Mud Logging

 Measurements:
 Mud related Density of Mud (sometimes called weight), Viscosity,
Salinity, Temperature
 Drilling related: Weight on Bit, Hook Load, Pump speeds, Pit Levels,
Block movements and depth,
 FE related: Gas detection and analysis: H2S, or any Gas (could be
HC), Gas Chromatography
 FE related Microscope Analysis of cuttings, Fluorescence
description of any HC shows, Calcimetry, LaserStrat ED-XRF
 Presentation:
 Drilling ROP, Cuttings Lithology & descriptions, Total Gas,
Chromatographic Analysis (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5)

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Mud Logging (cont’d)
 Caution: “Time Lag” exists between bit cuttings in the
wellbore and the time they appear on surface.
Considerable care is needed to assign correct depths.
Errors of +5m are common
 Lag times can be several hours, depending on pump
capacity, strokes per min, annular volume, washouts can
make calculations tough
 Carbide pills are dropped, as they reach the bit they get
crushed, reacts with water and mud, releases acetylene
gas, which is detected on surface, and lag time
estimates are calibrated
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 Mud Log
Header includes all
well information so far

Normally the Drilling

company provides the
Mud Logging service
but it could be a
separate 3rd party
service also

Abbreviations and
symbols are standard
used in the oil industry
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Mud Log -2
Both
Drilling and
Formation
Evaluation
data are
presented
together
Resistivity
data from
MWD tool
may also be
added
4
 Mud Log -3
ROP
correlates
very well
with GR
Logs

5
MWD
Measurement while Drilling
 Traditional measurements include
 Torque on bit
 Weight on bit
 Borehole Temperature
 Borehole Pressure while drilling
 Tool Face Angle
 Natural Gamma Ray (at Bit GR)
 Formation Resistivity
 Hole Deviation
 Hole Azimuth
 Some readings like Deviation and
Azimuth require the Drill String to be
stationary or drilling temporary suspended
MWD traditionally provides
Drilling related information
LWD traditionally provides
Petrophysical information
Both use similar hardware
and similar Mud pulse
telemetry system
LWD Tools may be
connected below MWD tools
and MWD may be providing
power to LWD tools
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