The Six ‘Ko Ko’ Rules To Instantly Detect

Oil, Gas & Water From A Well Log

Enter ‘The Ko Ko Rules’

What you need:
1. Plot triple combo logs in this sequence GR, Resistivity, Density-Neutron. Plot GR
in the first track and Resistivity in the second track. Both curves should be plotted
in increasing values from the left to the right. Plot Density-Neutron together on
the same track. The values should be decreasing as we go from the left to the
right.

2. Plot Density-Neutron in lithology compatible scale: Sandstone or Limestone

scales. We will be able to tell the reservoir types, the fluid types and estimate
porosity right away.
3. Look at the directions of GR, Resistivity, Density and Neutron curves deflections,
either to the right or to the left.
4. By combinating the patterns of each curve deflections, we can tell the difference
between reservoir and non reservoir and/or the fluid types (oil vs gas vs water).
Follow the Ko Ko Rules:
1. Look at the directions of the curve deflections (whether to the right or to
the left) in these following sequence: GR-Res-Density-Neutron.
1. Tight non-reservoir: Right-Right-Right-Right.
GR-Res-Density-Neutron all deflect to the right.
Why it works: If we are not in a reservoir zone, GR is higher due to larger
natural radioactivity from U, Th, K contents. Resistivity is higher due to
tightness. Density and Neutron read low porosity.

2. Shale: Right-Right-Right-Left.
GR, Res-Den deflect to the right. Only Neutron deflects to the left.
Why it works: GR is higher due to larger natural radioactivity from U, Th, K
contents. Resistivity is higher due to tightness. Density read low porosity.
Neutron falsely responds to the clay bound water resulting to higher apparent
porosity. You will see a reversed Density-Neutron crossover.
Sometimes, the resistivity could deflect to the left as well, depending on the
properties of the shale itself. So it could read, Right-Left-Right-Left.
Note: You might see a reversed Density-Neutron crossover in dolomite. Over a
dolomitic zone, GR reads lower.
3. Low porosity (tight) reservoir: Left-Right-Right-Right.
GR deflects to the left, Res-Density-Neutron deflect to the right.
Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U.
Resistivity, Density-Neutron respond to the tightness of the reservoir (rock
quality), rather than to the fluid types.

4. Water bearing reservoir: Left-Left-Left-Left.

GR-Res-Density-Neutron all deflect to the left.
Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U.
Resistivity responds to saline formation water. Density-Neutron reads higher
porosity in reservoir.

5. Oil bearing reservoir: Left-Right-Left-Left.

GR and Density-Neutron all deflect to the left. Only resistivity
deflects to the right.
Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U.
Resistivity responds to non conducive hydrocarbon, giving higher resistivity.
Density-Neutron reads higher porosity in reservoir.
In the example below, the target reservoir is at 5800ft and below. The reservoir
Is sandwiched between tight zones. The first half of the reservoir shows gas
 with high resistivity and gas crossover. The bottom half shows density-neutron
overlay, which indicates fluid. If you notice, the resistivity reduces as we move
towards the bottom of the reservoir.

6. Gas reservoir: Left-Right-Left-Right.

GR deflects to the left; Resistivity, right; Density left; and Neutron, right.
Why it works: GR reads lower due to lower radioactivity of Th, K and U. Resistivity
responds to non conducive hydrocarbon, giving higher resistivity. Density gives lower
bulk density due to lower gas density. Neutron reads low apparent low porosity in gas
zone due to lower neutron-hydrogen interactions in gas as compared to neutron-
hydrogen interactions in water.
 Five Times When I Was Dead Wrong
About Well Logs

#1: See beyond your well with well logs.

Not directly. You can’t see farther than what a logging tool can measure.
In fact, well logs won’t measure any more than a few feet beyond your well bore. Some
even measure a few inches into the formation. Even PLT and pulsed neutron logs sees
within the wellbore.
But, if we have more well logs spread over the field, then we can start propagating the
reservoir properties acquired from the well logs across the reservoir. The more well logs
were have, the clearer the reservoir picture becomes.

Recently, technologies like Electromagnetic Imaging Tomography and Pressure-Pulsed

Neutron Logging allows simultaneous logging in different wells.

#2: Each log sees the same thing.

No.
Each logging sensor sees differently. A specific logging tool measures according to its
limited depth of investigation, vertical resolution and the target properties.
Say we want to measure porosity from four different logging tools – Density, Sonic,
Neutron and NMR. Although different porosity logging tools can produce similar porosity
outputs, they see separate volumes of investigations, measure specific rock properties,
and use different methods/physics of measurements- and they are sensitive to different
factors too.
An NMR tool measures only a few inches from the sensors, while Neutron logs sees
further than the invaded zones. The NMR log may give porosity values that are around
the invaded zones. In contrast, the Neutron log may see porosity from the invaded zone
plus some parts of the uninvaded zone.
If our mud filtrate is brine and the formation fluid is light hydrocarbon, the resulting
porosity values from NMR and Neutron might be different. The resulting NMR porosity
(which only sees inside the invaded zone) might be higher than the Neutron porosity
values (that are measuring the porosity from the invaded zone and the uninvaded
zone).
Regardless, expect the resulting processed porosity values to be similar after
performing borehole and environmental corrections. If I expect to get 15% porosity, I
should get something close to that value, not 35% or 0.5%.
#3: What you see is what you get.
Nope.
Apparent log readings will be different from the final/actual log values.
The logs measurements are affected by and not limited to the tool geometry, tool
physics, borehole environments (including well trajectory), and invasions.
Take neutron log readings in a gas bearing zone and in a shale interval for example.
Let’s say from our knowledge we know that the actual porosity is around 20 p.u.
In the gas bearing zone, you will notice that the neutron reading will be super low.
Neutron can’t see a lot of hydrogen, thus the lower neutron log reading.
In the shale zone, you’ll see higher apparent neutron porosity due to clay bound water
effect. In both cases, the apparent neutron values (one from the gas interval and once
from shale interval), are wrong.
Find out the real porosity value by combining some other informations like the density
log porosity or sonic log porosity.

#4: What you measure is what you get.

Nope.
Logs cannot measure the reservoir properties directly. Logs measure specific rock
properties so we can derive the actual parameters we need.
When we measure porosity, we are actually measuring from electron density, acoustic
travel time of the rock, hydrogen index or mean T2 values to come up with porosity
values. We make certain assumptions when we derive the log properties. Be aware of
these assumptions and their limitations.

#5: You can measure permeability directly from your log.

No.
Permeability is a dynamic data which relates to fluid flow.
We can infer permeability from various correlations, equations, observations and
derivations, but we could not directly measure permeability from well log. Validate our
calculated permeability from well log with core lab data and well test results.
Take into account the scales of permeability measurements as well as the values are
different.
Logging tools, tool physics and well logs are not perfect. Seek first to understand the
measurement physics tools, then you’ll be able to handle the well log data better.
 Stupidly Simple Tips On Evaluating A
Carbonate Reservoir

I won’t go over into the specific details, but at least they will give you an idea on how to
interpret a carbonate reservoir.
1. Run at least gamma ray (GR), Resistivity, density with PEF, and neutron for
basic formation evaluation.
2. Run dipole sonic so we can evaluate both fast and slow formation. With the new
generation cross dipole sonic tools, you can also do anisotropy analysis and
permeability analysis from Stoneley waves.
3. Plot the acquired logs as follows:
• GR on the left track.
• Resistivity on the middle track.
• Density and Neutron on the right track.
• Secondary porosity
4. Gamma ray reads low in a carbonate reservoir rock. We do not have significant
clay content in carbonate rocks.
5. Since carbonate rocks were formed in coastal / sea environment, the formation
water is saline. Assuming that:
(1) you don’t have weird conductive minerals;
(2) your formation water is saline; and
(3) the conductivity is solely from your formation water, the formation resistivity
becomes lower in water bearing zones than the resistivity in hydrocarbon
bearing zones.
6. Plot density-neutron-sonic on limestone compatible scale. Use 1.95 to 2.95 g/cc
for density, 0.45 to -0.15 for neutron, and 111 to 26 microsec/ft for sonic. In a
water bearing limestone formation, all three porosity curves will be on top of each
other. You will notice minimum separation for all the porosity curves.
7. Any separations between your neutron and density curves means any of the
following:
• Gas effect
• Light hydrocarbon effect
• Shale
• Dolomitic limestone
• Insufficient salinity correction on neutron log
8. For water bearing zones, use Left-Left-Left-Left (LLLL) rule. GR, Resistivity,
Density, and Neutron deflect to the left in water bearing formation.
9. For oil bearing zones, use Left-Right-Left (LRLL) rule. GR deflects to the left;
Resistivity, right; Density, left; and Neutron, left.
10. For gas bearing zones, use Left-Right-Left-Right (LRLR) rule. GR deflects to the
left; Resistivity, right; Density, left; and Neutron, right. Plus, you will see density-
neutron crossover.
11. For tight reservoirs, use Left-Right-Right-Right (LRRR) rule. GR deflects to the
left; Resistivity, right; Density, right; and Neutron, right.
12. PEF reads near 5 B/E in limestone and near 3 B/E in dolomite. The fluids
normally reduce the PEF reading by about 1 B/E. Barite, and other minerals
usually increases PEF readings quite significantly.
13. Sonic reads primary porosity. Subtract primary porosity (calculated from sonic
log) from total porosity (calculated from density-neutron) and you will
get secondary porosity.
14. Start your water saturation with Archie’s equation as your baseline. Then
optimize the input parameters especially ‘Rw’, ‘m’ and ‘n’. If needed, look for
water saturation calculation that works best for your reservoir.
15. Look for drilling report. Mud losses normally indicate open fractures.
16. Also, cross check with the open hole logs. Borehole enlargements with
significant PEF peaks are indication of fractures. If possible, record borehole
image logs (resistivity or ultrasonic) to locate the fractures or fractured intervals.
17. High porosity doesn’t mean high permeability. Diagenesis could enhance
or destroy permeability. Thus, you may not establish poro-perm relationship. If
your poro-perm plot shows a potato-like clump instead of french-fries-like
patterns, most likely you don’t have strong poro-perm fit. Perhaps, you need to
look at other relationships like Windland R35 or Lucia method.
18. Or start with Winland 35 or Lucia method if you have RCA and Pc data. Start by
comparing the calculated (per Winland equ) and measured (per Pc) R35, as a
test. You’ll get a reasonable agreement if the pore system is relatively simple. If
the trends are consistent, but the magnitudes differ, then establish the locally
specific Phi / Perm / R35 relation. If Winland / Lucia are not possible, then only
move on to another approach.
19. Electrical properties especially ‘m’ and ‘n’ are hardly constant. Establish specific
variable ‘m’ and variable ‘n’ equations (if possible) from SCAL measurements.
Once you have established the variable ‘m’ and ‘n’, use them in your water
saturation calculation.
20. Sometimes you might have dual porosity system that contains micro porosity.
You might have micro porosity that retains irreducible water that leads to lower
resistivity. This zones might be produced at zero water cut despite the high
water saturation values.
21. Always acquire conventional cores and perform SCAL especially in the earlier
stage of data acquisition. Carbonates are well known for their heterogeneity.
Obtain conventional cores (even better full diameter cores) would certainly
improve reservoir characterization and reduce your petrophysical uncertainties