SPE-174835-MS

Integrated Production Logging Approach for Successful Leak Detection

Between Two Formations: A Case Study
Abdullah Al-Mulhim, Ibrahim Al-Thwaiqib, and Abdulkader Bogari, Saudi Aramco; Mustafa Bawazir and
Moutaz Abdein, Schlumberger

Copyright 2015, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition held in Houston, Texas, USA, 28 30 September 2015.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
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Abstract
A major exploration and production (E&P) company is acquiring a significant number of multiphase
production logs a year for reservoir management. It is anticipated that this number will increase, when
these deviated and horizontal wells start to produce water. It is more challenging when these wells become
dead due to downhole communication between an aquifer and the objective reservoir resulting in
excessive downhole water dumping. The strategy, therefore, is to run advanced production logging tools
(APLT) integrated with the pulsed neutron logging tool (PNLT) to provide velocity along with holdup
maps across the diameter of the borehole from an array of sensors and water velocities inside the wellbore
or the annulus, respectively. The combination between APLT and PNLT data provides accurate detection
and quantification of water zonal contributions.
The aim of the three case examples presented in this paper is to facilitate detecting the leak point and
assembling the inflow profiles. The first example is an open hole completion. The logging data showed
1000 bbl of down-flow movements in the tubing-casing annulus (TCA) starting from the shallow aquifer.
The second well was completed with an inflow control device (ICD). Water dumping was observed from
the leak over the blank pipe down to the screen interval, which is also supported by temperature deflection.
The third example is a cased-hole perforated completion. An integrated logging approach yielded reliable
results in detecting the water entry interval, and the water entry was identified from the perforated section
flowing upward to the casing leak. This detected crossflow in the mentioned examples at shut-in
conditions was the reason that the wells were dead.
The established integrated logging solution and field examples showed evidence that a leaking interval
was suspected to be responsible for high water cut, reducing well performance and killing the wells. The
source of water production identified provides the justification for a workover to isolate the water entries,
secure the objective reservoir, and revitalize the dead well.

Introduction
The definitive goal of production and reservoir management, at the well level, is reservoir surveillance and
successive analysis. Corrective actions at the well and reservoir levels can be minimized by monitoring
of the wells and reservoir with a comprehensive analysis and diagnosis of existing or potential issues.

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Production logs support diagnosis of problems that arise throughout the life of a single well, and are also
used for the management and surveillance of multiple wells and the entire reservoir.
Production logging is challenging in vertical and horizontal wells due to deviation, wellbore conditions,
and/or multiple flow regimes. There are many different scenarios that could lead to high-water production
sources such as (Ahmad et al. 2011):

Tubing, casing, or packer leaks

Flow behind the casing and problems in or near the wellbore, such as from poor cement
Water coning
Rapid breakthrough of water through fissures

The diagnosis of these types of wells becomes complicated when the wells are leaking and/or dead; due
to downhole crossflow or communication between an aquifer and the objective reservoir. Issues associated
with casing/tubing leaks can lead to significant losses of oil or gas production, as well as environmental
problems if the water is produced to the surface or underground contamination in case of downhole
crossflow. The determination of the water entry locations provides a target for a water shut-off (WSO)
program with the objective of restoring oil inflow (Ojonah and Kohring 2007). It is important to detect
the leak or crossflow at an early stage to overcome those loses in hydrocarbon and/or completion
objectives.
An integrated production logging approach will be introduced to identify the precise locations of the
leak intervals in water-disposal, water-injector, and oil-producing wells. This involves multiphase production logging to evaluate wellbore zonal flow contribution, incorporated with a neutron tool that was
run on water flow log (WFL) mode to identify and quantify water influx inside and behind the completion.
The paper comprises four main sections. We discuss the background to the field in the first section.
Next, we discuss the tool sensors and principles. After that, we will shed light on the pre-job planning,
and integration. Finally, we present three examples from the field of detecting leakage intervals,
evaluating completion integrity, and establishing downhole flow profiling.

Field Background
Field-X represents one of the most mature areas in Ghawar field, the largest field in the world. It was
discovered in 1948 and placed on production in the early 1950s. It produces Arabian light oil with an
average API gravity of 32.6 and a gas-oil ratio (GOR) of 550 SCF/STB. Matrix porosity and permeability
averaged 18% and 220 MD, respectively. The field is under peripheral injection waterflood. Water
injection distribution on the periphery varies with withdrawals. Water sources are primarily seawater from
the Arabian Gulf, and reinjected produced water. Produced water and seawater are injected through
separate systems.
Although the field has maintained the capability of producing at high oil rate, water production has
been successfully reduced and stabilized at approximately 46% after implementing water management. In
1991, an active water management strategy was initiated to minimize water production while maximizing
oil production at lowest cost. This strategy was implemented through the following four field practices:
cyclic production modes, rigless WSO jobs, horizontal drilling sidetracks, and partial penetrated wells
(Al-Mutairi and Al-Harbi 2006).

Production Logging Technology: Understanding of Well Behavior under

Challenging Conditions
Production logging consists of several measurements, many of which are used in a complementary
capacity to determine fluid and flow properties. To analyze production logging data, production engineers
must be aware of downhole flow regimes. Knowledge of expected flow regimes allows operators to
choose measurements suitable for the downhole conditions (Mukerji 2013) (Fig. 1).

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Figure 1Three main types of flow structure can occur in a two-phase (water-oil) system

Production logs assist engineers to understand where the various fluids enter the well. This enables
them to identify optimal solutions, such as selecting which unwanted fluid entry zones should be WSO
or which poorly producing layers require perforation and/or stimulation (Elkadi and Zeybek 2006). This
allow engineers to avoid the wrong remedial action and save the well, boosting oil production and shutting
off water in wells with very high water cut, while avoiding unnecessary costs.
Candidate wells are normally chosen because they produce either water or gas in addition to oil
(Rounce et al. 1999). Well logging in dead and/or leaking wells is challenging along with subsequent
interpretation to pinpoint the water-entry interval(s) (Ahmad et al. 2011). Additionally, production logging
assists to evaluate well productivity index (PI). Using this information, reservoir and completion engineers
can plan well workover strategies, including ICD completion evaluations (Al-Khanferi et al. 2014).
Multiphase Production Logging Tool
Production logging methods have remained essentially unchanged for a very long period of time.
Measuring complex multiphase fluid flow in deviated and horizontal wells has long been a challenge.
Standard production logging tools (PLT) developed for vertical or near-vertical wells cannot provide
effective answers when confronted with the complex flow environment of highly deviated wells. In
horizontal and deviated wells, advanced production logging tools, optimized for three-phase production
logging, provide a complete analysis of complex downhole flow regimes (Baldauff et al. 2004).
The production logging tool strings include the following sensors:

Pressure temperature gamma ray (GR) casing collar locator (CCL)

Production services platform conveyance monitoring sonde
Spinner four electrical probes (water holdup) X-Y caliper tool bearing
run in vertical wells, shown in Fig. 2a)

(PLT typically

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Figure 2aTypical PLT string run in vertical wells

APLT consisting of five mini-spinners six electrical probes (water holdup) six optical probes
(gas holdup) 1-arm caliper tool bearing (APLT typically run in horizontal wells, shown
in Fig. 2b)

Figure 2bTypical APLT string run in horizontal wells

Pulsed Neutron Logging Tool

The PNLT is a combined pulsed neutron capture and pulsed neutron spectroscopy logging tool capable
of evaluating oil saturation in a wide range environments. The PNLT has also been developed for use in
production logging applications. This includes three-phase holdup log (Roscoe 1998) and the WFL
measurements. The WFL is based on neutron activation of oxygen (McKeon et al. 1991).
The WFL is widely used. A pulse of neutrons is used to mark the oxygen in the vicinity of the neutron
generator. The activated oxygen immediately starts to give off gamma rays. A static signal is created from
all the fixed oxygen in the formation and cement while the moving oxygen in the water creates a gamma
ray source that tracks the water velocity. Gamma ray detectors mounted downstream of the neutron source
see a signal that rises and then falls as the marked oxygen approaches and then passes the detector (Fig.
3). Knowing the physical separation of the neutron source from the gamma ray detectors, it only remains
to measure the transit time from the middle of the neutron burst to the peak of the detector signal to
compute an oxygen, and hence a water, velocity. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, multiple neutron
bursts and their signals are recorded and stacked. Obviously this technique is applied as a station
measurement (Whittaker 2013).

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Figure 3WFL measurement principle

Pre-Job Planning and Integration

Successful production logging is easier when the flow enters through perforations or screens and then
moves totally up the borehole of the well. There are instances when there is substantial casing/tubing
annulus flow. Leak detection of water flow in vertical and horizontal wells is by itself a challenge for
production logging tools. Existence of annulus flow adds another complication to this challenge. Failing
to detect this leak during production logging can require a very costly intervention in vertical and
horizontal wells.
The log analyst planning a leak detection log needs to know where the unexpected pressure has been
detected and at what rate the leak is flowing. An increase in the casing pressure shown in Fig. 4 would
point to a tubing or packer failure, whereas an elevated conductor pressure would point to a bad cement
seal. Gas or liquid seeping from the ground or appearing in a local river or lake is not amenable to
production log leak detection. Leaks are rarely large enough to measure with a test separator, and leak
rates are usually in nonstandard units, such as liters per minute, minutes per bucket, or, perhaps, seconds
per gas-filled balloon. The usual approach to leak detection in tubing is to set a plug in a tubing end nipple
and then circulate fluid down the tubing through the leak and back to surface via the annulus. The leak
should then be apparent as a discontinuity on the spinner log, temperature log, or both. Unfortunately,
without a lot of experience it is difficult to know whether the leak signature will be large enough to detect
Whittaker 2013.

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Figure 4 A typical well completion

When the well to be logged is dead, cannot flow naturally or leaking, the recommended logging plan
is to perform the shut-in survey first to detect any crossflow or downhole communication in the well. If
water down flow or annulus flow is detected, then the objective is achieved.
The configuration of the pulsed neutron source and detector is sensitive to the upward flow of water
(Fig. 5). This upward flow can be in the tubing or the annulus. For leak detection, an upward water
velocity indicates that the tool is above the depth of the leak whereas zero flow means that the tool is
below the leak. The reversing adapters can be used and run the tool upside down (Fig. 6; Whittaker 2013).
Downward or upward flow inside the wellbore will be detected by the APLT or PLT. PNLT is configured
to be sensitive to an upward or downward flow.
For producer wells, Nitrogen (N2) lifting is an option to flow the well and identify the source of water
and oil production at flowing conditions (Ahmad et al. 2011):

Lifting the well with N2.

Extend the injection to ensure the well is capable of natural flow.
Once the well is capable of natural flow, ensure stable flowing condition (achieve well
stabilization).
After stabilization, initiate logging as usual.

If the well is not flowing naturally, then perform logging while injection before consuming all of
the N2.

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Figure 5WFL in normal configuration

Figure 6 WFL in inverted configuration

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Field Examples
The three field examples discussed in this paper are from a carbonate reservoir. Applications for the
integrated production logging technique are illustrated through the field examples (Well A, Well B, and
Well C). Well A and Well B are dead wells, deviated and horizontal oil producers respectively. Well C
is a water disposal vertical well.
Production logging and pulsed neutron logging surveys were successfully completed. The production
logging evaluations were recorded at shut-in condition. This was followed by PNLT run at static
conditions. The analysis of diagnosing fluid entries are shown in the next sections. The APLT/PLT are
combined with the PNLT-WFL (Fig. 7) to locate and quantify downhole communication under shut-in
condition across the wellbore.

Figure 7Integrated tool string, APLT combined with PNLT

The three wells were determined to be good candidates for workover and/or restoring well performance.
Example Well A
Well History. Well A as illustrated in Fig. 8 was drilled and completed as an open hole deviated producer.
The well could not flow to the pit for cleanup; final shut-in wellhead pressure was zero. This well was
put on initial production after stimulating production by swabbing, with the initial rate test indicated as
7900 B/D dry oil. After four years, the well was classified as a wet-oil producer. Two years later, the well
was shut-in most of the time.

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Figure 8 Well A: PLT and PNLT integrated answer

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A routine temperature survey was done on this well and an anomalous profile was observed. Another
survey was done with more stops across the A-X and A-Y zones/formations, which detected the same
anomaly. A downhole sample was collected and the analysis showed an A-Y water signature. The TCA
was bled to the pit for several minutes and the TCA pressure did not drop. The bleed-off effluent was oil
and water.
Logging Objectives. A WFL and PLT were run to locate and quantify downhole communication,
possibly across the A-X/A-Y formations.
Logging Job and Results. No flowing pass was done as the well was dead. During shut-in, water
dumping (1000 B/D water) was observed from casing leak opposite a water formation (A-Z formation top
B547 ft) toward the open hole interval at G947-H000 ft. Water dumping was also supported by
temperature anomaly/deflection, spinner stationary logging and WFL stations. The comparison between
the water rate computed from spinner velocities and WFL velocities suggested that the water is flowing
in the TCA (Fig. 8 shut-in rate track). Spinner stationary logging at B300 ft and C000 ft showed zero
rps, i.e., no flow inside the tubing. Unstable flowing water in the annulus resulted in fluctuation in the
WFL velocities. Therefore, additional WFL stations were recorded to maximize recorded data quality.
Remedial Actions. Therefore, a bridge plug was set at a depth of G885 ft (62 ft above the liner shoe)
and capped with cement as temporary action to stop communication between reservoirs before resolution
by workover.
Example Well B
Well History. Well B was drilled and completed as an open hole horizontal oil producer. The well was
put on initial production and tested at 4500 B/D oil with 25% water cut. After three years, the well was
worked-over to isolate the A-X/A-Y communication and recomplete the well with the lCD system, as
shown in Fig. 9.

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Figure 9 Well B: APLT and PNLT integrated answer

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One year later, the horizontal producer was found to be dead when switched to routine testing.
Geochemical analysis on the downhole sample collected indicated possible A-X/A-Y communication.
Logging Objectives. To record an APLT and WFL under shut-in conditions across the ICD lined
horizontal section, locate and quantify A-X/A-Y communication.
Logging Job and Results. No flowing pass was done as the well was dead. During shut-in, water
dumping (950 B/D water) was observed from the leak over the 4-1/2in liner blank pipe at G766 to G780
ft (~14 ft leak interval based on spinner response) down to screen interval at H843.3-H858.3 ft (450 B/D
water). The remaining 500 B/D water continued flowing down below K285 ft. The water dumping from
leak interval G766 to G780 ft is also supported by temperature deflection, APLT stations and WFL
stations. The comparison between the water rate computed from spinner velocities and WFL velocities
suggested that the water is flowing from inside the 4-1/2in tubing (Fig. 9 shut-in rate track).
Between 70-88 deviations, the lighter phase (oil) is moving against the heavier phase (water) flowing
direction to cause recirculation. No oil velocity/oil profile even though holdup data showed oil over
G766-H335 ft because this oil was stagnant and recirculated downhole due to strong water dumping.
Remedial Actions. The communication was stopped by setting a bridge plug at G870 ft (90 ft below
the leak interval). The root causes of this communication will be investigated with the drilling and
workover as it took place following a previous workover repair.
Example Well C
Well History. Well C (Fig. 10) was completed as a perforated water disposal well. The last workover
operation was done to replace the corroded landing base and a 4-1/2in liner was then run across the open
hole.

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Figure 10 Well C: PLT and PNLT integrated answer

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The last temperature survey indicated a temperature anomaly with possible crossflow from A-Y to the
shallow aquifer.
Logging Objectives. The production log tool was run combined with PNLT-WFL to locate and
quantify suspected downhole crossflow between the formations.
Logging Job and Results. PNLT-WFL was configured to be sensitive to an upward flow. Downward
(and upward) flow inside the wellbore will be detected by the PLT. During shut-in survey, PLT and WFL
showed upward crossflow from bottom perforation to depth of E254 ft. A total of 11400 B/D water is
flowing from the bottom perforation intervals. Temperature sensors indicated heating across the perforation and cooling effect across the depths where the leak is observed.
Remedial Actions. The objective of the workover was to repair the casing leak, and record corrosion
and cement integrity across 7-in casing as preventive maintenance. The leak was repaired after the
pumping of cement and extending the 4-1/2in liner to D598 ft (above the leak point).

Conclusions

Production logs are vital diagnostic measurements for completion evaluation, reservoir dynamics
(crossflow), variety of production problem identifications, and for potential remedial actions.
Success in pinpointing the water-leakage interval depends on integrated job planning together with
the best practices of logging methodology.
Combination of PLT/APLT and PNLT production logs is an efficient method to diagnose the
variety of production problems.
The leakage interval for the three example wells was clear; i.e., the downhole leakage interval was
successfully identified and quantified.
Bad isolation between formations, corrosion or erosion could lead to flow behind casing.

Recommendations

It is important to take into account the reservoir/production data, completion type, wellhead
pressure, properties of wellbore fluids, reservoir fluids, and temperature.
It is recommended that engineers configure the WFL to be sensitive to an upward and downward
flow, to draw a detailed picture of the current well condition and downhole leakage scenarios.
Performing repeated production logging passes and WFL stationary logging is highly recommended to ensure data repeatability.
Combining cement evaluation, multi-finger calipers, and magnetic thickness services with the
production logging tools for completion and pipe inspections is highly recommended to assist in
leak detection investigation.

Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Saudi Aramco and Schlumberger management for permission to present
and publish this paper.

Abbreviations
APLT
CCL
GOR
GR
ICD
N2
PBMS

Advanced Production Logging Tool

Casing Collar Locator
Gas-Oil Ratio
Gamma Ray
Inflow Control Device
Nitrogen
Platform Basic Measurements Sonde

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PCMS
PFCS
PI
PLT
PNLT
PSP
SPIF
TCA
WFL
WSO

15

PSP Conveyance Monitoring Sonde

Platform Flowmeter-Caliper Sonde
Productivity Index
Production Logging Tool
Pulsed Neutron Logging Tool
Production Services Platform
Mini-Spinner Flow Meter
Tubing-Casing Annulus
Water Flow Log
Water Shut-off

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Marketing Communications