New methodology (cubic cores) of studying fractured carbonate reservoirs is presented in this paper. Several examples of Russian carbonate reservoirs are given including: Orenburg Gas-Condensate Field, Urmansk Oilfield and Vuktyl'skiy Gas-Condensate Field.

A correlation between porosity and permeability was established, which is of vital importance in carbonate reservoir rock characterization.

On considering two additional variables (irreducible fluidI saturation and specific surface area, which is a measure of degree of fracturing), very good correlation was obtained between porosity and permeability. Without considering these two variables, the coefficient of correlation is commonly very low.

The authors believe that the century-old problem of correlation between porosity and permeability of carbonate rocks has been finally solved. Similar studies should be carried out elsewhere, for example, Asmari Limestone of Middle East.

Keywords:
complex reservoir, Upstream Oil & Gas, carbonate reservoir, petrophysical property, correlation, saturation, cubic core, porosity, Bagrintseva, Reservoir Characterization
Subjects:
Hydraulic Fracturing, Reservoir Characterization, Reservoir Fluid Dynamics, Formation Evaluation & Management, Unconventional and Complex Reservoirs, Flow in porous media, Carbonate reservoirs
Copyright 2008, Society of Petroleum Engineers
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