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L5-B FIELD
WELL: L5-B03
Acoustic Analysis
SUMMARY
This report presents the results of processing and QC of the acoustic data acquired in
development well L5-B03. The L5-B03 well is a deviated well drilled into the L5-B field, which is
located in the eastern part of the L5b block in the central part of the Netherlands sector of the
North Sea approximately 86km north of Den Helder.
Monopole compressional and shear slowness were analysed for the 5.875-inch openhole
section (4778 5129 m) and the cased hole section (776 4778 m). In the 5.875 open-hole
section the dipole shear slowness was also investigated for the presence of shear wave splitting
caused by acoustic anisotropy. Furthermore a Stoneley wave permeability and Stoneley
separation analysis were also done for the 5.875 inch section. The full monopole and cross
dipole waveform data were recorded by the Baker Atlas XMAC Elite tool and processed using
the eXpress software suite. All depths are measured depths in metres below drill floor along
hole.
Results
Monopole and Inline and Cross Dipole full waveform data were processed and used in this
study.
Over the openhole section the waveform data was of generally good quality, however in several
intervals the data has been severely affected by tool stick-and-pull.
In the cased hole section the data was of variable quality dependant on the quality of formation-
to-casing cement bond and the number of casing strings logged through. In the lower sections
of the Zechstein Formation (below 3335m) and the Silverpit Formation the data quality is
generally very good. Above this depth data quality varies from good to very poor and is related
to the cement bond quality. Data quality is noticeably poorer above the 13.375 inch casing shoe
located at 1712m. Above 776m data quality is so poor that no reliable slownesses can be
determined.
The Stoneley wave reflectivity and Stoneley permeability analysis was conducted over the
5.875 inch open-hole interval. The Silverpit shows low Stoneley permeabilities of 0.1 mD or
less. The target Lower Slochteren sandstone shows high permeabilities of up to 100 mD with
good agreement between the computed Stoneley permeabilities and measured RCI mobilities
in the upper part of the formation. The Limburg shows moderate permeability sands up to 15
mD, though generally in the range 1 to 3 mD, with interbedded impermeable shales and coals
The anisotropy analysis shows anisotropies of 2% or less over the majority of the logged
interval. The formations can therefore essentially be considered to be isotropic.
Recommendations
This study only considered the dataset from one well. Data from other wells could be integrated
and analysed to obtain permeability profiles throughout the field.
CONTENTS
SUMMARY i
WELL SKETCH & SUMMARY RESULTS ii
CONTENTS & LIST OF ENCLOSURES iii
1 INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Objectives 1
1.2 Methodology 1
3 RESULTS
3.1 Acoustic slowness analysis 7
3.2 Stoneley wave separation analysis 9
3.3 Stoneley wave permeability analysis 9
3.4 Azimuthal anisotropy analysis 10
3.5 Data presentation 11
REFERENCES 14
LIST OF APPENDICES
Appendix A. XMAC tool summary sheet. 15
Appendix B. Deliverable curve names. 16
LIST OF ENCLOSURES
Enclosure 1. Acoustic Slowness Analysis, scale 1:500.
Enclosure 2. Stoneley Wave Permeability, scale 1:200.
Enclosure 3. Azimuthal Anisotropy Analysis, scale 1:200.
Enclosure 4. Anisotropy Map, scale 1:200.
1 INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of processing and QC of the acoustic data acquired in
development well L5-B03. The L5-B03 well is a deviated well drilled into the L5-B field, which
is located in the eastern part of the L5b block in the central part of the Netherlands sector of
the North Sea approximately 86km north of Den Helder.
Monopole compressional and shear slowness were analysed for the 5.875-inch openhole
section (4778 5129 m) and the cased hole section (776 4778.3 m). In the 5.875 open-
hole section the dipole shear slowness was also investigated for the presence of shear wave
splitting caused by acoustic anisotropy. Furthermore a Stoneley wave permeability and
Stoneley separation analysis were also done for the 5.875 inch section. The full monopole
and cross dipole waveform data were recorded by the Baker Atlas XMAC Elite tool and
processed using the eXpress software suite. All depths are measured depths in metres below
drill floor along hole.
1.1 Objectives
The objectives of this study are to:
Acquire compressional slowness data from the monopole full waveform data.
Acquire shear data from monopole and dipole full waveform data. Determine
azimuthal acoustic anisotropy by analysis of shear splitting in the cross dipole data.
Acquire Stoneley slowness from the monopole full waveform data.
Apply a wave separation process to the Stoneley wave data to obtain reflectance logs
for fracture/bedding analysis, and transmitted (direct) Stoneley wave for permeability
processing.
Model the direct Stoneley wave to indicate permeable formation segments.
Calibrate the estimated Stoneley wave permeability with RCI mobilities.
1.2 Methodology
The following summarises the basic methodology used:
The raw monopole and dipole full waveform data are processed to obtain slowness
data using the WAVEAVAN (Wave Automatic Velocity Analysis) program in the
eXpress system. This is done for monopole compressional, shear and Stoneley
waves as well as for cross dipole data.
The wave separation module (WAVESPRN) separates the Stoneley wave data into
direct and reflected (UP and DOWN) going wave trains to suppress acquisition noise
and bedding/borehole scattering (reflection). The program also computes centre
frequency and reflectivity curves using these waves. The reflected wave data and the
reflectivity curves are used to identify borehole fractures and/or bed boundaries.
The direct Stoneley wave data and centre frequency curve are further used in the
Stoneley Wave Analysis (WAVESTAN) module to estimate formation permeability.
The direct wave is modelled to quantify the amount of attenuation (frequency down-
shift) and travel time delay (wave velocity decrease) that is due to the flexing of the
borehole caused by fluid flow, which is related to permeability. By comparing the
synthetic wave with the direct measured Stoneley wave the amount of attenuation
and travel time delay is calculated.
The absolute permeability values are estimated by selecting reference depth(s) with
known permeability. The permeability and attenuation values at other depths are
calculated relative to the reference depth(s). Therefore, in this well the Stoneley wave
derived permeabilities are calibrated with RCI derived permeabilities.
Before any processing is done the raw data is filtered by means of a Fourier
Transformation. Decomposing the raw data into its different frequency components and
reassembling the frequency range wanted by means of inverse Fourier Transformation
leaves us with minimally biased data. Furthermore gates and a slowness band are set for
the wave mode to be analysed. i.e. a time window is specified within which the curve has
to stay, together with minimum and maximum values for slowness.
The wave slowness analytical module shifts the full waveform back in time over the array
with decreasing distance from the receiver. This is done in steps as calculated from a
lowest possible theoretical slowness. The correlation between the full waveforms of the
different receivers is calculated and recorded in the correlation curve. This whole process
is repeated over and over again for steps in the theoretical slowness such that the
correlation curve evolves into an array type curve (depth, correlation factors), which
produces an image of the slowness data. The best fit within the slowness band as
defined by the user is taken from the correlation log and renders the slowness for the
mode under investigation.
By separating the Stoneley waveform data, effects such as acquisition noise (e.g. road
noise) and bedding/borehole scattering (reflection) are suppressed. Wave separation
processing provides a transmitted (direct) Stoneley wave and a reflectance map that gives
the positions and strength of different reflectors (fractures, lithology boundaries, washouts,
etc.). However, the direct Stoneley wave will still contain effects unrelated to permeability.
At each depth, WAVESPRN compares the reflected wave (RWVRT) and transmitted wave
(DWVTR) using a cross-correlation method. This method gives the relative lag (RLAG)
and the raw reflectivity (REFL0) between RWVRT and DWVTR. The program further
processes REFL0 and RLAG to obtain the location and reflectance (reflectivity) of a
reflector (for example a fracture, washout, or bedding). The raw reflectivity (REFL0) has a
significant value whenever a reflection event RWVRT appears in the data. The location of
the reflector is the intersection between RWVRT and DWVTR because RWVRT originates
from DWVTR at the reflector and lags with increasing depth. At the intersection DWVTR
coincides with RWVTR, i.e. RLAG = 0. The RLAG curve is linearly fitted with depth. The
depth where the RLAG value is zero on the fitted line gives the location of the reflector,
and the standard deviation of the fitting gives the uncertainty of the location. By averaging
the REFL0 curve over the fitted depth range and assigning the averaged value to the
reflector depth, WAVESPRN obtains a high resolution reflectivity curve REFL. A spike on
the REFL curve is centred at the reflector depth, its height being the reflectance of the
reflector and its width indicating the uncertainty of the reflector location. The raw reflectivity
(REFL0) and the position of the reflector are presented in track 4 of Enclosure 2.
modelled. The synthetic wave response at any depth is convolved with a source waveform
to obtain the synthetic waveform. The source waveform is taken from the input waveform
data of a user-specified reference depth, so that the synthetic and measured waveforms
can be directly compared.
By comparing the measured and synthetic waveforms, the wave permeability module
calculates the centre frequency shift and travel-time delay of the measured wave relative
to the synthetic wave. The theory for Stoneley wave propagation in permeable boreholes
(Tang et al., 1991) shows that increasing permeability has two direct effects on Stoneley
waves:
1. Increase of wave attenuation
2. Decrease of wave velocity
The waveform data are first filtered for an optimum frequency band. A time window is
applied to the filtered wave data. For all components, the waveform of each receiver is
trace-equalized. The equalized waveform will have the same amplitude across the array.
This trace equalization step eliminates the effects of wave amplitude attenuation across
the array. After these processing steps, the waveform data are used for the main analysis.
The main analysis has two steps: velocity analysis from an in-line wave array and
anisotropy analysis from the four-component wave arrays. Finally, the fast shear azimuth
is edited to correct jumps between fast and slow angles.
WAVEXDAN uses four-component waveform data and the fast shear angle to construct
fast and slow shear waves. For an array of n receivers, there are n pairs of fast and slow
waves. The program then matches each fast wave with all the n slow waves by shifting
them to the fast wave receiver position. For the n fast waves, there are nxn waveform-
matching pairs. The sum of the amplitude mismatch of all the fast and slow wave pairs
forms an objective function or error surface, whose smallest error is located by finding the
best anisotropy and azimuth values using an inversion method. Because all receiver
combinations of fast and slow waves are used to maximize the redundant information in
the array, this method effectively reduces the errors due to noise and other effects (e.g.,
mode interference, dispersion, etc.) and provides a robust and reliable estimate of
anisotropy.
3 RESULTS
Throughout the results section reference is made to various formations as detailed in table
3.1 below. These names and depths are as supplied by Wintershall Noordzee B.V..
In the cased hole section the data quality varies from good to very poor. This is generally a
function of casing to cement bond quality (a visual indication of this effect is seen in track 1
of Enclosure 1). Data quality is also affected by the number of casing strings the acoustic
data has been recorded through data quality generally being better where there are
fewer casing strings present. Also, the specific absence of a monopole shear signal at
slowness values greater than approximately 189 s/ft is due to the waveform being too
slow to refract out of the formation and back to the acoustic receiver.
The response of the acoustic slowness data has been subdivided into several zones:
776 870.0 m: Upper North Sea Group A short interval of this sand and claystone
formation was logged in the cased hole section. Monopole and dipole data are both very
poor quality. Monopole compressional varies between 135 and 160 s/ft. No dipole shear
could be determined.
870.0 950.0 m: Middle North Sea Group This interval of mudstones was logged in
cased hole. Data quality is again poor. Compressional slowness ranges from 130 to 170
s/ft. No dipole shear slowness could be determined.
950.0 1692.0 m: Lower North Sea Group This interval of claystones and tuffs was
logged in cased hole conditions. Monopole data is of reasonable quality, dipole data is
poor however a shear could be computed in the lower section of the interval.
Compressional slowness varies from 120 to 160 s/ft, Dipole shear ranges from 190 to
290 s/ft.
monopole and dipole data are of good quality. Compressional slowness ranges from 55 to
100 s/ft. However over some intervals no reliable compressional slowness could be
determined due to similar formation and casing slownesses. Both monopole and dipole
shear slownesses could be computed for the majority of the interval with reasonable
agreement between the two. Shear slowness ranges from 100 to 230 s/ft.
2405.0 2522.0 m: Texel Formation This interval of claystone and limestone was
logged in cased hole. Both monopole and dipole data are of good quality. Monopole
compressional slowness ranges from 55 to 70 s/ft. Shear is present in the monopole over
the entire interval and shows reasonable agreement with the dipole shear. Monopole
shear ranges from 110 to 140 s/ft. Dipole shear ranges from 100 to 170 s/ft.
2522.0 2545.0 m: Holland Formation Only a short interval of this claystone and marl
formation is present in the cased hole section. Both monopole and dipole data are of good
quality. The compressional slowness varies between 70 and 90 s/ft. Shear is observed in
the monopole and agrees reasonably with the dipole shear; shear slownesses range from
120 and 200 s/ft.
4942.6 5125 m (TD): Limburg Group This interval consists of claystone, sandstone
and coal and was logged in open hole. The data has again been affected by tool stick and
pull as with the other open hole intervals and as a result data is slightly degraded. Shear is
present in the monopole data and agrees closely with the dipole shear. Compressional
ranges from 60 to 80 s/ft, shear ranges from 90 to 165 s/ft.
4778 4861.7 m: Silverpit Formation This formation shows low levels of reflectivity.
The small reflectors that are present correspond with changes in the gamma ray so can
probably be attributed to bed boundaries.
4861.7 4942.6 m: Slochteren Formation This formation has several high amplitude
reflectors. These reflectors correspond to the locations of the claystone beds in the
sandstone body, one example being at 4902m. One of these larger reflectors can be
attributed to where the tool is stuck at 4891 m. There are several smaller reflectors present
in the sand body itself that can probably be attributed to structures within the sand body.
4942.6 5127 m (TD): Limburg Group This interval also shows high levels of
reflectivity. The location of the reflectors correspond with changes in the gamma ray so
can be attributed to lithology changes. A particularly high amplitude reflector is associated
with the coal bed at 5015 m identified by the glider analysis also performed in this well.
Some small borehole washouts are present in this interval and these have low amplitude
reflectors associated with them.
4861.7 4942.6 m: Slochteren Formation This is the target formation for the well. The
formation shows high permeabilities of up to 100 mD in the sands, with permeabilities
generally being between 5 to 30 mD. Agreement between the RCI and Stoneley
permeabilities is good in the upper part of the interval with greater error in the agreement
at the base. Permeability lows are seen in the claystone beds.
4942.6 5127 m (TD): Limburg Group The upper section of this interval above 4989 m
shows permeabilities of up to 15 mD with permeabilities generally in the range of 1 to 3
mD. Below this depth permeabilities vary dependent on the lithology present. The cleaner
intervals show permeabilities of up to 10 mD although more commonly are in the 1 mD
range. The shales and coals are generally impermeable.
Baker Atlas GEOScience: XMAC-005-009
Wintershall, L5b Field, Well L5-B03, Acoustic Analysis Page 10
The anisotropy seen within the 5.875 inch openhole section may be derived and/or
influenced from several sources. These are:
Hole ellipticity;
Presence of large fracture/fault planes or areas of increased fracture density;
Anisotropy of horizontal in-situ stress field;
Influence of the vertical stress on the measurement due to well deviation;
The azimuthal anisotropy analysis results are as follows:
4942.6 5124 m (TD): Limburg Group Over this interval the tool azimuth curve shows
the tool to have a very high rate of rotation (up to one complete rotation every 9 m).
Because of this data quality has been affected and the rotation affects can be seen on the
computed fast and slow shear azimuths as a very rapidly rotating fast and slow shear
azimuths. As a result valid fast and slow shear directions cannot be computed. However
over the majority of the interval computed anisotropy magnitude is less than 2% so the
formation is essentially isotropic.
Conclusion: Over the majority of the logged interval anisotropy is 2% or less so the
formation can be considered to be isotropic.
The acoustic slowness analysis (Enclosure 1) results are illustrated in the presentation as
detailed in Table 3.2.
Track 1 Gamma ray, Bit size, calliper, washout and cement bond quality shading.
Monopole data processed over the receiver array consisting of a correlation image,
Track 3
and compressional and shear slowness curves.
Monopole data processed over the transmitter array consisting of a correlation image,
Track 5
and compressional and shear slowness curves.
Dipole data processed over the receiver array consisting of a correlation image, and
Track 7
dipole in-line shear slowness.
Dipole data processed over the transmitter array consisting of a correlation image log,
Track 9
and dipole in-line shear slowness.
Depth derived borehole compensated data for Monopole compressional and shear and
Track 11 Dipole shear. Field picked (first arrival) curves for compressional slowness and dipole
shear
Table 3.2 Data presented on Acoustic Slowness Analysis plot (Enclosure 1).
The Stoneley wave permeability analysis (Enclosure 2) combines the Stoneley wave
separation and Stoneley wave permeability analysis. Results are illustrated in the
presentations as detailed in Table 3.3.
Modelled and measured travel time delay and frequency shift curves from WAVESTAN
Track 2
process.
The anisotropy analysis results are divided over two plots, a quality plot (azimuthal
anisotropy) and the results plot (anisotropy map).
Track 1 Gamma ray, calliper, bit size and borehole deviation from wireline data.
Track 5 Processing window start and end times. Slow and fast wavetrace.
The anisotropy map (Enclosure 4) results are illustrated in the presentations as detailed in
Table 3.5.
Track 1 Gamma ray, calliper, borehole deviation, tool azimuth and bit size.
Track 2 Measured depths in meters. Rose diagrams of fast azimuthal directions (Max stress).
Track 4 Map of fast anisotropy directions and its associated trace curves
References
Gelinsky, S., and X.M. Tang, 1997, Modelling of Stoneley waves in a heterogeneous
formation with an irregular borehole, the 59th EAEG conference, Geneva, Switzerland.
Tang, X. M., 1996, Fracture hydraulic conductivity estimation from borehole Stoneley wave
transmission and reflection data, Transaction of SPWLA 37th Annual Logging Symposium.
Tang, X. M., Cheng, C. H., and M. N., Toksoz, 1991, Dynamic permeability and borehole
Stoneley waves: A simplified Biot-Rosenbaum model: J. Acoust. Soc. Am., 90, 1632-1646.
Tang, X. M., and Cheng, C. H., 1996, Fast inversion of formation permeability from Stoneley
wave logs using a simplified Biot-Rosenbaum model: Geophysics, 61, 639-645.
APPENDIX A
Benefits
Quality compressional and shear data in
Inline: unconsolidated sandstones to low-porosity,
X to X, Y to Y fractured carbonates.
Crossline : Cross-dipole system measurement of
X to Y, Y to X azimuthal acoustic anisotropy.
Each of the 8 monopole and dipole Best-in-class Stoneley wave data.
measurements at same location on mandrel.
Receiver configuration is best in industry for Key applications
cross dipole acusition . Improve reservoir characterization :
Receivers exhibits linear moveout over the - Surface and borehole seismic interpretation
array in soft formations. - Amplitude variation with offset (AVO)
analysis
8 acoustically isolated receivers spaced 6 inch - Quality shear data in unconsolidated
apart. formations
- Direct hydrocarbon detection
Operational specifications - Porosity, lithology , and permeability
Length 35 ft [10.7 m] determination.
Weight 721 lbm [327 kgm ] Evaluate the presence, amount, and
orientation of formation anisotropy:
Diameter 3.88 in [98.6 mm] - Determine in-situ stress orientation
Hole sizes 4.521 in [114533 mm] - Measure orientation of natural fractures
- Determine azimuthal distribution of rock
Temperature 400F [204C] mechanical properties
Pressure 20,000 psi [137.9 MPa ] - Optimize well placement for greatest
reservoir drainage.
Logging speed:
Maximize well and reservoir productivity
t Acquisition 100 ft/min [30 m/min] - Predict fracture migration and direction in
Fullwave ( Monopole /Dipole) 25 ft/min [7.6 m/min] wells requiring stimulation
- Predict sand production in unconsolidated
Cross-Dipole and t 21 ft/min [6.4 m/min] formations
Vertical resolution: - Determine relative permeability index.
APPENDIX B
DELIVERABLE CURVE NAMES (DLIS/LAS)
SLOWNESS
ANISOTROPY
PERMEABILITY