Well logging and electrofacies of Zubair formation for upper sandstone member in Zubair oil field, Southern Iraq

Abstract EN

The Lower Cretaceous Zubair reservoir is a main producing horizon in the Zubair oil Field, southern Iraq.

The reservoir consists of a number of isolated vertical major sandstone units.

Sedimentary characteristics can be determined using the well log data as one of the most fundamental methods for reservoir characterization in the oil and gas industry.

The reading of high gamma-ray response indicates the presence of shale which contains clay minerals, K-feldspar, and organic material that emits natural gamma radiation.

The clean sandstones emit less radiation so it has a lower gamma-ray count analysis.

Five of electrofacies were identified in the upper sandstone member of Zubair formation in Zubair oil field, in more details H layer divided into three sub-units.

Zubair formation delta deposited through sea regression followed by sea progression because shelf facies overlies other delta facies as shown H layer between K and C units both were shale rocks.

Porosity and permeability of the upper sandstone member of Zubair Formation were identified in twenty oil-wells.

The relationship between the porosity and permeability after correction with data obtained from the core analysis data showed an improvement to the north part of the field precisely in Hammar-Shuaiba domes.

On the other hand the grain sizes varied from coarse to medium; medium to fine in Hammar dome while fine to medium fine to very fine with clay influence led to a decrease the porosity and permeability thus reduced oil production.