The Six 'Ko Ko' Rules To Easily Detect Oil,

Gas & Water From A Well Log

Published on June 26, 2016

Dosh Nazlan 1,211 76 300

Petrophysicist | Master of The Squiggly Lines

As a petrophysicist, I look at the well log patterns, recognize the trends, and then turn
those patterns into reservoir knowledge.

It all began about 10 years ago when I had my first mentor. His name is Ko Ko Kyi. He
taught me how to read and interpret well logs from recognizing well log patterns.

After almost a decade of looking at and interpreting well logs from different reservoirs
all over the world, I can say that what Ko Ko taught me still works most of the time. I
used them every day.

Today, I want to share how you can interpret a well log in minutes just by looking at the
well log patterns - a technique I called "The Ko Ko Rules".

There's nothing fancy about it, nor does it deserved to be patented. It's just a common
sense, step-by-step approach in interpreting any well logs. But the results are magical.

And I know that it will be useful to you.

Enter 'The Ko Ko Rules'

What you need:

1. Plot triple combo logs in this sequence GR, Resistivity, Density-Neutron. Plot GR in
the first track and Resistivity in the second track. Both curves should be plotted in
increasing values from the left to the right. Plot Density-Neutron together on the same
track. The values should be decreasing as we go from the left to the right.

2. Plot Density-Neutron in lithology compatible scale: Sandstone or Limestone scales.

We will be able to tell the reservoir types, the fluid types and estimate porosity right
away.

3. Look at the directions of GR, Resistivity, Density and Neutron curves deflections,
either to the right or to the left.

4. By combinating the patterns of each curve deflections, we can tell the difference
between reservoir and non reservoir and/or the fluid types (oil vs gas vs water).

Follow the Ko Ko Rules:

1. Look at the directions of the curve deflections (whether to the right or to the left) in
these following sequence: GR-Res-Density-Neutron.
1. Tight non-reservoir: Right-Right-Right-Right.

GR-Res-Density-Neutron all deflect to the right.

Why it works: If we are not in a reservoir zone, GR is higher due to larger natural
radioactivity from U, Th, K contents. Resistivity is higher due to tightness. Density and
Neutron read low porosity.

2. Shale: Right-Right-Right-Left.

GR, Res-Den deflect to the right. Only Neutron deflects to the left.

Why it works: GR is higher due to larger natural radioactivity from U, Th, K contents.
Resistivity is higher due to tightness. Density read low porosity. Neutron falsely
responds to the clay bound water resulting to higher apparent porosity. You will see a
reversed Density-Neutron crossover.

Sometimes, the resistivity could deflect to the left as well, depending on the properties
of the shale itself. So it could read, Right-Left-Right-Left.

Note: You might see a reversed Density-Neutron crossover in dolomite. Over a

dolomitic zone, GR reads lower.

3. Low porosity (tight) reservoir: Left-Right-Right-Right.

GR deflects to the left, GR-Res-Density-Neutron deflect to the right.

Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U. Resistivity,
Density-Neutron respond to the tightness of the reservoir (rock quality), rather than to
the fluid types.

4. Water bearing reservoir: Left-Left-Left-Left.

GR-Res-Density-Neutron all deflect to the left.

Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U. Resistivity
responds to saline formation water. Density-Neutron reads higher porosity in reservoir.

5. Oil bearing reservoir: Left-Right-Left-Left.

GR and Density-Neutron all deflect to the left. Only resistivity deflects to the right.

Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U. Resistivity
responds to non conducive hydrocarbon, giving higher resistivity. Density-Neutron
reads higher porosity in reservoir.
6. Gas reservoir: Left-Right-Left-Right.

GR deflects to the left; Resistivity, right; Density left; and Neutron, right.

Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U. Resistivity
responds to non conducive hydrocarbon, giving higher resistivity. Density gives lower
bulk density due to lower gas density. Neutron reads low apparent low porosity in gas
zone due to lower neutron-hydrogen interactions in gas as compared to neutron-
hydrogen interactions in water.

So, there you go - the six Ko Ko Rules in well log interpretation.

As always, I don't guarantee it to work all the time. It may not work for freshwater
environment, low resistivity pay zones, hot sands, and perhaps in some unconventional
reservoirs.

However, you never know unless you try.

Thanks Ko Ko, you rule!

*****

Check out other kick-ass tips on my blog HERE.

Tagged in: well logging,petrophysics Report this

Dosh Nazlan
Petrophysicist | Master of The Squiggly Lines
57 articles

76 comments Newest

Leave your thoughts here

 Lennis Tibbets 8h
--
Thanks for the information, don't know how to read a log.
This helps me.
Like Reply

Oscar Moscoso 3w
Ingeniero de operaciones en Maxim & Fishing Solutions Provide S.A.S
Its very important to have at least
gamma ray, resistivity, and density neutron log to make sure your prediction is
ok, pay atention to scales.
Like Reply

There are 74 other comments.Show more.

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