NEVADA | PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Program Professional Framework

Core Analysis for Reservoir Characterization

Program Overview

Core is the only direct sample of the reservoir, and core data calibrates logs, rock types, simulation inputs and recovery estimates. This course covers coring and core handling, routine core analysis of porosity, permeability, grain density and saturations, and special core analysis including capillary pressure, relative permeability, wettability, electrical properties and rock compressibility. Participants learn to quality-control laboratory data, correct for overburden and Klinkenberg effects, define rock types and integrate core results with logs and well tests. Examples focus on heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs typical of the Gulf, where pore systems strongly influence flow behaviour.

Learning Outcomes

✓Specify a coring and core handling programme that preserves sample integrity for the planned analyses.
✓Interpret routine core analysis data and apply overburden and Klinkenberg corrections.
✓Evaluate capillary pressure data to derive saturation height functions and pore throat distributions.
✓Assess relative permeability and wettability results and their implications for waterflood performance.
✓Derive Archie cementation and saturation exponents from electrical property measurements.
✓Define rock types that link core properties to log responses for reservoir modelling.

Target Audience

Petrophysicists and reservoir geologists
Reservoir and simulation engineers
Core laboratory specialists and coordinators
Geoscientists involved in reservoir characterisation studies

Detailed Program Modules

01Coring and Core Handling

Coring objectives and methods
Core preservation, transport and wellsite handling
Core description and sampling plans

02Routine Core Analysis

Porosity, permeability and grain density measurements
Fluid saturations and core gamma
Overburden and Klinkenberg corrections

03Capillary Pressure and Pore Systems

Mercury injection, porous plate and centrifuge methods
Pore throat distribution and saturation height functions
Carbonate pore types and their behaviour

04Relative Permeability and Wettability

Steady-state and unsteady-state methods
Wettability indices and their effect on flow
Data normalisation for simulation

05Electrical and Mechanical Properties

Formation factor and cementation exponent
Resistivity index and saturation exponent
Rock compressibility and geomechanical tests

06Rock Typing and Integration

Rock typing methods
Core-to-log calibration
Quality control of laboratory programmes

Training Methodology

Interactive expert-led sessions grounded in workplace examples

Case studies and practical exercises drawn from the region

Group workshops with peer review of decisions and deliverables

Formative feedback against clear performance criteria

Applied Project & Assessment

Applied Project

Participants analyse a provided core dataset from a Gulf carbonate well, quality-control RCAL and SCAL results, derive rock types and saturation height functions, and recommend petrophysical parameters and a SCAL programme for future wells.

Assessment

Short diagnostic at the start, practical tasks linked to each learning outcome, and evaluation of the applied project against published criteria.

University Certificate & International Accreditation

Professional Certificate accredited by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Core Analysis for Reservoir Characterization

International accreditation: European Health and Safety Agency (EHSA)