Crain's Petrophysical Handbook - Picking or Reading Well Logs

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READING OR "PICKING" LOG VALUES FOR PETROPHYSICAL ANALYSIS

This Page

Boxing a Log

Picking Logs

Parameters

Examples

See Also

Response Equation

Crain's Rules

Courses

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LOG PICKING - "BOXING THE LOG"

In order to perform a log analysis, it is necessary to read or pick log values in
the various zones of interest, and other key locations, such as in shale or
water bearing zones. Picking log values and analysis parameters from logs is
THE most important step in quantitative log analysis. Mathematics cannot
compensate for poor selections. Few comments on this subject are found in
service company training manuals. As a result, beginners often find it difficult
to start with valid data, or assume the task is easy and requires no thought or
knowledge.
Selections should be made on a consistent basis from day to day to assist
reproducibility of results. When using digital log data, the digits themselves will be used by the computer program,
but the analyst must still pick numerous values by observation of log curves, crossplots, or data listings.
In computer aided log analysis, picks are made continuously with a digitizer or by reading magnetic tapes or discs
created when the logs were recorded. Such data tends to be more accurate than hand picked values. Accuracy can
be a hindrance on noisy logs, rounded bed boundaries, or in large or rough holes. Some editing or curve shaping
may be required prior to digitizing, hand picking data, or using existing digitally recorded data.
To select a log value, it is helpful, especially for the novice, to "box the log". Draw horizontal lines at each bed
boundary, at the inflection points on each curve. Draw vertical lines on each curve at the peaks and valleys, thus
transforming the log into a series of individual beds with a single specific log reading. For thicker reservoir layers, an
average value may be chosen if the log curve does not wiggle too much.

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Reading well logs is made easier by "boxing the log". Horizontal lines (bed boundaries) and vertical lines
(log values or log readings) form boxes that bound the data to allow valid data picks. Be sure to honour the "peaks
and valleys" rule in thin beds.
With experience, it is possible to simply mark points at the peaks and valleys without drawing horizontal lines, as
shown in the lower part of the example. Unless absolutely necessary, values should not be selected on slopes.
Slopes indicate transition from one condition, such as porosity or hydrocarbon content, to another. Average values,
halfway along the slope may be meaningful, but can also be misleading. Do not select values in thin beds unless you
are also prepared to make bed thickness corrections.
Be sure to pick the correct curve, its appropriate scale, and edit any noise or bad hole conditions prior to finalizing
values.
Write the log values picked into a table or preprinted form so that you will have a record of the data you are using.
Note that very shaly zones are not usually interpreted. Therefore, this data can be left off the table or marked as shale
with no data values entered.

SHALY SAND EXAMPLE Depths in Feet (Logs above were in meters)

RAW DATA PICKS

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Shale Properties:
Gamma Ray clean line (GR0)
___22___ api units
Gamma Ray shale line (GR100) ___105___ api units
SP clean line (SP0)
____14___ mv
SP shale line (SP100)
____78___ mv
Density shale line (PHIDSH)
__0.03___
Neutron shale line (PHINSH)
__0.26___
Sonic shale line (DTCSH)
___NA___ us/m
Resistivity shale line (RSH)
___20____ ohm-m
Resistivity of Water Zone (R0)
___2.7___ ohm-m
Log Data Values for Layers
Layer Top
Layer Bottom
Deep Resistivity
RESD
Neutron Porosity
PHIN
Density Porosity
PHID
Sonic Travel Time
DTC
Gamma Ray
GR
Spontaneous Potential
SP
Photo Electric Effect
PE
Caliper
CAL

A: Sh Sd
B: Oil C: Water
__3364_
_3499_ _3512__ feet
__3406_
_3512_ _3530__ feet
___20__
__100_ __2.7___ ohm-m
__0.24__
__0.27_ __0.24_
__0.12__
__0.22_ __0.19_
__NA____ __NA__ __NA__ usec/m
__75____ __25__ ___30__ api units
__55____ __23__ ___15__ mv
__3.4___ __2.0__ ___2.0__ cu
__8.5__
__7.7__ ___7.7__ inches

When using computers, log data is usually digitized at an increment much finer than the tool resolution. Thus
answers are calculated even on slopes and in thin beds. Understanding such results usually requires some thought.
Again, be sure to pick the correct curve from the data file.

GENERAL RULES FOR PICKING LOG VALUES

In order to perform a log analysis, it is necessary to read or pick log values in the various zones of interest, and other
key locations, such as in shale or water bearing zones. Selections should be made on a consistent basis from day to
day to assist reproducibility of results.
In computer aided log analysis, picks are made continuously with a digitizer or by reading magnetic tapes created
when the logs were recorded. Such data tends to be more accurate than hand picked values. Accuracy can be a
hindrance on noisy logs, rounded bed boundaries, or in large or rough holes. Some editing or curve shaping may be
required prior to digitizing, hand picking data, or using tape-recorded data.
To select a log value it is helpful, especially for the novice, to "box the log". Draw horizontal lines at each bed
boundary, at the inflection points on each curve. In thinner beds, draw vertical lines on each curve at the peaks and
valleys, thus transforming the log into a series of individual beds with a single specific log reading. Pick peaks or
valleys in thin beds to get the best possible values.
On thicker beds, draw a line through the average value of the curve. It is necessary to create a new bed or layer each
time the porosity changes by 2% (porosity units), or when resistivity or gamma ray change by more than 10%
(relative units)
The rule is to draw bed boundaries at the top and bottom of each clean zone, then draw boundaries at the porosity
breaks within each clean zone. Finally draw any new boundaries needed to accommodate resistivity changes, which
usually represent oil or gas water interfaces. The major interval between the top and bottom boundary of a relatively
clean rock is called a ZONE. Each boundary inside a ZONE defines a LAYER of rock. Each layer will be analyzed
separately by picking log values for each layer, called "Reading the Log"..
This concept is shown on the log at the right.
For thick layers, pick average values. For porosity, gamma
ray, laterolog, and array induction logs, "thick" means more
than 6 feet (2 meters). For older style induction logs, "thick

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means greater than 15 feet (5 meters).

In thick beds, pick average values

(heavy black vertical lines) ===>

Old style induction log, layer roughly

15 feet (5 meters), pick peaks and valleys;
other logs, pick averages ===>

<=== Thin beds, < 6 feet (2 meters), pick peaks on porosity

logs. If there are high porosity streaks, treat them as
individual layers. Average values will severely
underestimate permeability and productivity. 90% of the
production in this zone comes from layer B.

Unless absolutely necessary, values should not be selected

on slopes. Slopes indicate transition from one condition,
such as porosity or hydrocarbon content, to another.
Average values, halfway along the slope may be meaningful,
but can also be misleading. Do not select values in thin beds
unless you are also prepared to make bed thickness
corrections.

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PICKING FLUID, MATRIX, and SHALE PARAMETERS

The methods for selecting petrophysical parameters depends on whether knowledge of fluid, matrix, or shale values
is needed.
Fluid values for various analysis methods are generally obtained in a laboratory environment and adjusted for
temperature, pressure, and salinity as required. They cannot generally be picked directly from logs.
Matrix rock values are normally available from handbooks or data tables. The numbers usually represent log
readings for pure minerals, which rarely exist in real situations. The values may also be found by inspecting logs if
relatively pure, zero porosity zones are present. Some crossplots may assist in finding matrix parameters.
Due to varying shale compositions, shale values are not as well known or as constant as for other rock minerals.
They are often found by inspecting logs in a shale bed near the zone being interpreted. Some crossplots may assist
in finding matrix parameters.
In order to pick a parameter, the expected values must be known approximately. Only then is it possible to determine
if the value seen on the log or the crossplot is reasonable and representative of the parameter required. This may
involve evaluating several wells to gain confidence in making assumptions.
Suggested methods for selecting parameters through log inspection are illustrated below and in the following
discussion.
1. Shale resistivity is the average value of the deepest resistivity curve reading in shale, 20 feet or more thick, below
the zone in question. If the well does not penetrate a shale below the zone of interest, or if a major geological
boundary is crossed, use the shale immediately above the zone.
2. Resistivity in a water zone is the lowest value of the deepest resistivity curve reading in a water zone, 20 feet or
more thick, below the zone to be interpreted. The value may be slightly to 2 or 3 times too high. It is used to
determine water resistivity for water saturation calculations.
3. It is usually impossible to obtain matrix values from observation of log data alone. Matrix values for the sonic,
density, and neutron logs are used to correct for the effects of the varying lithology. Find the lowest consistent value
of sonic travel time, lowest density, porosity, (or highest density), and lowest neutron porosity in the zone to be
interpreted. If these values are close to the expected matrix value for the known lithology, they may be used with
caution. If lithology is unknown, start with pure mineral values from tables.
4. Shale values for sonic, density, and neutron are determined from the average value of logs in shales, 20 or more
feet thick, below the zone to be interpreted. This applies to clean logs without skips, spikes, and rough or large
boreholes. Caution should be used since shale properties can vary widely within a short interval. Data is used for
shale corrections to porosity calculations. Therefore, corrections may be inaccurate if shale properties vary or are
poorly chosen.
5.Gamma ray readings in shale are usually reasonably high (100 - 200 API units and lower in sandstones and
carbonates (10 - 50 API units). SP scales vary widely, but deflections to the left usually represent sandstones and
deflections to the right mean shale, except in shallow fresh water sands. The SP is usually featureless in carbonates.
6. The gamma ray and SP clean sand and shale lines are required to allow us to find the shale volume for use in shale
corrections to porosity calculations. To determine the clean line value, find the cleanest or least shaly zone in the
entire well. Lower this value to suit the known shale content in other zones. Caution - never push the clean line into
more than 5% of the data points. To find the shale line, draw a line through the average data value in thick shale
zones. Do not include very radioactive zones which are generally caused by uranium, and not shale minerals. Up to
10% of the data points may be above the shale line.

EXAMPLES OF READING LOGS

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Gamma ray and SP clean lines (GR0 and SP0) and shale lines (GR100 and SP100) picked for several zones.
Resistivity of shale (RSH) and resistivity of water zones (R0) are also shown. Note variations with depth due to
changing geological situations.

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Sonic travel time in shale (DELTSH) also varies with depth.

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Density, neutron, and gamma ray shale properties vary with depth
As do the neutron porosity of shale (PHINSH) and density porosity of shale (PHIDSH).
If base line methods are difficult, certain crossplots may be helpful. Some analysts prefer the crossplot method
although it requires an extra computer step and is not appropriate for visual or quick look interpretation. Crossplots
also mask variations related to depth, so appropriate zoning is required.

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