Mud logging & Wireline logging from North Dibeilla.

Agadem block.
The mud and wireline logging are part of to the exploration
department activities. The mud logging unit is one of the important
safety instruments in drilling process once it gives accessibility of
formation directs parameters on real time. It allow the formation
evaluation more accurately when it follow with the wireline logging
techniques. We are going to underline the mud and wireline logging
practical work flow on Dibeilla North prospect in the well Dibeilla N-5.
Well Dibeilla N-5 is an appraisal well in the southern portion of Dibeilla
North oilfield (fig.) to be drilled by the operator in the block for the
purpose of:
1) To discover new oil reserves in Alternances de Sokor formation for
oil export.
2) To understand the extending regulation of reservoir sand.
3) To get more velocity information.
Primary objective in terms of potential
resource at the Dibeilla N-5 is the
Alternances de Sokor, which is interpreted
as a series of stacked fluvial channel
deposits cut into the floodplain and
lacustrine shale
Fig.2. the well Dibeilla N-5 location by seismic map
 Necessary data for the drilling operation:
The well profile and the method to use to reach the target depend on
many people. The target and formation depth expectation are giving by
the exploration department since the responsibility of the drilling
operation belongs to one specific department. The operation requires
many steps which are notified in documents.

-The well proposal document.

-The drilling program document.
 Fig.4. the oil well architecture .

1. Placing the drilling bit: Place the drill

bit, collar and drill pipe in the hole.
2. Attaching the Kelly: Attach the Kelly
and turntable and begin drilling.
3. Mud circulation: As drilling
progresses, circulate mud through the
pipe and out of the bit to float the rock
cuttings out of the hole.
4. Adding drill pipe: Add new sections
(joints) of drill pipes as the hole gets
deeper.
5. Trip out: Remove (trip out) the drill
pipe, collar and bit when the pre-set
depth (any where from a few hundred
to a couple-thousand feet) is reached.
 Fig.5. the mud circulation system.

6. First surface casing: pipe placed in the

well to prevent the wall of the hole from
caving in, to prevent movement of fluids
from one formation to another and to aid
in well control.

7. Installing the wellhead: this conclude

the end of all the drilling operations.

NB: The mud logging took all his sense by the

circulation of the mud when the drilling progress.
The primary purposes of the drilling fluids were to clean , cool and lubricate the bit and
continuously remove cuttings from the borehole. But now this fluid has become a complicated
mixture of liquids, solids and chemicals and has given birth to a new discipline mud
engineering. The functions and corresponding properties of a drilling mud are:

1. Remove drilled cuttings from the Clean , cool, and lubricate the drill
borehole ( viscosity) string.
2. Carry and release the cutting at the Seal porous and permeable zones with
surface an impermeable filter cake.
3. Control subsurface pressures Help support part of the weight of the
4. Prevent the borehole from collapsing drill string.
5. Protect producing formation from Ensure maximum information from the
damage formation drilled.
 Mud logging is one of the important activities in drilling operation; it provides for continuous
on-site inspection, detection, and evaluation of the rock units as they are being drilled with
regards to correlation and potential hydrocarbon production. Obtaining the Mud logging data
and their real evaluation are very important factors for the exploration programs.
Factors that affect the amount of hydrocarbons remaining in the formation after flushing and
which, in turn, affect the amount of oil and gas entrained in the drilling fluid are:
􀁺 Depth
􀁺 Rate of Penetration
􀁺 Size of the borehole
􀁺 Volume of drilling fluid circulated
􀁺 Physical properties of the formation
􀁺 Properties of the drilling fluid

Using Mudlogging to its greatest advantage depends on several factors. One is the client's
knowledge of the subsurface. Another is the consideration given to downhole mechanical
factors. Others include the reliability of correlation with other wells and the oil company's
philosophy towards the well in question.
• Mudlogging Geologist (Mud logger)
• Pressure Engineer / Data Engineer
• Sample Catcher

MUDLOGGING GEOLOGIST: Cutting & core description, hydrocarbon show, porosity..

PRESSURE ENGINEER & DATA : record, monitor & analyze the drilling parameters
such as ROP, RPM, WOB, and TORQUE.

SAMPLE CATCHER: Collect and Prepare Sample for Mudlogging Geologist.

Fig.6.the mud logging team .

1. Microscope : A binocular microscope with several magnifications
is used for lithological evaluation and description.
2. Ultraviolet light box : The UV box is used for determining the
percentage, physical character, color, and intensity of
hydrocarbon fluorescence within the sample.
3. Pit level Indicators : Pit level data is continuously recorded in a
chart using the maximum allowable chart sapn to ensure
maximum sensitivity so that any changes in pit levels are
immediately recognized.
4. Pump Stroke Sensors : Pump stroke counters are used to
monitor all active mud pumps, for correct lagging of samples to
surface.
5. Sensors for monitoring mud properties : The mud temperature
sensor is used to monitor the temperature of the mud going into
the hole and coming out of it.
The drilling and mud parameters are giving by means of sensors
which are divided into two groups digitals and analogs ; measured
and calculated parameters all are displaying on computer screen
within the mud logging unit see (fig.) and (fig.).

Fig.7. the data Engineer. Fig.8. on real time data show.

As the mud system directs the drilling process there are two groups
of sensors which give the values of mud and drilling parameters: the
digitals sensors and analogs sensors.
Digitals Sensors Analogs Sensors

Depth 1 Hook Load

1
2 Stand Pipe Pressure
2 ROP 3 Casing Pressure
3 Draw-Works 4 Torque
4 Block Position 5 Ultra Sonic
6 Mud Flow out
7 Mud Temperature
5 Pump Stroke 8 Conductivity
6 Rotation per 9 Mud Density
Minute 10 Gas Trap
11 Total Gas Sys
12 Chromatograph sys
Gas system is a series of devices connected to each other to allow
the separation and the determination of the percentage of gases
contained on the returning drilling fluid.

Fig.9. Gas system map..

The ROP:
One of the most important parameters for lithological analysis and
the drilling progress behavior is the Rate of Penetration (ROP):it is
An important tool for geological analysis and correlation. The ROP is
not only dependent to the lithology. It is also affected by
-Weight on bit
-Rotary RPM
-Mud properties
The lag time :
The lag time determination is also an important responsibility of
the mud logger; it is define as a time interval required for pumping
the samples from a particular depth to the surface where they can
be collected. Lag time will allow for correct correlation with real
time parameters such as depth and drill rate
The geological control has to be done every a fixed number of meters
drilled depending on the drilling program. This is done by bringing a
sample of cuttings from the shale shakers and cleans. By means of the
microscope, a detailed description of the sample has to done to
provide a Masterlog (fig.) which contains the geological information
and interpretations.

Fig.10. the Masterlog plot .

The samples shows and cuttings shape color and mineral contains are
the majors keys of the lithology description and have both
conventional charts (fig.) and abbreviations (fig.) which allow their
differentiation.

Fig.11. the sample oil shows description reference Fig.12. the sample shape description reference
Beyond naked eyes direct visualization (fig.)and microscope analyses
(fig.) the use of others techniques help to describe theses samples and
detect oil or gas shows.

Fig.13.Microscope visualization for the sample Fig.14. Naked eyes visualization for the sample
description . description .
 Well Dibeilla N-5 geological analysis.

Age Geological Depth Lithology

Divisions

Unconsolidated sands with occasion clayey

7.5 – 655m
Miocene-
Recent horizons, and interbedded with clays at lower
Quaternary
part of the section. Fine to coarse sands and
gravels. Mostly quartz, some fields par,
occasionally varicolored soft clay.(See fig ).

Fig.15. the recent Miocene interpretation from

the masterlog .
 Well Dibeilla N-5 geological analysis.

Age Geological Depth Lithology

Divisions

655 – 1027m
Oligocene Sokor Shales Claystones with some fines sand bands
(see fig.).

Low velocity 1027-10m

shale

Fig.16. the Sokor shale interpretation from the

masterlog .
The low velocity zone is composed of claystone interbed with sandstone combined with
carbonate. The Sokor shale and the low velocity zone are the regional cap rock within the
block. There are some read of significant presence in this zone of methane this dramatically
attenuate seismic wave energy . The shale interbeding most dominant up to 1000m in the
wild Dibeilla area. In most of case the drilling engineer changes the drill bit in this Shally
zone. The Claystones are green color and the shale in olive (fig.)

Fig.17. the Sokor shale samples in low velocity zone. Fig.18. the Sokor shale interpretation in the low velocity zone from
the masterlog .
Sidewall are generally made once the well has been drilled. They are often done
along with the wireline logging. Sidewall cores are commonly collected from poorly
consolidated zones, after the interval has been drilled. After fired a gun at the
appropriate level A small cylinder of rock is captured and retrieved by a wireline
(fig.28).

Fig.28. the Swc system .

 The advantages of sidewall cores are:
1. Lithology and mineralogy of sections are readily obtained.
2. Shows from cuttings analysis can be confirmed.
Since sidewall plugs are small and may also have been
crushed somewhat, they are not good as good as barrel
cores for detemining porosity, permeability or fluid
saturations. However , sidewall coring is a quick ,
inexpensive way to sample a selected formation.
The well site geologist checks core samples, whether
barell or sidewall , for rock type. Physical characteristics ,
and mineral composition. Fossils help to identify beds.
The geologist has to take some considerations in
especially sidewall core examination like:

1. Try to minimize breakage

2. One end will be obscured by filter cake
3. The sides will consist of material pulverized and
compacted by bullet impact.