SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

A NOVEL APPROACH TO SHALE-GAS EVALUATION USING A CASED-HOLE PULSED NEUTRON TOOL

Dan Buller, Suparman FNU, and Shan Kwong, Halliburton; David Spain and Mike Miller, BP America
Copyright 2010, held jointly by the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA) and the submitting authors. This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium held Perth, Australia, June 19-23, 2010.

ABSTRACT The enhanced recovery of gas from shale reservoirs requires an optimal placement of multi-stage hydraulic fractures in the best zones along cased and cemented horizontal wells. Formation evaluation in a development drilling environment requires a lower cost and lower risk solution than logging-while-drilling (LWD) or drillpipe-conveyed horizontal openhole logs. This paper presents a novel approach to the evaluation of shale gas formations using a pulsed neutron tool pumped down or run on e-coil, in 4.5 to 5 in. casing, and cemented inside a 6 to 6 1/8 in. horizontal hole. This 2 1/8 in. pulsed neutron spectrometry tool uses large detectors for inelastic ratio modeling of formation bulk density (RHOB), capture neutron porosity (NPHI), and thermal neutron capture cross section (SIGMA). When the tool is run in its standard capture mode at 8 ft per minute, it also provides an inelastic spectrum estimate of silica and calcite yields. Those yields are used for a multi-mineral lithology discrimination of clay, quartz, and lime. These outputs are used to develop an analogous openhole triple combo from the cased-hole pulsed neutron. Whether empirically calculated or neural net modeled, the pulsed neutron data is calibrated to openhole logs in vertical wells of the same hole size and casing configuration that will be logged in the horizontal wells. One of the most important parameters to consider in shale gas evaluation is the calculation of a brittleness index, a function of Poissons ratio and Youngs modulus, which indicates the ductility (softness) or brittleness (hardness) of the shale. A triple combo log provides the minimum well log data required to make a reasonable estimate of these mechanical properties. We achieve this through casing with the pulsed neutron log and calibration. We then use this data to pick individual fracture stages in intervals of maximum brittleness index, lowest clay volume, and highest free gas effective porosity.

This paper presents two vertical Haynesville Shale wells from east Texas that demonstrate the empirical vs. neural net derived cased-hole triple combo logs. A shale analysis, including brittleness index, is compared to the same analysis from an openhole triple combo. An optimized neural net model is then applied to the pulsed neutron logs run in three horizontal wells, and the individual fracture stages, fracture designs, and production results of these wells are discussed. PULSED NEUTRON LOG BASICS The reservoir monitor tool, RMT-EliteTM, is a 2 1/8 in. OD, through-tubing capable, cased-hole pulsed neutron tool designed for carbon/oxygen and sigma logging for oil, gas, or water saturation estimates in conventional applications (Jacobson et al. 1998). In nonconventional plays, the unique technologies of this tool provides flexibility in the use of gamma spectroscopy measurements for formation evaluation in all manners of low permeability, gas-bearing shale. These enabling features include the largest bismuth germanium oxide (BGO) scintillation detector and the longest generator to detector spacing available in this tool size and C/O arrangement. The tool can be conveyed into long horizontal laterals by e-coil tubing or wireline tractor, or it can be pumped down after the toe perforations are placed. Using a flasked electronic section, the tool can routinely log in temperatures exceeding 350F when required. Passive, non-pulsing, logging while tripping in enables KUTh mode acquisition (Reed et al. 2006) for clay analysis. Inelastic mode operation enables higher resolution spectral measurements for mineralogy (Simpson et al 1999) and sigma mode operation enables a broader dynamic response best suited to pseudo triple combo neural net, CHI ModelingTM applications (Reed et al. 2007). The tool measures the energy spectra and time decay of neutron induced gamma rays. The pulsed neutron generator generates pulses of high energy (or fast) neutrons, which collide with the nuclei of elements present in the formation and result in inelastic collisions with the emission of gamma rays with energy levels specific to the elements involved. The application of a BGO detector enables the highest quality detection resolution of these gamma rays, as is indicated by its use in the latest generation openhole geochemical analysis tools (Galford et al. 2009).

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

As the generated neutrons slow down to thermal energy levels, they are captured by other nuclei around the tool, which results in the release of gamma rays. The time in which these thermal (slow) neutrons remain at the thermal energy level before capture is a function of the capture cross section of the nuclei (formation and borehole) around the tool. The rate of thermal neutron absorption or the decay rate of gamma rays produced is strongly affected by the type of fluid present in the formation. The capture cross section (sigma) is determined from this decay rate. The large size and maximized spacing of the BGO detector from the generator provides robust sensitivity in the depth of investigation and dynamic range in the gamma ray count rates. This combination is needed for an effective resolution in the long laterals drilled in a single shale reservoir.

adjusting the elemental peaks along the entire inelastic spectrum. A shop value from the calibration tank is used to adjust the amplitude of the energy spectrum for both the inelastic and capture gamma spectrums. After the peak amplitudes are calibrated, we can directly derive individual elemental yields. The quality check of the elemental yield is controlled by the fit error between the spectrum data and the sum of the theoretical spectrum for each element in the model. This is performed for both a near and far detector inelastic spectrum; it also feeds the error minimization routine for the elemental yields.

Fig. 2 Example of gain normalized RMT far capture spectrum.

50 Channel Number 100 150 200

Fe Cl Ca

10

R e la tiv eA m p litu d e

Si

Fig. 1 2 1/8-in. OD RMT. ELEMENTAL YIELDS CALCULATION The inelastic spectrum is low-end calibrated to a known hydrogen peak and high-end calibrated to an iron edge. After the endpoints are set, the linearity of the total energy spectrum is controlled by the position of the oxygen peak. A curve fitting technique applied to extract elemental yields from the inelastic gamma ray energy spectrum uses an error minimization routine. The spectrum will adjust and set the hydrogen peak at channel 52 and the iron edge at channel 200; it will then linearize using the position of the oxygen peak. This process is essentially a gain and offset applied for

Mg 0.1 H

0.01

4 5 Energy (MeV)

Fig. 3 Eight elemental peak positions within RMT spectrum. PRIMARY NEURAL NET INPUTS The time decay spectrum is a function of the neutron cross section capture (sigma) of the material. Because

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

the generated neutrons scatter through borehole fluid, casing, cement, and formation, they will affect the end result gamma ray capture at the detector. The sigma derived from a dual decay model is borehole corrected. The processing computes sigma borehole (SGBN, SGBF) and sigma formation (SGFN, SGFF) from both the near and far detectors. The sigma intrinsic (SGIN) is derived through environmental and diffusion correction from those four sigma measurements. In low permeability, shallowly invaded gas shales, sigma intrinsic provides a good analog to openhole resistivity measurements. When the neutron source to detector spacing is long enough (20.5 in.) to obtain a deeper depth of investigation, past casing and cement annulus effects, and the detectors are capable of a much higher resolution, a direct correlation becomes apparent between openhole bulk density measurements and the near-far inelastic counts ratio (RIN). The near-far inelastic neutron scattering mimics the Compton scattering effect used to determine electron bulk density in conventional openhole tools. This density effect makes RIN a primary input to the neural net RHOB solver. The ratio of the capture ratio from the near and far detectors (RNF) also provides a direct analog to the openhole compensated neutron ratio porosity and is easily scaled as such when calibrated against a known control lithology (0 P.U. lime or anhydrite) or an environmentally corrected openhole neutron porosity log. The RMT can be run in two pulsing modes: capture (sigma) mode and inelastic (C/O) mode. The capture (sigma) mode, logged at 8 to 10 ft/min provides a better dynamic range to accurately measure the dual decay spectrum for formation sigma and to obtain better RIN and RNF statistics for density-neutron CHI porosity calibration. The inelastic (C/O) mode, logged at 4 ft/min, is primarily used to obtain better measurements for the elemental yields of the carbon, oxygen, silicon, calcium, and potassium that make up the rock. An inelastic spectrum is also available for calibration from the capture mode data; it has also proven to be robust enough for the calculation of silica, calcite, and potassium yields. This is the pulsing mode usually used in long, hot, horizontal laterals in which we want the most information from a single pass recorded in a timely manner without the need of potentially running a second tool because of flask insulation time requirements. TRIPLE COMBO NEURAL NET MODEL and LITHOLOGY PROCESSING IN GAS SHALES The technique used to convert primary pulsed neutron data to openhole triple combo data through the

application of neural net processing is well understood (Chen et al. 2004). This technique has been applied successfully in varied lithologies and mechanical configurations around the world since 2005. Of particular interest were a series of more than 300 vertical Mancos Shale wells logged in the Rockies between 2006 and 2007 in which the cased-hole pulsed neutron CHI process completely replaced conventional openhole logging. When it became apparent that operators in more recent geo-pressured shale plays, particularly the Haynesville and Eagleford Shales, were reluctant to obtain horizontal logs as a result of perceived high risk and expense, a proven, reliable cased-hole alternative was available for application. The calibration process consists of training the pulsed neutron CHI model, defined for a particular casing and hole size, to an already acquired openhole data set. A minimum data set is defined, such as deep resistivity, neutron porosity, and bulk density, but it also can include photoelectric absorption (PEF) and compressional sonic (DTC). Vertical openhole wells usually provide the broadest range of environmental training, but a horizontal LWD data set or drillpipe conveyed conventional logs in the horizontal well are also acceptable. After the model has been developed for the hole size and casing size configuration, it can be applied to any RMT logged in a well with the same configuration. Generally speaking, the CHI model should be re-verified whenever moving to an area with a significant change in lithology. Practically speaking, this usually means another shale basin entirely. The applied CHI model typically must be checked for highlow endpoint calibration of both density and neutron output to the nearest vertical control well around a particular basin. This is accomplished by a crossplot analysis of the correlated vertical target interval data to the data from the horizontal CHI modeled triple combo. Sometimes the CHI model is very precise, but it usually benefits from a two point normalization routine, at least for bulk density and neutron porosity. The capture elemental spectrum lithology has recently become the logging standard because of its enhanced logging speed. A basic mineralogy interpretation, consisting of total clay, silica, and calcite, is readily achieved. In addition to the calcite and silica, a potassium yield is also available but its resolution in the pulsed gamma spectrum is better suited for use as a quality check of areas showing higher total clay. If the tool is run in a non-pulsing KUTh (potassium, uranium, thorium) natural gamma ray configuration while tripping in, a total clay typing can be achieved. The GR-KT (uranium subtracted) also provides an excellent check of the total clay volume. This nonpulsing run comes at the expense of less on time for

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

the tool if it is running flasked in higher temperatures. If temperature is not a concern, it is well worth obtaining the data because no rig time or e-coil extra descent charge is involved.

between vertical and horizontal shear measurements. The clay-bound water volume and means of clay deposits (whether within laminated bedding or dispersed) determines the ductility (softness vs. hardness) of the shale system. Consequently, an accurate total clay estimate is important to any shale evaluation. A method of quantifying shale ductility is required to target those intervals containing the best free gas that have the opportunity for complex fracture generation for surface area drainage. A discreet function of Poissons ratio and Youngs modulus, a brittleness index, was developed and implemented (Rickman et al. 2008). The use of a best source dipole shear and a gas corrected compressional velocity is required to calculate this index. YM_BRIT = ((YMS - 1)/(8-1))*100 PR_BRIT = ((PR - 0.4)/(0.15-0.4))*100 BRIT INDEX= (YM_BRIT+PR_BRIT)/2

Fig. 4 KUThnatural gamma log comparison with RMT and openhole CSNG (R for RMT and c for CSNG). SHALE GAS RESERVOIR EVALUATION The industry is still somewhat catching up on the petrophysical evaluation of gas shales. Techniques have been established to determine lithology, effective porosity, free vs. adsorbed gas volumes, and most importantly, reliable predictions of mechanical properties. A great deal of core analysis focuses on examining the differences in vertical vs. horizontal shear anisotropy when predicting an accurate stress model for fracture stimulation. Not surprisingly, those studies demonstrate that the total clay volume, and more precisely, clay-bound water volume, makes the single largest contribution to variations observed

Fig. 5 A crossplot of Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio showing the brittleness index increasing to the southwest corner of the plot. When a large enough database of vertical dipole information is acquired in a particular area, neural net modeling of synthetic DTC, DTS, Poissons ratio, and Youngs modulus can proceed from standard triple combo data, and at least, a three component lithology model consisting of clay, calcite, and silica. Synthetic correlations of Youngs modulus are always very robust and Poissons ratio is acceptable if the calculation is constrained by the analyst, using standard deviation analysis, to keep the synthetic Poissons ratio within an accepted envelope for a particular shale type.

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

impossible to obtain except by modeling from pulsed neutron data. The X-Y dipole shear measurements are fairly reliable, even in spotty cement. If a significant difference exists between X and Y shears in zones with good bond, a direct inference can be made to greater vertical anisotropy and better fracturability. A word of caution is in order, however; the existence of anisotropy can be potentially misinterpreted when dipole sonic tools flex through areas of higher dogleg severity. CASE STUDIES Vertical Well #1: BP Exploration, Watson #4, Rusk Co., Texas This vertical well was one of several drilled by BP in east Texas and northwest Louisiana to evaluate the shale gas potential from the Jurassic age Haynesville Shale across acreage that is currently held by production. The well was fully cored and numerous evaluation strategies were used to obtain a best estimate of the reservoir potential. These strategies included the deployment of the pulsed neutron RMT log to examine the feasibility of through-casing shale evaluation. To benchmark any subsequent cased-hole evaluation, a primary openhole shale evaluation was run using triple combo, natural gamma ray, and dipole sonic logs. This analysis (Fig. 7) shows a 200-ft organic shale that grades from a more brittle, slightly less porous, calcite rich facies at the top to a more ductile, calcite and silica based mudstone through the lower 140 ft. The openhole mud weight adversely affects photoelectric effect and the openhole analysis is overcalling the amount of calcite when compared to core X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis (Fig. 8). There is also a tension pull on the openhole logs affecting the porosity and resistivity at the top of the shale pay that masks the actual top of the zone with a spurious extra 10 ft of porosity. A RMT was run after the 4.5-in. casing was set. The RMT was run in both KUTh mode (non-pulsing) and in sigma capture mode (pulsing). The openhole data was then used to train a neural net CHI model. A basic three-mineral lithology was computed using the RMT calcite and silica yields, and all available clay indicators (Sigma, PHIN, GR-KT, and N-D Delta) (Fig. 9). Crossplots of openhole RHOB and neutron porosity to their CHI modeled synthetic counterparts (Fig. 10 and Fig. 11) show the linear accuracy of the technique with the porosity tools.

Fig. 6 Example of neural net modeling results for synthetic Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio from mineralogy data only. We approach shale evaluation with pulsed neutron logs in exactly the same manner. The neural net triple combo data and the spectral yield lithology data are used to calculate a robust petrophysical analysis. The analysis provides a best estimate of shale lithology, effective porosity, free vs. absorbed gas, mechanical properties, closure stress, and fracturability from the brittleness index. The analysis is the same as that used for vertical wells in any particular play in which complete suites of logs, including 3D dipole sonics and neutron activation geochemical mineralogy, are available. Well-known basin parameters have been established from vertical wells that enable quality control of any cased-hole evaluation (Rickman et al. 2008). No claim is made that the standalone horizontal pulsed neutron analysis is as accurate as a cased-hole analysis that also uses real measured dipole shear data. Depending on cement quality and casing size (4.5 in. minimum), a small diameter X-Y dipole sonic can provide an ideal complement in either a vertical or horizontal well. Enough horizontal radial bond logs have now been run to understand that a reliable DTC is

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Fig. 9 Cased-hole RMT data, with lithology output and neural net cased-hole triple combo plotted next to openhole data. A new PEF is computed from the three component lithology. Note the tension pull in openhole data at 11,220 ft. Fig 7 Openhole shale analysis of BP exploration, Watson #4 using triple combo-spectral gamma raydipole sonic.
BP Watson #4 Core XRD Results

Chlorite Illite Mixed I/S Calcite Fe-Dol Quartz K-spar Plag Pyrite Apatite

Fig. 8 Full core XRD mineralogy results for Watson #4

Fig. 10 Crossplot of openhole PHIN to CHI PHIN.

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

in the two corresponds directly to a kerogen volume present in the rock. This technique is being further investigated as an alternate method of directly measuring total organic carbon (TOC). The final CHI model and lithology output data was used to perform a cased-hole-only shale analysis (Fig. 13). The lithology data provides a much better fit to full core XRD because the correct percentages of total clay, silica, and calcite are now available. The erroneous openhole data at the top of the shale is now replaced with a realistic interpretation. The stress model remains essentially the same because it is predominantly driven by the density-neutron CHI porosity and calculated clay volume. An optimum horizontal target is called reliably from this data at +/- 11,260 ft, where good vertical fracturability and gas-filled porosity are observed, with less clay to cause fracture embedment problems.

Fig. 11 Crossplot of openhole RHOB and CHI RHOB.

Fig. 12 Crossplot of openhole Rt and CHI Rt showing distinct bilinear response attributable to neutron capture cross section of kerogen. The bilinear fit shown on the Rt vs. Rt CHI crossplot (Fig. 12) was initially perplexing, but is now a well understood effect of the sigma capture cross section of kerogen. The divergence between the two lines occurs because the sigma is much more sensitive to kerogen than the conventional resistivity is to kerogen. The CHI model Rt best fits a relationship to resistivity caused by gas and water in the shale matrix. If the analyst chooses to force a high-low linear fit of sigma to resistivity, and then compares that result to the CHI Rt, the difference

Fig. 13 Watson #4 cased-hole shale evaluation using only RMT pulsed neutron data; excellent correlation is now shown to full core.

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Vertical Well #2 BP Exploration and Production, Glaspie #1, Panola County, Texas This Carthage field well suffered from severe washouts in the lower Bossier Shale and at the transition between the Bossier Shale and the Haynesville Shale. The effect on neutron-density data quality was quite pronounced. A subsequent RMT was run in a 4.5-in. casing and the neural net CHI model developed for the previous Watson #4 well was applied (Fig. 14). This resulted in a much improved log that was unaffected by the openhole washouts that had compromised stress calculations between the two shales.

deposition are noted in that part of the play. By this analysis, the Hayesville Shale averages one-third clay, one-third calcite, and one-third silica at this location. That is clearly supported by full core analysis.

Fig. 15 Cased-hole RMT shale analysis for BP Exploration and Production, Glaspie #1.
BP Glaspie GU#10 Core XRD Results

Chlorite

Fig. 14 BP Exploration and Production, Glaspie #1, Panola County, Texas; cased-hole RMT data, applied CHI model, and comparison to openhole data. A complete shale analysis was performed on this CHI and lithology processed RMT data (Fig. 15). This well appears to be less clay rich than the previous Watson #4 well. RMT clay, silica, and calcite percentages closely correlate with the core XRD (Fig. 16). The upper 30 ft between 11,240 to 11,270 ft appears to be the best target interval for fracturing, but it is at the top of the gas shale column. An alternate target at +/- 11,315 ft could be proposed with some associated risk because of the varying amounts of more ductile clay below 11,270 ft. Horizontal stratigraphic variations in clay

Illite Mixed I/S Calcite Fe-Dol Quartz K-spar Plag Pyrite Apatite

Fig. 16 Glaspie #1 XRD core analysis; note the split thirds in totals for clay, carbonate, and quartz-other.

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Horizontal Well #1, BP Exploration and Production, George #9H, Blocker Field, Harrison Co., Texas This horizontal well was systematically evaluated using a chemostrat analysis of 20 ft sampled drill cuttings, a LWD wipe pass triple combo, and finally a wireline tractor conveyed RMT in cased hole. A separate horizontal NN CHI model was developed for the RMT from the LWD data to account for any low side casing eccentering effects that might occur in a horizontal application. This particular CHI model was developed for 6 1/8 in. hole size and 4.5 in. casing, which is a preferred configuration in most shale plays. LWD derived lithology was not possible because of the mud weight, so the chemostrat and RMT were reviewed for mineralogy solutions. The chemostrat data and the RMT lithology show excellent correlation, which obviously has much higher resolution (Fig. 18). The lateral averaged at least 30% clay, but no particular interval looked too poor to fracture. All fractures occurred as designed and expected except for stage 5, which screened out, possibly because of lack of cement isolation between stages. The well path intersected the Haynesville Shale top to near bottom stratigraphically (Fig. 17), but in an area with no variations in high clay or ductility.

Fig. 17 Horizontal well path of George #9H that intersected the A, B, and C zones in Haynesville.

SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Fig. 18 BP George #9H, Harrison Co., Texas; RMT shale analysis, LWD triple combo, LaserstratTM sample analysis, total proppant, and production log gas interpretation (toe is at bottom).

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SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Horizontal Well #2 BP Exploration and Production, CGU #13-17H, East Carthage Field, Panola County, Texas A horizontal RMT was performed in this well for fracture planning and diagnostic purposes; in the end, it was more of a correlation tool that highlighted the difficulty of effectively fracturing a well that is drilled too close to, and in and out of, a claystone facies. The vertical control well (Fig. 19) identified a target in the lower Haynesville A interval that had the potential, with fracture growth upward, to contact slightly better rock by brittleness index analysis. After the RMT was logged, evaluated, and correlated to the steering data, it became apparent that the well path got stuck in the base, or below the intended target window (Fig. 20). Below the window is a very ductile clay. Above the target interval, there is also a more ductile layer at +/- 10,600 ft. The vertical drill rate change and temporary mud log gas suppression at +/10,630 ft suggests a zone of radically different mechanical properties. It is this difference that probably steered the horizontal well low, and kept it there, more so than the directional drillers. Based on what we now know, a target window at +/10,590 ft would have been a better option for this well. Part of the problem for the exploration team was working with openhole logs affected by significant tool pulls in the upper part of the shale on the vertical pilot hole. High rate water fracs are probably less effective in this environment. The more ductile claystones above and below will swallow up all proppant conductivity and limit height growth unless a hybrid cross link gel is used to place larger proppant across the more vertical section. This strategy would also help to maintain nearwellbore conductivity over time. The best option in this type of laminated claystone deposition is to select a target interval with the most net feet of vertically connected rock of similar mechanical properties with the least amount of clay. This is also true for selecting fracture stages along the horizontal tunnel after it is drilled. The pulsed neutron shale analysis (Fig. 21) clearly shows distinct lithology changes along the horizontal well that should be used to cluster similar types rock into separate fracture stages. The placed proppant in this well was poor because of both higher clay by volume and fracture stages that straddled lithological boundaries.

Several stages had only one or two sets of perforations in a stage of four to actually take any proppant or make any gas according to the post-fracture production log analysis.

Fig. 19 BP exploration and production, CGU 13-17 vertical pilot shale analysis showing an area of interpreted optimum fracturability in red; note the drill time change and temporary mud log suppression at 10,630 ft at the base of the target window.

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SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Fig. 20 Horizontal well path and main target interval of BP CGU 13-17H.

Fig. 21 Cased-hole RMT shale analysis, fracture stages, and production by perforations of BP CGU 1317H; log presented with toe at bottom.

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SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

Horizontal Well #3 Haynesville Core Area Higher Calcite and Low Clay Facies This section provides an example of the pulsed neutron horizontal shale evaluation in the main core area of the Haynesville Shale (Fig. 22). The well targeted the upper half of the shale. No vertical log is released for correlation, but the well was successfully geosteered by the operator. The pulsed neutron shale analysis highlights a clear lithology change at a mid-horizontal position. The clay volume increases to 25 to 30%, then slightly varies until it decreases again near the heel. There are some striking variations in the brittleness index as calculated along the horizontal tunnel, which indicate changing rock properties. There are also calculated closure stress differences of between 1000 and 1200 psi because of lithology differences along the horizontal well. Twelve fracture stages were successfully placed along the horizontal well with equal spacing and perforation geometry. A larger proppant was pumped for better conductivity in the individual stages. After the initial fracture cleanup and early flush production, a horizontal production log was run with the well flowing at a stabilized rate of +/- 9.0 MMCF/D. The results of the production log were overlaid with the pulsed neutron shale analysis calculation of the brittleness index, with a surprising result (Fig. 23). When zones are adequately propped with enough conductivity, there appears to be a one to one relationship to the amount of gas that is produced, which can provide broad implications of this phenomena for bringing in a better engineered and optimized completion.

Fig. 22 Horizontal pulsed neutron shale evaluation from a Haynesville Shale, core area well.

Fig. 23 Plot of production log gas overlaid with pulsed neutron derived brittleness index.

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SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

CONCLUSIONS The application in gas shales of a robust pulsed neutron tool, with a deeper depth of investigation and better counting statistics for induced gamma spectroscopy, has been used to easily reproduce, or exceed, openhole based shale evaluations. In vertical applications, it is not subject to the same tension pulls that plague many clay rich openhole evaluations. In horizontal applications, it completely eliminates operator rig time and risk to obtain a horizontal log for complete correlation and primary formation evaluation. The use of neural net derived models that convert pulsed neutron data to resistivity, bulk density, and neutron porosity are well tested and understood. Their use with a basic three mineral model obtained from the PNL gamma spectroscopy provide the required data for a shale analysis that is calibrated to vertical well mechanical properties derived from extensive dipole sonic data. The identification of changing lithology and mechanical properties along a horizontal well is required to optimize a fracture design and placement. The apparent correlation between a calculated brittleness index and gas production by zone makes sense as long as the operator is fracturing decent gas filled porosity and there is adequate placed proppant conductivity. The brittleness index can then be used interchangeably with terms such as fracturability or fracture complexity. These are all terms that infer greater levels of surface area exposure in gas shales. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors gratefully acknowledge the participation, cooperation, and release of data by BP Exploration & Production, Houston, Texas. REFERENCES Chen, D., Quirein, J., Hamid, S., Smith, H. Jr., and Grable, J. 2004, Neural network ensemble selection using multi-objective genetic algorithm in processing pulsed neutron data. Paper E presented at the SPWLA 45th Annual Logging Symposium, June 6-9, 2004. Galford, J., et al, 2009, A New Neutron-Induced Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Tool for Geochemical Logging, Paper SPE 123992 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference & Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 4-7 October, Jacobson, L.A., Ethridge, R., and Simpson, G., 1998, A new small-diameter, high-performance reservoir

monitoring tool. Paper K presented at the SPWLA 39th Annual Logging Symposium, 1998. Simpson, G., et al., 1999, A New Small Diameter HighPerformance Reservoir Monitor Toll, Paper SPE 53736, presented at Latin American and Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, Caracas, Venezuela, , 21-23 April, 1999 Parker, M., Buller, D., Petre, E., and Dreher, D., 2009, Haynesville shalepetrophysical evaluation. Paper SPE 122937 presented at the SPE Rocky Mountain Petroleum Technology Conference, Denver Colorado, USA, 14-16 April. Reed, R., Jacobson, L.A., and Durbin, D., 2004, Casedhole KUTh logging using a PNS tool. Paper SPE 90709 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, USA, 26-29 September. Reed, S., et al., 2007, Case history: application of CHI modeling using pulsed neutron to create pseudo openhole logs in highly deviated wells using special techniques for logging and perforating in Veracruz, Mexico. Paper SPE 107527 presented at the Latin American & Caribbean Petroleum Engineering Conference, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 15-18 April. Rickman, R., Mullen, M., Petre, E., Grieser, B., and Kundert, D., 2008, A practical use of shale petrophysics for stimulation design optimization. Paper SPE 115258 presented at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, USA, 21-24 September. ABOUT THE AUTHORS Dan Buller works as a principal petrophysicist for Halliburton in Shreveport, Louisiana (USA) with the Southeast Technology Team. His primary shale evaluation responsibilities include Haynesville, Eagleford, and Marcellus. Dan is also a magnetic resonance specialist. He has 29 years of experience, including work with Halliburton, Numar, and Schlumberger. Dan holds BS degrees in physics and math from the Nebraska Wesleyan University (1980) and a MS degree in physics from Kansas State University (1981). Suparman FNU works as a lead log analyst for Halliburton in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA). He holds a BS degree in physics from the University of Indonesia. In addition, he possesses 26 years of experience in the wireline logging industry, and began his career with Gearhart as field engineer. Suparman joined Halliburton in 1987 and progressed to the evaluation group in 1994. His focused experience in

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SPWLA 51st Annual Logging Symposium, June 19-23, 2010

cased-hole logging evaluation for various areas includes Indonesia, Australia, Canada, and the Gulf of Mexico. Shan Kwong works as a global pulsed neutron product champion for Halliburton in Houston, Texas (USA) in the Wireline and Perforating division. Shan has 25 years of experience and has been with Halliburton since 1991, including positions in field operations, technical service management, business development, and log interpretation in various international assignments. He holds a BS degree in electronics engineering, with honors, from Liverpool University. Shan has authored several technical papers, and is a member of the Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts (SPWLA) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). David Spain works for BP as a senior reservoir geologist for east Texas asset in Houston, Texas (USA), in the North American Gas (NAG) Business Unit. He holds a MS degree in geology from Vanderbilt University (1982). David possesses 28 years of experience - 18 with Amoco, including 9 at Amoco Research, and 10 with BP. He is currently responsible for appraisal plans, data acquisition, and surveillance data strategy for the East Texas business unit, including the development and implementation of innovative and technology focused solutions to shale gas appraisal. He leads the BP Shale Gas Community of Practice and serves as a consultant to the global unconventional resource team.

Mike Miller PhD is a petrophysicist with 22 years of varied geologic and petrophysical experience. He has recently retired from BP and is now working as a senior petrophysicist for Cimarex Energy in Tulsa, Oklahoma (USA). He worked as a senior petrophysics advisor with the BP North America Gas Unit on the Woodford Shale in Oklahoma and the Haynesville Shale in east Texas. Mike worked for BP and Amoco in onshore and offshore assignments, and in numerous basins around the world. Mike was a team leader and attended the Amoco Petrophysics program. He is a certified geologist in the state of Texas, a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Houston Geologic Society, the Society of Professional Well Log Analysts, and the Denver Well Logging Society.

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