Formation Evaluation

Lecture 10

Log Interpretation

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Logs Covered During this Course

• Caliper • a measurement of borehole diameter

• A measurement of the difference in salinity between

• SP the mud filtrate and the formation water

• gamma ray • a measure of the natural radioactivity of the whole

formation near the wellbore

• a measure of the travel time of sound waves in the

• sonic/ acoustic formation near the wellbore

• a measure of the bulk electron density of the

• bulk density formation near the wellbore

• a measure of the bulk volume of hydrogen (and

• neutron porosity chlorine) in the formation near the wellbore

• a measure of the average resistivity surrounding the

• resistivity tool - including contributions from the mud and the
formation around the wellbore

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Log Interpretation
Procedure

• The following steps are carried out with a standard log interpretation

•Data QC
•Lithology Identification
•Volume of Clay Calculation
•Determination of Porosity
•Determination of Permeability
•Identification of Hydrocarbons
•Calculation of Saturations (Water, Oil, Gas)
•Calculation of Pay

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Log Interpretation
Introduction

• Most of these procedures have already been covered during

the course, but they will be quickly reviewed as a process of
revision and consolidation of the course.

• Examples of interpretations from South Pepper 1 will be

used as an illustration.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Log QC
Quality Control of Logs GR
Common Log Errors

• Depth Mismatching. There may be depth

differences between the different logs.
These should be corrected. The gamma ray
log is usually used as the datum.

• Bad Hole. Can be detected on caliper log,

or other tools susceptible to bad hole
Log depth matched

• Cycle Skipping. Occasionally tools such

as the sonic log miss out a reading due to a
weak signal, leading to sudden blips on the
well log.
Cycle Skip removed
• Tool Pick-ups. Are recognised by tails at
the base of logs.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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VShale- GR
Volume of Shale (Vshale)

GR log Interpretation
Volume of clay / Volume of shale
• Assuming a linear relationship, the volume of shale can be calculated from
the gamma ray log.

• Volume of shale (%) = GR value (log) – GR (min)

GR (max) – GR (min)

• This is also known as the GR index equation (IGR). The log value from this
equation is taken from the GR reading on the log. The min and max values
are those values estimated to be the value of the sand and shale lines
respectively.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Porosity Determination
http://www.edge.ou.edu/well-log-interpretation/unit-4.htm

Methods for Porosity Determination

• Sonic Porosity
• Density Porosity
• Neutron-Density Porosity
• Archie’s Relationship (Estimate)

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Sonic Porosity
Wyllie’s Time Average Equation
• Porosity can be calculated from the sonic log using the
following equation

Wyllie’s time average equation

( Δt - Δtma )
Øt =
(Δtf - Δtma )

Where
Øt = porosity
Δt = interval transit time (tool measured)
Δtma = transit time of matrix material
Δtf = transit time of interstitial fluid

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Sonic Porosity
http://www.edge.ou.edu/well-log-interpretation/unit-4.htm

Hydrocarbon Effect

• The interval transit time (Δt) of a formation is increased due to the presence
of hydrocarbons (i.e. hydrocarbon effect).

• If the effect of hydrocarbons is not corrected, the sonic-derived porosity will

be too high.

• Hilchie suggests the following empirical corrections for hydrocarbon effect:

• φ = φsonic x 0.7 (gas)

• φ = φsonic x 0.9 (oil)

(Remember, fresh mud = 189 μsec/ft, salt-water mud = 185 μsec/ft)

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Sonic Porosity
Saltwater vs Freshwater Increasing DT due to gas
Mud filtrate Water Oil Gas
FW mud SW mud SW mud SW mud
A B A B A
X Factor 1 0.9 0.7
Δt 80 80 Δt 80 82.5 90.5
Δ tma 56 56 Δ tma 56 56 56
Δ tf 189 185 Δ tf 185 185 185
Øt 0.180451 0.186047 Ø Sonic 0.186047 0.205426 0.267442
18.05% 18.60% 18.60% 20.54% 26.74%

0.56%
Ø SonicCor 18.60% 18.49% 18.72%

• Marginal difference to φ for

saltwater and freshwater • Gas will increase the interval transit time.
Unless it is corrected for (x0.7) it will over-
calculate the porosity.
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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 Sonic Porosity
Water-Oil-Gas (Constant DT) Water-Oil-Gas (Constant Porosity)
Water Oil Gas
Water Oil Gas SW mud SW mud
SW mud SW mud A B A
A B A X Factor 1 0.9 0.7
X Factor 1 0.9 0.7 Δt 80 82.66 90.27
Δt 80 80 80 Δ tma 56 56 56
Δ tma 56 56 56 Δ tf 185 185 185

Δ tf 185 185 185 Ø Sonic 0.186046512 0.206667 0.265659

Ø Sonic 0.186047 0.186047 0.186047 18.60% 20.67% 26.57%

18.60% 18.60% 18.60% Ø SonicCor 18.60% 18.60% 18.60%

Ø SonicCor 18.60% 16.74% 13.02%

Vel (ft/sec) 12500 12097.75 11077.88
• If Δt is constant, and the φ is constant, Velocity Decreases

to have a reservoir with gas will require • If the rock’s true φ is constant and the
a lower porosity. fluid changes to gas, the velocity will
decrease and the interval transit time will
increase.
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Density Porosity
http://www.edge.ou.edu/well-log-interpretation/unit-4.htm

Density – Porosity Formula:

ρ mn − ρ b
φ=
ρ mn − ρ liq
• Porosity is derived from the bulk density of clean, liquid-
filled formations when the matrix density ρmn, and density
of the liquid, ρliq, are known, using the formula.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Sonic Porosity
http://www.edge.ou.edu/well-log-interpretation/unit-4.htm

Vuggy Porosity, Total Porosity and the Sonic Log

• The Wyllie et al. formula for calculating sonic porosity can be used to determine
porosity in consolidated sandstones and carbonates with intergranular porosity
(grainstones) or intercrystalline porosity (sucrosic dolomites).

• However, when sonic porosities of carbonates with vuggy or fracture porosity

are calculated by the Wyllie formula, porosity values are too low.

• This happens because the sonic log records only matrix porosity, not vuggy or
fracture secondary porosity.

• The percentage of vuggy or fracture secondary porosity can be calculated by

subtracting sonic porosity from total porosity.

• Total porosity values are obtained from one of the nuclear logs (i.e. density or
neutron).

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Hydrocarbon Identification
Log Combinations Resistivity

DETECTION OF HYDROCARBONS Lithology

Shale

GAS
• Neutron-Density Separation Gas Porous
limestone
• High Resistivity Oil

OIL Water Shale

• High Resistivity

WATER Porous
Sandstone Fresh
• Low Resistivity (Salt) Water

• Moderate (Freshwater)
Coal or
caving

Salt
Water

20 0
Porosity units
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Hydrocarbon Identification
Log
Combinations

The best for

lithology
interpretation!

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Hydrocarbon Identification
http://www.edge.ou.edu/well-log-interpretation/unit-4.htm

Hydrocarbon Zone in a Clean Reservoir

• An example of the log response to a hydrocarbon zone in a clean

sandstone reservoir is shown in the following figure.

• The hydrocarbon zone has a gas cap that can be detected on the sonic
log.

• The hydrocarbon zone is clearly seen on the Laterolog, but the gamma
ray log does not distinguish the hydrocarbon leg.

• The transition zone from hydrocarbons to water is clear on the

Laterolog, and the increase in water saturation for this transition zone is
also shown.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Hydrocarbon Identification

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Hydrocarbon Identification

Resistivity Expression of
the Hydrocarbon Zone

• Laterolog response in an oil

reservoir is high resistivity.

• Gradual decrease in the

Laterolog response with
increase in water saturation
towards the base of the
reservoir is a typical
characteristic of an oil
reservoir in a clean, high
porosity sand.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Saturation

Water Saturation: Sw Ro FRw

Sw = S =
n
w
Rt Rt
(n = the saturation exponent)

Hydrocarbon Saturation: S hy = (1 − S w )

Irreducible Water Saturation (SWirr):

The water saturation when only oil flows in the formation, and the
residual water is immobile. Most reservoirs have SWirr in the range
0.1 to 0.3 and the pore walls of most known reservoirs are water-wet.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Saturation
Ro RLLD

Example: Sw = Water Zone

Rt RLLD Water
& Oil Zone

Swirr
(max oil/gas saturation
for formation pressure) Rt =
14 OHM-M
Transition Zone

Therefore, for calculation

of water saturation in Ro =
the oil zone 0.5 OHM-M

From Log:
Ro = 0.5 OHM-M
RT = 14 OHM-M
Sw = 0.19 (19%)
R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Saturation

Movable Oil

There are several ways to present well log data and calculations
so that they can be quickly evaluated by visual inspection. Of
these ‘quick-look’ techniques, the Movable Oil Plot (MOP) is one
of the most useful. One can, at a glance, distinguish between pay
and non-pay zones.

The Movable Oil Plot is made up of three ‘porosity’ curves, a

porosity derived from a porosity log (e.g. Sonic), an apparent
porosity derived from a deep-investigation resistivity device (e.g.
φ LL), and an apparent porosity from a shallow-investigation
resistivity device (e.g. φ MLL),

where: φ LL = Rw / RLL φ MLL = Rmf / RMLL

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Saturation
Movable Oil

If RLL ≈ Rt and RMLL ≈ Rxo, then φLL ≈ φSw and φMLL ≈ φSxo
because
φS w = Rw / Rt
The separation between the φ and φLL curves is thus φ minus φSw,
which is the total bulk-volume fraction of hydrocarbons in the
non-invaded zone.

The separation between the φ and φMLL curves is φ minus φSxo, which
is the bulk-volume fraction of the residual hydrocarbons left in the
flushed zone.

Finally, the separation between φMLL and φLL is equal to (φSxo - φSw), which
is the bulk-volume fraction of the moved hydrocarbons.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Saturation

OR — Determine the Moveable Hydrocarbons (Smhyd) according to the

Schlumberger Formula:

SMhyd = (1/) {√( Rmf/RMSFL) - √( Rw/RLLD) }

where

SMhyd = saturation of the moveable hydrocarbons (in the flushed zone),

Rmf = resistivity of the mud filtrate, which replaces the flushed hydrocarbons,
RMSFL = resistivity of the micro-log (MSFL), where the mud has flushed the
hydrocarbons,
Rw = resistivity of the water in the undisturbed formation
RLLD = resistivity of the true formation (LLD log), which has not been invaded by
drilling fluid.

This quantity can be determined for the whole hydrocarbon-rich interval.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Saturation
Movable Oil Plot

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Permeability Determination

The influence of depositional facies on

reservoir properties – a reefal example.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Permeability Determination

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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 Constructing the Internal Framework

Introduction to Reservoir Characterisation

Well-Log Attributes (Core-log Integration)
Cored Core Plug Derive Porosity and Permeability Logs
Interval Data
Porosity Permeability
0 30 0.01 1000

Establish Porosity - Permeability

Relationship

Core Plugs

Core Plugs

E.g. PERM Facies 1 =

EXP ( 0.1272 x POR - 0.3146)

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Determination of Pay
Pay

• The reservoir intervals that contribute to production are known as the ‘pay’
intervals.

• Reservoir sections are analysed in order to determine their pay and this is the
basis of formation evaluation.

• Pay is determined on the basis of a rock fluid and saturation type, porosity,
permeability and clay content.

• The recognition and quantification of pay zones is an essential part of reservoir

evaluation for calculating field reserves and to help determine the location of
well perforations.

• There is a variety of terminology used to describe pay. This terminology can be

quite confusing, but the common method is outlined next.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Determination of Pay
Pay Nomenclature

Gross reservoir interval is the section between the top and base of the reservoir
that includes both reservoir and non-reservoir rock.

Gross sandstone (or limestone, etc) is the summed thickness of intervals that
are determined to be sandstone, usually by a Vsh cut-off.

Net sandstone (or limestone, etc) is the sum of the parts of the gross sandstone
that have effective porosity and permeability, usually determined by a porosity
cut-off.

Gross pay is the sum of the parts of the net sandstone that have hydrocarbon
saturation considered sufficient for economic production, usually determined by
a water-saturation cut-off.

Net pay is the sum of the parts of the gross pay zones that should give water-free
production, usually determined by an irreducible bulk volume water cut-off.

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Determination of Pay

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Determination of Pay

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Determination of Pay

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Summary
Summary of a typical log interpretation workflow

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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Summary
Establishment of Pay Zone from Wireline Logs

GR

TOP SEAL (SHALE)

Top Reservoir
GAS
GOC

OIL

OWC

AQUIFER SAND

Base Reservoir

BOTTOM SEAL (SHALE)

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University
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Summary
Calculate Reserves

$ $
$ $

R.Evans, Department of Petroleum Engineering, Curtin University

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