Schlumberger

D . DEFINITION OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
D . 1 DEFINITION OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
Production logging is the measurement of fluid
parameters on a zone-by-zone basis to yield
information about the type and movement of
fluids within and near the wellbore.
Production logging is intended primarily for
measuring the performance of producing
wells. It provides diagnostic information, pinpoints where fluids such as water, oil and gas
are entering a well and gives an indication
about the efficiency of the perforations.
Traditional production logging involves four
measurements - flow, density, temperature and
pressure. However, only the flow and density
readings are used in traditional quantitative
production logging analysis. Temperature and
pressure data have normally been used in a
qualitative way to compute in-situ flow properties and locate zones of entry of fluid into a
well.
D . 2 HISTORY OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
Modern Production Logging is far from the
early beginnings of the technique, with highly
accurate sensors all on a single tool with simultaneous acquisition. However a lot of sensors go back some considerable time. Temperature surveys were first used in the mid
1930s. One use was the estimation of the top
of the cement behind the casing. The setting
process of the cement is an exothermic reaction, it gives off heat. Hence the temperature
sensor sees where there is cement in the
well. (Note; this method is still used, in order
to work well the log has to be run less than 12
hours after the cement has been pumped.)
By the late 1950s and early 1960s the basic
sensor types had been developed as individual
tools. The surveys required a seperate pass to
obtain flowmeter, gradiomanometer, temperature and so on. 1970 saw the sensors packaged
together in one tool, meaning a more efficient

single run in the hole. The individual measurements still had to be run one at a time. By
the end of the decade advances in electronics
allowed everything to be recorded in a single
pass across the zone of interest. This had many
advantages not least the savings in time.
Improvements continued through the 1980s to
the present day with better sensors, especially
pressure gauges, and deployment methods.
The latest tool uses completely new technology
to measure a flow profile for the individual
fluid phases all around the borehole.
D . 3 USES OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
Production Logging is put to many uses depending on the reservoir type, well conditions
and the perceived problem. (See Figure D1).
Some of the major ones are:
1. Evaluate completion performance
- New wells
- Injection wells
- Re-completions
2. Monitor reservoir performance & variations
- Flow profile
- Well test
- Completion Efficiency
3. Diagnose well problems
- Water entry
- Gas entry
- Leaks and mechanical
problems
- Flow behind casing
4. Other
- Guidance for workover
- Information for enhanced oil
recovery projects
- Identify boundaries for field
development

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Casing
Leak
Tubing
Leak
Packer
Leak

P1

oil

P2>>P1
Bad Cement

Unwanted
fluid flow

P2

Fig. D1: Common problems encountered in the producing wells.

Some are due to mechanical problems others to the reservoirs

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D . 4 PRODUCTION LOGGING
MEASUREMENTS
D . 4 . 1 Tools
Production logging tools consist of a number
of sensors which make the measurements inside the well (Figure D2). The main types are:
1. Flowrate (fluid velocity) measurement
- Spinner rotation
2. Fluid density measurement
- Differential pressure
- Gamma ray attentuation
3. Well bore temperature
- Variance in resistance
4. Well bore pressure
- Strain gauges
- Crystal gauges
A number of auxiliary measurements are used
to augment or assist in the analysis of the major logs. They are:
- GR /CCL for correlation
- Caliper (mechanical)
- Fluid sampling
- Noise Logs
- Tracer surveys
- Water Flow Log

Flowmeter

Fig. D2: A typical production logging tool string contains a number of sensors

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Introduction to Production Logging

1. Flowmeter
- Determine producing zones
- Stimulation evaluation
- Secondary recovery
- Flow potential evaluation (SIP,
AOF)
2. Temperature
- Location of production or injection
zones
- Monitor frac performance
- Gas entry
- Fluid movement behind pipe
- Fluid conversions
3. Fluid Density
- Determine volumetric flow in two
phase flow
- Show entry points in three phase
flow
4. Pressure
- Well test analysis (kh, skin)
- Reservoir extent, boundaries
- Fluid conversions
- AOF, SIP determination

Up
Run

Gradio

600

Perforations

D . 4 . 2 Applications of specific
measurements
Each sensor has some specific uses, most are
utilised in combination, however, to give a total answer for the well/reservoir.

Down
Run

Temperature

Spinners

700

800

Fig. D3: A typical production log.

D . 5 PRODUCTION LOGGING
ENVIRONMENT
The production logging environment is very
different from that of open hole logging.
Firstly in place there is normally a completion,
which can take many forms. The reservoir
zone may be open hole, perforated casing or
gravel pack. There may be single or multiple
zones and single or multiple tubings.
The log is normally run in dynamic conditions,
the well is flowing mixtures of liquids and
gases.
- Oil, water, polymers.
- Methane +, N2, CO2, H2S, He.
(Quite often there are solids present - formation, frac propant, paraffin, scale, diverter
balls, etc.)
Hence care and attention has to be taken in the
logging program so that the maximum information is obtained to answer the problem.

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D . 6 LOGGING AND INTERPRETATION PROCEDURES

The procedure to ensure a successful production log is simple and can be broken down into
three steps,
- programming the job,
- running the job and
- interpreting the data.
D . 6 . 1 Programming the job
The first step starts with defining the problem:
e.g. Oil production is falling, water cut
is increasing.
Then list and quantify symptoms and well
conditions, for example:
Water Cut has increased from 2% to
15% in six months
Total production has fallen from 800 to
500 B/D
GOR - 350 cu ft/bbl
Tubing head pressure - 1200 psia
Oil gravity - 30 oAPI
Gas gravity - 0.7

Then determine if there is a reasonable possibility of solving the problem with available
sensors. For instance:
The well is producing above the bubble
point (down hole) and downhole water
production is greater than 10% of the total downhole flow.
D . 6 . 2 Running the job
The second step starts with gathering all the
required data.
Calibrate the tools
Maintain depth control
Record data optically and magnetically
D . 6 . 3 Interpreting the data
Choose a Single or Biphasic interpretation
model. Select Computer interpretation or
manual. In both cases the general equations are
the same.
Qh = Yh Qt - Yh (1 - Yh) Vs A
Ql = Qt - Qh
Qt - Total flowrate

Then define sensors needed and technique necessary to gather required data. (Mechanical
configuration of the well must be considered.)
This may include:
Fluid velocity, density, pressure, and
temperature need to be measured
Data is to be taken vs depth and vs time
with the well flowing and static
5 1/2-in. casing set to 9550 ft. 0 deviation
2 7/8-in. tubing set to 9350 ft.
Perforations - 9400-9450 / 9460-9475
Fill (TD ?)

Qh - Heavy phase flowrate

Ql - Light phase flowrate
Yh - Heavy phase holdup (decimal percent
by volume)
Vs - Velocity of the light phase relative to
the heavy phase
A - Cross-sectional area
Finally produce the answer (see Figure D4).

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Fig. D4: The result of a production log interpretation

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D . 7 PRODUCTION LOGGING
OPERATIONS
Production logging sensors are available in
many configurations depending on their intended use.
Communication between the operating company and the service company is very important for successful production logging. In any
form of well servicing, good communications
are wise; but, in production logging, good
dialogue is critical to solving production problems. It is also essential for acquiring good
base data to more accurately monitor well performance and to solve future production problems.
Although there are many types of sensors, this
does not necessarily imply that several trips
into the well will be needed to solve a particular problem. Acquisition of the various forms
of data can often be accomplished with one trip
into the well by multiplexing the signals from
the combined tool string. In addition to rig
time savings and convenience, the reduced
number of trips into the hole can produce less
disturbance of the production profile as a result
of fewer pressure releases with the surface
pressure control equipment; this helps assure
that all the sensors are logging the flow conditions with simultaneous measurements.

Gamma ray plus collar log will be on depth

with the openhole logs.

Casing Collar
Locator

Gamma Ray

Flowmeter

D.7.1 Depth Control

Casing Collar Locator Section
Figure D5 shows a combination tool. The tool
has several production logging sensors and a
casing collar locator section. As with most
tools run in casing, it is very important that
casing collars be recorded. Collars are the
only positive depth control link between the
production logging sensors and the formation
strata.
Gamma Ray Log
The other half of depth control is a gamma ray
log run in casing simultaneously with a casing
collar log. The gamma ray in casing is depth
matched to the openhole logs; therefore, the
casing collars that were recorded simultaneously will be on depth, or correctly depth
matched, relative to the openhole logs. Any
subsequent services run in casing with a casing
collar locator that is depth-matched to the

Fig. D5: Standard tool string showing the casing collar

locator and gamma ray

This procedure is necessary for the depth

measurement accuracy required for perforating, plugs, packers, etc. If cement evaluation
is run, a gamma ray and collar locator are usually combined with the cement evaluation tool,
typically a sonic device, to acquire depth control data simultaneously with cement information. These logs are not absolutely essential if
the production logging tool string contains a
gamma ray section; however, the gamma ray collar log is usually run for perforating accuracy far in advance of the decision to run production logging tools that may contain a
gamma ray.

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