Well Logging

Introduction (Chapter I)

By Dr. Eng. Muslim

A. History, Present and Future of A
Science and Technology
 The fundamental technology of electrical
coring or electro log was first done in 1927
where Schlumberger brothers made the
first electrical resistivity measurement in
an oil well near Pechelbronn/Alsace, a
location in Paris.
 The design of the technology is still valid in
our days :
1.Create a continuous plot of a measured
property (resistivity) as a function of the
depth (measured) and call it the log.
2.With the fundamental advantage of
representing continuous information thus
log must be transformed into information
for reservoir characterization (porosity,
saturation) by a process called
interpretation.
 To understand the quantitive interpretation
petrophysical knowledge is necessary. The
first step was done by Archies famous
equation (Archie 1942).

1 Where Sw is water saturation, Rt is the

spesific electrical resistivity of the
Ro n
Sw
formation, Ro is the specific electrical
resistivity of the formation at water
Rt saturation = 100% and n is Archies
empirical saturation exponent.
 A formation or reservoir characterization cannot be derived
from one type of logs alone it needs a combination of
various physical parameters in order to derive a consistent
model of the formation (complex interpretation). The historical
development of borehole geophysics is therefore
characterized by the development of various systems with
defined sensitivity. Cornerstones of the first period are:

1. Resistivity logs (first commercial logs), directed at water

saturation determination for clean rocks,
2. Spontaneous Potential log, directed at the separation of
sand (clean rock, reservoir) and shale,-
3. Acoustic log, the only porosity log based on Wyllies
equation (Wyllie et al. 1956) in the early days
B. Fundamental Problems And The Way We Go
 Figure 1-1 defines the fundamental questions with regard to locality,
depth and geometry of the reservoir in most cases this general
model is derived from geological, sedimentological and structural
studies implementing seismic and other surface geophysical results.
C. Terminology
 In this section, it will make things simpler if
we first go through some of the basic terms
that will be used throughout this section.

1.STOIIP = stock tank oil initially in place;

usually measured in stock tank barrels (stb)
2.GIIP = gas initially in place; usually
measured in billion standard cubic feet (bcf)
3.GBV = gross bulk volume
4.NPV = net pore volume
5.HCPV = Hydrocarbon pore volume
6. = Porosity
7. K = permeability
8. Sw = water saturation
9. Sh = Hydrocarbon saturation
10.FWL = free water level
11. HWC = Hydrocarbon/water contact
12. GOC = Gas Oil Contact
13. Gross Thickness = Total Thickness of the formation
as encountered in a particular well
14. Net Thickness = part of the gross thickness that
contains porous rock subject to given cutoff criteria
15. Pay Thickness = The part of the net thickness that is
considered to be capable of producing hydrocarbons
in a particular well
D. How is logging viewed by others
E. Wellbore Environment
 The Borehole Environment in which logging
measurement are made, is of some interest
from the standpoint of logging tool designs
and the operating limitations placed upon
thme. Furthermore, it is important in terms of
the disturbance it causes in the surrounding
formation in which properties are being
measured.
F. Logging Contract
Typically, an oil company will set up logging
contracts with one or more contractors for the
provision of logging services. Usually some kind
of tendering process is used to ensure
competitive bidding among various companies
able to provide such services. Elements that
exist in common contracts include the following :
1. Depth Charge : This relates to the deepest depth that a
particular tool will be run in the hole.
2. Survey charge : This relates to the interval that a particular
tool is actually logged in the hole.
3. Station charge : For tools such as formation pressure
sampling tools and side wall samples, this is a charger per
station measurement. Usually the contract will make certain
specifications regarding when such a charge may be
dropped (e.g, if no useful are recovered)
4. Tool rental : Usually a daily charge for the tools to be on the
rig on standby prior to or during a logging job.
5. Logging unit rental charge : Usually a monthly charge for the
logging unit (winch, tool shed, and computers) while it is on
the rig.
6. Base rental : There may be a monthly charge to have a pool
of tools available for a client. For LWD tools, this may
supersede the tool rental, depth and survey charges.
7. Engineer charge : Usually a day rate for any engineers,
specialists, or assistants present for the logging job.
8. In hole charge : Some LWD contracts specify an hourly
charge while tools are actually being run in the hole.
9. Lost in hole : For replacement of any tools in the hole during
operations. Some contractors provide insurance to the oil companies
for a fixed sum per job to identify them against lost in hole
charges.
10. Cable splice charge : Where tools become stuck in the hole and it is
necessary to cut the cable, a charge is usually made for such
splicing.
11. Processing charges : Where data require postprocessing (e.g.
interpretation of image data or waveform sonic), charges are usually
applied in a similar way to survey charges.
12. Data charges : Provision of additional copies of log prints and/or
tapes, or data storage, may incur additional charges.
13. Real-time data transmission charges : The oil company will usually be
given the option to have data transmitted directly from the wellsite to
their office, either as digital data in Log ASCII Standard or binary
format or as a print image.
G. Preparing Logging Program
In general, first to be prepared is
1. Particularly during the exploration phase, data
have a high value, since (because) they will be
used to quantify the reserves and influence the
whole development strategy.
2. Particularly in tail-end production, where much
of the log data will not even be used for
updating the static model, since it is influenced
by depletion effects, the value of data becomes
much less.
 For a well proposal, a typical program
might look something like this :
 For a well proposal, a typical program
might look something like this :
H. Wellsite mud logging
The mud log may be of great use to the
petrophysicist and geologist in operational decision
making and evaluation. Areas in which the mud log
may be particularly important include :
1. Identification of the lithology and formation type
being drilled.
2. Identification of porous/permeable zones
3. Picking of coring, casing, or final drilling depths
4. Confirmation of hydrocarbons being
encountered and whether they are oil or gas.
A. Cutting Descriptions.
The mud-logging unit will generally take a
sample of the cuttings received over the shale
shakers. Some of these samples are placed into
sealed polythene bags as wet samples and
retained. Other samples are washed, dried, and
retained as dry samples.
Washed samples are examined under a
microscope in the mud-logging unit and a
description made that may be communicated to
the office.
 Hydrocarbons may be detected with one of
the following methods :

1.Natural Fluorescene
Examining the cuttings under UV light may
indicate the presence of oil, since oil will
fluoresce.

2.Solvent Cut
To measure the solvent cut, about 3 cm of
dried and crushed sample is placed in a
test tube and solvent is added to about 1
cm above the sample.
3. Acetone test
The acetone test involves placing a sample of washed,
dried, and crushed cuttings in a test tube with acetone.
4. Visible Staining
Particularly if the permeability and/or viscosity is poor, oil
may remain in cuttings and be visible under the microscope
in the form of a stain on the surface of the cutting.
5. Odor
The characteristic smell of oil may sometimes be discerned
during the cleaning and drying process.
6. Gas detection analysis
Gas detectors work by passing air drawn from where the
mud reaches the surface (the bell nipple) over a hot detector
filament.