Electrical well logging

Mr. Osama

Potential In electrical well logging, two electrical properties are measured in the borehole: potential and resistivity. It has been observed that in a borehole, the electrical potential varies according to the nature of the beds traversed. For example, salt water sands and brackish water sands are usually more negative than the associated shale or clay. On the other hand, fresh water sands may either be more negative or more positive than the associated formation.

Borehole potentials are caused by electrochemical reactions taking place between the formations and the mud column. Potential measurements are made by recording, in terms of depth, the potential changes between an electrode in the hole and another electrode at the surface, usually in the mud pit. An idealized potential (S.P.) curve is represented on the left side of Figure 1. From a potential curve it is possible to pick up the boundaries of many formations and to obtain information on the nature of some of these formations. Potential and resistivity are simultaneously recorded.

Resistivity The electrical conductivity of a bed is controlled by the nature, quantity and distribution of the water contained in the bed. Because these factors vary appreciably from one bed to another, conductivity measurements made in a borehole can be used to pick up formation changes and to obtain information on

the nature of the formation traversed.

In practice it is not the conductivity but its reciprocal, the resistivity, which is measured. The resistivity curve is obtained by recording either the resistance changes of an electrode placed in the hole (Single Electrode method), or the apparent resistivity given by a multiple-electrode arrangement. The measurements are plotted in terms of depth and the resulting record is called a resistivity curve. An idealized resistivity curve is shown on the right side of Figure 1. It can be seen that fresh water sands and dense formations have a much greater resistivity than salt water sands, clays and shales. The equipment required to make single-electrode measurements is much simpler and less expensive than that needed for multiple-electrode measurements, but singleelectrode measurements have less lateral penetration than multiple-electrode measurements have, therefore they do not always permit distinguishing oil sands from water sands invaded by mud. On the other hand, a single-electrode curve is as good, if not better, than a multiple-electrode resistivity curve for all other problems, especially for obtaining correlation between wells and for determining the depth and thickness of each bed.

Alternating current of low frequency is used for this measurement. As the logging electrode travels in the hole, changes in formation resistivity cause changes in the electrode resistance, which in turn cause voltage changes in the logging circuit. These changes are rectified and recorded

as the resistivity curve. The lateral penetration of a single-electrode measurement is about ten times the electrode diameter, i.e., 18" with the electrodes having a diameter of 1-1/2" and a height of 8". These dimensions were selected to give approximately the same resistivity values that would be obtained with a short normal resistivity curve.

Electric Log The combination of a potential curve and of one or several resistivity curves placed side by side constitutes an electric log. Such logs are extremely valuable for geologic studies (correlation between wells, subsurface mapping, research on sedimentation), for seismic problems (determination of the best shooting point in a shot hole), for the location of fresh water bearing beds, for determining the exact thickness and position of sand, clay or shale beds, etc. Requirements to Obtain Good Logs It is not possible, with conventional logging instruments, to obtain a good electric log in the section of the hole that does not contain water or water base mud. It is therefore necessary that the hole be filled with water base drilling mud or water in the section where the electric log is needed. If this is not possible, a gamma ray probe may be used to obtain a good log.

Unusual Logging Conditions If the hole is losing mud to the formation and the mud level has dropped appreciably at the time the electric log is to be

made, the hole should be filled before the measurements are started. This is usually done by dumping water in the hole. If the composition of this water is different from that of the mud used for drilling, the potential and resistivity curves will probably exhibit a shift at the interface, and the amplitude of the kicks in the section having the saltiest water may be less than in the other section. These differences are usually small unless one water is much saltier than the other. If some of the water or mud enters permeable beds or fractures during logging, the potential curve will be unstable and it will probably not repeat well in the part of the hole above the lowest point taking water. It may also exhibit a considerable drift. Such potential drift and instability are observed no matter the type of logging equipment used, and cannot be suppressed. Drift is generally encountered only in shallow formations, i.e., where the potential curve is generally flat and not very useful, even when the water level does not drop. Because the resistivity curve is generally not affected by this movement of water the usefulness of the log is not impaired. The same instabilities are observed also in artesian wells and they cannot be suppressed either, unless the flow of water is stopped. Logging Shallow Formations Even when the hole is well conditioned for electric logging measurements and there is no loss of mud into the formation, it frequently happens that the potential curve drifts appreciably to the left in the upper part of the hole. This is a natural phenomenon and it cannot be corrected.

When logging fresh water sands, it sometimes happens that the potential curve "reverses" i.e., the potential in sands is more positive (i.e., it kicks more to the right) than that in clay. This reversal may happen, in particular, when the drilling mud is saltier than usual. The usefulness of a reversed potential curve is not impaired when the logging operator is aware of this possibility. Nothing can be done about this condition, except replacement of the used mud by fresh mud. REFERENCES & SOURCES http://www.greatgeophysics.com

: Well Logging for Earth Scientists.pdf A.A. KAUFMAN - Principles of Induction Logging.pdf o SLC - Logging Interpretation Material.rar o Well Logging Basics.pdf o Well logging basics
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