Formation Evaluation

Dr. Arfan Ali

Heriot-Watt Institute of Petroleum
Engineering, Edinburgh, UK
arfan.ali@pet.hw.ac.uk

Objectives of the Course

To understand the basic principles of the
main wireline logging tools
To interpret downhole log sections
To quantify porosity, lithology, fluid
saturations

Exams
Two exams each counting 50% towards the
final mark
Section A Exam Closed Book (2 hours + 15
minutes reading time)
Short essay type questions, calculations,
exercises
Section B Exam Open Book (2 hours + 15
minutes reading time)
Interpretation of a downhole log section

1. Introduction to Open Hole

Logging
The field operation
Log data
Acquisition
Processing
Transmission

Log
Runs
Presentations

Wireline logging - mobile laboratory

Typical
downhole
wireline multifunction tool

Standard log
presentation
formats

Presentation
of SP and GR
log headings

Induction log heading

Log headings for porosity tools:

Neutron, Density, Sonic

Example of
actual header
and portion of
real log (N. Sea)

2. Rock and Fluid Properties

Rock classification
Porosity
Primary porosity
Secondary porosity

Saturation
Permeability
Darcys Law

Capillary pressure
Fluid properties
Water salinity, formation temperature

Basic definitions
Porosity
the capacity of the rock to contain fluids

Saturation
the relative amounts of these fluids in the pore
space

Permeability
the ability of the fluids to flow through the rock

Schematic Representation of Porosity

Influence of Grain Stacking on

Porosity

Column stacking
Porosity = 47.6 %

Close packing
Porosity = 25.9 %

Influence of Sorting on Porosity

Secondary porosity in limestone

(e.g., vugs, fracturing and
dolomitization)

Reservoir rock - saturation with fluids

(oil and water)

Reservoir rock - saturation with fluids

(oil, water and gas)

3. Summary of Procedures
Used in Interpretation
Correlate and depth match logs
Interpret lithology
Identify the reservoir intervals from logs
(permeable and non-permeable zones)
Divide formations into water and
hydrocarbon bearing zones
Divide hydrocarbon zones into oil or gas
Determine porosity in zones of interest
Determine the saturation

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log
Interpretation
Flowchart Porosity in
Simple
Systems

Log Interpretation Flowchart - Overview

Log Interpretation Flowchart Saturation Interpretation

Overgauge and Undergauge

Holes as a Result of
Formation Washout and
Mud Cake Build up

42

Borehole (BH)
Mudcake (MC)
Flushed zone (FZ)
Transition zone (TZ)

Uninvaded zone (UZ)

Rm Rmc Rxo

BH MC FZ

Fresh mud
FZ

TZ

Rtr

Rt

TZ

UZ

UZ

Fresh water formation

Salty water formation

Salty mud
FZ
R

TZ

UZ

Fresh water formation

Salty water formation

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Shallow, Medium and Deep resistivities versus depth of investigation.

Resistivity responses will be

the same as above with higher
seperation among S, M, D for
fresh water formation and a
lower
seperation
among
D,M,S
for
salty
water
formation.