Temperature WELL LOGGING Part 1 Heat Conduction By HUBERT GUYOD Well Logging Consultant, Houston “Thee tox psc property messred in bore biel Soba temperstare ‘Tei Sikes Bord Relator pert’ readings ina wel 0 fet dee Bees emeoaple. Mag other alt Beaattsmasts Wars made tg ‘helio gens ans eeseladGe these carly invest SET NE te es Scares OF SRE see ncOE ec neste "Oaty te Sine ies ea Sweet fection oat agd gen reserves it Sirota he elton of cement behed pt nda feather miner Pelee Se Mrtertie ieatoe wemmea at preset Nore Bales BURL Mite fat a mca oe Beliore widely sped fs pos Earth Temperature Considerable evidence indicates. the presence of an extremely hot core in the center of the earth. Whether all the heat radiated by ‘the earth's suriace is coming from the core alone or att of ite produced by radioactivity disine- ieation has not been established with ertainty. Although this question is of interest fo the geologist, it need not be discussed here because the general tem- perature disteibstion in sediments 1s probably not much dependent upon the ature of the heat generating process Heat may be transferred. from one point to anaes By the thre diferent Following’ mechanisms conduction ‘onyestion ‘radiation, Conduction is the teanafer of eat from one part of 2 medium to another Part of the. same "medium without ape Dreciable dioplacement of particles, Only Condiction has usually to be considered {nthe study of the earth's crust tem erature asthe ‘other processes have nly @ negligible effect, Fourier's Law There are many analogies between the low of a liquid through a permeable zmediuim, the flow of electricny through Scondsctor and the Row of heat by Conduction through a solid body. Tn articular, the mathematical solutions (f the problems involved in these three Branches “of physics are identical’ and 1, Temper ‘many formulas obtained for one of them Can be used for the others by. simply {ranslating’ each symbol into its proper analogue ‘The correspondence between these tree different selences ie of great sig- hficance ‘because it. frequently helps Understanding the mechanism of an une familiar system by’ comparing 3t with @ different system which is better unde Stood. For instance, everyone is familiar With the classical qethod of explaining the Row of electrcty iva wire by come paring it to the flow of water in a pipe, "The fundamental law of heat conduc sion “e Rouriens law, whieh is ano. sous to DrArcy's law in hydrodynamics, And to Ohm's law in electricity. The Erectrowrnic scale moda ‘are widely used at prosont for investigating the performance of petroleum reservoirs. The same method can be used also for in- vestigating the temperature dis- in the certs. rut itn i low this it done is 4 ‘his ortile, . Retarch for hi sri wes spontore aliburton Oil Well Semonlng Company. Don can, Ohta parallels between these laws sre_sum- Iagieed in Table 1 ourier’s law states that the inatan- tancous ate of hest ow throughs sc. fom ie equal to the product of fhe three follwing factors 1oThe area A of this section (taken Hight angles tothe drcevon of 2. The a temperature gradient dT/ds, whieh the raid of change of femperature', with respec 60 the tength of path’ 3, Ajroportonlty factor, K, known 3a heat conductivity (or ‘thermal Eondactviy) of the medium anally apresied, Poorer aw 4Q Kast *Q=xadt ay where dQ is the amount of heat Howing In differential time dt In the case ofthe earth’s rust, the heat transierred through any section i independent of time and equation (1) can iherefore be rewsitten @ where © is a constant for the seetion Considered (except at depths less than 00 feet ‘which are the seat of digrnal and sonal variations). "Tie value of the factor C varies from fone point of the earth to amother ae- cording to the geometry of the forma: tions. In horizontal. sediments, Cis contant” over considerable’ distances+0 190180. rewpcanturc er the leat conduc: tivity of said bed. It is customary to consider only Vertical gradients, Such as those hich re deters mined by: taking Temperature micas ements. in bore holes This wil be done also inthis work, unless spec hed ‘otherwise Horizontal Beds edi, qhmizus rom the forego ing” discussion that, inan alter pation of herizon- {al uniform sed iments, the sogeo- therms ~~ oF sure faces of "equal temperature—are Parallel horizontal Planes, Purthe more, in any given Uniform bed these planes "ave equ Uistant, Theie dis tance is propor. tional to the bed conductivity Tf the geologic cern Figure 1-2. Approximot when the surface of the ground and that Of the basement” rock are horizontal Also, "Under these conditions the tem erature gradient. in. any given ‘bed is Constant and proportional to the recip. seealat the Rea conduct of said i the factor of proportionality being the sme fo ae in geology, the reciprocal gradient is frequently sed instead of the gradient ‘The reciprocal. gradient is the vertical distance ‘between two. points having 2 temperature "difference ‘of "ane degree Evidently, in parallel media the gecipro- cal gradient in a bed 1s proportional to round tempareture in the Gulf Coat section “comprises our beds, A,B, CD, Tor exam: bie, whose heat Cosiduetivities are : oto, 0.003,-0.006, and 0020, respec tively, the vertical temperature. dis tribution in the ground is as shown by the graph to the right of Figure 1-1 IW atere i for Insta, a terperatre change of one degree over a. vertical ‘distance of 100 feet in bed A, the same temperature change will be observed Over distances of 30 feet, 60 feet, and 200\teet in ‘beds B,C, and D, respec: tively ‘in any uniform horizontal formation the temperature T at a given point is igiven bythe following formula @ THT +bd here ‘Ts is the mean temperature of the as Cedacne | Hybeyneis Perea * tae Feepaiee [Rema hPa Remain [eden Tieng: — [Dinos | poner | reer round close to the surface, b the tem erature gradient in the formation, and {the depth of the point of ebeervation ‘This formulz ig valid at any point below 100" feet pibvided ‘the “surlace of the round and the basement rock are reat nably horizontal Tn practice, 2 formation is never unic form. "Equation. (3) ean nevertheless be vueed to estimate the temperature at 2 ren pts provided the average value Gf the temperature gradient 1s used for Bh tn'the Gull Coast for instance, when the sediments consiat of an alternation of dimost horizontal skates and.sands the following formula ean be used far from intrusions: 4 T=n+8 (7 in, degrees Pahrenbeit and din feet). The resulting temperature graph in Merge of depth i shown on Fae Heat Conductivity 1s has been sen above that the fem perature in the ground is contcoled pri marily by the heat conductivity of the Tormations. To undestand how the tem: perature is distributed it ie. therefore SGvisable to ‘have some. knowledge of the thermal properties of the materials {ound in the round, “The, heat conductivity of a material depends upon the following factors: conductivity of the solid particles, Figure 13. Salt dome (lft) its modal (ght ageometry of the slid particles, Ecnductvity of the Molds combrined ‘etween the solid particles The’ heat” condutivity of quarts is center than that of calcite, while the fers greater than that of Yhe seal lester im heierogencous substances the b oniictivity increases with compactaess For instance, igneous and: metamorph fovkt ace untaly better conductors ta ealment. ‘The naiure of the Auide present in she pores 9 an important fata, the frateriat in dry and very porous the hese "conductivity ie considerably” Tes than {the pores contin: water” (se mnents), This i de to the Yat theta Te Miah gee ht onder Water, Ol and natural gay are sao pow ndiclore thereto, the Rest onde tivity of peteoleumsbearing reservoirs ‘otha be Sale than that of fhe syne feservoirs when they eontatn only water Unfortunately the éierence is rather Email as will be explained later “Approximate conductivity of common subsuncer and sediments is. given in ‘Table % The data for sediments are not alovays elise because a few are based fon" valuce obtained from “samples ‘nat Shuely “aaturated with water (outs Stops)” More accurate conductivity al. es ean be obtained wien temperatore data‘are avaiable from wells which are in thermal eauilbrim, This procedure ives excellent relative condactvity vale fies for sediments which are retzonably Worizonta and iar from salt or igneous Intrusions. Approximate absolute val cane obtained by using the following 1 . K=} Gx 10 where KC is the heat conductivity (C.G.S, Units}, and. Gx the reciprocal. gradient (Geral dian, in fer fer 9 Tomoer. TN ormula gives an average’ co: veto of 9BD4 i noneonaniéted ormations and of 0.006 in older forma ‘Sends usually have. a significantly greater heat conductivity. than shale Possibly because of the rather high eon: Averivity of quarts, For instance, ina well in thermal equilibrium located neat the. ‘Dickinson “Soil” held (Galveston County, Texas), temperature, mesnare 152 tet fn ands and 48 feet halen corresponding to an approximate heat conductivity 6f 465 10% and 21° 10", Fespectively. Ins typical West Texad ‘Anticie (et) 0 GENERATOR gate 1-6, Flot electrodes simulating horizontal gra well, the reciprocal gradient in lime was ound to be 130'feet, giving 2 heat coo: Activity of about 655¢ 10% "The specific heat of, sediments and igneous rocks varies chiefly with the nd horzoatel basement rock, amount of free water contained. The fowest valuetmabout 02—are found in rocks which donot contain any: water (granite), while "the. highest values about OF—are exhibited by sedimentsFigure 17. Topographic high (lft) ond its model (ight of high porosity consolidated Sands). ‘The temperature distribution in the earth's crust is independent of the spe- lf heat of the formations ‘nless the fatter are not in thermal equilibrivm, (non Complex Cases It has been seen that the temperature distribution in parallel media follows very simple rules. When the basement Tock or the surface of the ground are fot horizontal, of when the: sediments are tilted, the factor C of equation (2) ‘aries from ‘point to point ‘in very regular manner. and. itis therefore spose to solve ths equation for {he temperature of the ground, Tn sue ompiex cases the temperature can be etermined ‘accurately “oni by. dieect measurements, However, when the na- ture of the formations’ and. their 3p- proximate shape and dimensions are Known, fairly good temperature deter mination are frequently” possible by Using either one of the two. following indirect methods: ‘measurements on an electrolytic ‘mode, graphical means, ‘The temperature distribution in non- uniform materials, for instance in sedi ments lifted by an intrusion, is a func- Hon of the following factor Heat conductivity of the sediments and of the ftruton, geometry of the intrusion, Single of formation dip, surface topoxraphy. miscellaneous minor infuences GENERATOR AMMETER x eEKR rer CURRENT ELECTRODES a V8, Electrodes s PEs! PicKuP ELECTRODES od Great erangement for electroless RHEOSTAT \t — model The graphics! method is usually not applicable to. such complex eases. and Srl therefore not be discussed here. On the other hand the electrolytic model method js universal and. very simple to Apply. Many of the data which will be Giscdssed in this works were obtained with electrolytic models. Electrolytic Models ‘The applicability, of, an_electrotytic model tothe investigation of heat Row In three-dimensional media is based on the three following facts: "The flow "of heat through solid botles is analogous to the flow of electricity im conductive materiale ic‘ts. therefore possible to use an electric flow through conductors to Simulate 2 flow of heat through the earth's crust 2. A'model may have any size pro- Wided itis geometrically similar to the object it simulates. In practice, a mnodel ‘whote dimensions are of the order of one or two feet may frequently be used successfully to Est occas Shsimulate several cubic mites of for- 43, The electrical conductivity of the lements of the model may have any" value, Gut thelr ratio must equal the thermal conductivity 3 tio of the corresponding elements of the ground. 4. The temperature distribution in the rouni is simulated by the poten Sal distribution in the model A ‘model designed "sccording to the foregoing principles. gives perfect tem: perature data ifthe geometrical and thermal. characteristics. of the forma: Hons to ‘be investigated are. known When 4 few of these characteristics eam be only aptroximately determined, one hhas to use s model which does not simu Inte perfectly the actual conditions to be iavestigated The data oblained under this coniion are nevertheless wef i tsed-in a qualitative manger. ‘In. par fievlar, it permite to ‘understand "the basic influence “of simost any factor ‘upon the temperature distribution in the ground ‘A "comprehensive study of the tem- peratre sn the earth's crust by the elec- frolytic. model ‘method would require several man-years. but would. probably be of great value. For the present work only. those measurements “which were necessary for a good understanding of the temperature. distribution in. sedi ‘ents were vestigated, im particular the effect of the following factors Salt domes, salt ridges Intrusions having a low heat con ductivity, formation tip, superficial relief, Betroleum, reservoirs, bre deposits, faulting “Actual measurements on more com plex case in particular combina. tions of several of the preceding factors, were not cari ont because reasonaty Correct qualitative data can usually be ‘obtained by simply. altering adequately the temperature patterns “obtained. for the elementary cases, Many Sirplifcations Permissible Theoretically, a model must e ge etricaly simlar so the object it se Iites. However, ifthe object is sy metrical about 4 plane o* about an Sats, fly am adequate part of the model may Be Used rather than the complete model For instance, many of the. formations listed above, are of revolution. about an axis Under this condition it will waually Suffice to carry the electrical investiga tion on'a sectar only, For example, the temperature. distribution in and. about the sat dome. whose cross-section is shown on igure 1 can be fully investi- fated by simply using the model shown forthe right of the figure. This is of feat practical importance because: the DBreparation ‘of the models is thus con: Siderably facilitated. Furthermore, meas. ‘ments can be carried out easly in Side the formation, as will be apparen From an examination of Figure 1-3 These inside measurements. would be difficult to make n'a simple manner i complete Fnodels were uaed. The vata obtained Tor one face of the wedge shown to the right of Figure 1 are applicable to any other section of the formation phsing through the axis of symmetry. "A similar simplification can’ be made for the study of tn anticine for ox Ample. Because such'a structure is sym 212 32 C= 3 (F-32) [ F=sa-3c Figure 1-9. Temperature conversion chart metrical about two, planes at right an sles only 2 hall slice of the formation need Be investigated (Figure 1-4). Of Course, if the object to. Be investigated deat possess any symmetry, fk necessary fo ane a full model accurate results are desired. ‘The materials recommended for the contusion of a moda are water and Sonducting ‘bber When he latter maternal Ml not available & chick paste of well mised sand and ‘lay’ Can be used instead, This paste is easily mod- led to the required shape "The materials are. placed ina ree tangular container, 2424. inches for example. For the investigation of salt domes and other structures which are symmetrical about an axis, the container tilted (Figure -8) in order to obtain for the water the correct wedge shape mentioned above "The heat flow fs simulated by an elec- trie flow obtained by placing a fiat tleetrode at each of two opposite ends ofthe mode! (see Figure 1-6) ‘The eect of surface reli Can be a proximately investigated by eurving of the current electrodes (Figure 1°), This procedure simulates the case of asniform temperature. for the ground Srface, which fe not an unreasonable Assumption when’ the topographic changes are not very large. In the case ‘of high mountaine or very deep depres: Sons the data. thus “obtained are in frror, and amore accurate procedure is desirable, This wil be discussed tn “Alternating current is preferable to direct ‘current or simulating the heat flow, but die may be used if so desired. In this case a velatively high voltage {oore than volts) is, neezsary, be ‘use it permits disregarding the polar ation yotentials atthe pickup elec: trodes, Almost any conventional tester for analyzer may be used for de. meas: ‘To obtain the section of an isogeo- therm ‘the mull-method is recommended forthe” potential. measurements, "one of the pickup electrodes is held. sta: Conary, ta point P while the other clectcode is placed in contact ‘with the model Every point registering. & zero reading is situated on the equgotential firlace passing through B. The line Joining these points ts 4 vertical section ‘ofan isogeotherm. "By "repeating. the preceding procedure after electrode. P Eevmoved to various stations, for i Slance at points situated 10 volts apa Family’ of isogeotherms 4s obtained Fo obtain the temperature values in 4 hypothetical verti! bore hole which is In'thermal equilibvium, voltage meas- trements are made alone straight tne Siting one of the current clectrodes a 3 Fefgence point ‘ora compete investigation of the temperature distribution ina formation, TE'advisable to make both types of he electric circuits used for this work ate represented: on Figure 1-8 “The experimental procedure described above, although extremely “simple, is perfectly adapted to the investigation of the temperature. in areas which are in thermal equilibrigm, even If the condi tions are ‘extremely complex. On the other “hand the investigation ‘of tne Steady states necessitates serious modi Reations The tinsteady states commonly found ave caused by the following factors i Dinrnal and. annual temperature changes, inthe "superfeal earth {ayer (about 100 feet thick), 2, Fluid Sneeusions, 5. Mad circulation in, rotary holes, 4 Setting of cement behind casing Although cases No. 2, 3.and 4 are of rca! ‘practical interest a8 far asthe forming of wells by temperature mes lrements is coftcerned, no scale. model fxperiment could be made for this work Snd only empirieal-data on the subject will be presented,