The Scope of Formation Evaluation

Formation evaluation covers a large variety of measurement and analytic

techniques. Although the emphasis is on wireline logging techniques and log
analysis methods, these are far from the only tools available to the formation
evaluator. Well logs are central only in the sense that they are recorded in
practically all wellbores and are directly relatable to all the other parameters
available from the associated sciences. For example, a geophysicist needs
borehole measurements to determine a time-depth relationship, and a
petrophysicist needs core analysis to properly define log response, but a thin
section or scanning electron microscope (SEM) photo of a rock sample are of
no direct help to the interpretation of a seismic section, nor is a vertical
seismic profile (VSP) of any help in deter-mining relative permeability.
However, all the measurements are pertinent to the complete task of defining
a reservoir's limits, storage capacity, hydrocarbon content, productivity and
economic value.
To place the various disciplines in perspective, it is valuable to consider the
overall problem of formation evaluation in terms of orders of magnitude. If
one meter is taken as a unit of measurement, then each formation evaluation
technique can be placed in order, as shown in Table 1.
Thus, formation evaluation techniques cover at least twelve orders of
magnitude. Equally far-ranging are the physical principles employed to make
the basic measurements. An enlightening way of viewing the vast spread is to
consider the frequency employed by the measuring processes available, as
illustrated in Table 2. Few other sciences require, or use, such a wide range of
measurement techniques over such a wide range of physical dimensions.

Formation Evaluation Objectives
The primary objective of formation evaluation is to determine the size of a
reservoir, the quantity of hydrocarbons in place, and the reservoir's producing
capabilities. The initial discovery of a reservoir lies squarely in the hands of
the exploration geologist using seismic, gravity and magnetics studies, and
other geologic tools. Formation evaluation presupposes that a reservoir has
been located and is to be defined by drilling as few wells as possible. Enough
data should be gathered from those wells to extrapolate reservoir parameters
fieldwide and arrive at realistic figures for both the economic evaluation of
the reservoir and the planning of the optimum recovery method. Formation
evaluation offers a way of gathering the data needed for both economic
analysis and production planning.
What, then, are the parameters that the manager, the geologist, the
geophysicist, and the reservoir and production engineers need? Which of
these can be provided by seismics, by coring, by mud logging, by testing, or
by conventional wireline logging?
The geophysicist needs to know the time-depth relationship in order to
calibrate conventional seismic and VSP surveys. The geologist needs to know
the stratigraphy, the structural and sedimentary features, and the mineralogy
of the formations through which the well was drilled. The reservoir engineer
needs to know the vertical and lateral extent of the reservoir, its porosity (the
nature of the porosity) and permeability, fluid content, and recoverability.
The production engineer needs to know the rock properties, be aware of
overpressure if it exists, be able to assess sanding and associated problems,
and recognize the need for secondary recovery efforts or pressure
maintenance. Once the well is in production, he/she also needs to know the
dynamic behavior of the well under production conditions and be able to
diagnose problems as the well ages.
Engineers also need to know formation injectivity and residual water
saturation to plan waterflooding and monitor waterflood progress when it is
operational.
The manager needs to know the vital inputs to an economic study-the original
petroleum hydrocarbons in place, recoverability, cost of development and,
based on those factors, the profitability of producing the reservoir.
Log measurements, when properly calibrated, can give the majority of the
parameters required by all these professionals. Specifically, logs can provide
either a direct measurement or a good indication of
· porosity, both primary and secondary (fractures and
vugs)
· permeability
· water saturation and hydrocarbon movability
· hydrocarbon type (oil, gas, or condensate)
· lithology
· formation (bed) dip and strike
· sedimentary environment
· travel times of elastic waves in a formation

From this data, good estimates may be made of the reservoir size and the
petroleum hydrocarbons in place.
Logging techniques in cased holes can provide much of the data needed to
monitor primary production and also to gauge the applicability of
waterflooding and monitor its progress when activated.
In producing wells, logging can provide measurements of
· flow rates
· fluid type
· pressure
· residual oil saturation

From these measurements, dynamic well behavior can be understood better,

remedial work planned, and secondary or tertiary recovery proposals
evaluated and monitored.
In summary, logging, when properly applied, can answer a great many
questions from a wide spectrum of special interest groups on topics ranging
from basic geology to economics.
Of equal importance, however, is the fact that logging by itself cannot
provide answers to all formation evaluation questions. Coring, core analysis,
and formation testing are integral parts of any formation evaluation effort.

Objectives
The objective of interpretation of wireline well logs depends very much on
the user. Quantitative analysis of well logs provides the analyst with values
for a variety of primary parameters, such as:
· porosity
· water saturation, fluid type (oil/gas/water)
· lithology
· permeability

From these, many corollary parameters can be derived by integration (and

other means) to arrive at values for:
· hydrocarbons-in-place
· reserves (the recoverable fraction of hydrocarbons-
in-place)
· mapping reservoir parameters

But not all users of wireline logs have quantitative analysis as their objective.
Many of them are more concerned with the geological and geophysical
aspects. These users are interested in interpretation logs for:
· well-to-well correlation
· facies analysis
· synthetic seismograms
· regional structural and sedimentary history

In quantitative log analysis, the objective is to define

· the type of reservoir (lithology)
· its storage capacity (porosity)
· its hydrocarbon type and content (saturation)
· its producibility (permeability)

As a preliminary to discussing methods of log analysis it is worthwhile to

define the terms used.