building and using petrophysical attributes - scm e&p ... · pdf filepetrel is a mark of...

Petrel is a mark of Schlumberger

4801 Woodway Drive, Suite 150W • Houston, TX 77056 • www.scminc.com • [email protected] • © 2014 SCM E&P Solutions, Inc.

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Building and Using Petrophysical Attributes

Mappers and modelers who have used Petrel for sometime may be unaware of this simple yet extremely useful tool for calculating zone average attribute values. Its use allows rapid QC of calculated log data and the calculation of field wide volumes. Use these methods in the early stages of your modeling projects to ensure the framework and the data are ready to move into geocellular modeling.

This TIPS&TRICKS explains how to create Zone Attributes from continuous (e.g. average value for porosity) and discrete (e.g. average N:G from facies) logs and how to address some of the stumbling blocks, such as:

Errors resulting from missing tops.

Naming issues (and how to avoid them) resulting from attributes entered directly from a tops file.

Displaying attributes.

Well data attributes are part of the Well Tops file. These attributes can represent a value at a point such as the top pick, in which case it is a top attribute. Attributes can also represent a value between two tops, usually an average, in which case it is a zone attribute. Zone attributes are commonly used in mapping projects. A typical mapping workflow using Zone attributes might be:

1. Import or create well logs and tops.

2. Create zone-average attributes for porosity.

3. Build porosity grids for each zone.

4. Generate displays of each grid, posting the associated data.

5. Use porosity grid in volume calculations.

Here, we will concentrate on Steps 2 and 3.

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Figure: A generalized mapping workflow that uses the Zone attribute tool (see step 2 below) to create the grid data. Numbers represent the steps above.

Creating Zone Average Attributes

Multiple attributes can be stored with objects like tops, zones, grids and points, the same way objects are stored in Petrel under folders. In this example we will concentrate on Zone Attributes stored in a Well Tops object.





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All the above properties with the exception of the last one (Zone Net Porosity) are predefined for each well top. Some values are routinely defined all the time and some are empty until data is available to calculate them or values are entered manually. TWT Auto, TVT, and TST are all automatic attributes calculated according to the time/depth relationship and the dip of the stratigraphy in the well. Automatic attributes are dynamically updated whenever the well tops are adjusted.

This example illustrates how to create the one user-defined zone attribute in the above list (and others). Once created, a Zone Attribute becomes a stored value with the zones in a Well Tops file. It can be interpolated from Logs or Surfaces or it can be entered manually. Attributes must be assigned one of six types; Continuous, Discrete, Boolean, String, Date or Derived. Here we will focus on only Continuous and Discrete attributes.

What Zone Attributes should be calculated?

While many attributes may be calculated for the zones, the following are the most common. Remember, these attributes are for the zones between the horizons and not for the horizons themselves.

Continuous Attributes

Continuous attributes are attributes which may have decimal values such as porosity and permeability. To create a continuous attribute, follow these steps:

Average Net Attribute (i.e.: Phi, Perm, Sw)

Attribute Thickness (i.e.: Phi*H)

Dominant Facies (Lithofacies)

Facies Thickness (Net Thickness)

Net-to-Gross Ratio (NTG)





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1. Right-Click on the Attribute Folder and select Insert new attribute.

2. Specify the type of attribute (Continuous in this case).

3. The Attribute dialog is displayed. Choose the desired template under the Info tab.





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4. Go to the Attribute Operations tab:

a. Check the button To the zones at level

b. Specify which level to calculate

c. Select the log to be used for calculation

d. Choose the correct Average method

e. Consider any other parameters

f. Click Run to calculate the attributes

5. The Attribute is added to the bottom of the list. Rename it to show it is a zone attribute.





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Take care in selecting the averaging method for creating a continuous attribute using a continuous log. Available methods are:

a. Arithmetic – Typically used for attributes such as porosity, saturation and net/gross because these are additive variables. The arithmetic mean is only correct for horizontal permeability that is constant within each layer.

b. Harmonic – Gives the effective vertical permeability if the reservoir is layered with constant permeability in each layer. The harmonic mean works well with log normal distributions. Used for permeability because it is sensitive to lower values. Only positive values may be used with this method.

c. Geometric – Normally a good estimate for permeability if it has no spatial correlation and is log normally distributed. The geometric mean is sensitive to lower values, which will have a greater influence on results. Only positive values may be used with this method.

d. RMS (Root Mean Square) – Will provide a bias towards high values.

e. Minimum – Will sample the minimum value of the well log for each layer.

f. Maximum – Will sample the maximum value of the well log for each layer.

g. Integrate – Will integrate (sum) the log between the two well tops.

The methods available for creating a continuous attribute using a discrete log are:

a. Most of – Will select the discrete value which is most represented in the log.

b. Median – Will sort the input values and select the center value. For example; if there are 5 input values, these are sorted by magnitude and then entry number 3 in the sequence is selected.

c. Minimum – Will sample the minimum value of the well log for each layer.

d. Maximum – Will sample the maximum value of the well log for each layer.

e. Arithmetic – Typically used for attributes such as porosity, saturation and net/gross because these are additive variables. The arithmetic mean is only correct for horizontal permeability that is constant within each layer.

f. Fraction – Calculate the fraction of a particular log that belongs to a specific facies between the two well tops according to the chosen depth scale (i.e. – 0.285 means 28.5 percent of the log is the specific facies).

o Must also pick the facies of interest

g. Percentage – Calculate the percentage of a particular log that belongs to a specific facies between the two well tops according to the chosen depth scale (i.e. – 28.5 means 28.5 percent of the log is the specific facies).


h. Thickness – Calculate the thickness of a particular facies on a log located between two tops in a well according to the chosen depth scale.






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Common Continuous Attributes and Parameters

Attribute Example Template Log Method Facies

Net Porosity

Porosity Porosity Arithmetic N/A

Attribute Thickness

Phi*H Thickness Depth Integrate N/A

Facies Thickness

Net Thickness Net-

NonNet Thickness Net

Net-to-Gross Ratio

Att thick / total thick

Net-to-Gross

Net-NonNet

Fraction Net

Net-to-Gross

Percent

Att thick / total thick

Net-to-Gross

Net-NonNet

Percentage Net

Discrete Attributes

Discrete attributes are integer attributes where the values fall into groups, such as facies (sand, shale, etc.) or net (net or non-net). To create a discrete attribute, follow these steps:

1. Right-Click on the Attributes in the Well Tops Folder and select Insert new attribute.





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2. Specify the type of attribute (Discrete in this case).

3. The Attribute dialog is displayed. Choose the desired template.





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4. Go to the Attribute Operations tab:

a. Check the button To the zones at level

b. Specify which level to calculate

c. Select the log to be used for calculation

d. Choose the correct Average method

e. Consider any other parameters

f. Click Run to calculate the attributes





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5. The Attribute is added to the bottom of the list. Rename, if necessary

The methods available for creating a discrete attribute from a discrete log are:

a. Most of – Will select the discrete value which is most represented in the log.

b. Median – Will sort the input values and select the center value, e.g. if there are 7 input values, these are sorted by magnitude and then entry number 4 in the sequence is selected.

c. Minimum – Will sample the minimum value of the well log for each layer.

d. Maximum – Will sample the maximum value of the well log for each layer.

e. Arithmetic – Typically used for attributes such as porosity, saturation and net/gross because these are additive variables. The arithmetic mean is only correct for horizontal permeability that is constant within each layer.

Common Discrete Attributes and Parameters

Attribute Example Template Log Method Facies

Dominant Facies

Lithologies Facies Most of N/A

Facies Thickness

Sand Thickness

Lithologies Facies Thickness Sand

Facies Ratio

Shale Ratio

Lithologies Facies Fraction Shale





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Incorrect Results Caused by Missing Well Tops

Tops should exist in all wells for all horizons that are in the Well Tops file to be used for making zone attributes. This is because:

A Zone Average can only be calculated if a top and base of zone exist

If you don’t pick a top, but build a grid, then you are letting Petrel pick the top (the position where the grid passes through the well).

Picked top

No top, grid projection

Methods such as “Thickness” find the difference between picks in a well; if the pick is missing, it gets the wrong top or base for the zone. Therefore, all picks must exist for every well.

To make a Well Tops file with top picks for all horizons:

Insert a new Well Tops file and highlight it (make it bold)





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Double click on the Wells folder and go to the Report tab

a. Press the 3D Grid icon

b. Check Iconize points as

c. Press button in front of Horizon in active Well Tops

d. Press the Run button





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A spreadsheet report will appear showing all calculations





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The Well Tops file will now have the Stratigraphy folder filled with horizons and zones.

QC the results by comparing the statistics to the original picks (or put them on a Well Section). Often, interpolated tops may not match the original tops perfectly, but it should be close. If it’s not close, the 3D grid probably wasn’t made correctly.

Build Attribute Grids

Build Zone Attribute grids by:

Double-click on Make/Edit Surfaces and clear all parameters

Highlight the first point file in the Edited Well Tops and insert as the Main input: by using the blue arrow

Choose the correct Attribute

Check the box Run for all Main input in the same folder (this builds grids for all files in the Well Tops)

In the Geometry tab, specify X-Y limits and increments from another grid, a file or by entering the values.





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In the Algorithms tab, select the Method (usually Convergent Interpolation or sometimes, Sequential Gaussian Simulation)

o Define the output range limits (often + and – a percent of the minimum and maximum values)

In the Post-Processing tab, define the clipping limits (often truncated at valid limits of the data type – i.e. minimum = 0 and maximum = 1, for porosity)

Click Apply to build all grids

Don’t forget QC.





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Displaying an Attribute

There are two controls for object/attribute display:

What is displayed

Position of display (the purple attribute)

To display an object and a selected attribute

Check the box in front of the object containing the attributes

The radio button defines which attribute is displayed

The purple attribute defines the position where the attribute is displayed. In this case, since “Z” is purple, the “Porosity” attribute is displayed at the “Z” level.

To change the vertical position of the object, use Z-values of a different attribute to position the object

Right-click on the attribute

Select Use as visual vertical position

The attribute name turns Purple and defines the object’s position



building and using petrophysical attributes - scm e&p ... · pdf filepetrel is a mark of...

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