1.

INTRODUCTION

The first well log was obtained in 1927 in Pechelbronn field in Alsace, France. The
tool, invented by Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger, measured electrical resistance of
the earth. They measured each meter the resistivity with a sonde suspended from a
cable, from borehole. Their data log of resistivity changes identified the location of oil.

A large investment is made by oil and gas companies in acquiring open hole log date,
logging activities can represent between 5% and 15% of total well costs. Moreover It
is important therefore to ensure that the cost of acquisition can be justified by justified
by the value of information generated and that thereafter the information is effectively
managed.

The date are showed as a series of measurements covering a depth range in a display
called a well log. Often several tools are run simultaneously as a logging string, and
the combination of results is more informative than each individual measurement.

Nowadays, geologists depend on sets of well logs to map properties of subsurface

formation. It is through comparing logs from many wells in a field, geologists and
engineers can develop effective and efficient hydrocarbon production plans.

The final work contains a series of basic concepts about the work of well log directed
to the oil field.
2. OBJETIVES

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Describe the importance of a well log through different tools used for operations of oil
wells.

SPECIFICS OBJECTIVES

- Explain why a well log is needed in the oil field.

- Develop some types of well log through different tools used for this job.
- Know a basic interpretation of results obtained after well log.
3. DEVELOPMENT

The well log is based on physical measurements made by instruments lowered into the
hole. Well logging is done when drilling boreholes for oil and gas, groundwater,
minerals, and for environmental and geotechnical studies.

A successful logging program along with core analysis, it can supply date for
subsurface structural mapping, it defines the lithology, identify productive zones and
accurately describe their depth and thickness, distinguish between oil and gas, and
permit a valid qualitative and quantitative interpretation of reservoir characteristics
such as: fluid saturation, porosity and permeability.

We must know that in well logging operations the tools are usually lowered with cable
by a truck and this work is done after that the wells has been drilled. A well log is
normally made from bottom of the well to the surface, at speeds between 90 feet/hour
to 1800 feet/hour. The speed will depend of the type of tool to be used for the well log.

An example of the well log operations is showed in the figure 1.

 Figure 1: WELL LOG OPERATION

3.1 Why a well log is used in the oil field?

Wells can be generally divided into two groups in terms of how logging operation
should be prioritized these two groups are: exploratory wells and development wells.
The exploratory wells are drilled for obtain information and failure to acquire or
evaluate the well log data will compromise well objectives. Development wells are
drilled primarily as conduits production of oil or gas and although information
gathering with well log is an important secondary objective it is normally lectured to
well integrity considerations.

In practical terms this means that logging operations will be reduced in development
wells just registering conditions of the well and conditions when the well begins to
degrade, such as the logs of casing and cement inside the well.
In exploration wells where existing information is very limited logging programmes
will be rather extensive. Typical objectives of the well log might include:

- Detection of hydrocarbons
- Assessment of mechanical rock properties
- Identification of the fluids type
- Stratigraphy and lithology identification
- Supporting information for structural interpretations
- Identification of depositional environments
- Assessment of source rock potential
- Measurement of acoustic properties
- Identification of potential reservoir intervals
- Location of hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs
- Reservoir quality and capacity assessment
- Estimation of reservoir deliverability
- Determination of pressure regime
- Determination of temperature regime

Engineering information

- Well trajectory
- Shape of hole
- Casing joints
- Quality of cement

3.2 Types of well logs

There are different types of well logs tools that can measure the properties of rocks and
reservoirs fluids, typically for this operation several types of well logging tools are
downloaded at the same time.

Here are some types of records used in the oil industry

- Diameter
 - Spontaneity Potential
- Resistivity
- Gamma ray
- Cement bond log
- Neutron
- Measure While Drilling

3.2.1. CALIPER

Caliper is a tool that measures the diameter of the well, which can be very useful in
differentiating resistant lithologies from the few resistant ones. Besides, it is main
function is to determine the state of the hole (collapsed or not collapsed).

Figure 2: CALIPER LOG OF A WELL

3.2.2 SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL

The spontaneous potential (SP) log records the difference between the electrical
potential of a movable electrode in the borehole and the electrical of a fixed surface
electrode. Variations in borehole potential result from electric currents flowing in the
mud caused mainly by electrochemical effects. Shales act as a semi-permeable
membrane.
 Figure 3: SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL

The Spontaneity Potential is used to identify permeable layers, to calculate the salinity
of the formation water and the resistivity of the formation water.

3.2.3. RESISTIVITY

Resistivity is the ability of rocks to resist the passage of induced electric current and it
is the inverse of electric conductivity, this is measured in ohm. The resistivity depends
on the salt dissolved in the fluids present in the pores. If the pores of a formation contain
salt water will present high conductivity and therefore the resistivity will be low, but if
this contents oil or gas it will present low conductivity and therefore the resistivity will
be high.
 Figure 4: RESISTIVITY LOG

3.2.4. CEMENT BOND LOG (CBL)

Cement bond log is used to verify the integrity of the cement and its quality of adhesion
in the casing and walls of the well, besides if there are channels and if they can be
repaired, for example the image shows a cement bond log.

Figure 5: CEMENT BOND LOG

The CBL tool emits a sonic signal and its receivers register the refracted waves the
attenuation and velocity, it shows the quality of the cement between the casing and the
well walls.

Figure 6: CBL TOOL

3.2.5. Gamma Ray Log

Gamma ray logs is a radioactive log. It is based on the natural emissions of gamma
rays that have the rocks. Moreover the shales have higher gamma ray emissions than
the sands. While greater the shale content of the rocks, the greater the emission of
gamma ray from them.

The main radioactive minerals found inside the rocks are: Potassium (K), Thorium (Th)
and Uranium (U).

In fact it serves for calculate the contents of shale of the rocks, to estimate grain size
and differentiate porous lithologies from non-porous.
 Figure 7: GAMMA RAY LOG

3.2.6. DENSITY LOG

The measurement of formation density is an essential component in accurate reservoir

evaluation, helping the petrophysicist to determine the porosity of the rock and to
estimate total reserves. Porosity represents the amount of space available within the
rock matrix for fluids, and defines how much total volume of fluid is present in a
reservoir. Without this information, and a determination of which type of fluid is
present (oil, water or gas), a petrophysicist would be unable to estimate the reserves of
hydrocarbon that exist in the reservoir. Moreover, azimuthal borehole images based on
density help the geologist to understand the reservoir structure.

The combination of the azimuthal lithodensity and compensated thermal neutron

sensors helps operators with valuable information about the reservoir.
 Figure 8: DENSITY LOG

3.2.7. NEUTRON POROSITY LOG

In the field of formation evaluation, porosity is one of the key measurements to quality
oil and gas reserves. Neutron porosity measurement employs a neutron source to
measure the hydrogen index in a reservoir, which it is directly related to porosity. The
hydrogen index (H) of a material is defined as the radio of the concentration of
hydrogen atoms per centimeter cubic (cm3) in the material. As hydrogen atoms are
present in both water and oil filled reservoirs, this measurement of quantity of hydrogen
allows estimation of the percentage of liquid inside the pores of the rock.
 Figure 9: NEUTRON LOG

3.2.8. MEASURE WHILE DRILLING MWD

Measure while drilling is a type of well log that incorporates the measurement tools
into the drill string and it provides real-time information to help with steering the drill.

This tool usually is used for directional drilling provided information that can make
important decisions while drilling a well, this information can be transmitted through
pulses in the mud, using conductivity of drill pipe or wire inside the drill pipe.

With MWD we can measure the following:

- Deviation from the well

- Well pressure
- Temperature from the well
- Vibration of the tool
- Torque
- Weight on tool
 Figure 10: MEASURE WHILE DRILLING

3.3. BASIC INTERPRETATION OF DATA FROM WELL LOGS

An initial review of the log should identify deviations from baseline trends that could
indicate changes in the lithology, fluid content, porosity or borehole diameter. Also it
can recognize the significance of as deviations are the key to determining which
intervals on the well log merit additional analysis. For example, in the well log a
deflection of the Gamma Ray curve to the left of the baseline established for shales, it
might indicate a sandstone that permits additional evaluation.

When accompanied by increases in resistivity and porosity, this interval should be

examined more carefully. A particularly useful indicator for gas is the significant
decrease in neutron porosity, which it can cause the neutron curve to cross over the
density curve. This gas effect is created because gas contains fewer hydrogen atoms
than oil or water.
 Figure 11: INTERPRETATION OF WELL LOGS

A summary of the well logs are showed in the table following.

Table 1: SUMARY OF TYPES OF WELL LOGS

TYPE OF WELL LOG TOOLS REGISTER

Caliper CP Diameter
Neutron CNL porosity
gamma ray GR contens of shale and lithologies
Cement bond log CBL quality of cement
Spontaneous potential SP Salinity of water and permeability

Resistivity Resistivity contents water, oil or gas

Deviation from the well, Borehole
pressure, Temperature from the
Measure while drilling MWD well, Vibration of the tool, Torque
and Weight on tool
4. CONCLUSION

It was described the importance and reasons for well logging operations in the oil
industry being started in 1927 by the schlumberger brothers, also were indentified and
knew some of the types of well logs such as: caliper, neutron, gamma ray, cement bond
log, spontaneous potential, resistivity and measure while drilling, that with all these
logs it has been shown a basic interpretation of data from the well logs, which permit
at the engineers have a clearer idea of what is at bottom of the well and finally make
important and intelligent decisions.