Carbonate Reservoir Characterization: An Overview

The primary goal of a carbonate reservoir study is to precisely predict the reservoir rock and fluid properties and their controlling factors in the associated reservoir body from the limited data available from cores and logs (bore-holes). However, carbonate reservoir cannot be characterized using the conventional single-continuum concept like a sandstone reservoir; and it essentially requires a multi-continuum approach due to the associated heterogeneity. Thus, capturing the spatial and temporal distribution of reservoir rock and fluid properties remain to be of prime importance in a carbonate reservoir. Despite such importance, relatively fewer studies have focused on carbonate reservoir characterization. This study has made an attempt to provide the complexities associated with the characterization of carbonate reservoir with reference to their rock and fluid properties, which remain associated with various scales. This study is expected to provide deeper insights on further investigation of carbonate reservoir characterization, which would essentially help to bridge the gap between laboratory-scale observations with that of a real field-scale scenario.