Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
Mineralogic Complexity
Neutron-induced capture spectroscopy tools measure the concentrations of specic
elements in downhole rocks. From these data, petrophysicists can derive mineralogic,
lithologic and matrix properties. Early spectroscopy tools lacked the spectral sensitivity
to derive total organic carbonan important measurement for understanding
unconventional resource plays. A new tool delivers total carbon, from which organic
carbon concentrations can be determined. This tool also has the ability to resolve
complex lithology with a degree of accuracy never before possible.
Manuel Aboud
Rob Badry
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Jim Grau
Susan Herron
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Farid Hamichi
Jack Horkowitz
Sugar Land, Texas, USA
James Hemingway
Houston, Texas
Robin MacDonald
Saudi Aramco
Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Pablo Saldungaray
Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Don Stachiw
Northern Cross (Yukon) Ltd.
Calgary, Alberta
Christian Stoller
Princeton Junction, New Jersey, USA
Richard E. Williams
BHP Billiton
Houston, Texas
Oileld Review Spring 2014: 26, no. 1.
Copyright 2014 Schlumberger.
CMR-Plus, ECS, ELANPlus, GST, Litho-Density,
Litho Scanner, Minitron, Platform Express, RST, SpectroLith
and TerraTek HRA are marks of Schlumberger.
LECO is a mark of the LECO Corporation.
34
Oileld Review
Highvoltage
supply
n
Controls
Ion source
(60 keV)
On-Off
switch
Main
power
Target
241
Am
237
237
Np*
Np
(4.4 MeV)
(5.5 MeV)
n
p+
Deuterium
2
H
n n
p+
n n
p+ p+
Tritium
3
H
Helium
4
He
n
Neutron
n
Kinetic
energy
E (17.6 MeV)
Be
13
C*
12
C*
n (4 MeV, average)
12
C
> Neutrons from a pulsed neutron generator (PNG) and an americium beryllium [AmBe] radioisotopic source. PNGs (top left) are self-contained particle
accelerators that produce neutrons from a fusion reaction (bottom left). The neutrons leave with high kinetic energy of approximately 14 MeV of the total
17.6 MeV released. Typical PNG output is 3 108 neutron/s. AmBe sources, on the other hand, generate neutrons as by-products of nuclear reactions
(right). The AmBe source contains a mixture of americium [ 241Am] and beryllium [ 9Be]. When 241Am decays to an excited state of neptunium [237Np*]the *
denotes an excited stateit emits 5.5-MeV alpha particles (). To reach its nal ground state, the excited 237Np* emits a 60-keV gamma ray (). A small fraction
of the alpha particles from the 241Am react with the 9Be, resulting in the formation of an excited state of carbon [13C*], which emits 4-MeV neutrons (n) to reach
an excited state of 12C*. The 12C* reaches its stable state through the emission of a high-energy gamma ray (approximately 4.4 MeV). A typical AmBe source
generates 4 107 neutron/s.
that require greater understanding of the composition and mineralogy of the rocks.
In the laboratory, scientists have an array of
instruments at their disposal to peer into the
rock structure. Using these tools, they can determine the chemical and mineral composition of
the rocks, hypothesize about their origins and
diagenesis and establish empirical relationships
of rock properties that affect generation, accumulation and production of hydrocarbons. In the
downhole environment and in words familiar to
most petrophysicists, All interpretations are
opinions based on inferences from electrical or
other measurements. 2 However, as technologies
and techniques advance, service companies are
providing a number of laboratory-grade measurements from tools at the end of a wireline cable or
attached to drillpipe.
Spectroscopy measurements, which are crucial to understanding complex reservoir rocks
and unconventional resource plays, have been
used by scientists in the laboratory for several
decades. Downhole spectroscopy tools have been
available since their introduction in the 1980s,
but the recently introduced Litho Scanner highdenition spectroscopy service delivers geochemical data at a level of precision and accuracy
that has never before been available downhole.
The tool acquires measurements of a greater
number of elements than were available from
earlier tools and includes an accurate measurement of carbon, from which total organic carbon
(TOC) can be derived. For understanding unconventional resources such as oil- and gas-bearing
shales, TOC is crucial.
Spring 2014
This article reviews the basic theory of spectroscopy measurements and the development of
neutron-induced capture spectroscopy tools,
including advances in spectroscopy measurements introduced by the Litho Scanner tool. Case
studies from an Arctic wildcat well, an oil-bearing resource play in the US and an unconventional resource play with complex lithology in the
Middle East demonstrate various applications of
spectroscopy data.
SpectroscopyCapturing Complexity
Two families of downhole spectroscopy tools are
used in the oil and gas industry: spectral natural
gamma ray tools and neutron-induced gamma ray
spectroscopy services. Geoscientists primarily
use spectral gamma ray tools to quantify the concentrations of naturally occurring thorium,
potassium and uranium in rocks by measuring
the energy level of gamma rays emitted as these
radioactive elements decay. From these data, log
analysts can estimate clay type, quantify radioactive mineral effects on natural gamma ray measurements and identify radioactive deposits.
Neutron-induced gamma ray spectroscopy,
which is a more comprehensive measurement
technique than that of spectral gamma ray tools,
delivers concentrations of the most common elements found in the minerals and uids of reservoir
and source rocks. A neutron-induced spectroscopy
tool records transitory effectslasting a few
microseconds to a few millisecondsfrom formations bombarded with neutrons from a source:
either an electronic pulsed neutron generator
35
Inelastic Neutron
Scattering
Electronic source
High energy
Excited
nucleus
Traditional source
10 6
Neutron energy
leaving source
Inelastic
region
Deexcited
nucleus
Neutron energy, eV
Intermediate energy
10 4
Inelastic
gamma rays
10 2
Epithermal energy
Neutron Capture
Capture
gamma ray
emitted
10 0
Excited
nucleus
Deexcited
nucleus
n
Average
thermal
energy
0.025 eV
10 2
Thermal
neutron
400
Time, s
> Life of a neutron and neutron scattering. Both electronic (PNG) and traditional (radioisotopic) sources emit high-energy
neutrons. Neutrons from the PNG used in the Litho Scanner tool have approximately 14 MeV initial kinetic energy, whereas
AmBe sources emit neutrons with around 4.4 MeV (left). These fast neutrons rapidly reach thermal energy level (approximately
0.025 eV). During those rst few microseconds, before their energy falls below about 1 MeV, the neutrons experience inelastic
interactions (top right). Inelastic neutron scattering occurs when high-energy, fast neutrons collide with, pass closely by or are
absorbed by atomic nuclei. The now excited nucleus emits inelastic gamma rays to return to a deexcited state. Neutron capture
(bottom right) occurs when thermal neutrons are absorbed by atomic nuclei. The capturing atom generates gamma rays to
return to a deexcited state.
36
Oileld Review
Spring 2014
Si Inelastic
Probability
Si Capture
10
Gd
Cl
10
Si
Fe
CTB
Al
Ca
Fe
Ca
ITB
Counts
C
Mg
Ti
Al
Si
Mg
> Gamma ray spectra. Most neutron capture gamma ray spectroscopy logging tools rely on capture
gamma rays to determine elemental yields. After absorbing thermal neutrons, atomic nuclei emit
capture gamma rays with characteristic energies. For example, silicon [Si] (top left ) emits gamma rays
with several emission energies, but the highest probabilities are approximately 3.5 and 4.8 MeV. The
full capture gamma ray spectrum (bottom left ) is the combination of contributions from all the elements
generally found downhole. Inelastic gamma rays are generated when fast neutronsthose with
energies above 1 MeVinteract with nuclei in the formation, mud and the tool and result in the
emission of gamma rays. These inelastic gamma rays have an energy spectrum (bottom right ) that
looks similar to the capture gamma ray spectrum, but the characteristic energies differ. The Si inelastic
gamma ray energy (top right ) is about 1.8 MeV. The Litho Scanner tool takes advantage of both
spectra, which gives enhanced resolution to some elements, such as Mg and Fe, and adds others
such as C, which is not available from the capture spectrum. Capture tool background (CTB, bottom
left ) and inelastic tool background (ITB, bottom right ) are contributions to the measurement from the
tool and the borehole environment detected during spectral acquisition.
thermal neutrons for capture increases the statistical variability of the measurement. Because
the inelastic measurements are not affected by
neutron absorbers, they can serve to enhance the
resolution or precision of some capture data in
the presence of high Cl levels.
37
Element
Element Name
Al
Aluminum
Ba
Barium
Carbon
Ca
Calcium
Cl
Chlorine
Cu
Copper
Fe
Iron
Gd
Gadolinium
Hydrogen
Potassium
Mg
Magnesium
Mn
Manganese
Na
Sodium
Ni
Nickel
Oxygen
Sulfur
Si
Silicon
Ti
Titanium
Capture
Inelastic
and nickel [Ni]. The tool uses inelastic data primarily to quantify carbon [C] and Mg (above).
With an accurate Mg measurement, petrophysicists can differentiate calcite [CaCO3] from dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2]. The accurate C measurement
is crucial for determining TOC levels.
Hidden in the Spectra
Most downhole gamma ray logging tools use scintillation crystal detectors. When a gamma ray
encounters the detector crystal, the energy of that
Gamma rays
Scintillation crystal
Light
output
Amplification,
pulse shaping and
pulse height analyzer
Dynodes
Gamma ray counts
Photo cathode
Anode
100
10
1
0.1
0.01
0
> Scintillation detector. Gamma rays enter the scintillation crystal (top left ) causing a ash of light. The
intensity of the ash is directly related to the energy transferred to the crystal by the incident gamma
ray. The photomultiplier tube receives the light, converts it to a current, amplies the current through
a series of dynodes and passes the signal along for additional amplication, shaping and pulse height
analysis (top right ). The information from all the gamma rays is combined, and counts are plotted
versus discrete energy levels (bottom right ).
38
Oileld Review
Capture Standards
Capture Standards
Fe
Ca
Inelastic Standards
Cl
Na
Mg
Al
S
Ti
Si
Si
Mn
Al
Ba
Ca
Mg
Gd
Fe
C
H
Gamma ray energy, MeV
> Elemental standards and tool calibration. Engineers characterized the Litho Scanner tool at the Schlumberger Environmental Effects Calibration Facility in
Houston. The tool was placed in slabs of formation rocks (left ) and laboratory-prepared, simulated formations (right ) with known geochemical and
lithologic composition. Standards were derived for 18 elements using capture spectroscopy and 13 elements using inelastic spectroscopy (center, not all
shown). These standards are the basis for computing elemental yields.
Spectral Stripping
Elemental yields
Oxide Closure
Elemental weight
fractions
Interpretation
Minerals
Total organic carbon (TOC)
Matrix properties
C
t d
Corrected
Density
Inelastic
Normalized counts
Normalized counts
Al
Ca
Fe
ITB
Si
Ca
Fe Mg
Al
Na Mn
Ti
Gd
Illite
Quartz
K-feldspar
Na-feldspar
Calcite
Dolomite
Anhydrite
Pyrite
Kerogen
Inelastic
2 g/cm3 3
Matrix
Density
TOC
2 g/cm3 3
O
C
Si
Mg
Energy channel
Energy channel
Capture
Capture
Normalized counts
Normalized counts
Energy channel
Gd
Cl
Si
Fe
CTB
Ca
Mg
Ti
Al
Energy channel
> From acquisition to interpretation. Capture gamma ray and inelastic data (left ) are acquired with the Litho Scanner tool. Using elemental standards
established for the tool, spectral stripping converts data to elemental yields (center left ). Software computes elemental weight fractions from these elemental
yields based on the oxide closure model (center right ). Elemental analysis programs convert the yields or weight fractions to mineralogy (right, Track 1).
The Litho Scanner tool also directly measures carbon, from which TOC is computed (Track 2). Petrophysicists can use matrix density computed from the
elemental weight fractions and corrected for TOC (Track 3) to improve computed properties such as density porosity.
Spring 2014
39
Litho Scanner
tool standard
ECS tool standard
Room Temperature
Fe
Nal (Tl)
BGO
LaBr3:Ce
Density, g/cm3
3.67
7.13
5.29
50.8
75.2
46.9
230
300
25
8.2
61
Property
43.0
Si
Ca
LaBr3:Ce
1.6
Fe
1.2
Si
1.0
Nal (Tl)
0.8
1.4
0.6
0.4
BGO
0.2
0
50
100
150
Ca
200
Temperature, C
H
10
> Crystal scintillator comparisons. Several types of scintillation crystals are used in gamma ray logging tools; the NaI crystal is
the most common because of its ruggedness and low cost. A BGO scintillator is used in the ECS tool. For the Litho Scanner tool,
engineers chose the LaBr3:Ce scintillator because of its superior qualities compared with those of other scintillators. The quick
response time of the LaBr3:Ce scintillatorbased on primary decay timecompared with that of other detectors (top left )
translates into greater efciency and much higher counting capability. The relative light yield is stable from 0C to 175C [32F to
350F] (bottom left ), a clear improvement over the BGO scintillator, which can operate up to only about 60C [140F] before the
output drops below a usable level. The light yield of the LaBr3:Ce detector is higher than that of either the NaI or BGO crystals.
The LaBr3:Ce crystal detector is also more immune to thermal degradation than other detectors (right ). The clearly dened peaks
for elemental standards at room temperature (top right, green) are similar to those at 150C (bottom right ). The elemental
standards response for the BGO crystal used in the ECS tool (red) broadens and loses denition at 60C.
40
Oileld Review
-2
10
Time, s
10
Spring 2014
> Pileup distortion. When more gamma rays arrive at the detector than can
be counted, pileup occurs, and the result is spectral distortion. The problem
is more evident during high count rates (red) than low count rates (blue).
Because the Litho Scanner tool utilizes a high neutron output PNG and an
efcient LaBr3:Ce detector, pileup is most pronounced during inelastic
spectrum measurements. Algorithms have been developed to remove the
pileup degradation from the eld spectrum based on the count rate (purple).
gamma ray arrivals. Unprecedented spectral resolution and precision are attained with the coupling of the scintillator, PNG, downhole electronics
and signal processing. The combination of these
enhancements results in the Litho Scanner tool as
a high-denition, third-generation neutron capture gamma ray spectroscopy service.
Spectroscopy, Rocks and TOC
Because of the increased development of unconventional resources, the ability to quantify TOC
in organic-rich rocks may be one of the most
important features of the new tool. TOC is the
weight % of organic carbon that resides within
the pore space of rocks. TOC includes carbon in
kerogen, bitumen and other solid, volatile and
liquid hydrocarbons trapped within the pore
space. Kerogen is the insoluble organic matter
from which hydrocarbons are generated.
Kerogen density is slightly higher than that of
uids that ll the pore space; using only bulk
density measurements, petrophysicists have difculty differentiating between liquid-lled pore
volume and the presence of immovable bitumen
in pores or kerogen in the rock framework.
Computing the true porosity of organic-rich
41
20 0
Core TOC
Depth, 0
m
Schmoker TOC
LogR TOC
Core TOC
20 0
0
20
Core TOC
20 0
LogR TOC
Schmoker TOC
20
Schmoker TOC
0
20
LogR TOC
20
0
20
Schmoker TOC
20
15
10
5
0
-5
10
Core TOC, weight %
20
20
15
10
5
0
-5
XX,025
10
Core TOC, weight %
20
LogR TOC
XX,050
20
15
10
5
0
-5
10
Core TOC, weight %
20
> Comparison of methods to determine TOC. Several techniques have been developed to quantify organic carbon indirectly from well
logs. The Schmoker method utilizes density logs, and logR is based on sonic and resistivity data. The logs (left ) compare continuous
outputs for Schmoker TOC (Track 1, blue), Litho Scanner TOC (Track 2, purple) and logR TOC (Track 3, tan) with core-derived TOC
values (red dots). The three methods are shown together for direct comparison (Track 4). The crossplots (right ) compare calculated TOC
weight % with core-derived TOC weight % values. The TOC data from the Litho Scanner tool (center right ) compared most favorably with
core-derived TOC values, especially in rocks with high TOC weight %.
bon in minerals) and organic carbon. The inorganic carbon can be quantied by assigning it to
the calcium and magnesium measurements,
which are associated with calcite and dolomite;
the amount of carbon bound up in these rocks
can be computed by rst quantifying these elemental weight fractions. Some calcium and magnesium may be associated with minerals other
than carbonates. To address this situation, an
42
Oileld Review
Spring 2014
Arctic Exploration
Indigenous peoples in the Canadian Arctic were
aware of oil seeps in that region for centuries and
used pitch from these seeps to waterproof their
shing boats.16 But it wasnt until 1974 that the
20
Depth,
m
mm
20
0
325
20
Core TOC
%
20
Correction Difference
X,X00
X,X50
X,Y00
43
Ar
ct
ic
Cir
cle
Eagle Plain
Y u k o n
Arctic Circle
> Exploration in Arctic regions. Northern Cross (Yukon) Ltd. is exploring an area near the Arctic Circle in Yukon, Canada. Only 34 wells
had been drilled in the companys 5,000-km2 lease in the Eagle Plain basin prior to the operators recent activity. Harsh conditions in
and around the Arctic Circle limit the drilling season and can potentially increase exploration and development costs. (Photograph
courtesy of Don Stachiw.)
44
Oileld Review
Spring 2014
Litho Scanner
Mineralogy
Anhydrite
Density Porosity
Siderite
Core TOC
Pyrite
Dolomite
Calcite
Depth,
m
30
Quartz+Feldspar+Mica 0
Clay
12
30
TOC
10
Neutron Porosity
%
10
Corrected Porosity
12
30
10
TerraTek HRA
Rock Types
Rotary
Core
Depth
X,700
X,750
> The Litho Scanner tool as an alternative to conventional coring. Because of cost and drilling
efciency, conventional coring may not be an ideal choice for Arctic exploration wells; sparse offset
well data may provide little guidance for determining coring intervals. Northern Cross geologists used
the continuous mineralogy data from the Litho Scanner tool (Track 1) and TOC content computed from
carbon data (Track 2, gray shading) to identify zones with hydrocarbon potential. They then applied
TerraTek HRA software to identify similar rock types (Track 4) and determine the best depths for rotary
sidewall coring (Track 5, black dots). TOC measurements from those cores (Track 2, red dots) compare
favorably with Litho Scanner TOC measurements. The integration of these various data types resulted
in sampling that provided representative cores without needless oversampling. Neutron porosity
(Track 3, blue), density porosity (red) and Litho Scanner corrected porosity (black) computed using the
true mineralogy are also presented; the lithology-corrected porosity demonstrates how Litho Scanner
data can enhance petrophysical measurements.
45
Openhole Mineralogy
100 0
Anhydrite
Cased Hole Gamma Ray
0
Depth,
m
100
Pyrite
Pyrite
Dolomite
Dolomite
Calcite
Calcite
Quartz+Feldspar+Mica
Quartz+Feldspar+Mica
gAPI
Clay
Clay
gAPI
150
150
Cased Hole
Litho Scanner TOC
Anhydrite
3
12
Openhole
Litho Scanner TOC
3
12
TOC
X,600
X,650
> Spectroscopy data from inside casing. While drilling an exploration well in the Eagle Plain basin in
Yukon, Canada, Northern Cross drilling engineers encountered hole problems that necessitated drilling
with casing to reach TD. The cased interval included sections previously logged in open hole and
sections not logged before setting casing. Geologists decided to acquire data inside casing with the
Litho Scanner tool and compare it with the data from openhole runs. The gamma ray logs (Track 1)
from the openhole (magenta) and cased hole (black) passes were corrected for casing and cement
effects. Lithology and mineralogy data from the Litho Scanner tool run in open hole (Track 2) and cased
hole (Track 3) have good agreement. The TOC data from openhole (Track 4, magenta) and cased hole
(black curve, gray shading) measurements differ to some degree but are within the statistical limits of the
measurement precision.
able to apply offsets and correct for the contributions from the steel and cement (above). Satised
with the comparison of data from the previously
logged openhole section and logs from the now
cased section, Northern Cross had condence
that the data faithfully represented the lithology
and TOC in the newly drilled portion.
Northern Cross plans to continue its exploration program in the Yukon and is in the process of
acquiring 3D seismic data across its lease position. Interpretation of log data indicates both oil
and natural gas potential in the basin.
Whats in a Name?
When referring to resource plays, some industry
professionals broadly apply the term shale to
unconventional reservoirs. Although many unconventional reservoirs may not necessarily meet the
46
Oileld Review
Water
Oil
TOC
Pyrite
Dolomite
Eagle
Ford
Formation
UNITED STATES
0
0
km
300
miles
300
Depth,
ft
Formation Name
T e x a s
Calcite
Pyrite
Quartz+Feldspar+Mica 0
Dolomite
Bound Water
Calcite
Montmorillonite
Kaolinite
Quartz+Feldspar+Mica
Clay
Illite
Total CMR-Plus
Porosity
%
25
Bound Water
Free Water
Oil
Kerogen
X,450
> The Eagle Ford Formation. The Eagle Ford Formation is the oil and gas
source rock for the prolic Austin Chalk formation. In Mexico, it lies along
the Mexican border with the US (red) and then extends north through central
South Texas (green). Several E&P companies are evaluating the Eagle Ford
for both oil and gas production.
Austin Chalk
X,475
Spring 2014
X,525
X,550
X,575
X,600
Maness Shale
Eagle Ford
X,500
X,625
47
Stage
Homerian
Silurian
Sheinwoodian
Telychian
Llandoverian
Aeronian
Qalibah Formation
Period
Rhuddanian
Zarqa facies
Sandbian
Llandeilian
Darriwilian
Llanvirnian
Quwarah
member
Qasim Formation
Ordovician
Katian
Raan
member
Kahfah
member
Hanadir
member
Dapingian
Floian
Tremadocian
Hot
shale
Sarah Formation
Himantian
Arenigian
Qusaiba
member
Hot shale
Ashgillian
Caradocian
Sharawra
member
Saq Formation
Tremadocian
> Nafud basin stratigraphic column. Geologists consider the organicrich Qusaiba Shale member of the Silurian-period Qalibah Formation the
hydrocarbon source rock for many Middle East oil and gas elds. Because
the gamma ray logs from the Qusaiba Shale have very high counts, the shale
is considered a hot shale. High gamma ray counts indicate organic-rich
shales, and geologists target these formations for exploration. (Adapted
from Al-Salim et al, reference 27.)
48
Oileld Review
Pyrite
Dolomite
Depth,
ft
Calcite
Quartz+Feldspar+Mica
Clay
Caliper
6
in. 16 0
Al from Core
Si from Core
Fe from Core
S from Core
20 0
50 0
20 0
10 0
Ca from Core
Mg from Core
Na from Core
20 0
10 0
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Al
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Si
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Fe
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight S
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Ca
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Mg
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Na
20 0
50 0
20 0
10 0
20 0
10 0
K from Core
5 0
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight K
5 0
20
Litho Scanner
TOC
5
0
20
Schmoker TOC
5 0
20
X,600
X,650
X,700
X,750
> Dry weight yields and TOC from a Middle East well. To conrm the quality of downhole spectroscopy data, Saudi Aramco petrophysicists compared
core-derived elemental yields from XRF measurements (Tracks 2 to 9, black dots) with Litho Scanner dry weight yields (red curves). The elemental
concentrations show good agreement, except around X,600 ft, where there are high concentrations of pyrite (Track 1, orange) and TOC (Track 10).
The recovered core from that zone was fractured and fragmented, possibly causing some depth mismatch when the core was analyzed. TOC computed
from the Litho Scanner data (Track 10, red) was compared with core TOC (black dots) and TOC computed from the Schmoker technique (blue);
Litho Scanner TOC matched core results better than did the Schmoker technique. (Adapted from Al-Salim et al, reference 27.)
Spring 2014
49
Depth,
ft
XRD-Derived
Mineralogy
Litho Scanner
Mineralogy
Biotite
Ca-Feldspar
Orthoclase
Siderite
Pyrite
Muscovite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Na-Feldspar
Quartz
Smectite
Kaolinite
Illite
Chlorite
Siderite
Pyrite
Muscovite
Dolomite
Calcite
Ankerite
Na-Feldspar
Quartz
Smectite
Kaolinite
Illite
Chlorite
Illite
from Core
0
Kaolinite
from Core
100 0
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Illite
0
100 0
Na-Feldspar
from Core
100 0
Muscovite
from Core
50 0
Siderite
from Core
50 0
Pyrite
from Core
20 0
Dolomite
from Core
25 0
50
Litho Scanner
Litho Scanner
Litho Scanner
Litho Scanner
Litho Scanner
Litho Scanner
Litho Scanner
Dry Weight Kaolinite Dry Weight Quartz Dry Weight Feldspar Dry Weight Muscovite Dry Weight Siderite Dry Weight Pyrite Dry Weight Dolomite
100 0
Illite
Quartz
from Core
Kaolinite
100 0
Quartz
100 0
Na-Feldspar
50 0
50 0
Muscovite
Siderite
20 0
Pyrite
25 0
50
Dolomite
X,000
X,100
X,200
> Mineralogy comparison. Scientists at the Schlumberger-Doll Research Center performed FTIR spectroscopy analysis on cores from a well drilled with
WBM and compared the XRD-derived core mineralogy (Track 1) with the mineralogy computed from Litho Scanner data and other log inputs (Track 2).
Accurate mineralogy data are crucial for computing many petrophysical properties such as porosity and uid saturations. In this well, mineralogy data
helped petrophysicists make proper analyses; for instance, high K levels in sands can be attributed to orthoclase (K-feldspar) or muscovite (K-mica)
(Track 7). The matrix density values of these minerals are 2.57 g/cm3 and 2.76 g/cm3, respectively. In this case, geologists have local knowledge of the
rock types, and all the K was attributed to muscovite. The correct mineralogy results in a more accurate matrix density and, consequently, more accurate
density porosity and water saturation computations. In addition, a better quality Na measurement from the Litho Scanner tool can be used to quantify
concentrations of Na-bearing minerals such as albiteNa-plagioclase feldspar (Track 6)with less uncertainty. (Adapted from Al-Salim et al, reference 27.)
Ultimate Answers
Downhole spectroscopy is just one method petrophysicists use to determine the complex nature
of reservoir rocks. Spectroscopy tools provide
bulk measurements but are not able to determine rock fabric. For instance, the Litho Scanner
tool can identify zones with pyrite but cannot
determine how the mineral is dispersed.
Similarly, the percentage of clay in one zone may
be identical to that in another, but the tool cannot determine spatial distribution of the clay
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particles, specically whether they are structural, laminated or pore lling. Certain questions
about mineral composition can be answered only
from core analysis. Many mineralogic and lithologic conditions affect log responses, especially
those of resistivity and nuclear tools. In this age
of unconventional reservoir development, petrophysicists must rely on the integration of multiple data sources to understand the rock
composition and fabric.
Oileld Review