Fundamentals of Geology and Basic Core Analysis

Core Analysis in Petroleum Systems and Carbonate and Sandstone Environments

• Core analysis in petroleum systems
• Sandstone and carbonate depositional environments
• Coring process and the value of core analysis
• Core handling at the well-site     

The first day of this course will introduce participants to core analysis as it relates to petroleum systems.  Participants will also have the chance to overview sandstone and carbonate depositional environments.  Petroleum geology, core processes, the value of core analysis, and core handling at a well-site will also be covered.

Core Planning, Core Preparation, and Porosity

• Various core planning options
• Core cleaning and drying
• Porosity
• Porosity evaluation workshop     

Day two will focus on core planning.  Participant will learn about the importance of core planning and evaluate the various options available.  Porosity systems, petrophysics, core cleaning and drying, and total porosity using helium based methods will all be covered.  Why effective porosity is important will also be discussed.  Participant will take part in a hands-on porosity evaluation workshop on this day.  The day will continue with defining the coherent plug, why clays are important, and pore geometry.  Attendees will also participate in a pore geometry workshop using thin-section on this day.

Permeability, Net Mean Stress, and Sample Selection

• Core sampling workshop
• Reservoir evaluation
• Sandstone and carbonate case studies
• Optional tour of commercial “routine core analysis lab”   

The third day will teach participants about core sampling.  Participant will complete a core sampling workshop on this day and discuss petrophysical rock types for reservoir evaluation.  Two case studies will be covered on this day, one over sandstone and the other over carbonate, both of these studies showing why these types of petrophysical rock types are important.  An introduction to Pore Throat Based Methods used to predict petrophysical rock types will be supplemented with an Excel based workshop.  The day can conclude with a tour of a commercial routine based core analysis lab depending on the client’s wishes.

Petrophysical Rock Types and Capillary Pressure

• Fundamentals
• Capillary pressure workshop
• High Pressure Mercury Injection (HPMI)
• HPMI and petrophysical rock types workshop
• Wettability     

Day four will focus on capillary pressure.  Participants will learn the fundamentals of capillary pressure, then participate in a capillary pressure excel workshop.  How HPMI is used as a pore geometry analysis tool will be discussed as well as covered in a hands-on excel workshop.  The day will end with an introduction to wettability and why it is important.

Special Topics

• Scaling issues when comparing core data to logs
• Quality control workshop
• Core-log integration

The last day of this course will focus on permeability.  Participants will learn about measuring air permeability and core-log integration.  They will also have the chance to participate in a quality control workshop.  Participants will then take part in a final project workshop where they will be expected to present their findings.  The day will wrap-up with a course summary and a discussion session about the full course.