Data credibility evaluation method for formation water in oil and gas fields and its influencing factors

The formation water sample in oil and gas fields may be polluted in processes of testing, trial production, collection, storage, transportation and analysis, making the properties of formation water not be reflected truly. This paper discusses identification methods and the data credibility evaluation method for formation water in oil and gas fields of petroliferous basins within China. The results of the study show that: (1) the identification methods of formation water include the basic methods of single factors such as physical characteristics, water composition characteristics, water type characteristics, and characteristic coefficients, as well as the comprehensive evaluation method of data credibility proposed on this basis, which mainly relies on the correlation analysis sodium chloride coefficient (r_Na/r_Cl) and desulfurization coefficient [r_SO4×100/(r_Cl+ r_SO4)] and combines geological background evaluation; (2) The basic identifying methods for formation water enable the preliminary identification of hydrochemical data and the preliminary screening of data on site, the proposed comprehensive method realizes the evaluation by classifying the CaCl₂-type water into types A-I to A-VI and the NaHCO₃-type water into types B-I to B-IV, so that researchers can make in-depth evaluation on the credibility of hydrochemical data and analysis of influencing factors; (3) When the basic methods are used to identify the formation water, the formation water containing anions such as CO₃^2-, OH^- and NO₃^-, or the formation water with the sodium chloride coefficient and desulphurization coefficient not matching the geological setting, are all invaded with surface water or polluted by working fluid; (4) When the comprehensive method is used, the data credibility of A-I, A-II, B-I and B-II formation water can be evaluated effectively and accurately only if the geological setting analysis in respect of the factors such as formation environment, sampling conditions, condensate water, acid fluid, leaching of ancient weathering crust, and ancient atmospheric fresh water, is combined, although such formation water is believed with high credibility.