BASIC WELL LOGGING ANALYSIS

THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP)

LOG


Hsieh, Bieng-Zih

Fall 2009
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THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG

The spontaneous potential (SP) log was one of the
earliest electric logs used in the petroleum
industry, and has continued to play a significant role
in well log interpretation.

By far the largest number of wells today have this
type of log included in their log suites.
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THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG
(CONT.)

Primarily the spontaneous potential log is used to
identify impermeable zones such as shale, and
permeable zones such as sand.
However, the SP log has several other uses perhaps
equally important.
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THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG
(CONT.)

The spontaneous potential log is a record of direct
current (DC) voltage differences between the
naturally occurring potential of a moveable
electrode in the well bore, and the potential of a
fixed electrode located at the surface (Doll,
1948).

It is measured in millivolts.

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THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG
(CONT.)

Electric currents arising
primarily from
electrochemical factors
within the borehole create the
SP log response.

These electrochemical factors
are brought about by
differences in salinities
between mud filtrate (R
mf
) and
formation water resistivity (R
w
)
within permeable beds.
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THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG
(CONT.)

Because a conductive fluid is
needed in the borehole for the
SP log to operate, it cannot
be used in non-conductive
(i.e. oil-based) drilling
muds.
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SP DEFLECTION

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FUNCTIONS OF SP LOG

The SP log is recorded on the left hand track of the
log in track #1 and is used to:
(1) detect permeable beds,
(2) detect boundaries of permeable beds,
(3) determine formation water resistivity (R
w
),
(4) determine the volume of shale in permeable
beds.

An auxiliary use of the SP curve is in the detection
of hydrocarbons by the suppression of the SP
response. 8
FUNCTIONS OF SP LOG

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STATIC SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SSP)

The concept of static spontaneous potential
(SSP) is important because SSP represents the
maximum SP that a thick, shale-free, porous and
permeable formation can have for a given ratio
between R
mf
/R
w
.

SSP is determined by formula or chart and is a
necessary element for determining accurate values
of R
w
and volume of shale.
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SHALE BASE LINE

The SP response of shales is
relatively constant and follows a
straight line called a shale
baseline.

SP curve deflections are
measured from this shale
baseline.

Permeable zones are indicated
where there is SP deflection from
the shale baseline.
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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE
12
RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE
13
Step 0:
Setup Shale-base-line
read SP log recording
and 16 Normal
Resistivity log reading
every 2 ft from 7430 to
7460
RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (CONT.)
14
Step 1:
determine the
formation temperature
(T
f
)


RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (CONT.)
15
Step 2:
correct the resistivities
of the mud filtrate (R
mf
)
and drilling mud (R
m
) to
formation temperature
(T
f
)

RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (CONT.)
16
Step 3:
Determine the SP
reading (in water-
bearing zone or wet-
formation)



RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (CONT.)
17
Step 4:
Correct SP to SSP

RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (CONT.)
18
Step 5:
Determine R
mf
/R
we
ratio

Step 6:
Determine R
we

RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R
W
)
CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (CONT.)
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Step 7:
Correct R
we
to R
w


VOLUME OF SHALE CALCULATION

The SP log can be used to calculate the volume of
shale in a permeable zone by the following formula:




The volume of shale in a sand can be used in the
evaluation of shaly sand reservoirs.
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SSP
PSP
0 . 1 V
sh
CALCULATE VSH FROM THE SP CURVE
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Use SP log recording
(PSP) every 2 ft from
7430 to 7460

SSP is from step 4


SSP
PSP
0 . 1 V
sh
REVIEW SP LOG
The spontaneous potential log (SP) can be used to:
(1) detect permeable beds; (2) detect boundaries of
permeable beds; (3) determine formation water
resistivity (R
w
); and (4) determine volume of shale
(V
sh
) in a permeable bed.

The variations in the SP are the result of an electric
potential that is present between the well bore and
the formation as a result of differences in salinities
between R
mf
and R
w
.
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REVIEW SP LOG (CONT.)
The SP response in shales is relatively constant
and its continuity of amplitude is referred to as the
shale baseline.

In permeable beds the SP will do the following
relative to the shale baseline: (1) negative
deflection to the left of the shale baseline where R
mf
R
w
; (2) positive deflection to the right of the
shale baseline where R
mf
R
w
; (3) no deflection
where R
mf
R
w
.

The SP curve can be suppressed by thin beds,
shaliness, and the presence of gas.
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