Short paper
Practical checks before trusting a carbonate reservoir model
A short checklist for reviewers of subsurface models in Gulf carbonate fields, drawn from three decades of peer reviews.
Published 4 Oct 2026 · Reviewed 4 Oct 2026
Abstract
Most costly surprises in carbonate reservoirs come from a handful of unchallenged assumptions. This paper lists ten checks that a reviewer can apply in a day, with examples of what each one caught.
Why carbonates surprise us
Carbonate rocks change quickly over short distances...
Ten checks
- Compare core porosity with log porosity by facies.
- Look for diagenetic overprints that the model ignores.
- Question permeability transforms borrowed from other fields.
References
- Lucia, F. J. Carbonate Reservoir Characterization, 2nd ed., Springer, 2007.