: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127(2), e2021JB023809.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Han Xuehui of the China University of Petroleum (East China) for his assistance in the experimental tests. This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41974123, 42174161), the Jiangsu Innovation and Entrepreneurship Plan and the Jiangsu Province Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (grant no. BK20200021).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Science and Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjingu, 211000, China

    Meng-Qiang Pang, Jing Ba, José Maria Carcione & Tobias Müller

  2. Bochum University of Applied Sciences, D-44801, Bochum, Germany

    Meng-Qiang Pang

  3. Shanghai Technical Institute of Electronics and Information, Shanghai, 201411, China

    Chun-Fang Wu

  4. National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (OGS), Sgonico, Trieste, 34010, Italy

    José Maria Carcione

Authors
  1. Meng-Qiang Pang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jing Ba
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chun-Fang Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. José Maria Carcione
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Tobias Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jing Ba.

Additional information

Pang Meng-Qiang received his B.S. in Geological Engineering from Tianjin Chengjian University in 2017. He is presently a Ph.D. student in the School of Earth Sciences and Engineering at Hohai University. His research interests are rock physics model, reservoir prediction and acoustic and electrical properties.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Pang, MQ., Ba, J., Wu, CF. et al. Acoustic-electrical properties and rock physics models for shale-oil formations: prediction of reservoir properties of interbedded sandstone and shale layers. Appl. Geophys. 19, 485–502 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-022-0949-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-022-0949-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation