Lecture 4

Borehole

Transition
Zone

Uninvaded
Formation
Flushed
Zone

Mudcake

Van Wagoner et al., 1990

AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG

whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Core

Borehole Image

Dipmeter

Well Test

Wireline Testing

Photoelectric Effect

Nuclear Mag. Reson.

Resistivity

Neutron

Density

Sonic

Property

Gamma Ray

Log

Spontaneous Potential

Common Logs and What They

Measure

Lithology/Mineralogy
Porosity
Fluid Type
Fluid Saturation
Permeability
Stratigraphy
Downhole Pressure
Geophysics
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Overview of Key Logs

1. Caliper

measures borehole size

2. Lithology Logs
3. Porosity Logs

differentiate sands

porosity & fluid

types

4. Sonic Logs

relate well to seismic

5. Resistivity Logs

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

Identify HC zones

L 4 - Well Log Data

Borehole Size
Borehole size is set by the drill
bit, but it is influenced by:
Changes in stress state

borehole breakout
induced fracturing
creep of salt

Chemical Reactions
swelling clays in shales
dissolution of salt

Drilling Process
spiral borehole
bit marks

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Caliper Logs
What Do They Measure?
Size and shape of a recently drilled hole.

How Do They Work?

Mechanical arms record hole size
Hydraulic systems with calibrated
potentiometers.

How Are They Used?

Hole size used to correct other logs

Hole volume for cementing
Lithologic information
washouts indicative of formation
properties
Stress field from hole break-out

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Lithology Logs

a measurement vs
depth of the potential
difference between the
voltage in the wellbore
and an electrode on the
surface

For both logs:

Deflections to the right =
Shale
Deflections to the left
=
F W Schroeder
Courtesy of ExxonMobil
04
Sand

Shale

SP (spontaneous potential)

Shale
Baseline

Sd

a scintillation detector
(similar to a Geiger
counter) that measures
the natural radiation
from a formation

Gamma Ray

Sand

Gamma Ray

L 4 - Well Log Data

Porosity Logs
Density Porosity

Density porosity (solid black line)

Neutron Porosity

Neutron porosity (dashed red line)

measures the hydrogen content

Shale

measure the bulk (average) density

of the formation (rock & fluids)

Deflections to the left = more porous

Deflections to the right = less porous
Dashed red left of Solid black black =
Shale
Dashed red right of Solid black = Gas
Sand
Dashed red over Solid black = Wet Sand
or
Oil
Sand
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

Ga
s

Ga
s
Oil
or
H2O

L 4 - Well Log Data

Sonic (Velocity) Logs

Sonic (DT)

Delta-T

Acoustic energy emitted by a

transmitter, travels through the
formation/fluids, detected by
multiple detectors
Log displays the interval transit time
(Dt) in msec/ft (actually an inverse
velocity)
T

R1

R2
R1
R2

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Resistivity Logs
High deep resistivity means:
Hydrocarbons
Tight streaks (low porosity)

ILD (deep)
MSFL
SFL

Low deep resistivity means:

Shale
Wet sand

Separation between resistivities

means:
The formation fluid is different
from the drilling fluid
The formation is permeable to the
drilling fluid
Deep, Medium, and Shallow refers to
how far into the formation the
resistivity is reading (4 ft, 2 ft, few in)

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

Formation Fluid
different from
Drilling Fluid

Formation Fluid
similar to
Drilling Fluid

L 4 - Well Log Data

Putting It Together
ILD (deep)

We will
assume that
this well was
drilled with
an oil-based
mud

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

Caliper

MSFL

NPHI

Gamma Ray

SFL

RHOB)

L 4 - Well Log Data

Step 1: Lithology
ILD (deep)

Using the
Gamma Ray log,
define a shale
base line

Caliper

MSFL

NPHI

Gamma Ray

SFL

RHOB)

Shale
Siltstone

Deflections far to
the left are sandsSandstone
Intermediate
deflections to the
left are silts
Siltstone
Sandstone
Shale
Sandstone
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Step 2: Porosity Log Crossovers

ILD (deep)

Where is the
neutron
porosity to the
right of the
density
porosity?

Caliper

MSFL

NPHI

Gamma Ray

SFL

RHOB)

Shale
Siltstone

Sandstone

This indicates
where gas is in
the sand pores

Gas

Siltstone
Sandstone
Shale
Sandstone
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Step 3: Resistivity Logs

ILD (deep)

Where do the
resistivity logs
give different
values?
This indicates
where the fluids
in the rocks
differ from the
drilling fluid
In this case, it
confirms the
gas zone
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

Caliper

MSFL

NPHI

Gamma Ray

SFL

RHOB)

Shale
Siltstone

Sandstone
Formation Fluid
similar to
Drilling Fluid

Formation
Fluid
different
from
Drilling
Fluid

Gas

Water or Oil

Water or Oil

Water or Oil

Water or Oil

Siltstone
Sandstone
Shale
Sandstone
F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Well Log Correlation

Well logs give us detailed information at the
location of the borehole
If there are several wells in an area, we can
correlate stratigraphic units between them
The correlation is based on characteristics of
the well log responses like a fingerprint
Often we select a datum a correlation horizon
that is registered to a common depth (flattened)
There are two main philosophies used in well
log correlation:
Correlate based on lithologic units - Lithostratigraphy
Correlate based on assume time lines
Chronostratigraphy
Which is Better? A matter of heated debate!!
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

How to Correlate these Logs?

Well A

Well B

Well C

Well D

Coastal Plain Sandstones and Mudstones

Shallow Marine Sandstones
Shelf Mudstones
Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

Van Wagoner et al., 1990

AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

L 4 - Well Log Data

Lithostratigraphy
Well A

Well B

Well C

Well D

Coastal Plain
Datum
Nearshore Sands

Shelf Mudstones

Here the correlation is based on

common lithologic units
Van Wagoner et al., 1990
AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Chronostratigraphy
Well A

Well B

Well C

Well D

Coastal Plain

s
e Sand
r
o
h
s
r
Nea

Shelf Mudstones

Index
Fossil

Here the correlation is based on an

interpretation of time-equivalent
stratal packages i.e., parasequences
Van Wagoner et al., 1990
AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Does It Matter?
A

Perhaps not for

finding a field
BUT
It can impact:
- estimates of
reserves
- development
plans
- enhanced recovery

AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG

whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

Lithostratigraphy
Based on Van Wagoner et al., 1990

C
D

Chronostratigraphy
Based on Van Wagoner et al., 1990
F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Well Correlation Exercise

Well 5

SP
for
lithology

Base Map

Well 1

Shale Baseline

We will look at the

sediments deposited
above a regional
unconformity

Resistivity
Markers

Resistivity
for
timecorrelation

Well 2

Well 3

Well 4
Well 5

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

regional
unconformity
F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Well Correlation Exercise

On one copy of the well log cross-section,
identify the sand sitting above the regional
unconformity (SP deflection to the left)
Correlate the logs based on lithology
Use the resistivity markers (A, B, C, ) to
correlate time-equivalent horizons (hint: markers
G and H do not extend all the way to Well 1)
QUESTION: Is the lithostratigraphic correlation and the
chronostratigraphic correlation different?

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Well Correlation Exercise

Well 5

Well 4

Well 3

Well 2

Well 1

Vail et al., 1977b

AAPG1977 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Lithostratigraphic Correlation
Well 5

Well 4

Well 3

Well 2

Well 1

Vail et al., 1977b

AAPG1977 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Chronostratigraphic Correlation
Well 5

Well 4

Well 3

Well 2

A
B

A
B

D
E

D
E

A
B

C
D

Well 1

F
G
H

Vail et al., 1977b

AAPG1977 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Well Log Correlation: Example 1

200 ft

Fluvial to Estuarine and Coastal Plain Sandstones and Mudstones

Shallow Marine Sandstones

1 mile

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

Van Wagoner et al., 1990

AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Shelf Mudstones
F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data

Well Log Correlation: Example 1

Well log correlation can provide
detailed stratigraphy for analyzing
an oil/gas field

200 ft

Fluvial to Estuarine and Coastal Plain Sandstones and Mudstones

Shallow Marine Sandstones

1 mile

Courtesy of ExxonMobil

Van Wagoner et al., 1990

AAPG1990 reprinted with permission of the AAPG
whose permission is required for further use.

Shelf Mudstones
F W Schroeder
04

L 4 - Well Log Data