Well log analysis and hydrocarbon potential of the Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir, Hiswah Oilfield, eastern Yemen

Abstract

Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir is mainly made up of carbonate sediments with bands of shale that contain a substantial amount of proven oil in the Hiswah Oilfield, Sayun–Masila Basin, eastern Yemen. Several vertical wells have been drilled and penetrated these sequences. This study is concerned on the petrophysical evaluation and well log analysis of the Lower Cretaceous of 11 wells at the Hiswah Oilfield, Hadramawt Governorate, eastern Yemen. Computer-assisted log analyses were used to evaluate the petrophysical parameters such as shale volume, total porosity, effective porosity, water saturation, hydrocarbon saturation, flushed zone saturation and reservoir and pay flags. Cross-plots of the petrophysical parameters versus depth were illustrated. The Lower Cretaceous Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir reflects that the matrix components are mainly carbonates and shales. Moreover, the lithological-geologic model reflected that these shales are strongly affecting the porosity and, consequently, the fluid saturation in the Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir. In this study, the thickness of the Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir increases from central toward north-eastern and north-western parts within the Hiswah Oilfield. The porosities analyses of the investigation of the Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir for the 11 studied wells concluded that the average total porosity ranges from 5.4 % to 16.8 % while the effective porosity ranges from 5.2 % to 14.8 %. Water saturation of the Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir ranges from 6.9 % to 75.8 %. On the other hand, hydrocarbon saturation matches with water saturation in a reverse relationship. Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir is interpreted as good quality reservoir rocks with high average effective porosity reaching to 20 % and high hydrocarbon saturation exceeding 93 %. The Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir reveals promising reservoir characteristics especially the upper reservoir unit, which should be taken into consideration during future development of the oilfields area. The hydrocarbon saturation map of the Sa'ar–Nayfa reservoir shows a regular pattern of distribution with a general increasing to the northeast, northwest and east directions while decreasing southwest wards, recording the maximum value of 93.1 % at the Hiswah-21 well.