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SPWLA

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lag

In continuous nuclear logging techniques, radioactivity measurements are made over a period of time in order to average statistical variations. During the statistical averaging period (time constant), the detector is continually moved while surveying. The distance the detector moves during one time constant is commonly called the amount of lag. See dynamic measure point.

lag time

Up time. The time it takes for a sample of rock cut from a formation by the drilling bit to be carried from its depth of origin to a location on the surface, where it is collected. Lag time is calculated by subtracting down time from the total time it takes for a marker, introduced into the drilling mud at the surface, to travel to the bottom of the borehole and back to the surface where it can be detected or collected.

laminar

In the form of a thin layer(s) of sedimentary rock which is of different mineralization or lithology and is visually separable from the host rock or other laminae. Laminae of sand or other permeable sediment sometime show unusually high productivity. Laminae of clay, sandwiched between layers of a host rock, not only support overburden but also take the place of some of the host rock and whatever porosity the host rock would contain.

laminar flow

Nonturbulent fluid flow. A smooth flow at relatively low velocity in which the fluid elements follow paths that are straight and are parallel to the channel walls. Compare turbulent flow.

last reading

LR. (1) Refers to the depth of the last useable reading or value recorded on a curve at the completion of the survey. (2) Usually the depth in the hole of the shallowest reading for any given curve normally recorded in the bottom-to-top direction. Often coincides with casing depth for open-hole logging operations.

lateral curve

An unsymmetrical resistivity curve recorded by a lateral device.

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lateral device

A resistivity measuring system using a "lateral" electrode configuration. A constant current is passed between an electrode A on the bridle and a distant electrode B, while the potential difference is measured across two electrodes, M and N, located on the sonde. The MN distance is small compared to the AO spacing, which is the distance between the current electrode and the midpoint between the potential-measuring electrodes, typically about 18 feet 8 inches. A short lateral sometimes uses a spacing of 6 to 9 feet. The potential electrodes described above are located below the current electrodes, but on the reciprocal sonde the functions are interchanged so that potential electrodes are above the current electrodes. The measure point is the midpoint between the two electrodes separated by the shortest distance (i.e., MN electrodes; or, AB electrodes on the reciprocal sonde). The lateral device has a deeper depth of investigation than the normal devices with which it is generally used, but has the disadvantage that it requires thick homogeneous beds for optimum usefulness and produces an unsymmetrical curve.

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laterolog

A resistivity log (run in uncased hole filled with electrically conductive mud) made with a tool that achieves focusing through the use of additional current electrodes above and below a central measure-current electrode. Bucking currents from the additional electrodes serve to confine the measure current to essentially a narrow disc of current flowing outwardly perpendicular to the sonde. Should the survey current tend to flow vertically in the mud column (because of highly resistive beds), currents from the symmetrically positioned bucking electrodes are caused to increase or decrease in order to maintain the horizontal attitude of the survey-current flow.

The currents from the bucking electrodes are automatically adjusted for proper focusing of the measure-current beam by use of a monitor voltage signal, either from monitorelectrode pairs on either side of the measure-current electrode, or from the voltage difference between bucking and measure electrodes. Because of the comparatively small thickness of the focused sheet of current (which is usually a few inches to a few feet thick. the laterolog gives a very detailed curve and puts clearly in evidence the sharp contrasts between successive beds, however conductive the mud may be. The laterolog tool differs from the guarded electrode logging tool, or guard

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tool, in the use of smaller-sized electrodes and the use of a monitored bucking-current system to achieve focusing. Compare guard tool.

latitude

In true vertical depth calculations from directional surveys. Latitude is the horizontal displacement in a north or south direction from the wellhead of a location or station in the borehole at which directional survey measurements were taken. Compare departure.

latitude correction

(1) A correction of gravity data because ol variation in centrifugal force resulting from the earth's rotation as the distance to the earth's axis varies with latitude and for variation of the earth's radius because of polar flattening. The International Gravity Formula (1930) for such variation is g = 978,049 (1 + 0.0052884 sin2 0.0000059 sin22) mgal. The latitude correction amounts to 1.307 sin2 mgal/mile = 0.812 sin2 mgal/km. (2) A gyrocompass correction for the rotation of the horizontal north vector is a function of latitude. (The horizontal north vector is tangent to the earth and hence the rotation is the result of the earth curvature.)

lava

Fluid rock that issues from a volcano or a fissure in the earth's surface. Also the same material solidified by cooling.

lay down pipe

To pull drill pipe or tubing from the hole and place it in a horizontal position on a pipe rack.

leak, leakage

A condition which allows electrical current to bleed off or leak out of the electrical circuit. The electrical current remaining in the circuit is uncalibrated or does not otherwise meet design specifications. Leaks can result fronm damage to insulation coverings or, more frequently, from small amounts of moisture which bridges insulating spacers at connecting pins.

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lease

(1) A legal document executed between a landowner, or lessor, and a company or individual, as lessee, that grants the right to exploit the premises for minerals or other products. (2) The area where production wells, stock tanks, separators, and other production equipment are located.

least-squares fit

An analytic function which approximates a set of data such that the sum of the squares of the distances from the observed points to the curve is a minimum. One must determine the functional form of the fit (whether linear, quadratic, etc.) in order to define the problem.

lens

(1) A porous, permeable, irregularly shaped sedimentary deposit surrounded by impervious rock. (2) A lenticular sedimentary bed that pinches out, or comes to an end, in all directions.

liberated gas

Gas (from a formation) physically liberated into the drilling fluid by the bit as it penetrates the formation.

limestone

A bedded sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) yielding lime when burned. Limestone is the most important and widely distributed of carbonate rocks and is the consolidated equivalent of limy mud, calcareous sand, or shell fragments.

limestone device

See limestone sonde.

limestone sonde

Also called limestone device, which is now obsolete. Uses a combination of electrodes in a symmetrical, double, short lateral electrode configuration which gives a resistivity curve with constant values opposite thick, highly resistive beds and which shows sharp minima at the level of conductive beds.

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line

(1) Ground line. (2) Survey cable. Logging cable.

liner

(1) A smaller diameter casing hung inside a larger diameter casing. A liners top is located below the surface. (2) The cone-like metallic liner used to provide jet mass and shape the cavity in shaped charges.

liner hanger

A slip device that attaches the liner to the casing.

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line wiper

(1) Stuffing box with glands. (2) Rubber spiral line stripper or wheel type line stripper which removes excess mud or oil from the line as it emerges from the wellhead. Prevents excessive mud or oil in work areas.

liquefied natural gas

LNG. A liquid composed chiefly of natural gas (i.e., mostly methane). Natural gas is liquefied to make it easier to transport if a pipeline is not feasible (as across a body of water). Not as easily liquefied as liquefied petroleum gas, LNG must be put under low temperature and high pressure to become liquefied.

liquefied petroleum gas

LPG. A mixture of heavier, gaseous, paraffinic hydrocarbons, principally butane and propane. These gases, easily liquefied at moderate pressures, may be transported as liquids but converted to gases on release of the pressure. Thus, liquefied petroleum gas is a portable source of thermal energy that finds wide application in areas where it is impracticable to distribute natural gas. It is also used as a fuel for internal-combustion engines and has many industrial and domestic uses. Principal sources are natural and refinery gas, from which the liquefied petroleum gases are separated by fractionation.

liquid

A state of matter in which the shape of the given mass depends on the containing vessel, but the volume of the mass is independent of the vessel. A liquid is practically incompressible fluid.

liquid-junction potential

Diffusion potential. See electrochemical potential.

lithification

The conversion of unconsolidated deposits into solid rock.

Litho-Density Log

The Litho-Density tool (LDT) uses a pad-mounted gamma-ray source and two scintillation detectors to measure the bulk density and the photoelectric absorption cross section (Pe). The Pe measurement is closely related to the lithology of the formation. A spectral analysis of the detected gamma rays is used for the Pe measurement and to improve the response of the density

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measurement. See also compensated formation density log. Litho-Density is mark of Schlumberger.

lithologic log

A log showing lithology as a function of depth in a borehole. Sometimes a strip log based on samples; sometimes a computed log derived from other borehole logs.

lithology

(1) The physical character and composition of the rock. Refers to the different rock strata within the formations penetrated by the borehole. (2) The study of rocks, usually macroscopic.

lithostatic load

The weight of the overlying rock column without the fluids contained in the pore volumes of the rock.

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little slam

See small slam.

live oil

Oil that contains dissolved gas. See also gas in solution. Compare dead oil.

log

(1) Well log. A record containing one or more curves related to properties in the well bore or some property in the formations surrounding the well bore. (2) To run a survey or well-logging operation.

logarithmic grid

(1) A well-log grid scaled in logarithmic divisions. Usually used with resistivity logs. The use of the logarithmic grid serves to enhance resolution or magnify resistivity readings in the low-resistivity range and eliminates the need for back-up galvanometers and associated curves in the high-resistivity range. Permits the use of overlay techniques in the solution of some exponential relationships. (2) On the API log grid, tracks 2 and 3 of the grid are divided usually into 4 logarithmic cycles and the grid lines follow logarithmic scales. See scale for illustration.

logging cable

See survey cable.

logging tool

An openhole or cased-hole tool for performing downhole well log data gathering services for determining properties of the formation, or characteristics of the well bore environment.

log scale insert

A section bearing scale information, well identification, and other pertinent information. It is inserted in the log between depth-scale changes, different runs, tool changes, etc.

log zero

Depth datum for the survey.

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longitudinal wave

See compression wave.

long normal curve

A symmetrical resistivity curve representing measurements made by a normal device with the spacing between the A and the M electrodes. Usually equal to 64 in.

long-spaced sonic log

Long-spaced sonic tools are used to provide shear wave analysis, formation travel time through casing, and more accurate acoustic data in enlarged boreholes and in areas where formations are altered by the drilling process. See sonic log.

long string

The last string of casing set in a well. The string of casing which is set through the producing zone. Production casing.

lose returns

An occurrence which can happen during the drilling process in which less drilling fluid returns to the surface than is pumped into the hole. This indicates that some drilling fluid is lost into porous rock, fractures, or sizable formation cavities.

lost circulation

The loss of quantities of whole mud to a formation, usually in cavernous, fissured, or coarsely permeable beds, evidenced by the complete or partial failure of the mud to return to the surface as it is being circulated in the hole.

lost-circulation material

A substance added to cement slurries or drilling muds to prevent the loss of cement or mud to the formation.

low explosive

Low explosives burn rapidly at various rates to form a gas. They are self-sufficient and do not require the presence of air or oxygen to sustain the reaction. The gas confined to limited space is at elevated pressure and exerts considerable force. The rate of burning is controlled by the size and shape of the explosive grain. Burning is a surface phenomenon. Time and high

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temperature are necessary for igniting low explosives. Used in sidewall coring tools, wireline plug-setting tools, and bullet perforators. Compare high explosive.

LR

See last reading.

lubricator

Refers to the assembly of wireline pressure-control equipment consisting of blowout preventer, riser, flow tube, and stuffing box (or hydraulic packing head).

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