GEOLOGY FOR NON-GEOLOGY

10th November 2015

Role of G&R in Drilling Operations of OIL

Pritam Sharma
Senior Geologist
Geology & Reservoir Deptt

Contents:

Drilling Flow Chart

Well types
Well Planning Objectives and steps
Tentative Drilling Programme
Pre Drill Workflow
Depth Data Drilling Policy and its embellishment
Role of Operational Geologist

Drilling Flow Chart

Rig-up & Installation
of all Rig Equipments,
Infrastructure

Drilling & Casing of

Conductor hole
(17.1/2)

Spudding

Drilling; Intermediate
OH Logging (12.1/4) &
casing & cementing of
the hole

Rig down of
installation
Perforation, Initial
testing, self flow of
hydrocarbon/ unloading
by NPU / CTU /Gas lifts

Drilling of Oil
string/Production hole;
Conventional Coring
(8.1/2)

Cased Hole
Logging
(CBL_VDL_USIT)

Casing setting &

Cementation

Open Hole Logging (Resistivity,

Density-neutron, Sonic, MDT,
Open Hole DST, SWC)

Drilling Flow Chart

Well Types

Wildcat

Not known (or

very little)
geological
information is
available

Exploratory

Site selection
based on seismic
data, satellite
surveys etc. No
drilling data in
the prospective
horizon is
available

Appraisal/
Step Outs

Development/
In fill

Wells drilled on a
discovered
structure for
ascertaining
reservoir limit,
delineate
OWC/GWC, HC
reserves

Wells drilled for

production
purpose from a
known reservoir
and limits up
production
potential as per
FDP.

WELL TYPES

Objectives of Well Planning

The objective of well planning is to

formulate a program from many variables
for drilling a well that has the following
characteristics:
1. Safety
2. Minimum Cost
3. Usable

Typical Well Planning Steps

Data Collection
Pore pressure prediction
Fracture Gradient prediction
Casing policy design
Hole geometry
Rig selection
Drill time projection
Mud plan
Drill string design
Cement plan
Completion planning
Cost estimates
Cement plan

Tentative Drilling Programme

Well Depth.
Rig capacity [Mechanical Rig / Electrical Rig

including Chartered

Rig].

Vertical / Deviated wells (Displacement / KOP / Max. Angle Build

up / Holding / Dropping).

New plinth / existing plinth.

ILM distance.
Rig down / Rig up time.
Infrastructure of the locality (approach

road, pollution, safety, forest

etc.).

Drilling

metreage, Production Potential, capability of different

related streams / departments, technical availability etc.).

Pre Drilling Workflow

Once location is
released, advise for Land
Acquisition and civil
preparation.

Location Advice Form

A:Location Advice Form-1
B:Location Advice Form - 2
C:Location Advice Form 3

Pre Drilling Workflow

Recce Survey is carried
out during different
phases of development
for the location site
(ancillary jobs, plinth
condition and it's
progress of construction,
approach road etc.)
generally after issuing
the PLAF-1.

contd

Pre Drilling Workflow

contd

Post issue of LAF-3, jobs followed:

A. Land acquisition.
B. Plinth construction.
C. Infrastructure for rig
movement.

D. Rigging up(% )/ rigging down progress in

previous location for ILM.

Preparation of Depth Data & Drilling Policy

GEOLOGICAL INFORMATIONS - STRUCTURE, PROSPECT, SUBSURFACE POSITION, POSSIBLE

FORMATION TOPS

CASING POLICIES (SIZE, SETTING DEPTH, TYPE, CEMENTATION)

MUD POLICIES (PARAMETERS, CHEMICAL COMPOSITIONS etc.)

DEVIATIONS {PROPOSED PLAN (BUILD-UP/HOLDING/DROPPING)}

INFORMATION OF PORE PRESSURE / FORMATION PRESSURE FROM NEIGHBOURING WELLS

EXPECTED SUBSURFACE DRILLING COMPLICATIONS (LOSS ZONE, STUCK PIPE , TIGHT SPOTS)

SAMPLE COLLECTIONS , GAS LOGGING, CONVENTIONAL CORING

WIRELINE LOGGING SERVICES

WELL COMPLETION AND PRODUCTION TESTING

Geological Information
BASE MAP

SURFACE LOCATION MAP

DISTANCE & BEARINGS W.R.TO NEIGHBOURING WELLS/STRUCTUERES

-STRUCTURAL CONFIGURATION

-CLOSURE (4 WAY/ FAULT)

-PROSPECT AREA
-FLUID MARGINS
STRUCTURAL MAP

-PROSPECT LEVEL
-UPDIP/DOWNDIP W.R.TO
NEIGHBOURING WELLS
-PRESSURE-PRODUCTION
BEHAVIOUR OF NEIGHBOURING
WELLS
-LITHOCOLUMN INDICATING
EXPECTED FORMATION TOPS
(BASED ON SEISMIC DATA &
NEIGHBOURING WELLS)

Casing Policy
17.1/2
(13.3/8)

Alluvium/ Namsang

26
(20)

17.1/2
(13.3/8)

12.1/4
(9.5/8)

All/Nam

Girujan

36
(30)
26
(20)

Girujan

12.1/4
(9.5/8)

17.1/2
(13.3/8)
Barail/Kopili

12.1/4
(9.5/8)
8.1/2
(5.1/2)

Lk+Th/Langpar

8.1/2
(5.1/2)

Lk+Th/Langpar/
8.1/2
(5.1/2)
Basement

TD: < 4000 m

TD: > 4000 m

CASING POLICY

TD: > 5000 m

Casing Policy
Factors critical in casing designing:

Total depth of well

Pore pressure, fracture gradients, geothermal gradient

Presence of shallow gas pockets / Boulder, Pebble bed

Critical zones

Depth of potential prospect zones

Time limits on open hole drilling

Casing program compatibility with existing wellhead systems

Casing program compatibility with planned completion programme on

production wells

Casing availability: size, grade and weight

Economics drilling time, casing lowering time, cost of materials & other
equipments

Casing Policy

contd

Drilling Fluid Policy

ITS A SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A SUITABLE MEDIUM FOR CARRYING OUT EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT
DRILLING OPERATIONS AND TO IMPART BOREHOLE STABILITY

FUNCTIONS OF DRILLING FLUID:

CUTTINGS REMOVAL FROM THE BIT TO THE SURFACE

SUPPORTING A PART OF THE WEIGHT OF DRILL PIPE AND

CASING (i.e. BOUYANCY)

IN TRANSMITTING HYDRAULIC HORSEPOWER TO THE BIT

ACTING AS MEDIUM FOR WIRELINE LOGGING

COOLING AND LUBRICATION

CONTROL FORMATION PRESSURE

ACTING AS A MEDIUM FOR LOGGING WHILE DRILLING

(LWD) SIGNAL IN PULSES

DRILLING FLUID

Deviation Policy

Vertical Well

J-Bend

S-Bend Well
Horizontal Well

WELL PROFILE

Criteria for Deviated Wells

LOGISTICS

LAND ACQUISITION

CLUSTER PLINTH

DEVIATION MEASUREMENTS

SS READING, MWD READING

INCLINOMETER READINGS FROM WIRELINE SERVICES

APPLYING

AVERAGE

CALCULATION OF DEVIATION

ANGLE

METHOD

FOR

Pore Pressure Profile

Pore pressure Prediction at pre
drilled position is done by Geoscientists by
estimation of interval velocity profile from
seismic with the help of software.
Pore Pressure prediction profile
helps in designing an effective casing policy
& appropriate mud weight profile that can
minimize the down-hole problems & risk of
blow outs
prevents damage to the formation in
prospective zones
nullifies specific problems encountered
during drilling such as differential pipe stuck
up, hole caving, mud loss and kicks etc.
facilitates to drill a healthy well and helps
recording of good quality logs for formation &
prospect evaluation.

GTO (Geo Technical Order)

Its a summary of Planned
Data of a well prior to drilling

GEOLOGICAL DATA
PORE PRESSURE PREDICTION
FORMATIONS
PLANNED DEPTHS vs DAYS
WELL HEAD DATA
CASING DEPTHS
DRILLING DATA
PLANNED DEVIATION DATA
MUD DATA
DRILL STRING SPECIFICATION

GEO TECHNICAL ORDER

Role of Operation Geologist

LITHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION:
- COLOUR, HARDNESS, FRAMEWORK GRAIN IDENTIFICATION, MATRIX, GRAIN

SIZE,

SORTING, ANGULARITY

HYDROCARBON INDICATION:
- GAS DETECTION: GAS CHART INTERPRETATION (PRODUCED GAS, BACKGROUND
GAS, TRIP GAS, CONNECTION GAS & RECYCLE GAS
- OIL SHOWS: ODOR, STAIN, COLOUR, FLUORESCENCE

RECORDING OF GAS READING & GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY (from Mud Logging)

PREPARE & MAINTAIN MASTER LOGS

CORRELATE HYDROCARBON BEARING ZONES WITH NEIGHBOURING WELLS

SAMPLE COLLECTION & GAS LOGGING

Role of Operation Geologist

OIL STRING CASING POLICY (DEPTH SELECTION OF CASING SHOE, FLOAT COLLAR,

SHORT JOINTS, CENTRALISER, SCRATCHERS)

OIL STRING CEMENTATION POLICY (CALCULATION OF OVERGAUGE, TRUE GAUGE, &

UNDERGAUGE VOLUMES, VOLUME OF CEMENT REQUIRED, DEPTH OF CEMENT TOP etc.)

INITIAL TESTING POLICY (DETAILS OF THE OPERATIONS FROM END OF CEMENTING

OF THE OIL STRING CASING TO TESTING OF THE DESIRED PROSPECTIVE ZONES, ZONE TO
BE TESTED, DEPTHS OF PRODUCTION STRING/TUBING, PACKER, GLVs etc.)

BULLET PERFORATION NOTIFICATION (BPN) DETAILS OF PERFORATIONS GUN TYPE,

SPF, CHARGES, PRECISE DEPTHS OF PERFORATION, DEPTHS OF CCL etc

GEOLOGISTS RESPONSIBILTY

Role of Operation Geologist

EXAMINATION OF DRILL CUTTINGS IN

HAND SPECIMEN & UNDER MICROSCOPE

FOR

IDENTIFICATION &

LITHOLOGICAL

DESCRIPTION

IDENTIFICATION

OF

HYDROCARBON

BEARING ZONES BY EXAMINING SAMPLES

UNDER FLUOROSCOPE FOR FLUORESCENCE

PREPARATION

OF

SECTION

AND

CORRELATION WITH NEIGHBOURING WELLS

GEOLOGISTS RESPONSIBILTY

Oil/gas Shows in Samples / Fluorescence

Qualitative Fluorescence testing :
Direct (hydrocarbon/mineral fluorescence)

Cut (solvent application; positive test for

HC)
Residual (after solvent evaporation)
Other potential signs of hydrocarbons:
Gas Pops in fresh cuttings
Smell of Crude oil if not contaminated
with mud

Common Observation of Cut Fluoroscence

on spot trays under UV Light
Presence of solvent (CCl4/
Acetone)
Indication of Hydrocarbon as
solvent is poured on the
crushed sample

Oil Fluorescence
No shows on crushed
sample when solvent is
poured

GEOLOGISTS RESPONSIBILTY

Flush Sample Log/ Litholog

ITS A PICTOGRAPHIC PRESENTATION OF DIRECT OBSERVATIONS OF DRILL CUTTINGS IN TERMS OF THEIR
LITHOLOGY, LITHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION & ITS FLUORESCENCE ALONG WITH GAS READING, ROP &
DRILLING EVENTS W.R.TO DEPTH

The earliest
possible
information
available from
the subsurface
can be
obtained from
Master Logs

MASTER LOG

Mud Logging Service

Mud logging is a service that qualitatively and quantitatively obtains data from, and
makes observations of, drilled rocks, drilling fluids and drilling parameters in order to
formulate and display concepts of the in situ characteristics of formation rocks with the
primary goal of delineating hydrocarbon shows worthy of testing.
-Information centre on the rig site to serve both exploration and drilling.
Necessity of requirement of Mud Logging Process:

Main purpose of having a mud logging

service is to get:
Increased drilling safety
Improved drilling efficiency
Accurate and comprehensive
formation evaluation
Continuous data collection (in terms of logs
and numerical data)

MASTER LOG

WIRELINE LOGS
OPEN HOLE

CASED HOLE

Resistivity Logs
Density-Porosity Logs

GR-CCL

GR, SGR

VSP

Sonic Tools

CBL-VDL

Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP)

USIT

Dipmeter, Inclinometer (Strike, Dip)

TTP

Borehole Imaging Tool (XRMI / FMI)

BP, RP, TTBP

Caliper

RMT / RS

Wireline Testing & Sampling (MDT)

PLT

NMR/CMR

WIRELINE LOGS

Planning Coring Program

During Drilling

By Wireline (CST)

Side Wall Core

Conventional Core

Petrology & Mineralogical study, Sedimentological

Permeability (Vertical, Lateral),

Study (Grain size, Shape, Sorting), Petrographic Study

Capillary Study, Sedimentary

(Thin Section, XRD, SEM), Biostratigraphic Study

Structures, Environment of

(Palaeontology, Playnology), Rock mechanics,

Deposition including all studies as

Geochemistry, Reservoir Characteristics (porosity, oil

in SWC/CST

saturation, Oil content, Water content)

CORING

Log Interpretation
Open Hole Composite

CBL_VDL

3893.0

Nil

3900.0
3901.0

Patchy yellow no cut

3919.0
3920.5

Continous yellow
strong cut
Dull yellow faint
cut
3941.0

Perforation:
LOG INTERPRETATION

Fluid uncertain:

A Tentative Subsurface Correlation

GEOLOGICAL CORRELATION

A Tentative Subsurface Cross Section

GEOLOGICAL CROSS SECTION

Drilling Progress Chart

A drilling time curve or
days vs. depth plot or
drilling progress chart
is commonly used to
show the relationship
between the
programmed and
actual time required to
drill the well, and to
mark where the major
drilling events
occurred.

MASTER LOG

Drilling
a Well

Site
Preparation

Drilling
a Well

Drill 26
Hole

Drilling
a Well

Set 20
Casing

Drilling
a Well

Cement 20
Casing

Drilling
a Well

Drill 17-1/2
Hole

Drilling
a Well

Set 13-3/8
Casing

Drilling
a Well

Cement 13-3/8
Casing

Drilling
a Well

Drill 12-1/4
Hole

Drilling
a Well

Run Electric
Logs

Drilling
a Well

Run 9-5/8
Casing

Drilling
a Well

Cement 9-5/8
Casing

Drilling
a Well

Drill 8-1/2
Hole

Drilling
a Well

Drill 8-1/2
Hole to T.D.

Drilling
a Well

26

17-1/2
12-1/4

8-1/2
Run Electric
Logs

Drilling
a Well

26

17-1/2
12-1/4

8-1/2
Run 5-1/2
casing

Drilling
a Well

26

17-1/2
12-1/4

8-1/2
Cement 5-1/2
casing

Drilling
a Well

26

17-1/2
12-1/4

8-1/2

Production
Testing &
Well
Completion

Drilling
a Well
Plug and
Abandon
26

17-1/2
12-1/4

8-1/2

CHEMICAL
DRILLING
CIVIL

DRILLING
OPERATION

WLD/SLB
Drilling Operation
activities are an
integrated team effort
including G&R, Civil,
Drilling, Chemical, WLD,
Production, R&D Depts.

R&D

GEOLOGICAL CROSS SECTION

PRODUCTION
(OIL/GAS)