Well log analysis for geologists

Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation

Q1: Give a brief about Borehole environment (Hole diameter, drilling mud, invaded zone, uninvaded
zone, flushed zone, diameter of invasion and index of hydrocarbon movability):
Where a hole is drilled into a formation, the rock plus the fluids in it (rock-fluid system) are altered in the
vicinity of the borehole. A well's borehole and the rock surrounding it are contaminated by the drilling mud, which
affects logging measurements.

Hole Diameter (dh):

A well's borehole size is described by the outside diameter of the drill bit. But, the diameter of the borehole
may be larger or smaller than the bit diameter because of:
1- Wash out and/or collapse of shale and poorly cemented porous rocks.
2- Build-up of mudcake on porous and permeable formations.
The size of the borehole is measured by a caliper log.

Drilling Mud:
Most wells are drilled with rotary bits and use special mud as a circulating fluid. The mud helps remove
cuttings from the well bore, lubricate and cool the drill bit, and maintain an excess of borehole pressure over
formation pressure. The excess of borehole pressure over formation pressure prevents blow-outs.
The density of the mud is kept high enough so that hydrostatic pressure in the mud column is always
greater than formation pressure. This pressure difference forces some of the drilling fluid to invade porous and
permeable formations. As invasion occurs, many of the solid particles are trapped on the side of the borehole and
form mudcake.

Invaded Zone:
The zone which is invaded by mud filtrate is called the invaded zone. It consists of a flushed zone (Rxo)
and a transition or annulus (Ri) zone. The flushed zone (Rxo) occurs close to the borehole where the mud filtrate has
almost completely flushed out a formation's hydrocarbons and/or water (Rw). The transition or annulus (Ri) zone,
where a formation's fluids and mud filtrate are mixed, occurs between the flushed (Rxo) zone and the uninvaded (R,)
zone.

The uninvaded zone:

Is defined as the area beyond the invaded zone where a formation's fluids are uncontaminated by mud
filtrate.

Flushed Zone (Rxo):

The flushed zone extends only a few inches from the well bore and is part of the invaded zone. If invasion
is deep or moderate, most often the flushed zone is completely cleared of its formation water (Rw) by mud filtrate
(Rmf).

The diameter of invasion:

The depth of mud filtrate invasion into the invaded zone.

Index of hydrocarbon movability:

The ratio between the uninvaded zone's water saturation (Sw) and the flushed zone's water saturation (Sxo).

1
Well log analysis for geologists
Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation
Q2: Give a brief about Invasion and Resistivity Profiles:

Resistivity profiles illustrate the horizontal distributions of the invaded and uninvaded zones and their corresponding
relative resistivities. There are three commonly recognized invasion profiles:
1- Step profile.
2- Transition profile.
3- Annulus profile.

Step profile:
Has a cylindrical geometry with an invasion diameter equal to dj. Shallow reading, resistivity logging tools
read the resistivity of the invaded zone (R,), while deeper reading, resistivity logging tools read true resistivity of the
uninvaded zone (Rt).

The transition profile:

Has a cylindrical geometry with two invasion diameters: d; (flushed zone) and dj (transition zone). It is
probably a more realistic model for true borehole conditions than the step profile.
Three resistivity devices are needed to measure a transitional profile, these three devices measure
resistivities of the flushed, transition, and uninvaded zones Rxo, Rj, and Rt.
By using these three resistivity measurements, the deep reading resistivity tool can be corrected to a more
accurate value of true resistivity (Rt), and the depth of invasion can be determined.
Two modern resistivity devices which use these three resistivity curves are: the Dual Induction Log with a
Laterolog-8 or Spherically Focused Log (SFL) and the Dual Laterolog with a Microspherically Focused Log
(MSFL).

An annulus profile:
Is only sometimes recorded on a log because it rapidly dissipates in a well. The annulus profile is detected
only by an induction log run soon after a well is drilled. However, it is very important to a geologist because the
profile can only occur in zones which bear hydrocarbons.
The annulus effect is detected by a higher resistivity reading on a deep induction log than by one on a
medium induction log.

Log resistivity profiles:

Illustrate the resistivity values of the invaded and uninvaded zones in the formation being investigated.
They are of particular interest because, by using them, a geologist can quickly scan a log and look for
potential zones of interest such as hydrocarbon zones.

Water-Bearing Zones log resistivity profile:

In freshwater muds:
The resistivity of the mud filtrate (Rmf) is much greater than the resistivity of the formation water (Rw).
Rmf > 3 Rw.
The shallow (Rxo), medium (Rj), and deep (Rt) resistivity tools separate and record high (Rxo),
intermediate (Rj), and low (Rt) resistivities

In saltwater muds:
Resistivity of the mud filtrate (Rmf) is approximately equal to the resistivity of the formation water (Rw).
Rw = Rmf.
The shallow (Rxo), medium(Ri), and deep (Rt) resistivity tools all read low resistivity.

2
Well log analysis for geologists
Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation

Hydrocarbon-Bearing Zones log resistivity profile:

In freshwater mud:
A hydrocarbon zone invasion results in a resistivity profile where the shallow (Rxo), medium (Rj), and
deep (Rt) resistivity tools all record high resistivities.
In some instances, the deep resistivity will be higher than the medium resistivity. When this happens, it is
called the annulus effect.

In saltwater mud:
A hydrocarbon zone invasion results in a resistivity profile where the shallow (Rxo), medium (Rj), and
deep (Rt) resistivity tools separate and record low (Rxo), intermediate (Rj) and high (R,) resistivities.

3
Well log analysis for geologists
Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation

4
Well log analysis for geologists
Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation

Q3: Lithology and formation temperature are basic Information Needed in Log Interpretation, Why?

Lithology:
In quantitative log analysis, there are several reasons why it is important to know the lithology of a zone.
Porosity logs require a lithology or a matrix constant before a zone's porosity can be calculated. And the
formation factor (F), a variable used in the Archie water saturation equation varies with lithology. As a consequence,
water saturations change as F changes.

Temperature of Formation/Formation temperature (Tf):

Is also important in log analysis because the resistivities of the drilling mud (Rm), the mud filtrate (Rmf),
and the formation water (Rw) vary with temperature.
The temperature of a formation is determined by knowing:
1- Formation depth.
2- Bottom hole temperature (BHT).
3- Total depth of the well (TD).
4- Surface temperature.

Q4: Estimate formation temperature (Tf) with depth (linear gradient assumed):
Given:
Surface temperature = 80°
Bottom hole temperature (BHT) = 180°
Total depth (TD) = 10,000 feet
Formation depth = 6,000 feet
Procedure:
1. Locate BHT (180°F) on the 80 scale (bottom of the chart; surface temperature = 80°F).
2. Follow BHT (180°) vertically up until it intersects 10,000 ft (TD) line. This intersection defines the temperature
gradient.
3. Follow the temperature gradient line up to 6,000 ft (formation depth).
4. Formation temperature (140°) is read on the bottom scale vertically down from the point where the 6,000 ft line
intersects the temperature gradient.

5
Well log analysis for geologists
Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation

Q5: Because resistivity varies with changes in temperature, you must adjust before calculation. Use the chart
to calculate Rm at formation temperature.
Given:
Resistivity of drilling mud (Rm) equals 1.2 at 75°F. Formation temperature (Tf) = 160°.
Procedure:
1. Locate the resistivity value, 1.2, on the scale at the bottom of the chart.
2. Follow the vertical line up to a temperature value of 75°F (point A on the chart).
3. Follow the diagonal line (constant salinity) to where it intersects a temperature value of 160°F (point B on the
chart).
4. From point B, follow the vertical line to the scale at the bottom, and find a resistivity value of 0.56.

6
Well log analysis for geologists
Ch_1 Basic Relationships of Well Log Interpretation