Well Logging and Formation Evaluation

PAB2084 & PCB 2044

Spontaneous Potential (SP) Log


Dr. Ahmed Salim

Learning Outcome
At the end of the lecture, students should be
able to
1. Understand the physical principles behind the
operation of spontaneous potential (SP) logging,
2. Learn how to interpret SP logs in terms of lithology
and petrophysical properties, and
3. Understand what corrections need to be applied to
SP logs before using them for interpretation.

Contents
1. Introduction
2. SP measurement principle
3. Relationship between SP and R
mf
or R
w

4. Environmental effect on SP
5. Applications of SP Log.
6. Conclusion
Introduction
A self-induced, natural electrical potential (voltages) that
occurring in the wellbore spontaneously between
reservoir rocks and a fluid-filled borehole.
The SP log is the oldest type of log and is still common.
It measures the D.C. voltage difference between
surface and borehole electrodes

SP measurement principle
SP is a natural
occurring potential
measured in the
borehole mud . This
potential is created
by chemically
induced electric
current flow.

Liquid Junction Potential (Ej) Generation Mechanism
Occurs at the boundary between the flushed zone and the
virgin zone.
Because of the high salinity of the formation water, both
cations (Na
+
) and anions (Cl
-
) will migrate towards the mud
filtrate.
The anions (Cl
-
) move faster than the cations (Na
+
),and
the net effect is a current flowing.

The Na+ ion is comparatively
large and drags 4.5
molecules of water, while the
Cl
-
ion is smaller and drags
only 2.5 molecules of water.
Hence, the anion Cl
-
will
migrate more easily than the
Na+ ions.
More positive charges left
behind in the formation
water. These positive
charges restrict further Cl-
migration towards the
flushed zone.


Cl
-
crossing > Na
+
crossing
Salty water
(formation,
virgin zone)
Less
salty
water
(mud
filtrate)
Cl
-


Shale


Shale
Sand
Liquid J unction Potential (E
j
)
Shale
Salty water
(formation,
virgin zone)
Less
salty
water
(mud
filtrate)
Na
+, left behind


Shale


Membrane Potential (E
m
) Generation Mechanism
Because of its molecular
structure, shale are more
permeable to Na
+
cations
than the Cl
-
anions; a shale
acts as an ionic sieve. Since
Na
+
ions effectively manage
to penetrate the shale bed
through from the saline
formation water to the less
saline mud column, a
potential is created known as
the membrane potential (E
m
).
Generation Mechanism
The total SP potential is the
sum of two components:
E
total
= E
j
+ E
m
This total potential is
measured in the borehole as
the SP.
The total potential is also
called the electrochemical
component of the SP.
Borehole Phenomenon
Electrokinetic (Streaming, E
k
) Potential
E
k
exists due to the flow
of an electrolyte through
a nonconductive medium-
mudcake.
This flow exists because
of the differential
pressure between the
mud column and the
formation.
It is normally very small
and will stop as soon as
the mudcake becomes
impermeable.
Static SP (SSP)
By definition the SSP is the sum of the membrane (E
m
) and
junction potential (E
j
)


Where I
SP
is the SP current.

The SP we measure is the change in potential from one point
in the well bore to another. It is developed across the
resistance of the mud column (R
m
) from one point to another
due to the SP current (I
SP
)

m j
SSP=E + E = ( ) *
xo t sh m SP
R R R R I + + +
SP= *
m SP
R I
Static SP (SSP)
Where R ideal gas constant, T absolute Temperature
F Faraday constant, C
w
formation water concentration
C
mf
mud filtrate concentration,
R
w
formation water resistivity, R
mf
mud filtrate resistivity
u mobility of Cl, v mobility of Na

D
E = . .ln . .ln
. 11.6
mf
w
mf w
w w
D D
mf mf
R
RT v u C RT v u
F v u C F v u R
C C
E K Log Log
C C
| |
| |

=
|
|
|
+ +
\ .
\ .
| | | |
= =
| |
| |
\ . \ .
Static SP (SSP)
m
E = .ln ln
. 59.1
mf
w
mf w
w w
m m
mf mf
R
RT C RT
F C F R
C C
E K Log Log
C C
| |
| |
=
|
|
|
\ .
\ .
| | | |
= =
| |
| |
\ . \ .
Static SP (SSP)
D m SP
SSP=E + E = K l g 71.
w w
mf mf
C C
o Log
C C
| | | |
=
| |
| |
\ . \ .
SP Log Salinity Effect
If formation fluid has
higher salinity than that of
borehole fluid the
deflection is to the left of
shale baseline (Red
dashed line) and vice
versa if formation fluid has
lower salinity.
Baseline shift may be due
to unconformity.
Relationship between SP and R
mf
or R
w
SP Scales
The SP is measured in millivolts, mV.
The scale on the log shows a number of mV per division
for example 20mV/division. This gives a total for the
track of 200mV.
The scale across the track is variable and depends on
the conditions in the well.
Environmental effect on SP
(1)Oil Base Muds & Air-Filled Boreholes

Due to a complete lack of an electrical path in the borehole,
no SP will be generated in wells where the hole is filled with
oil-based muds or air.

(2) Shaly Formations

Shale will reduce the measured SP. This effect permits the
shaliness to be estimated if a clean sand of the same water
salinity is available for comparison.
Environmental effect on SP
(3) Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbon saturation may reduce SP measurements, so
only water-bearing sands should be used for determining
Rw from the SP.
So a hydrocarbon bearing zone suppress the SP curve.
(4) Unbalanced Muds
Unbalanced mud columns, with differential pressure into
the formation, can cause streaming potentials that
increase the SP deflection, especially in depleted
reservoirs. There is no way to handle it quantitatively. This
effect is called the electrokinetic SP.
Environmental effect on SP
(5) KCL Muds

The use of potassium chloride muds affects the derivation
of R
w
from SP. A quick correction for KCL mud effects is
simply to take the observed SP deflection, subtract 25 mV,
then treat it as a NaCl mud SP. The R
mf
to R
mfe
, relationship
is slightly different for KCL filtrates than for NaCl filtrates.
A quick rule-of-thumb is to add 30% to the measured R
mf

and convert to R
mfe
as a NaCl filtrate.
Environmental effect on SP
SP affected by layer thickness
Applications of SP Log
SP Log is usually used to:
(1) identify permeable zones (Porosity and permeability
indications);
(2) define bed boundaries ;
(3) compute shale content (Lithology indication);
(4) Depositional Environment from the SP (Correlation)
(5) determine values of formation water resistivity Rw;.


SP Uses
(1) Identify permeable zones
The negative abnormal
on SP curve usually
indicates the permeable
zone ; the higher
abnormal range , the
more permeable of the
formation .
Since invasion can only
occur in permeable
formations, deflections of
SP can be used to
identify permeable
formations.


SP Uses (2) Define bed boundaries
Half of abnormal
amplitude point will be
boundaries of shale and
sand.
The bed thickness is
the interval between
two boundaries .
The vertical resolution
of SP is poor, and often
the permeable bed
must be 30 ft or more to
achieve a static (flat
baseline) SP

SP Uses (3) Compute shale content
The presence of shale in a cleansand will tend to reduce
the SP . This effect can be used to estimate the shale
content of a formation (maximum deflection is clean sand;
minimum is shale).



Where
SP
shale
is the value observed in a shale ;
SP
clean
is the value observed in a clean, water-bearing sand;
We also call SP
shale
the base line of shale .
sh SP
(V ) =
clean
Shale clean
SP SP
SP SP

SP Uses (3) Compute shale content

Shale and sand
baselines
When to Consider SP for V
sh
Estimates
Beds should be > 5 ft (1.5 m) thick
R
mf
/ R
w
contrast should be > 4.0
Some permeability must exist

SP-Shale Volume
Shale have SP lying on the right side
of the log (higher voltage).
Set as shale base line = 0 mv
Clean, permeable rocks lie
on the left side (lower voltage)
Set as sand base line =6 divisions x 20mv
= 120 mv
Point A
2 divisions x 20 mv=40 mv

SP-Shale Volume
Clean, permeable rocks lie
on the left side (lower voltage)
Set as sand base line =6 divisions x 20mv
= 120 mv
Point A
2 divisions x 20 mv=40 mv

Estimate shale volume at Point A
log clean
sh clean
SP - SP
SP - SP
sh
V =
40 - 120
0.67
0 - 120
sh
V = =
SP Uses
(4) Depositional Environment from the SP
Since shales and clays are generally finer-grained than
sands, a change in SP suggests a change in grain size.
Thus, SP deflections can be indicate depositional
sequences, where either sorting, grain size or cementation
change with depth and produce characteristic SP shapes.
These shapes are referred to as bells, funnels, or cylinders
(Following Figure).
SP Uses
(4) Depositional Environment from the SP
SP Uses
(5) Determine values of formation water resistivity
Available clean water bearing zone with a constant R
mf
value for calibration
Drilling mud : Moderate resistivity, conductive
Formation water : NaCl waters with high salinity.
Appreciable formation permeability
Adequate bed thickness (at least 30 feet.)
Hole size less than 10
These conditions are rare, and large errors in the Rw estimate
may occur. Use this technique with care!

R
w
used in Archie Eq. to calculate Water Saturation (S
w
)

SPs are useful for water resistivity (Rw) determination
under the following favorable conditions:
SP Uses
(5) Determine values of formation water resistivity
R
w
is often known from client information or local knowledge.
The SP can be used to check the value or to compute it when
it is unavailable.

SP curve can be used for estimation of R
w
. The equation is :



where R
mfe
, R
we
are equivalent R
mf
or R
w
which suppose no
shoulder bed effect on them .
K is a constant - depending on the temperature.
Kc = 61 + 0.133 T
o
F
Kc = 65 + 0.24 T
o
C
SP = -Kl g
mfe
we
R
o
R


Where SP is measured in millivolts and K is a constant
which depends on temperature.
The SP deflection can be read in a shale-free water-bearing
sand that is thick enough to allow for full development of the
potential.
A reasonable approximation for K is:
K = (T
f
+ 505)/8 where T
f
is formation temperature in F, and
K = (T
f
+ 336)/5 where T
f
is formation temperature in C.
R
w
from SP
(1) R
w
from the SP- background
SP = -Klg
mf
w
R
R
R
w
from SP
(2) R
w
from the SP-Classical Method
1) Determine formation temperature T
f
.
2) Find R
mf
at formation temperature.
3) Convert R
mf
at formation temperature to an R
mfe
value.
4) Compute the R
mfe
/ R
we
ratio from the SP.
5) Compute R
we
6) Convert R
we
at formation temperature to an R
w
value.
(3) Rw from the SP-Silva-Bassiouni Method
A recent study has
found that a simple
method is available
and theoretically
justified.
The entire process
is reduced to a
single chart, shown
in the right Figure.
(3) Rw from the SP-Silva-Bassiouni Method

The use of the chart
is illustrated in the
right Figure.
Limitations
The SP cannot be recorded in air or oil-base muds,
since there is no conductive fluid in the borehole.
Conductive mud is essential for generation of a
spontaneous potential.
In salt-mud, SP tends to be straight line (less salinity
contrast).
If bed is too thin, the full SP will not develop. Chart exist
to correct for this effect, but only significant for bed
thickness < 20ft.
Hydrocarbon and shale in the formation reduce SP
development.

Conclusions
The Spontaneous Potential (SP) is due to a combination of
two phenomena :
Electrochemical potential : Created by the contact of two
solutions of different salinity. Composed of a membrane
potential and a liquid junction potential.
Electrokinetic potential: Created when a solution is forced, by
differential pressure, to flow through a membrane. Usually
negligible.
Conclusions
SP Log is usually used to identify permeable zones, bed
boundaries and depositional environment ; and to compute
shale content and formation water resistivity Rw.
Reasonable salinity difference between formation water and
mud column, bed thickness and borehole diameter are the
most important requirements for SP usage.
Thank You