Well Logging Analysis

and Interpretation
Resume
Dr. Ir. Dedy Kristanto, M.Sc

1
 Well Log Interpretation
Interpretation is defined as the action of explaining the
meaning of something.
Log Interpretation is the explanation of logs ρb, GR,
Resistivity, etc. in terms of well and reservoir parameters,
zones, porosity, oil saturation, etc.
Log interpretation can provide answers to questions on:

2
Well Log Interpretation Procedure

3
 Zoning
Zoning is the first step in any interpretation procedure.
During zoning, the logs are split into intervals of:
1) Porous and non-porous rock.
2) Permeable and non-permeable rock.
3) Shaly and clean rock.
4) Good hole conditions and bad hole conditions.
5) Good logs and bad logs.
Zoning Tools:
SP.
GR.
Caliper.
Neutron Density-Pef.
Resistivity.
4
 Rock Properties
Rocks are described by four properties:

• Porosity - quantity of pore space

• Permeability - ability of a formation to flow

• Matrix - major constituent of the rock

• Saturation - fluids content in the pore space

5
 Basic Principle Measuring in the Borehole
WIRELINE: Logging which conducted after
drilling process, sensor run into the wellbore
and transmitting data through electric cable
LWD: Logging which conducted while drilling
process, sensor run into the wellbore using
drill pipe and transmitting data through mud
pulse
6
 Tool Positioning
Some tools are run
centralised in the borehole
in order to measure
properly.
Centralis ed
Tool These include laterolog and
sonic devices.
Form ation
to be
Meas ured Special centralisers are put
on the tool.

7
 Tool Positioning

Some tools are run

eccentred, pushed, against
the borehole wall.
Eccentralis ed In some cases this is done
Tool
with an eccentralizer.
Form ation
to be
Meas ured
In other cases a caliper arm
does this job.

8
 Tool Positioning

Some tools are run with

“stand-offs” to position
them at a fixed distance
from the wall.
Tool with
Stand-offs
The induction family are
usually run in this manner.
Form ation Stand-Offs
to be
Meas ured

9
 Spontaneous Potential Uses

• Differentiate potentially porous and permeable

reservoir rocks from impermeable clays.

• Define bed boundaries.

• Give an indication of shaliness (maximum deflection

is clean; minimum is shale).

• Determine Rw in both salt and fresh muds.

10
 Basic SP Log
The SSP is the
quantity to be
determined.

It is the deflection
seen on the SP from
the Shale Base Line
(zero point) to the
Sand Line (max.
deflection)

11
 Rw from the SP

Rw is often known from client information or local knowledge.

The SP can be used to check the value or compute it when it is

unavailable.

It is especially useful when there are variations along the borehole.

Rmf
SSP  k log For pure NaCl solutions
Rw
Rmfe
SSP  k log
Rwe

k = 61 + .133 T (0F)

k is a constant - depending on the temperature.

12
 Gamma Ray Log
The Gamma Ray log is a measurement of the formation's
natural radioactivity.
Gamma ray emission is produced by three radioactive series
found in the Earth's crust.
Potassium (K40) series.
Uranium series.
Thorium series.
Gamma rays passing through rocks are slowed and
absorbed at a rate which depends on the formation density.
Less dense formations exhibit more radioactivity than dense
formations even though there may be the same quantities of
radioactive material per unit volume.
13
 Basic Gamma Ray
Bed definition:
The tool reacts if the shale is
radioactive (usually the case),
hence show the sands and
shales, the permeable zones and
the non-permeable zones.

Computation of the amount of

shale.

The minimum value gives the

clean (100%) shale free zone, the
maximum 100% shale zone. All
other points can then be
calibrated in the amount of
shale.
14
 Gamma Ray Uses
The gamma ray log is used for:
Lithology/mineralogy, e.g. shaliness.
Correlation
A major use of the tool is to identify marker beds and thus allow well-
to-well correlation. Marker beds can be the top or bottom of the
reservoir or a specific shale giving a high reading.

Determination of Shale Content

A comparison is made of the GR reading in Shales, Clean Zones and
Shaly Zones . A linear estimate can be made of the shale content in
these Shaly sections.

Tracer logging
A radioactive fluid is ejected by a tool at a chosen level. The fluid
movement is monitored by the gamma ray and will show thief zones
and channels in the cement behind the casing.
15
 Gamma Ray Responses

In sedimentary formations, the

GR log reflects the clay or shale
content

Clean formations, such as

sandstones or limestones,
usually have a very low level of
radioactivity

In general, the lower the Gamma

Ray reading, the cleaner the
sand

Gamma Ray logs can be run in

cased holes, but the data will be
suppressed
16
 Shales
Matrix Shale Porosity

Clean formation Structural shale

Porosity Porosity

Shale
Matrix Matrix

Laminar shale Dispersed shale

Porosity Porosity Shale
Shale

Matrix Matrix

17
 Shale and Logs
Shales have properties that have important influences on
log readings:
• They have porosity.
• The porosity is filled with salted water.
• They are often radioactive.
• Resistivity logs exhibit shales as low resistivity zones.

18
 Shale and Logs
Neutron porosity logs exhibit shales as high porosity.

Density and sonic logs react to the porosity and matrix

changes.
Gamma ray logs react to shale radioactivity.
19
 Shale Volume
The volume of shale must be computed to correct the tool
readings.

This is achieved using simple equations such as:

GRlog  GRmin
Vcl 
GRmax  GRmin
1
SPlog  Rclay  b
Vcl  1 Vclay   
SSP  Rt 

20
 Early Interpretation
Early resistivity logs were used to find possible
producing zones.

high resistivity = hydrocarbon

low resistivity = non-hydrocarbon (water)

SP was used to define permeable beds, compute Rw

and determine shaliness.

Archie developed the relationship between resistivity,

porosity and saturation.

21
Annulus Invasion

22
Borehole Effects on Resistivity Logs
Resistivity of zone
Resistivity of the water in the zone
Water saturation in the zone
Mud
Rm
Adjacent bed

Rs

Uninvaded
hmc Flushed zone
zone Zone of R1
Rmc transition
(Bed dh or Rw
thickness) annulus
Mudcake Rxd
Sw
h Rm1

Sxo
Rs
di
dj
Adjacent bed

(Invasion diameters)
rj
dh
Hole
diameter
23
 Computing Saturation
The standard saturation equation can be used with
special attention taken to obtain the correct value for
the cement exponent ‘m’.
In vuggy formations this will be greater than 2. The
resistivity logs read higher as the “pathway” is more
tortuous.
Saturations calculated with an ‘m’ of 2 will show too
much hydrocarbon
In fractured formations ‘m’ will be less than one as the
resistivity pathways are straight.
In this case saturations computed with ‘m’ = 2 will show
too much water.

24
 Basics Principles
Rw = resistivity of water in the pore space.
Define Ro = resistivity of a rock totally filled with water.

R0
F
Rw
F: Formation Factor.
At constant porosity F is constant.
As porosity increases, Ro decreases and F decreases.
Experiments have shown that F is inversely proportional to m.

a
F m

m: is called the "cementation exponent".
a: is called the "lithology" constant. 25
 Basics Principles
Saturation can be expressed as a ratio of the resistivities:
R0
Snw 
Rt
where n is the "saturation exponent", an empirical constant.
Substituting for Ro:
FR w
Snw 
Rt
Substituting for F (Archie Equation):
a Rw
S n
w  m
 Rt
26
 Archie Parameters
Rw = resistivity of connate water.
m = "cementation factor", set to 2 in the simple case.
n = "saturation exponent", set to 2 in the simple case.
a = constant, set to 1 in the simple case.

All the constants have to be set.

Two common sets of numbers for these constants are:
In a simple carbonate, the parameters are simplified to:
m = 2, n = 2, a=1
In a high porosity (> 25%) sandstone the following values are
often quoted:
m = 2.15, n = 2, a = 0.62
27
 Rw from Rwa
If Sw = 1, the saturation equation can become:

R w  2 R t
Assuming simple values for a, m, n.

Procedure is to:
Compute an Rwa (Rw apparent) using this relationship.
Read the lowest value over a porous zone which is
where Rwa = Rw
This is the method employed by all computer based
interpretation systems.

28
 Rwa Calculation

Rwa = ?

Rwa = ?

Rwa = ?

29
Rw from Measured Water Sample

30
 Rt Estimation
(Induction vs Laterolog)
Laterolog Induction

OBM no yes

Salt water mud yes possible in small holes*

Fresh mud no** yes

High resistivity yes no

Air-filled hole no yes

Low resistivity possible*** yes

Rt < Rxo Induction preferred

Rt > Rxo Laterolog
preferred
31
 Saturation Equations (1)
Indonesia Equation

1 1
Sw   Vcl  *

1  2
Vcl


  Rt
Rcl
 Rw
e

Nigeria Equation

2
 1.4
1  V cl e 2  n
m

   Sw
Rt  Rcl aRw 
32
 Saturation Equations (2)
Waxman-Smits Equation

2
1 S BQv Sw
 *  w
*
Rt F Rw F
Dual Water Equation

Ct 
 m
t Sn
wt 
C 
Swb
C  C 

a 

w
Swt
wb w 


33
 Simplified Dual Water Model
Archie Equation can be generalized into the following
form;
Rf
S2wt  2
t Rt
where;
Swt - total water saturation
fT - total porosity
Rt - true formation resistivity
Rf - resistivity of the water(s)
The equation can be solved if Rf is known.
34
 Porosity

Porosity Tools:
• Density
• Neutron
• Sonic
• Magnetic Resonance

35
 Lithology and Porosity Tools
All tools react to lithology - usually in conjunction with
the porosity.
Major lithology tools are:
• Neutron - reacts to fluid and matrix.
• Density - reacts to matrix and fluid.
• Sonic - reacts to a mixture of matrix and fluid,
complicated by seeing only primary porosity.
• NGT - identifies shale types and special minerals.
• CMR - magnetic resonance reacts to the porosity with
a small element if lithology.
36
 Density Log

rb = rma (1 -  + rf 
Log Matrix Fluid
reading response response

Porosity from Density Log

rma - rb
F rma - rf

37
 Matrix and Fluid Densities

rma (Sandstone) = 2.65 gr/cc

rma (Limestone) = 2.71 gr/cc
rma (Dolomite) = 2.85 gr/cc
rf (Fresh Water) = 1.0 gr/cc
rf (Salt Water) = 1.1 - 1.2 gr/cc
rf (OBM) = 0.8 - 0.9 gr/cc

38
Matrix - Porosity Equations

2.65 - rb
Fd  Sandstone
2.65 - 1.0
2.71 - rb
Fd  Limestone
2.71- 1.0
2.85 - rb
Fd  Dolomite
2.85 - 1.0
39
 Density Parameters
Vertical resolution:
Standard 18"
Enhanced 6"
Depth of investigation 6"- 9"

Readings in:
Limestone 2.71
Sandstone 2.65
Dolomite 2.85
Anhydrite 2.98
Salt 2.03
Shale 2.2 - 2.7
Coal 1.5
40
 Neutron Log
Logging tool emits high energy
neutrons into formation
Neutrons collide with nuclei of
formation’s atom
Neutrons lose energy (velocity)
with each collision
Most energy lost when
colliding with a hydrogen atom
nucleus
Log records porosity based on
neutrons captured by formation

41
 Porosity from Neutron

Neutrons are absorbed or reflected back to detectors

– High counts = Low porosity
– Low counts = High porosity

 N  1.02 N log  0.0425

42
 Sonic Log
Sonic Tools are based on the
measurement of the velocity
and amplitudes of the sonic
body waves in the Rocks

Applications:
– Mechanical properties :
• Rock strength, Earth
stress
• Rock Mechanical
Properties
• Rock failure
mechanisms
– Formation evaluation -
Porosity and Lithology
– Cement Bond logging

43
 Sonic Parameters
Vertical resolution:
Standard (BHC, LSS, MSTC) 24"
STC 36"
6"DT 6"

Depth of investigation:
BHC 5"
LSS-SDT 12" (12 ft spacing)

Readings in(ms/ft):
Limestone (0pu) 47.5
Sandstone (0pu) 51-55
Dolomite (0pu) 43.5
Anhydrite 50
Salt 67
Shale >90
Coal >120
Steel (casing) 57
44
 Porosity Sonic Log
The response can be written as follows:
t log  t ma 1    t f 

t log  t ma

t f  t ma
Transit Time:
Sandstone: 55 msec
Limestone: 47 msec
Shale: 160 - 180 msec
Dolomite: 43 msec
Water (WBM): 189 msec
OBM: 205 msec
45
 Sonic - CBL
Cement Bond Logging
– Cement bond logs (CBL) are used to evaluate the quality of the cement that was
put in place during the well completion process

– An Amplitude gives a quantitative reading and the VDL (Variable Density Log)
shows the quality of the bond

In case the line is not

vertical, it could be due to:
-tool not centered Pipe arrival, means bad
-fast formation cement bong
Formation arrival, will no
appear in free pipe or wash
Casing Collar
out zone

Good Cement bond, pipe

arrival not appear 46
 Mechanical Properties and Sonics
A combination of compressional, shear and density
measurements gives the rocks' dynamic elastic moduli.

These are used to obtain the formation's mechanical

properties.

47
 Combination Log Example
001) BONANZA 1
GR ILD RHOB DT
0 150 0.2 200 1.95 2.95 150 us/f 50
SP ILM CNL
-160 MV 40 0.2 200 0.45 -0.15
CALIPER SFL
6 16 0.2 200

10700

10800

10900

48
 Quantifying Hydrocarbons

7758 Ah  1  Sw 
OOIP 
Bo
43560 Ah  1  Sw 
OGIP 
Bg
Well logs can be used to determine:
•h = Net pay thickness
•Φ = Porosity
• Sw = Water saturation
49
50