INTRODUCTION TO FORMATION

EVALUATION

Prepared by:
Mr. Mbarouk Shaame
 CONTENTS

1. Formation Evaluation
2. Sources of formation evaluation Data
• Well logging
• Coring
• Mud logging
• Formation testing
3. Well logging and its methods
4. Wire line logging
5. Logging While Drilling
 Formation Evaluation

 What is Formation Evaluation?

 Formation Evaluation (FE) is the process of
interpreting a combination of measurements taken
inside a wellbore to detect and quantify oil and
gas reserves in the rock adjacent to the well
 FE is a practice of identifying and quantifying
hydrocarbons and reservoir parameters from rock
and down hole measurements.
 Formation Evaluation
 Why Formation Evaluation?
 To evaluate hydrocarbons reservoirs and predict
oil recovery.
 Data Requirements i.e. Rock/formation properties,
Fluid properties (hydrocarbon &water) also Flow
potential
 To provide the reservoir engineers with the
formation’s geological and physical parameters
necessary for the construction of a fluid-flow
model of the reservoir.
 Measurement of in situ formation fluid pressure
and acquisition of formation fluid samples.
 In petroleum exploration and development,
formation evaluation is used to determine the
ability of a borehole to produce petroleum.
 Sources of FE Data

• Data involved in this practice(FE) can come from a

wide variety of sources such as
i. Wire line logs (open hole, cased hole and production logs)
ii. Measurement while drilling (MWD)
iii. Mud logs
iv. Core and fluid analysis
v. Formation testing
Many different types of measurements are made in
our attempt to define reservoir properties some
focus on rock properties other are more sensitive
to the fluids
Main sources of data concerning subsurface
 Sources of FE Data
1. Well logging
• Well logging is the practice
of making a detailed record
(a well log) of the geologic
formations penetrated by a
borehole.
 FE data can be gathered with
wire line logging instruments or
logging-while-drilling tools
 Data are organized and
interpreted by depth and
represented on a graph called a
log (a record of information
about the formations through
which a well has been drilled).
 Principal of Well Logging

 A well log is a record of certain formation data

versus depth.
 The appropriate down hole logging tools instrument
called ‘sonde’, about 3.5 inches in diameter is
lowered into mud-filled hole on logging cable.
 This tools will measure the electrical, acoustic, and
radioactive properties of the formation.
 The result will be analyzed to determine which of
the layers are porous and permeable, and likely to
contain hydrocarbon.
 A depth calibration wheel records the length of
cable in the hole.
 Principal of Well Logging

 Survey is normally done from the -50 0

GR
50 100 150
bottom up. As the sonde is pulled up 5185

the hole, a continuous measurement

5195
5205
signal is sent to the surface where the 5215

data is processed and recorded as a 5225

curve
5235
5245

 Engineers and drillers use well logs to

5255
5265
measure depths of formation tops, 5275

thickness of formations, porosity, 5285

water saturation, temperature, types

5295
5305

of formations encountered, presence 5315

of oil and/or gas, estimated

5325
5335
permeability, reservoir pressures and 5345

formation dip -- ultimately 5355

determining whether a well is

5365
5375

commercially viable or not and 5385

whether casing, cementing and

5395
5405
completion should be run on a well. 5415
 Reading A Well Log

•The well log includes the

header, which provides
specific information about the
well, such as the operating
company, well information and
type of log run; as well as the
main log section, or the graph.

•The graph charts vertically

the depth reached, and the
horizontal scale is the
measurement scale, which can
be represented linearly and/or
by logarithms
• Well logs are used to identify and correlate
underground rocks, and to determine the
mineralogy and physical properties of
potential reservoir rocks and the nature of
the fluids they contain. In general a log is
the physical paper recording the
information, however it has come to also
mean digital curves.
 Methods of well logging

i) Wire line logging

ii)Logging while drilling(LWD)
iii)Mud Logging
 Wire line logging
• Wire line logging is performed by lowering a
logging tool or a string of one or more
instruments on the end of a wire line into an oil
well or borehole and recording petro physical
properties using a variety of sensors.
• Logging tools developed over the years measure
the natural gamma ray, electrical, acoustic,
stimulated radioactive responses,
electromagnetic, nuclear magnetic resonance,
pressure and other properties of the rocks and
their contained fluids
Wire line logging tools
 Logging While Drilling

 One of the major drawbacks of wire line

information is that it is received several hours to
several weeks after the borehole is drilled.
 During this time period, the formation can undergo
significant alteration, especially in its fluid
saturation, effective porosity, and relative perm.
 LWD allow wire line-type information to be
available as near as real-time as possible.
 Logging While Drilling (LWD) is a technique of
conveying well logging tools into the well borehole
down hole as part of the bottom hole assembly
(BHA).
LWD
 Logging While Drilling

 Some available measurement in LWD technology:

 Gamma Ray
 Resistivity
 Density
 Neutron
 Sonic (fairly recent)
 Formation pressure
 Formation fluid sampler
 Borehole caliper (Ultra sonic azimuthal caliper,
and density caliper).
 Mud Logging

 Mud logging (or Wellsite Geology) is a well logging

process in which drilling mud and drill bit cuttings
from the formation are evaluated during drilling and
their properties recorded on a strip chart as a visual
analytical tool and stratigraphic cross sectional
representation of the well.
 Provide continuous record of penetration rate,
lithology and hydrocarbon shows.
 These information supports wireline log data.
 From the cuttings, an oil stains or odor of oil may be
detected, become an excellent qualitative indicator.
 The fluorescent lamp is also a great help in detecting
oil shows.
 Mud Logging

 The gas record and lithological sample are plotted

along with surface parameters such as rate of
penetration (ROP), Weight On Bit (WOB),rotation
per minute etc. on the mudlog which serve as a tool
for the drilling engineers and mud engineers.
 Some problem: a discrepancy between the time the
rock was drilled and the time it reached the surface
– particularly for deep wells, where it take two or
move hours to reach the surface.
 Sources of FE Data
2. Coring
 One way to get more detailed
samples of a formation is by coring,
where formation sample is drilled
out by means of special bit.
 This sample can provide:
 Detailed litho logical description.
 Porosity, permeability, fluid
saturation and grain density.
 These parameters are measured in
the laboratory and serve as a basis
for calibrating the response of the
porosity logging tools and to
establish a porosity/permeability
relationship.
Core barrel
 Formation Testing

 Is a means of obtaining information concerning the

liquid and pressure in an open-hole formations.
 Three methods:
■ Wireline testing
■ Drill stem test (DST)
■ Well Test Analysis
 Wireline Testing

 Provide reservoir fluid samples, reservoir pressure,

an indication of fluid mobility and information on
reservoir continuity.
 Two types: Repeat Formation Tester (RFT) and
Formation Interval Tester (FIT).
 The RFT is run into the hole and a continuous
digital readout of hydrostatic pressure is obtained.
 At any point in the hole the tool may be actuated
to force a rubber pad against the wall of the hole,
and a tube in the centre of the pad is forced hard
against the formation.
 The formation fluid will flow to the chamber
through the tube.
 Wireline Testing

 The FIT is used for single test – only one pressure

reading and one fluid sample for each run.
 A tool is actuated (a pad is tightly against the
formation to form a seal against hydrostatic
pressure of the fluid in the hole).
 A shaped charge is then fired into the fm, opening
a passageway for fm fluids to flow into a chamber
in the tool. At he same time the fm pressure will be
recorded.
 Drillstem Test (DST)

 A drill stem test (DST) is a procedure for isolating

and testing the surrounding geological formation
through the drill stem.
 The test is a measurement of pressure behavior at
the drill stem and is a valuable way to obtain
important sampling information on the formation
fluid and to establish the probability of commercial
production.
 The test is made by lowering a valve, a packer, and
a length of perforated tailpipe to the level of
formation.
 The packer set against the wall of the borehole so
that it seals off the test interval from the mud
column above.
 Drillstem Test (DST)

 The valve is then opened, and

the fm fluid will flow to the
surface through the drillpipe.
 The amount of fluid produced
will represent the fluid
production can be expected
from the well.
 Well Test Analysis

 Two types of testing: pressure build-up and draw

down test.
 The primary objectives of well testing are to
establish:
 Permeability thickness (Kh) and permeability (K)
 Stratification (by sequential testing of layer).
 Well productivity.
 Investigate reservoir boundaries and size.
 The amount of fluid produced will represent the
fluid production can be expected from the well.
 Electrical Logs

 Developed by Conrad & Marcel Schlumberger (who

founded Schlumberger Limited), and intoduced to
the US in 1929.
 Can be divided into two main types: measurement
of natural electrical current in the rock (SP Log),
and measurement of induced electrical current
(Resistivity Log and Induction Log).
Logging tools
 (1) Spontaneous Potential (SP) Log

 Also known as Self Potential

SP
-100 -50 0 50 100

Log.
5185
5195

Shale
 SP Log record weak electrical
5205
5215

currents that flow naturally in 5225

the rock next to the wellbore

5235
5245
(natural electricity). 5255 Sandstone
 The log shows the boundaries
5265
5275

and thickness of each layer of 5285

Shale
rock, especially permeable
5295
5305
(sandstone) and impermeable 5315

(shale). 5325
5335

 Because the SP Log is so 5345

Sandstone
simple to obtain and provide 5355

such basic information, it is

5365
5375

the most common log. 5385

5395
5405
Shale
5415
 (1) Spontaneous Potential (SP) Log

 Useful for:
SP
-100 -50 0 50 100

 Detecting permeable beds

5185
5195

and it thickness. 5205

5215
Shale

 Locating their boundaries 5225

and permitting correlation 5235

of such beds.
5245
5255 Sandstone
 Determining formation 5265
5275

water resistivity. 5285

Shale
 Qualitative indication of
5295
5305

bed shaliness. 5315

5325
5335

Sandstone
5345
5355
5365
5375
5385
5395
5405
Shale
5415
 (2) Resistivity Logs

 Use to measure the resistivity of the formation,

and thus the possibility of hc shows.
 A sonde sends an electrical signal through the
formation and relays it back to a receiver at the
surface (induced electricity). The surface detector
will measure the formation’s resistance to the
current.
 A rock which contains an oil and/or gas saturation
will have a higher resistivity than the same rock
completely saturated with formation water.
 (3) Induction Logs

 Use to measure the conductivity of the formation,

and thus the possibility of hc shows.
 A rock which contains an oil and/or gas saturation
will have a lower conductivity than the same rock
completely saturated with formation water.
 Induction logs use an electric coil in the sonde to
generate an alternating current loop in the
formation by induction.
 Induction tools t give best results when mud
resistivity is high with respect to formation
resistivity, i.e., fresh mud or non-conductive fluid.
In oil-base mud, which is non conductive, induction
logging is the only option available.
 (4) Dielectric Logs

 Responds essentially to water and is unaffected by

the presence of hydrocarbons.
 Particularly important in determining the
irreducible water saturation when oil-based muds
are used.
 Nuclear Logs

 Just as SP and resistivity logs record natural and

induced electrical currents, nuclear logs (also
called radioactivity logs) record natural and
induced radioactivity.
 Three type of logs: Gamma Ray Log, Neutron Log
and Formation Density Log.
 (1) Gamma Ray Log

 Record the natural γ- -50 0

GR
50 100 150

radioactivity of rocks 5185

surrounding the borehole.

5195
5205
Shale
 The γ-radiation arises from
5215
5225

three elements present in the 5235

rocks, isotopes of potassium,

5245
5255 Sandstone
uranium and thorium. 5265
5275

 Useful for defining shale beds 5285

Shale
because K, U and Th are largely
5295
5305

concentrated in association 5315

with clay minerals. 5325

5335

 It is used to define permeable

5345
5355
Sandstone

beds when SP log cannot be 5365

employed (eg. When Rmf = Rw). 5375

5385
5395
Shale
5405
5415
 (2) Neutron Log

 To obtain a neutron log, a sonde sends atomic

particles called neutrons through the formation.
 When the neutrons collide with hydrogen, the
hydrogen slows them down.
 The response of the devise is primarily a function
of the hydrogen nuclei concentration.
 When the detector records slow neutrons, it means
a lot of hydrogen is present – main component of
water and hydrocarbon, but not of rocks.
 Considered as porosity log because hydrogen is
mostly present in pore fluids (water, hydrocarbons)
the count rate can be converted into apparent
porosity.
 (3) Formation Density Log

 This devise measure number of photon then be

related to electron density of the formation.
 Electron density is related to an apparent bulk
density which equivalent to formation bulk density.
 Useable to detect formation lithology.
 Sonic or Acoustic Logs

 Provide continuous record of the time taken in

microsecond/foot by sound wave to travel from the
transmitter to the receiver n the sonde.
 Velocity of sound through a given formation is a
function of its lithological and porosity.
 Dense, low porosity rocks are characterized by
high velocity of sound wave and vise-versa for
porous and less dense formation.