Formation Evaluation

Objectives
Describe information that can be obtained from a
mud log and from core samples.
List and describe the information that can be
obtained from:
six conventional openhole well logs
six conventional cased-hole well logs
Calculate water saturation using Archies equation,
given well log readings.
Explain the purpose of subsurface maps and
describe basic contouring principles.
 Outline
Formation Evaluation
Mudlogging
Cores
Wireline logs
Logging while drilling (LWD)
Drillstem testing
Subsurface maps
Reservoir Modeling
 Gathering Data
Logs Borehole
Seismic
Information
from nearby 2D/3D
wells Surface
Operating Company Seismic

Core Regional
Data Geological Data
Data
Subsurface Geological
Procedures
 Mudlog Example
Drilling Rate Hydrocarbon Analysis

Interpreted
Chromotograph PPM
Visual Porosity

Continuous Total

Lithology
M. per Hr. Depth (m) Cuttings Analysis
Lithology Gas in air % Methane--- Ethane---
Propane--- Butane---
Remarks
Pentane---

20 15 10 5 1 10 PPM 1 K 10 K
LS: wht, dk, br, vf, xin, cin, hd
w tr foss

SH: dk gy, gy, frm, occ sft,

occ sity

SS: lt gy, cir, xin, sb ang, sb,

rnd, m grn, oil stn, bri yel
flour, bri gid stng cut

SH: dk gy, gy, frm, occ sft,

occ sity

SS: lt gy, cir, xin, sb ang, sb,

rnd, m grn, oil stn, bri yel
flour, bri gid stng cut

SH: dk gy, gy, frm, occ sft,

occ sity
 Cores
Allow direct measurement of reservoir
properties
Used to correlate indirect measurements,
such as wireline/LWD logs
Used to test compatibility of injection fluids
Used to predict borehole stability
Used to estimate probability of formation
failure and sand production
 Information from Cores
Standard Analysis Special Core Analysis
Porosity Vertical permeability
Horizontal to air
permeability to air Relative permeability
Grain density Capillary pressure
Cementation exponent
(m) and saturation
exponent (n)
Coring Assembly and Core Bit
Drill collar
connection
PDC Cutters

Thrust bearing

Outer barrel

Inner barrel
Fluid
vent

Core retaining
ring
Core bit
Whole Core

(Whole Core Photograph, Misoa

Sandstone, Venezuela)
Whole Core

(Whole Core Photograph, Misoa

Sandstone, Venezuela)
Sidewall Sampling Gun

Core bullets

Formation rock

Core sample
Sidewall Coring Tool

Coring bit

Samples
 Well Log Analysis
Openhole logs

Cased-hole logs
 Well Log
SP Resistivity
 Logging While Drilling
Azimuthal resistivity
(depth of investigation Transmitter for
12 in. or less) Gamma ray wireless telemetry
detector and measurement
Measurement of current
antenna

3/4 fixed Surface-adjustable

Motor
bent housing
Stabilizer bent housing
and bearings Inclination RPM
gravity toolface
 Increasing Increasing Increasing
radioactivity resistivity porosity

Shale

Oil sand

Shale

Gamma Resisitivity Porosity

ray
 Openhole Well Logs
Passive measurements
Gamma ray: Indicates lithology
Spontaneous potential: Indicates
lithology
Caliper: Hole condition

Active measurements
Resistivity: Fluid saturation, fluid
Cap rock type
Oil Porosity: Rock properties, quantity
of hydrocarbon
Density: Rock properties, seismic
response
Sonic log: Rock properties,
seismic response
Reservoir rock Source rock
 Borehole Conditions
Uninvaded zone
Zone of Transition or Annulus
Flushed zone
Bed 1
Sandstone Mud
cake
Bed
thickness
Bed
Boundary
Temperature,
Pressure Drop
Hole
Bed 2 size
Shale
 Well Log Interpretation
Logs provide detailed essential
information on wells and reservoirs
Well
Rock type
Sandstone
Porosity
Depth Permeability
Claystone
Fluid type
Fluid volume
Limestone
Formation tops
Fractures
Shale

Granite
Common Types of Logs

Gamma (GR)
Spontaneous Potential (SP)
Sonic (DT)
Density (RHOB)
Neutron (CNT)
Resistivity (LLD)
 Gamma Ray Log

Measures the formations natural radioactivity

Passive recording
Gamma ray logs are used for
Shale identification
Horizon marker identification
Spontaneous Potential (SP) Log
Useful to
Detect permeable beds
Locate bed boundaries
Determine formation water resistivity (Rw)
Give qualitative indications of bed shaliness
Measures electric currents flowing in the
drilling mud
Flow depends on difference between resistivities
of formation water (Rw) and of mud(Rmud)
 Spontaneous potential Resistivity

SP Log

Depths
millivolts ohms. m2/m

20 0.2 1.0 10 100 1000 2000

Sand line

Shale line
 Sonic Log
Measures acoustic properties of P, S, and surface
waves
Transmits acoustic signal and measures time to
travel through the formation
Values used:
as a porosity indicator
to identify lithology
to create the acoustic impedance log
to correlate with the borehole and surface
seismic data
for fracture identification
 Upper
transmitter

R1
R2
R3
R4

Lower
transmitter
 Compressional Rayleigh
waves waves Mud waves

E3
E1

T0 E2

50
sec
 Density Log
Measures bulk density of formation
Counts gamma ray interactions with electrons
in the formation
Values used to
identify lithology
create acoustic impedance log
identify gas
calculate porosity

Electron density is directly related to bulk density.

Mud cake
( mc + hmc)

Formation ( b)

Long spacing
detector

Short spacing
detector
Source
 Caliper

Depths
Hole diam. in inches -.25 0 +.25
6 16
Correction
Grams/CC
Gamma ray Bulk Density
API units Grams/CC
0 10 2.0 2.5 3.0

Mud Wt. 10 lb/gal

 Neutron Log
Fast neutrons are fired at the formation and lose
energy by colliding with hydrogen atoms as they are
similar in size
The tool measures the Hydrogen Index (HI) of the fluid
Hydrogen Index = quantity of hydrogen per unit
volume
HI (water) = 1
HI (oil) < 1
HI (gas) << 1
The neutron log is used for
Porosity calculation
Lithology identification with bulk density log
 Resistivity Log
Resistivity values are used
To identify fractures
To calculate hydrocarbon saturation
Log measures the resistivity of the formation
water which depends on
Amount of water present
Pore structure
Hydrocarbons are more resistant than water
to flow of electric current than water
 Meter

Generator
B N

M
Spacing O

Normal
 Meter

Generator
B

Spacing

M
O
N

Lateral (basic arrangement)

 Archies Equation
Empirical constant

a Rw
(usually near unity) Resistivity of
formation water,

Sw n
-m

Water m
m Cementation

Rt
exponent
saturation,
(usually near 2)
fraction Saturation
exponent
(also usually Resistivity of
near 2) Porosity, uninvaded
fraction formation, -m
 Example Log Suite
Sonic Density Acoustic Caliper Gamma Resistivity Neutron
Impedance * Porosity
s/ft g/cc s/ft.g/cc in API m pu

Depth

?
Logging While Drilling (LWD)

Provides:
Real time correlation for picking coring and
casing points
Real time overpressure detection in
exploration wells
Real time logging to minimize out of target
sections (geosteering)
Real time formation evaluation to facilitate
stop drilling decisions
Cased-Hole Logs
Formation Properties From
Cased-Hole Logs
Porosity
Saturation
Permeability
Reservoir geometry
Temperature and pressure
 Why Log Cased Wells?
To monitor production:

Fluid contact detection and movement

Other water/gas movement

Injection front advance

Water salinity
 Common Cased-Hole Logs
Gamma ray log
Natural gamma ray spectrometry log
Neutron log
Sonic log
Thermal decay time log
Gamma ray spectrometry log
 Drill Stem Testing
1. For exploration wells, establishes
the existence of hydrocarbons in
commercial quantities.

2. For production wells, can be used

to determine if stimulation is
needed.

3. Both open and cased hole DST

are performed.
Drill Stem Test Pressure History
Set Release
Packer Packer
Measuring pressure

1 2 3 4 5 6

Time
Modular Dynamic Tester

Electric power module

Hydraulic power module

Probe module

Dual probe module

Flow control module

Sample module
Subsurface Mapping
 Contour Maps
Data Type of Map

Elevation Structure, Fault, Salt

Thickness of Interval Isopach

sediments (isochore)
Isometric View of Dipping Plane
Structure Contour Map
(Horizontal Plane)

Isometric View
of Dipping Plane
(45 dip)
Isometric View of
Curved Surface
 Reading Assignment
Formation Evaluation

SPE 28578, Use of Resistivity Logs to

Calculate Water Saturation in the
Prudhoe Bay Field.
 Summary
Formation Evaluation
Well samples - mud logging

Cores - whole and sidewall

Well logs

Drill stem tests

Subsurface mapping
 Exercises
Formation Evaluation
 Exercise 1
Describe the information that can be
obtained from a mud log and core
samples.

List six conventional openhole well logs

and describe the information that be
obtained from each.

List six conventional cased hole well logs.

 Exercise 1
Solution
Describe the information that can be
obtained from a mud log and core
samples.

List six conventional openhole well logs

and describe the information that be
obtained from each.

List six conventional cased hole well logs.

 Exercise 2
If the resistivity of the formation water
is 0.02 ohm-m, the resistivity of an
hydrocarbon zone is 10.0 ohm-m, and
the porosity is 0.3, what is the water
saturation?
 Exercise 2
Solution
If the resistivity of the formation water
is 0.02 ohm-m, the resistivity of an
hydrocarbon zone is 10.0 ohm-m, and
the porosity is 0.3, what is the water
saturation?
 Exercise 3
What are structural and isopach maps
used for?

Closely spaced contour lines indicate

what?
 Exercise 3
Solution

What are structural and isopach maps

used for?

Closely spaced contour lines indicate

what?
 Exercise 4
Draw a contour map of these subsurface
elevations. Use a contour interval of 25 feet.

130 240
190

210

85 163
62
51 150

80
190 225
257

178 205
116
 Exercise 4
Solution
125
240
130
175 150
190
200
200 210

75 85
163
62 150
51 150
80 175
190 225 200
100 257 225
116 178 205