Mud Log

MUD LOGGING

First information during drilling

Mud weight
Rotary speed
Weight on bit
Cuttings analysis
Gas content
pH
Mud salinity
 OBJECTIVES OF MUD LOGGING

To convert from one set of hydrostatic

units to another

To estimate stress gradient and

formation pressure

To calculate amount of gas show

 TWO EVENTS

Real-time events
Fluid volumes, ROP, WOB, RPM,
SPM, FFR

Time-lapsed events:
Rock chips, gas/oil shows, fluids &
chemical, temperature
 008) Example of a mud log
ROP VCL OIL DENSH TGAS
160.0 ft/hr 0 01 05 2 g/c3 2.3 0 units 320
VCL OIL TRI
0 1 0 5 0 18

VCL OIL 0 TRI

MUD LOGGING
MW-10.5 CHL-2000
chk flow
Sd-lsely cons, lt gry,
vfg-fg
8100

EXAMPLE 9-13-77

8200 Sh-mod firm, lt gry,

silty, sdy
NB No.6 OSC-3J
MW-10.5 CHL-2000
chk flow
Sd-soft, lt gry, vfg-fg,
sli calc
8300
Survey at 8330' 9-14-77
TVD-8126 Sh-mod firm, gry, sdy
14o N 35 E

MW-10.5 CHL-2000
8400
chk flow
Show No.1 Sd-mod cons, lt gry,
MW Cut to 8.8 CHL-2000 vfg-fg, sli calc,
bright yellow fluo,
NB N0.9 OSC-3J streaming cut
CO
MW-10.3 CHL-2000
8500 MW-10.7 CHL-2000
9-15-77

Sh-firm, gry, flky,

sli calc, tr pyrite

8600 MW-11.3 CHL-2100

Sh-firm, dry-drk gry,
brittle, flky

NB No.10 X-1G(8 1/2) 9-16-77 CO-E LOG est 9 5/6" csg at 8680 MW-12.3 CHL-2200
9-20-77
8700 MW-12.5 CHL-2200
chk flow Sd-sort, lt gry, vfg

Sd-firm, lt gry, calc,

Survey at 8785' fg
TVD-8421 8800
18o N 34 E MW-12.8 CHL-2200
9-21-77 Sh-firm, drk gry, sli
calc, v flky

8900
 MUD TYPES

Water-based systems (WBM)

Oil-based systems (OBM)

Air, gas, mist systems

 DRILLING BREAKS

A drilling break is an improvement in

Rate of Penetration (ROP)

Causes
Porosity increase
Formation pressure increase
Changing: WOB, RPM, SPM
Lithology change
 GAS SHOW

A gas show is the presence (or increase)

of gas in the mud system
Pore space
Gas flow
 HYDROSTATICS

To balance the density of the fluid

column with the formation pressure
gradient
Expressions of the density of the fluid
column water
Water
SG 1 g/cc
3
pfc 62.38 lbs/ft
ppg _____ (calculate)
psi/ft _____ (calculate)
 HYDROSTICS CONVERSION

lb
62.38 3
3 in
ppg ft x 231 8.339 ppg
in3 g
1728
ft 3

lb
62.38 3 2
ft .433 lb / in
psi/ft 2
.433 psi / ft
in ft
144 2
ft
 HYDROSTICS CONVERSION
Conversion factor ppg to psi/ft
CF lb / gal psi / ft
.433 psi / ft
CF .052
8.339 ppg

Bottomhole pressure calculation

psi/ft
BHP ppg x .052 x Depth ft
ppg
 FORMATION STRESS
GRADIENT

Two primary forces that work together

to produce formation stress

Sv = Pf + Sm
(overburden) (formation (matrix
pressure) stress)
 FORMATION STRESS GRAGIENT
AND FRACTURING

The stresses are often expressed as gradients

(psi/ft)
Sv Pf Sm

D D D
Fracturing

Pf Sh Sv
 FRACTURING EXERCISE

You are drilling at 12,000 ft with 16.9 ppg

mud and you encounter a sandstone
which has a formation pressure of 6,000
psi

Do you have a problem? Why or why

not?
 SOLUTION

Fracture pressure for a sandstone

Sh p f 1
ko
Sv p f 3

S h S v p f p f
1
3
S v 1.0 psi / ft x 12,000 ft 12,000 psi
p f 6,000 psi

S h 12,000 6,000 6,000 8,000 psi

1
3
 SOLUTION

Hydrostatic pressure at sandface

psi / ft
16.9 ppg x .052 x 12,000 ft 10,530 psi
ppg

Do you have a problem? Yes

Why? Sandstone will fracture. Mud will
enter fracture until a balance is reached
between Sh and BHP. Any sandstones
above with a higher pressure gradient
will then blow out.