Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques

Abstract Carbonate formations, known for their complex characteristics, require detailed internal heterogeneity knowledge for effective exploration and production. This study presents an integrated workflow to investigate heterogeneity at different scales, from microscopic to log level, in southwest...

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Main Authors: Saeed Yarmohammadi, Abdolrahim Javaherian, Mohammad Sharifi, Mohammad Reza Saberi, Hadi Mahdavi Basir
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-02057-w
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author Saeed Yarmohammadi
Abdolrahim Javaherian
Mohammad Sharifi
Mohammad Reza Saberi
Hadi Mahdavi Basir
author_facet Saeed Yarmohammadi
Abdolrahim Javaherian
Mohammad Sharifi
Mohammad Reza Saberi
Hadi Mahdavi Basir
author_sort Saeed Yarmohammadi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Carbonate formations, known for their complex characteristics, require detailed internal heterogeneity knowledge for effective exploration and production. This study presents an integrated workflow to investigate heterogeneity at different scales, from microscopic to log level, in southwest Iran wells. Geological settings were studied, including depositional systems, structural elements, field stresses, diagenesis, and facies variations. Conventional petrophysical evaluation determined lithologies, porosity, and fluid types/content. Statistical methods such as Lorenz curves, semivariance analysis, and the coefficient of variation were used to analyze porosity heterogeneity. Image processing (segmentation) analyzed petrographic images to identify rock matrix and pore spaces. Image logs from oil-based microimagers and ultrasonic borehole imagers showed variations in porosity, fracture networks, zonation, and stress directions. Nuclear magnetic resonance log provided porosity types and sizes. We evaluated vertical and lateral heterogeneities across different zones and wells. This study’s results show that a multi-scale workflow is essential for accurately characterizing reservoir heterogeneity in carbonate fields. The analysis effectively identifies sedimentological and structural influences, quantifies heterogeneity, and ranks zones based on their heterogeneity. The models developed through this workflow enhance decision-making in reservoir characterization and offer practical applications for field studies. Despite limitations like imaging resolution and data availability, this approach remains integral to advancing the understanding of heterogeneity and guiding further improvements. Graphical abstract
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issn 2190-0558
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
spelling doaj-art-dacd87c6cfd34ecc9d67c4fd25ba5ee42025-08-20T03:42:44ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology2190-05582190-05662025-08-0115911910.1007/s13202-025-02057-wInvestigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniquesSaeed Yarmohammadi0Abdolrahim Javaherian1Mohammad Sharifi2Mohammad Reza Saberi3Hadi Mahdavi Basir4Department of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyGeoSoftwareDepartment of Petroleum Engineering, Amirkabir University of TechnologyAbstract Carbonate formations, known for their complex characteristics, require detailed internal heterogeneity knowledge for effective exploration and production. This study presents an integrated workflow to investigate heterogeneity at different scales, from microscopic to log level, in southwest Iran wells. Geological settings were studied, including depositional systems, structural elements, field stresses, diagenesis, and facies variations. Conventional petrophysical evaluation determined lithologies, porosity, and fluid types/content. Statistical methods such as Lorenz curves, semivariance analysis, and the coefficient of variation were used to analyze porosity heterogeneity. Image processing (segmentation) analyzed petrographic images to identify rock matrix and pore spaces. Image logs from oil-based microimagers and ultrasonic borehole imagers showed variations in porosity, fracture networks, zonation, and stress directions. Nuclear magnetic resonance log provided porosity types and sizes. We evaluated vertical and lateral heterogeneities across different zones and wells. This study’s results show that a multi-scale workflow is essential for accurately characterizing reservoir heterogeneity in carbonate fields. The analysis effectively identifies sedimentological and structural influences, quantifies heterogeneity, and ranks zones based on their heterogeneity. The models developed through this workflow enhance decision-making in reservoir characterization and offer practical applications for field studies. Despite limitations like imaging resolution and data availability, this approach remains integral to advancing the understanding of heterogeneity and guiding further improvements. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-02057-wPetrographyImage processingImage logNuclear magnetic resonance logVertical heterogeneityLateral heterogeneity
spellingShingle Saeed Yarmohammadi
Abdolrahim Javaherian
Mohammad Sharifi
Mohammad Reza Saberi
Hadi Mahdavi Basir
Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques
Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology
Petrography
Image processing
Image log
Nuclear magnetic resonance log
Vertical heterogeneity
Lateral heterogeneity
title Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques
title_full Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques
title_fullStr Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques
title_full_unstemmed Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques
title_short Investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an Iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs, petrographic data and image processing techniques
title_sort investigating the vertical and lateral heterogeneity in an iranian carbonate reservoir using advanced petrophysical logs petrographic data and image processing techniques
topic Petrography
Image processing
Image log
Nuclear magnetic resonance log
Vertical heterogeneity
Lateral heterogeneity
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s13202-025-02057-w
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AT abdolrahimjavaherian investigatingtheverticalandlateralheterogeneityinaniraniancarbonatereservoirusingadvancedpetrophysicallogspetrographicdataandimageprocessingtechniques
AT mohammadsharifi investigatingtheverticalandlateralheterogeneityinaniraniancarbonatereservoirusingadvancedpetrophysicallogspetrographicdataandimageprocessingtechniques
AT mohammadrezasaberi investigatingtheverticalandlateralheterogeneityinaniraniancarbonatereservoirusingadvancedpetrophysicallogspetrographicdataandimageprocessingtechniques
AT hadimahdavibasir investigatingtheverticalandlateralheterogeneityinaniraniancarbonatereservoirusingadvancedpetrophysicallogspetrographicdataandimageprocessingtechniques