QEMSCAN WellSite

Unprecedented cuttings analysis in a field-tested solution for the well site

Particles to Cuttings | Cuttings to Lithologies | Lithologies to Properties | Properties to Logs

www.fei-natural-resources.com

Advanced Mudlogging
QEMSCAN WellSite is a solution facilitating advanced mudlogging services during remote on- and off-shore drilling operations. Mudlogging commonly complements down-hole (in-situ) logging using remote sensing technologies known as wireline or loggingwhile-drilling (LWD). Rock cuttings, returned to the surface through the circulating drilling mud, represent the tangible evidence of the subsurface geology, and therefore a description and/or analysis of cuttings is a cost effective method to obtaining valuable complementary data on the stratigraphy of the drilled sequence. Optical description of cuttings is a common activity of mudlogging services; however, the process of optical cuttings description is manual, labor-intensive and qualitative, as echoed by well-site geologists: we always ask for an experienced mudlogger, but never get one.

QEMSCAN WellSite was developed with 2 objectives in mind: Provide a solution for automated and quantitative cuttings descriptions, providing more accurate and detailed information than manual and qualitative methods. Provide a sample preparation and analysis workflow to deliver quantitative cuttings descriptions in near real-time at the well site, ready for seamless integration with logging data provided by integrated and independent service providers, particularly LWD and wireline. Whereas many emerging advanced mudlogging technologies are primarily bulk cuttings analysis methods, QEMSCAN WellSite is essentially an imaging technique providing petrographic images of individual particles in a mud sample. QEMSCAN WellSite uses this feature to digitally screen particles in a mud sample in order to separate cuttings particles from other particles such as cavings, swarf or drilling additives. A unique 4-step data analysis workflow deconvolutes a bulk sample into cuttings properties on a lithology basis, providing superior confidence in rock properties obtained from cuttings.

Cuttings Petrography
QEMSCAN WellSite is actually an automated petrography solution developed since the late eighties primarily for the mining industry. QEMSCAN enables access to two primary components of petrography analysis: mineralogy and texture (i.e. microstructure). The primary output of QEMSCAN WellSite is 2D numerical mineral and texture maps of cuttings. These maps form the basis of subsequent image and chemical analysis on a cutting-by-cutting basis. The visual nature of the color-coded petrographic images make QEMSCAN WellSite data readily accessible to a wide range of professionals at the rig (both geologists and petrophysicists). locations. The physical dimensions easily permit placement in 30 foot or larger mudlogging units, or even smaller <20 foot units when dedicated to the QEMSCAN WellSite solution. One analogy familiar to geologists to how QEMSCAN WellSite works is point counting. The system counts points (pixels in the numerical mineral map) at a rate of 100200 measurements per second over a pre-determined grid. Typical measurement times of approximately 30 minutes per cuttings sample can be achieved, with a total number of points up to 400,000 measured. At each point, the system determines the mineralogy from backscattered electron intensity (indicative of mineral density), and elemental chemistry (secondary X-rays generated as the electron beam interacts with the mineral), using QEMSCANs Species Identification Protocol (SIP) developed over decades for reliable mineral classification in the mining industry. Once analyzed, cuttings descriptions can be made based on a unique rock particle-by-particle basis, as opposed to other cuttings analysis techniques such as LIBS, XRF or XRD, which are bulk methods.

System
Based on a product platform consisting of a compact, rugged and mobile Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometers (EDS) and QEMSCAN Automated Petrography measurement and analysis routines, QEMSCAN WellSite has been designed for, and tested at, remote on- and off-shore well-site

Schematic of the sample measurement process. The electron beam is scanned across the sample surface; at each measurement point (also called a pixel) the BSE and x-ray signals are used for mineral identification by analyzing the EDX spectrum for chemical composition and subsequent classification based on known mineral chemical compositions.

Optimized Sample Preparation Workflow

Samples for QEMSCAN WellSite are presented in the form of 30 mm diameter resin blocks containing an average of 1,0002,000 cuttings particles/block, depending on the average size of the cuttings. The sample preparation workflow involves: mixing cutting particles with resin, curing the resin block, cutting and cross-sectioning the block with a diamond saw, and finally coating the sample surface with a conductive carbon film. Each device used in the sample preparation process has a small enough footprint to be placed on desktops typically found in a mudlogging unit. An additional benefit of the sample preparation process is that the resulting resin blocks improve handling and archiving, making cuttings readily available for complementary analysis at a later stage at a central storage or laboratory facility.

Near Real-time Data Acquisition

The development phase of QEMSCAN WellSite included two extensive field tests: in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, and off-shore Qatar, aimed primarily at testing the feasibility and value of near real-time data acquisition. Whereas time-to-data and throughput may vary significantly as a function of primary data required, these field tests yielded near real-time results. From the time cuttings are collected at the shaker station, cleaned and dried, it takes less than 30 minutes to prepare a resin block for analysis. Samples are typically loaded in the system in batches of 6, with measurement times of around 30 minutes per sample. The initial data, therefore, are available one hour after collection of cuttings from the first sampling horizon. Experience from the first two field tests has demonstrated that up to 35 cuttings samples can be measured in a 24 hour interval, with an average of 22 samples if interruptions in the drilling process are included. Sample preparation efficiency can exceed sample analysis as demonstrated by one trial where 55 samples were prepared in a 24 hour period. At high drilling rates typically > 100 foot per hour, a backlog of samples may accumulate; however, during both field tests, drilling downtime due to e.g. cementation runs, allowed operators to catch up on the backlog.

(Left) Wet cuttings sample, direct from a shale shaker, with resin impregnated block of same sample, for comparison. (Right) Multiple cuttings samples, prepared, labelled and laid out in stratigraphic order.

Three MapViews showing a cuttings sample before digital or contextual screening (left), after digital screening to remove drilling mud particles (middle), and after contextual screening to remove cavings, swarf and drilling additives (right).

Particles to Cuttings
Once the numerical mineral maps have been acquired by the system, image analysis allows for digital screening to remove particles below a size attributed to drilling mud typically < 63 micrometers. Subsequent contextual screening removes particles attributed to caving, swarf and drilling additives, each identified on the basis of textural and/or compositional properties that differentiate them from genuine cuttings. Relevant parameters derived from this screening include cuttings versus drilling additives ratio (measure of percentage returns), or cuttings size and shape (measure on drilling performance and stress fields).

Cuttings to Lithologies
The nature of cuttings collection at a constant sampling (i.e. depth) interval ensures that multiple rock types (lithologies) are likely to be represented within a single sampling interval. While bulk cuttings analysis techniques cannot take this lithology variation into account, QEMSCAN WellSite separates the cuttings into lithology classes, using mineralogy and texture-based lithology classification rulesets. While QEMSCAN WellSite comes pre-configured with standard lithology rulesets, these can be customized at the well site prior to cuttings collection, or applied retrospectively during or after the drilling activities, on- or off-site.
Schematic diagram illustrating that a cuttings sample may contain multiple lithologies.

calc-cmt-crs-qtz

ark-crs-qtz

cl-crs-qtz

crs-qtz

calc-cmt-si

cl-si

si

calc-cl

cl

cmt

uclass

Lithology classes from a siliciclastic reservoir sequence.

Lithology to Properties
The next level of analysis is the determination of specific lithology properties, such as: modal mineralogy clay typing (glauconite / micas, radioactive clays, swelling clays) K-feldspar abundance quartz grain size calculated matrix density (inferred) trace mineralogy such as pyrite or apatite calculated matrix elemental chemistry (inferred) organic particle abundance commonly encountered in gas and oil shale plays A variety of preconfigured reports are available for reporting each of the above properties for any given batch of depth intervals. Additional report templates can easily be created and retained for future use.
Property sheet for lithology class calc-cmt-si (calcareous cemented silt) based on combined cuttings. This cuttings class comprises siltstone cuttings cemented by calcite.

Properties to Logs
Finally, each of these properties can be easily exported for incorporation into 3rd party logging software, such as ODM, for subsequent interpretation by petrophysicists or reservoir evaluation specialists. Results from the two field tests demonstrate excellent consistency between the conventional mudlog cuttings descriptions and those obtained by QEMSCAN WellSite on the one side, but on the other side superior resolution and detail of mineralogy and texture, from which specific properties such as cuttings / additives ratio, lithology, clay type, or calculated matrix density can be derived with significant confidence.

Retrospective Data Interrogation

Another key feature of QEMSCAN WellSite solution is that all of the raw data is retained in datastores (databases) that can be revisited retrospectively with the help of off-line software on workstations at oil and gas company operational centers. As insights into formation evaluation continue to develop, it is anticipated that these quantitative cuttings databases will carry significant value over time for historical interrogation studies.

Collaborative Development
QEMSCAN WellSite requirements have been gathered in close collaboration with many major oil and gas companies and service providers, whose input is greatly acknowledged. Furthermore, field tests have been conducted in Papua New Guinea in close collaboration with Halliburton (Houston, Texas) and OilSearch (Sydney, Australia), and off-shore Qatar. Further development and testing is ongoing with independent surface logging company GEOLOG at its R&D facilities in Milan, Italy. For a full description of the field tests, we refer to application notes available upon request and for download on www.fei-natural-resources.com/wellsite.

Integrated ODM log juxtaposing QEMSCAN data with selected downhole data.

FEI Company
FEI is a leading developer and manufacturer of electron and ion beam microscopes, headquartered in Oregon, USA, and is listed on the New York NASDAQ Stock Market. The Natural Resources business unit is dedicated to the development, marketing, sales and support of technology solutions for the mining, oil & gas, and geosciences sectors. Demonstration facilities are available in Australia, The Netherlands and USA. For more information please visit: www.fei-natural-resources.com

www.fei-natural-resources.com World Headquarters Phone: +1.503.726.7500 FEI Europe Phone: +31.40.23.56000 FEI Japan Phone: +81.3.3740.0970 FEI Asia Phone: +65.6272.0050 FEI Australia Phone: +61.7.3512.9100

TV Certification for design, manufacture, installation and support of focused ion- and electron-beam microscopes for the Electronics, Life Sciences, Research and Natural Resources markets.

2011. We are constantly improving the performance of our products, so all specifications are subject to change without notice. QEMSCAN, WellSite and the FEI logo are trademarks of FEI Company, and FEI is a registered trademark of FEI Company. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners. BR00?? ??-2011