Introduction:
The Center for Rock Physics, a recent addition to the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, is located at 4502 East 41st Street, Tulsa. The purchase of this former Amoco Research Facility by the University of Oklahoma was facilitated in part by a generous gift from the Schusterman Foundation. The site has been renamed the Schusterman Health Sciences Center. The Center for Rock Physics occupies the original Amoco laboratory and office space, the entire E wing at the ground level.

The Center is being developed by Drs. Chandra Rai and Carl Sondergeld, both of whom worked for Amoco for eighteen years. They developed Amoco's industry leading rock physics laboratory and the world's largest rock properties database. This laboratory, supporting software and computers were donated to the University of Oklahoma and are being used to serve both academics and  industry. A Master's program in petrophysics to be taught in Tulsa and broadcast via video facilities within the newly refurbished facility is being developed.  Drs. Rai and Sondergeld also offer courses at the Norman campus. In addition, the University of Oklahoma hired former Amoco laboratory manager, Mr. Bruce Spears and technician, Mr. Gary Stowe to efficiently handle industry technical service work.

The Center will soon hire a full time software engineer to help develop rock modeling code and a database for the industry. While at Amoco, Carl and Chandra were responsible for the development of a comprehensive suite of rock physics modeling software. They plan to create more extensive modeling capabilities based upon previous experience, new insights and industry needs. Their goal is to establish a world recognized center for rock physics and petrophysics at the Tulsa facility.

Industrial Course Offerings

While at Amoco Chandra and Carl taught a number of courses which were exceptionally well received.  They will continue to offer a selection of basic and advanced practical courses designed to address problems encountered by the oil and gas industry.  The role of rock physics is central to all these courses.  A better understanding of rock physics reduces development cost and risk and leads to new exploration insights.  Current  course offerings are listed below.  Double click on the title for course description.

Fundamentals of Rock Physics
Rock Physics Principles for Time-Lapse Interpretation
Rock Physics for Seismic Interpretation
AVO Modeling and Interpretation
Seismic Characterization of Fractured Reservoirs
Seismic Anisotropy
In-Situ Stress Determination
Over Pressure Prediction
Experimental Petrophysics
 

The Integrated Core Characterization Center consists of the complete Amoco rock physics laboratory. This laboratory has unparalleled industrial, commercial and academic capabilities and offers the widest range of measurement and research opportunities in the industry. It evolved from a seismic velocity measurement laboratory to an integrated facility which provides a vast array of petrophysical, seismic and rock mechanics capabilities.
The laboratory is operated in two modes: (1) specialized and routine core characterization and (2) research. Research will be carried out by permanent and visiting faculty and students. Faculty and trained technical staff will be responsible for routine and technical service projects. Technical solutions have timelines; the Center devotes professional staff to these tasks.

Capacity:
Due to Amoco's investment in automation during the development of a real-time field laboratory, the Center can make a wide array of measurements in a fraction of the time required by standard laboratory facilities. The Center's laboratory is computer controlled, allowing technicians to multitask. All technical service work is handled by skilled and trained technicians. Experience indicates that the cost for an extensive spectrum of measurements is substantially less than that charged by standard providers. This makes a more comprehensive suite of measurements a reality and allows for adequate geological sampling, reliable uncertainty estimation and more robust statistical relations. These resources can be used to optimize information recovery from expensive core.

Capabilities:
 

Facilities:
 

Equipment and Uses (Cores and Plugs)

Equipment	Application
FTIR	Qualitative and quantitative mineralogy
X-ray Diffractometer	Qualitative and quantitative mineralogy Clay alignment studies
X-ray Fluorescence	Elemental abundance above Na (plugs, powder)
Pressure Vessels 2" bore  (145,000 psi) 3" bore  (10,000 psi) 6" bore  (10,000 psi) 12" bore (10,000 psi)     integral rotational     actuator 12" bore (20,000)    Triaxial capabilities	Velocities (Vp, Vs) Anisotropy Attenuation Velocity Dispersion Permeability Mechanical Properties Rheology Compressive Strength Crack Density CVA Acoustic Emissions Compaction
Load Frames   MTS-150 Kpsi, 200C, 10,000 Pp, Pc   NER-30 Kpsi, 10,000 Pp, Pc   MTS-20 Kpsi   SBEL-soil tests	Failure Studies Sanding Potential Compressive Strength Rheology Static Moduli (E, Poisson's Ratio) Consolidation Testing Creep Testing Hydrostatic crushing strength
NMR	Hydrocarbon calibration Bound and free water estimate Irreducible water saturation
Laser Particle Size	Grain size distribution
Hg Injection    60,000 psi	Capillary pressure analysis Pore throat size distributions Seal Capacity Rock typing Flow unit definition
High Pressure Permeameter	Crack permeability Compaction Effects on Permeability Pressure dependent Formation Compressibility Flow unit definition
Acoustic Systems	Velocities Anisotropy Attenuation
High Pressure/Temperature     Resistivity Cells	Cementation and saturation exponent Relative brine permeabilities
Acoustic Tomography (ATOM)	Complete anisotropic characterization Symmetry classification
Anelastic Strain Analysis (ASR)	In-situ strain ellipsoid analysis In-situ stress directions and magnitudes
Circumferential Velocity Analysis (CVA)	In-situ stress directions Pressure dependent crack anisotropy Preferred crack orientation analysis
Elemental Analyzer RockEval	TOC S2 Maturation
Environmental SEM	Microstructure analysis Clay habitat Microfacture analysis Elemental abundance profiling Textural analysis Cementation/diagenesis studies Secondary porosity analysis Fines migration studies Scale and corrosion studies
Centrifuge	Irreducible saturation studies Calibration of NMR saturation analysis
Sample Preparation	Soxhlet extraction Fluid extraction and Dean Stark analysis Plug extraction using brine, air, kerosene or       liquid  Nitrogen Plug extraction from frozen core Plug machining and facing Controlled humidity drying Critical point drying to preserve clays Extraction of oriented core plugs for    anisotropy studies
Thin Section Preparation	Petrography studies Point counting, etc
Acoustic Emission	Kaiser effect Crushing strength determination Failure studies Fracture studies

 

Whole Core Capabilities

Geologic Core Description

Minipermeameter Profiling

Gamma Ray Scanning

Digital Imaging

Circumferential Velocity Analysis

Anelastic Strain Relaxation (ASR)

Potential Research Topics

• Quantification of Anisotropy
• Characterization of Unconsolidated Materials
• Attenuation and Dispersion
• Correlation between Static and Dynamic Moduli
• Hydrocarbons and NMR Response
• Nonlinear Behavior of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks
• AVO and Attribute Expressions of Rock Physics
• Rock Physics Modeling Software
• Scaling Core, Log and Seismic Data
• Creation of a Rock Properties Database

1) Creation of a Rock Physics Database
2) Quantification of Anisotropy
3) Understanding AVO and Attribute Expressions of Rock Physics
4) Characterization of Unconsolidated Materials

The ranking is presented in the bar chart below. Multiple choices were allowed.

The problems enumerated are generic to and typical of tertiary environments.
Population of a database with measurements from these samples will present many challenges. Minimum information requirements for sample acceptance into the consortium database will be established.
Below is a list of possible database contents:

• Compressional and polarized shear velocities at elevated confining and pore pressures to 10,000 psi.
• Measurement of anisotropic elastic constants as a function of pressure
• Density and porosity as a function of pressure
• Air permeability as a function of pressure
• Grain size distribution using laser a diffractometer (.330 ΅m to 2000 ΅m)
• Capillary pressures to 60,000 psi for pore throat size distributions
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (2MHz) for bound and free water analysis, T2 distributions
• Qualitative and quantitative mineralogy (X-ray diffraction, FTIR, petrographic)
• Thin section petrographic description
• Thin section and digital imaging
• Static moduli (Young's, Possion's ratio)
• Compressive strength
• Pore volume compressibility
• Resistivity
• ........

If you are interested in possibly joining this consortium and would like to receive a proposal for consideration please send email to:
csondergeld@ou.edu

Consulting Services

• 4D Reservoir Calibration and Modeling
• Outcrop and Clinoform Calibration
• Rock Physics Modeling
• Fluid Substitution
• Crack and Fracture Modeling
• Anisotropy Measurement and Modeling
• Dipole Log Processing and Interpretation
• Reservoir Analysis
• AVO Modeling and Interpretation
• Industrial Education and Instruction
• QC Core Measurement Programs
• Integrated Seismic, Core and Log Studies
• Offset Synthetic Modeling
• Scientific Software Programming

Applets
 

Mineral Properties Calculator

Isotropic Elastic Property Calculator

Hydrocarbon Properties

    Dr. Carl H. Sondergeld

Dr. Chandra S. Rai

Mr. Bruce Spears

fax: 918-660-3350
lab phone: 918-660-3657

Location

Presented below are two maps which show our location relative to major highways and the Tulsa airport.

Directions: Take 11  South immediately out of the airport to 244 East to 169 South to 44 West. Exit at the Yale exit and turn right or North. The OU Schusterman Health Sciences center will be one block up on your left. You can turn left onto 41st Street and proceed to the main entrance.

Degree Opportunities

 

If you're interested in working in our department - or know someone who is - check out the job opportunities listing.

For comments or questions contact:  Carl H. Sondergeld