TECHSIANEWS

January 2007

TechArts made
by Techlog
4-7 June 2006,
SPWLA in Veracruz

Newsletter first release

Happy new year 2007!
We are very pleased to share users on six continents, Techsia mitment to provide an active
with you our rst edition of SA has begun a phase of expan- Support & Enhancement Serv-
TECHSIANEWS. Through this sion to bring our support teams ice that is second to none in the
journal, we shall keep you up- closer to you, the users. industry. With continued feed-
dated on our latest technical and Whether you are a power user, a back from all of you we can be
commercial developments to starting user, a user-to-be or just condent that our developments
better inform you of our various an observer, we thank you for are focused and address real
activities. your comments and contribution needs within the petrophysical
to the development of Techlog. community.
In this edition, we will report on Your inputs have helped us plan
the recent expansion of Techsia and achieve a rate of product
SA that puts us in the best posi- evolution that reects our com-
tion to support our growing in-
ternational user-base, and we
will also share the recent history
of developments in the Techlog® In this issue
product suite.
Worldwide expansion ! 2
Client feedback from the now
several hundred-strong interna- Events! 5
tional user-base has been of in-
estimable value in helping to Techlog V2006.2 & V2006.3! 8
shape the growth of the com-
pany and the growth of the Technical focus! 21
product. Now with many active
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
Worldwide expansion
To better serve our client network we are expanding
worldwide. Our subsidiaries’ main focus is to achieve three
goals: to be closer to our clients, thus to enable better direct
support of our regional customers; to provide training and
consultancy in the use of our products; to further promote
and introduce our latest developments and workows.
Our local support teams provide on-going day-to-day sup-
port to our clients within similar time-zones and working
weeks to ensure all users rapidly become procient in utiliz-
ing all aspects of the Techlog platform.
Backed up by our global Techlog support team based in
Montpellier, we provide 24/7 on-call assistance to ensure
that our clients get the help they need, where they need it,
as quickly as possible.
When consulting assistance is requested or when training is
called for to address those special projects or workows, our
people can respond to your enquiries and requests
promptly. We currently run courses on-site in client ofces
dedicated to each client company and plan to expand our
provision of training to include open-industry courses from
2
Expanding worldwide to be closer to you
our regional ofce bases. We regularly provide technical
assistance in projects from database clean-ups to detailed
reservoir rock-typing using the power of the Techlog suite
to provide new and efcient workows to address age-old
problems.
Techlog is changing the way the industry is managing its
petrophysical data.
To these ends, Techsia Inc was launched in Houston, Texas
on December 12, 2005, followed by our second subsidiary,
Techsia Middle East LLC in Muscat, Oman on May 24,
2006. Further subsidiaries are planned for the near future,
starting with our Asian subsidiary earmarked for Malaysia.
We are actively recruiting petrophysicists with a variety of
language and cultural backgrounds to assist our support
teams to meet the demands of the international commu-
nity.
Techsia Inc! 3
Techsia Middle East LLC! 4
 he took a position as a Drilling Service Engineer with
Techsia Inc

TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

A multicultural winning team
Techsia Inc was launched in December 2005. The setting-
up phase was instrumental in preparing the ground for
Aghogho Udi and José Silva to take over support of our
regional client sites and perform demonstrations for future
clients from July 2006. Richard Ellam has since joined the
team in September 2006 as Techsia Inc’s General Manager
and Executive Vice President, and we welcome him to the
team. Let us introduce the team to you!
Schlumberger Drilling & Measurement, (Louisiana). Four
years later he joined Techsia Inc as a petrophysicist working
on regional support and training based in Houston.
Jose Silva entered his career in the oileld in 1998 study-
ing Geophysical Engineering at the Simon Bolivar Univer-
sity, one of the most prestigious universities in Venezuela.
He began his working career as a Geophysics Engineer in
PDVSA in 2002 as an intern to do Seismic and Structural
Interpretation in the Lake Maracaibo Catatumbo Area.

Richard Ellam joined Techsia as Regional Manager, After a successful internship in PDVSA he started working
Techsia Inc., in September, 2006. Richard has over 12 year for Petrozuata (a joint venture between ConocoPhillips and
experience in the PDVSA).
oil and gas indus-
try with Schlum- In late 2004, he joined Schlumberger to work overseas in
berger Wireline the Gulf of Mexico as a Field Engineer (LWD/MWD
working speci- services).
cally in the petro- In July 2006 he joined Techsia Inc as a Petrophysicist based
physical domain. in Houston dedicated to regional support and training.
After graduating
from Bristol Uni- We are very happy to count on both Aghogho and Jose at
versity with a rst Techsia Inc. As a team they provide a very effective support
class honours operation and have quickly developed a ne rapport with
degree in Aero- their growing client base. We are delighted that they have
space Engineer- Richard Ellam joined us!
ing, he embarked Richard Ellam joined Techsia in Septem-
ber 2006 to be Techsia Inc General Man-
on a career in ager.
the highly tech-
nical oil industry
w i t h S c h l u m-
berger. TECHSIA INC - USA
10777 Westheimer,
With over 7 years experience as a Wireline logging engi- Suite 1100
neer, having front line experience in a range of land and Houston, TX 77042
offshore environments in many locations around the world T +1 713 260 9686
covering the Middle East, the North Sea, Russia, West Af- F +1 713 260 9687
rica and the US., Richard has extensive experience of
Wireline data and sample gathering. In particular, his ex-
perience in operations spans the application of all types of
wireline and LWD data to petrophysical evaluation; he has
worked on the acquisition of pressure and uid sample
data, NMR, sidewall coring, seismic surveys, perforating
technology, production logging and cement evaluation.

After this broad base in “front-line acquisition work” Rich-

ard has a further 6 years’ experience in Operational Man-
agement with specic application to Service Quality, Serv-
ice Delivery, Product Development and Operations Man-
agement. Richard is managing our Techsia Inc subsidiary,
and we welcome him to the Techsia team.

Aghogho Udi received his degree in Petroleum engineer-

ing from the University of Port-Harcourt, (Nigeria) in
August 2000 and his Master of Science in Petroleum Geo-
science and Management at Manchester University,
(United Kingdom) in September 2001.

He started working for Shell Petroleum Development

Company, (Port Harcourt - Nigeria) as a Wellsite Engineer/
Geologist in February 1998. He followed that with a spell at
BP Exploration Operating Company, (Dyce – Aberdeen -
UK), being employed as a geologist until June 2002 when

3
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

Michael Mayerboeck graduated from the Mining Uni-

Techsia Middle East LLC
is open for business
Established on 24 May 2006, Techsia Middle East LLC,
ofcially opened its doors for business in the region at the
beginning of September. Operating out of the Knowledge
Oasis Muscat, a compound of IT specialist companies in
the Sultanate of Oman, Dr. Chris Chouker and his team
will provide diverse petrophysical services to the oil indus-
tries in the Middle East region. The present staff consists
of two petrophysicists and one Ofce Manager, Andrea
Schuster. The current client list is increasing rapidly due to
the quality of the product and the professional support
provided out of Muscat.
As more and more E&P companies throughout the Middle
East Region become interested in implementing Techlog,
the on-site support provided by Techsia Middle East LLC
will spread to other countries throughout the Gulf. In keep-
ing with the goals of Techsia subsidiaries, Techsia Middle
East LLC also offers special case studies and trainings, both
software and petrophysical, based out of the ofce here in
Muscat.
versity of Leoben in 2004 as a petroleum engineer with a
major in applied geosciences. Before joining Techsia in late
2005, he acquired experience with Siemens, RAG and
OMV. Currently Michael is the support manager for Tech-
sia Middle East LLC in Muscat, Oman.
Andrea Schuster graduated from the University of Vi-
enna with a Masters degree in International Business Ad-
ministration and joined Techsia as Ofce Manager in Sep-
tember 2006. Prior to joining Techsia, Andrea gained ex-
perience with an Austrian oil and gas company operating
in Central Europe and North Africa.
TECHSIA LLC - OMAN
Knowledge Oasis Muscat
PO Box 32 Rusayl 124
Sultanate of Oman
T +968 95 41 58 91

Dr. Chris Chouker has been appointed General Man-

ager of Techsia Middle East LLC. Chris holds a diploma
degree in Geophysics and a PhD in natural sciences. Before
joining Techsia in
2005 Chris
gained over 13
years of experi-
ence in the oil
and gas industry.
His career started
as a wireline eld
engineer in the
Middle East and
Central and
Eastern Europe.
Later he worked
Chris Chouker
Dr. Chris Chouker joined Techsia in
as Senior Petro-
August 2005 to be Techsia Middle East physicist and
LLC General Manager. Lead Petrophysi-
cist in two Euro-
pean oil and gas
companies operating in both Central Europe and North
Africa.

4
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
A dedicated and multilingual team com-
posed of top management members, ad-
vanced petrophysicists, IT engineers and
international coordinators to introduce
you to Techsia’s world

Events
As we do each year, we had the pleasure to participate in the of these being based specically on clients’ feedback and
SPWLA International Symposium and Exhibition held from requirements.
4-7 June 2006 in Veracruz, Mexico. Following the habit of
previous years, we installed a stand in the Exhibition area Other members of the technical team were also engaged full-
and welcomed clients, observers, and other interested persons time during the exhibition in discussions and small one-on-
to a series of presentations during the two and a half days of one demonstrations for many interested enquirers.
the exhibition.
Each year the interest in our products grows and the number
Visitors to the stand took the opportunity to catch up with us of attendees increases: over 200 people enjoyed the demon-
on our latest developments and to informally chat with our strations this year!
management and support teams. We provided 4 to 5 sched-
uled demonstrations each day lasting around 90 minutes We are looking forward to meeting you all again at SPWLA
each. Brian Moss, the senior petrophysicist present, led these 2007 in Austin, Texas (June 3-6, 2007)!
events and was on hand to answer questions and perform
more specic demos at client request in between times. The
main demonstrations not only gave information on our cur-
rent tools but also on our planned developments, many

SPWLA 2006! 6

5
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

SPWLA 2006
Veracruz
Our attendance at the Exhibition is a very impor-
tant part of our calendar. The event provides an
unparalleled opportunity to engage with existing
clients and meet with new, prospective clients to
showcase our pace of development, of which we
are justiably proud.
ciated for our distinctive way of thinking and the
clear communication of our vision.
“Your Techlog platform is impressive;
we can’t wait to see your Borehole
Image processing module (BHI) in ac-
tion”
Demo attendee

For instance, we were complimented at Veracruz

on our TechArt pictures. Nobody had quite
looked at petrophysical data in this way before.
How did this set of pictures come about? Well, we
had looked at many Techlog displays of modern
logging and core data and thought “these images
are strikingly beautiful”. We imagined an exhibi-
tion – an art exhibition - where the pictures on the
walls were all derived from petrophysical data. So
And we don’t just talk during the meeting; we lis- was born our campaign “The Art of Science”.
ten hard to what our colleagues in the business are
telling us are the main issues they face in their day- Numerous visiting petrophysicists tried to guess
to-day tasks. All of this excellent information is fed whether the data displayed on the postcards were
back to our development team, sifted, prioritized the work of artists or were produced by Techlog;
and integrated with the plans in place. Key, repre- when it was revealed that all were produced in the
sentative users from amongst our growing user- software, from real data, the common reaction was
base are then involved each quarter in planning astonishment at the breadth of capabilities in-
the next months’ main development tasks. In this cluded in the plotting features in the software.
way we ensure no-one feels left out of the devel-
opment process. To better know the SPWLA host country and to
support the local economy, we choose to work
Our clients tell us that we have a different ap- each year with local companies to set up our
proach compared to other vendors. We are appre- booth. This year was no exception, and our coor-

“TechArt every-
where”
We launched our
TechArt campaign at
the SPWLA during
which visitors could
enjoy the TechArt
postcards, movies
and art gallery.

6
 dination and design team was very pleased to work
with local contractors. Together we created an
innovative, attractive and functional environment
in which to offer our guests our dedicated atten-
tion whilst encouraging a free ow of ideas and
exchange.
We look forward to meeting with you all again at
the next SPWLA to be held in June (3-6) 2007 in
Austin, Texas.
The art of
science
Watch this space for news of our imaging tools,
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
our thin-bed-analysis module, our new contact
management tools, our new saturation-height
modeling capability and our new dataset splicing
tools amongst other new ways of visualizing, man-
aging and extracting the most from your data.
Move to more, move to Techlog.
7
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

“I believe Techlog is a third millennium

package, robust, multifunctional and easy
to develop/implement new applications.”
Shell senior petrophysicist

Techlog 2006.2 & 2006.3

The comprehensive and fully interactive
multi-well petrophysical solution
It has been two months now since Techlog 2006.3 was
launched. This release is considered as major by the petro-
physics community and we are proud to introduce the new
developments to our readers. To facilitate the understanding
of the interaction between Techlog platform and its growing
number of modules, a road sign has been designed.

On the next page, you will nd the improvement list of both
releases 2006.2 and 2006.3. We will have a particular look at
the Quanti new properties editor, Techplot and Techdata
new families editor

CoreDB, the new way of managing core data has been deliv-
ered to Total. We will have a closer look at it.

8
Improvement list

TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

RELEASENOTES November, 2006
Techlog 2006.2 & 2006.3

> Import
Techdata
Techlog 2006.2
• OpenSpirit 2.9 import now working from both Open Works and Recall.
• Import from OW is working well and fast, good for starting a new project from
scratch, but can also be used to clean up well header info.
• DLIS import improvements (better management of the dataset names and properties, big
les)
Techlog 2006.3
• Possibility to load DLIS in two steps to make this you need to select “Selective DLIS im-
port” inside the import type list. This method is especially interesting for the import of
large les. During the rst step only the well/dataset/variable information is read, after
that the user can select manually the data which should be imported (the user can also load
a previously saved selection of data)
• The LAS le and Geolog ASCII le load time improved (~10 times faster)
• The import of a le from the Windows explorer can be done by simple drag and drop
inside the Techlog workspace
• Techlog OpenSpirit connection is working also with the 2.8 version of OpenSpirit
• Better handling of operational daily updates (e.g. LWD). Now possible to append data to
existing dataset from the project browser
• ASCII data wizard: the dataset type can be changed even if the input le type is top bot-
tom
• Better management of the “innity” values (NaN, INF) during the import of ASCII les
• New families are dened to be included inside the reference dataset: Loggers, Drillers
Depth, Depth Below Mudline, MD Reference 1
Techlog 2006.3.6
• Creation of a Data Selection as a template directly from the project browser

> Properties
Techlog 2006.3
• In the properties window, a green bar shows which properties are editable.
• The name of the current object is displayed in the property header
Techlog 2006.3.2
• Possibility to have a quick property access (move the properties to the mouse cursor) using
F4 shortcut

> Shortcut system

Techlog 2006.3
• A new shortcut system is available involving key sequences, more tools are available from
this new system

9
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

> Additional variable types

Techdata
Techlog 2006.2
• Three blocked curve types are available (blocked, centered and inverted)
• Two text curve types (simple and rich text) for better management of zone text in layout.
Techlog 2006.3
• Added “dip”, “casing shoes”, “cumulative array”

> Additional dataset types

Techlog 2006.2
• “Variable group properties” (to cater for logging pass info from Recall)
Techlog 2006.3
• Added dataset type of “wavelet” used by Geophi

> Families
Techlog 2006.2
• Additional options to dene line type + thickness and palettes by family.
• Color, line style denition for most of the usual curves, Schlumberger standard taken as
example
• Family “tree” changes, less granularity, new main families.
• Core data Routine (Core porosities and permeabilities were move to here)
• Core data Special
• Mud Logs
• Production Logging
• Pulsed Neutron
• With a good number of new families in each and with relevant family assignment rules for
a selection of standard contractor curve names.
• 2 options to preview effect of family changes (e.g. such as the move to a new version):
• A “Test only” button is added to the Family assignment interface. This will show all the
changes in the message window in the bottom.
• A script is available to create a CSV le (in “data” listing all the variables that will change
family)
Techlog 2006.3
• Added new families for BHI (dip, buttons…), Geophi, Geo-mechanics
• Added several family assignment rules (Halliburton)
• Speed improvements of the aliases loading

> Multi-user session

Techlog 2006.3
• Added new option to unlock the project at exit
• Added possibility to dene a project to be opened directly in multi-user mode

> Unit system

Techlog 2006.3
• Update to POSC unit system version 2.2 (new units are available and some conversion
factors are updated)

10
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
> Workspace
Techdata
Techlog 2006.3
• When the workspace/project are closed you have a dialog asking if you want to close with
or without saving all the windows or select individually to close like in the old Techlog ver-
sions
• Bi-screen: some dialogs are displayed in the middle of the particular screen where the cur-
sor is present instead of in the middle of both screens
• Possibility to enlarge vertically, horizontally or on the current screen (if you have bi-screen)
using shortcuts (Ctrl+Shift+Click, Shift+Click, Ctrl+Click)

> Project browser

Techlog 2006.2
• Option to cancel opening of a project
• Possibility to save/open depth plot, cross-plot, histogram at User, Project, etc. levels
Techlog 2006.3
• The “delete” and “delete denitely” actions have better distinction of the text and visual
aspect of the dialog
• Most of the Techlog objects (palettes, Python scripts, layouts…) can be saved and loaded
from the context menu from different levels (User/Project/Company/Techsia)
• The “conditional selection” respects hierarchical order in its specication
• The “conditional selection” and “hierarchical grouping” can be save, loaded as project
objects
• Speed improvement

> Resampling tool

Techlog 2006.3
• All the continuous data resampling methods have anti-aliasing lter added
• New method is added for linear anti-aliasing with special management of the over and
under sampling
• The linear interpolation algorithm respects the original missing value samples
• Point data shift now has maximum shift specied
• Better detection of the logarithmic scale of the variable to dene the appropriate data
transformation
Techlog 2006.3.2
• Specic management of the resampling of variable with angle degree (dega) unit (man-
agement of the 360° wrapping)

> Harmonized dataset

Techlog 2006.2
• Now possible to “set to well alias” for multiple changes
Techlog 2006.3
• Possibility to update existing harmonized datasets (add variables, overwrite variable, re-
place the missing values of existing variables)
• The default resampling method for the continuous variable is the same as dened in the
properties of the project browser (is no more the linear interpolation)

11
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

> Inventories
Techdata
Techlog 2006.3
• In the “Variable list”, there is now the possibility to access to the variables’ properties
• Possibility to update existing harmonized datasets (add variables, overwrite variable, re-
place the missing values of existing variables)
• Project browser automatic refreshing after deleting or renaming actions from the inventory
window
• In the variable list, possibility to access to the variable properties
• Alphanumerical columns enhancements

> Data editor

Techlog 2006.3
• Possibility to dene conditions inside the equation, examples: “SW if 0 < SW < 1 else
MissingValue”; “MissingValue if 1206.5 < MD < 1240.1 else SW”

> TVD computation

Techlog 2006.3
• The computation can now be done from a “tie” point
• Added a new method “Radius curvature”

> Multi well zone editor

Techlog 2006.2
• The user can now change the reference (to e.g. TVDSS), edit tops in this reference, and
“apply”, to save it as a new zonation. The tops are then saved in a new data-set (xxx_2)
with the reference in the new system (TVDSS in this case), having the right family, so the
tops will plot on depth automatically when taken from this set..
• Inserting a zone is now possible (was added at the back)
• Adding “TD” is a new option to get the bottom zone meaningfully in depth plots, Quanti
workows, etc. (RMB in tops editor to get the option). It will take the TD from the well
properties, or otherwise the deepest data-set depth.
• “Zonation_All” creation now possible on ltered project
Techlog 2006.3
• New interface of the Zone Editor including the zones being displayed as rows and the
wells as columns
• Multiple occurrences of the zones can be displayed and modied
• The top and bottom of each zone can displayed and edited
• The zones and wells can be ordered by the user or sorted
• All the tops and bottoms can be displayed and edited in different units and reference fami-
lies
• A contact can be added in order to split a zone using uid information
• The display and save precision can be dened as a property of the Zone Editor
• The table can be copied and pasted from/to Excel
• Apply button is replaced with a Save icon button

> Export
Techlog 2006.3
• Fixed errors on the export of large dataset as CSV le
• Petrel LAS export (the unit “m” is replaced by “M”)
• Better management of the “innity” value during the ASCII le export

12
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
> Zonation
Techdata
Techlog 2006.3.2
• The default zone colour for zone "ALL" is setup to pale blue

> Database operations

Techlog 2006.3.2
• Speed and memory use optimisation (add/modify/delete variable or array operations;
data properties information loading)

> Folder management

Techlog 2006.3.3
• Better folder management (possibility to have several project folders, easier switch between
several company folders, enhanced conguration le management)

> Python
Techlog 2006.2
• Better management / availability of company library of scripts.
Techlog 2006.3
• Version 2.5 of Python is used. New inside this version: memory and speed optimisation,
conditional statement function
• New folder is specied as the external folder for version 2.5 scripts (if .pyc les that were
compiled with version 2.4 are present inside this new folder at the User, Project or Com-
pany level, these should be recompiled with Python version 2.5
• Better distinction between oat division “/” vs. “//” integer division
• Better ASCII codecs management of scripts (for non Latin text present inside the script
e.g. Russian les) {new Python scripts}
• The scripts can be saved from Python editor as being compatible with the old Techlog ver-
sion or only as new Python version.
• Automatic indentation implemented on typing the “:” character followed by carriage re-
turn (and “LOOP” should now be written with “:” at the end (“LOOP:”) to conform with
Python operators
• Possibility to add or remove a “Tab” on selection of lines with “Tab” and “Ctrl+Tab”
• More scripts are available inside the Techlog distribution package (including tutorial scripts
and several different examples)
• The script can be saved with description parameters (author, date, version, external docu-
mentation link)
• Additional Python libraries are available with access to Techplot objects and/or dialogs
(TechlogDialog, TechlogDialogAdvanced, TechlogPlot)
• The sort operation of parameters is no longer automatic; you have an additional dialog to
conrm or not this operation in order to avoid unwanted sorting of the parameters
• The line numbers of those lines with errors are now correctly displayed
Techlog 2006.3.2
• Duplicated variable detection script (speed and memory used optimisation)

13
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

> Global
Techplot
Techlog 2006.3
• Additional patterns/textures are present and the name of the existing patterns were har-
monized
• New standard lithology palettes
• The user display boundaries are preserved by default

> Histogram
Techlog 2006.3
• The cumulative frequency grid is now the main grid and no more the relative frequency
grid

> Chart
Techlog 2006.3.3
• Update of the neutron density charts

> Cross-plots
Techlog 2006.2
• Better recognition of what variables are x, y, lter, color etc in the left window.
• Easy entry of y=x equation.
• More intuitive management of xing slope / intercept
• Better management of selecting points / polygons etc.
Techlog 2006.3
• Fixed point regression with graphical control
• Possibility to move all the points together for one custom regression
• Multiple regression lines can be selected and modied at one time
• The estimated condence interval about the line and the estimated prediction condence
can be displayed on the cross-plot
• Better management of the units in multi well: if the unit are not harmonized they are con-
verted on the y if it is possible
• The size of the markers can be dened by a variable
• The prediction and condence intervals can be displayed
• Possibility to apply the change of the modication of one equation and keep the dialog
opened

> Printing
Techlog 2006.2
• Scaling / tting to page size now independent in horizontal and vertical directions
• Saving from print module to CGM and other formats. This also allows easy “plot to one
page tting CGM le, importable to word / ppt les.
• Dashing still problematic to get on the print.
Techlog 2006.3
• CGM: better management of patterns/textures
• CGM: better management of the dashed lines

14
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
> Depth matching
Techplot
Techlog 2006.2
• New mode added that allows
• depth shifting to outside the dataset
• inserting depth pairs anywhere, also between core points (now, the “from” depth is
snapping to core plug depths)
• depth shift a whole dataset (applying this modies the reference curve in an inverse
way, rather than shifting point data; the original depth reference is renamed and kept
in the dataset)
• Possible now to “load” an existing transformation to use as starting point, edit etc.
Techlog 2006.3
• The depth match function uses the linear anti-aliasing data resampling
• Simplication and clarication of the workow

> Depth plots

Techlog 2006.2
• Interactive changing of tops (of existing zonation; add/insert tops interactively will be
available in the next version)
• Old “single well” layouts can now be converted to “Multi Well” Layout (provided no tracks
contain variables from different wells)
• Move wells / change order / remove (select well in header and use arrows or delete)
• Flipping scale can be done in property window
• Palettes: possibility to ll with one colour, pattern.
• Dual palettes now possible with patterns (before only colours)
• Change the order of palettes that overlay (select the shading in the track header or the
track - arrow up / down)
• Database actions from the menu (delete variables, dene variable as well alias)
• Set variable to any constant over the selection.
Techlog 2006.3
• Variable editing (draw mode)
• Graphical variable creation (spline or linear interpolation between user dened points)
• Better display of the dashed lines
• A new special display for dip data
• A new special display for casing shoes
• An image and/or text can be displayed as interval data or centred on one depth (descrip-
tion on single depth or thin-section image)
• Histograms and cross-plots can be displayed inside dedicated tracks (by zone or by top and
bottom)
• Better management of the display of up going wells
• Possibility to create automatically an array (example of multi-mineral) in a dedicated spe-
cial track
• Synthetic seismogram variables can be displayed as a seismic array if they are concate-
nated manually as an array
• Generic variable (Alias or Family) can be inserted inside a track even if they are not pre-
sent in the well (important functionality to create a generic template layout)
• Track width can be dened in centimeters “cm” or inch “in” unit
• The value used inside the processing dialogs are saved and used by default on the next use
of the same processing
• The main reference track have default different appearance
• Single well layout is not present inside the tool bar
• Possibility to use logarithmic transformation before smooth the data

15
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

> Graphical zone edit

Techlog 2006.2
• Interactive changing of tops of existing zonation
Techlog 2006.3
• Zones can be graphically created and edited (several modes of picking new zones are
available)

> Global
Quanti
Techlog 2006.2
• Multi zone entry: only the rst entry will be shown the top and bottom in the parameter
table(s), but all subsequent penetrations will be processed now as well. This allows dening
parameters by facies / uids etc.
Techlog 2006.3
• Previously computed values outside the current zone can be now preserved
• More computation parameters can be entered as variables
• All the optional input parameters can be switched to zone constant values
• Reorganisation of the properties of Quanti methods
• The Quanti workow propagation into a new well is easier now: can be done by simply
applying if all the parameters are well dened and the cascade mode is activated
• Qv computation methods are added: QVn, QV function of CEC
• Automatic recognition of output curve names in subsequent Quanti methods
• Possibility to disable the output in the properties
• Speed improvements of table manipulations
• Better management of the “innity” values in the computations
• TechMath method is available with some data processing options like smooth, spline, de-
spike…

> Parameter management

Techlog 2006.2
• Parameter table now split into 4 parts:
• Reservoir (or “project”)
• Zones
• Wells
• Well/zones (the present Techlog parameter table)

At the user request, the data from these 3 levels can be progress into the 4th part,
which represents the present Techlog parameter table.
The 3 new levels can each be hidden independently if so desired.
• Parameter sets from all 4 levels can be saved and retrieved independently
• The unit columns can be hidden
• Wheel motion is faster / more uent.
• Pressing CNTL with wheel motion only updates plot on mouse release (option for heavier
Quanti workows or when user dened plot is used).
Techlog 2006.3
• Fill down at zone level implemented

16
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
> Porosity
Quanti
Techlog 2006.3
• Remove the lithology input for the hydrocarbon correction
• Addtitional parameters (inversion exponent, m, n) can be dened for hydrocarbon correc-
tion
Techlog 2006.3.3
• The neutron-density porosity method propose the possibility to select the tool type (NPHI,
BA2435, BA2420, APLS, TNPH)

> Volume of shale

Techlog 2006.3
• Calculation of unclipped VSH now added

> Saturation
Techlog 2006.3
• BVW output automatically computed
• Correction to the Waxman-Smits B parameter

> Summation
Techlog 2006.2
• Summation in TVD / TVDSS is now possible
• Other averaging techniques (harmonic and geometric) now also available for the addi-
tional variables.
Techlog 2006.3
• Better distinction between the net, non-net and unknown values
• Better display of the sensitivity plot
• Better management of the threshold signs (<=, <, >, >=)
• Better display of the results inside the depth plot
• Additional output of the “Pay” outputs
• Better output display and speed improvements
• Include weight fraction (between 0 and 1) input variable

> Quanti custom - Python scripts

Techlog 2006.2
• Python scripts can be “organized” such that company standard scripts will be available
from a pull down menu and do not have to be imported into the project anymore.
• When calling a Python script in a workow, the user is now also rst presented with the
family/alias selection dialogue box, just like with Techlog Quanti modules. This provides
more unity and exibility in use.
Techlog 2006.3
• Access to the Python script description and documentation link
• The output variables now have automatically assigned any description dened inside the
Python script
• Monte-Carlo option is available

17
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

> Pickett plot

Techlog 2006.2
• Pickett plot with “inverse” axes (porosity horizontal) is available (not the “ofcial” Pickett
plot).
• More interactivity between parameter sub-window and regression / selection of points.
Techlog 2006.3
• The parameters “a”, “m”, “n” and “Rw” can be managed from the properties of the
cross-plot – avoids losing the parameter window
• The Pickett plot can be saved/loaded/duplicated as a normal cross-plot

> Global
Quanti.min
Techlog 2006.2
• Sequential quadratic programming algorithm implementation.
Techlog 2006.3
• Possibility to have a quick cross-plot display of the input data and graphical parameter
selection
• Better Waxman-Smits management of QV as input curve
• Better management of a text variable as the partition input
• SIGF variable with default constants is added to the default mineralogical system table
• The dry clay points are used for the computation of PhitShale inside Dual-Water, Juhasz
and Simandoux
• Possibility to save the PHI, SXO and SW output curves directly
• Fluid parameter have defaults in the mineral uid tables

> Neutron equations

Techlog 2006.3.3
• Management of non-linear equations (tool types: NPHI, THPH, SNP, APLS)

Techlog 2006.2
Geophi • Depth – Time tables using 4 methods: checkshot only, Sonic only, least square t and
forced t
• Depth to Time conversion including anti-aliasing ltering
• Gassmann uid substitution
• Butterworth trapezoid and Ricker wavelet lters
• Impedance, reection co-efcient, RFC Synthetic and Run Sum Synthetic
Techlog 2006.3
• Improvement of the Synthetics modules computations: impedance, reection co-efcient,
RFC Synthetic and Run Sum Synthetic
• Additional lters are available inside the well synthetic module: sync, Bessel, Chebyshev,
wavelet
• Graphical check shot editor is available to analyse the drift between the sonic and the
check shot data

18
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
> Global
BHI
Techlog 2006.3
• Speed corrections of FMI tool
• Pad concatenation of FMI tool
• Normalisation methods (windowed or not windowed): histogram equalisation or normal
• Processing methods: edge detection, smoothing lters
• Manual dip picking available graphically
• Image attening tool
Techlog 2006.3.2
• Improve management of large les

> Speed correction

Techlog 2006.3.2
• Default selection of speed corrected images

> Normalisation
Techlog 2006.3.2
• Speed and memory use optimisations

Techlog 2006.3
Ipsom • Option to dene if you want to display only the result in the model datasets

> Global
Techcore
Techlog 2006.3
• Small improvements to the Lambda method: possibility to use automatic weighting factors
on the pressure axis
• Relative permeability workow is added (resampling, draining and imbibitions computa-
tion using Buckley-Leverett, Corey, Brooks-Corey, Land, Killough equations)

> Resampling
Techlog 2006.3.5
• The application 'Angle interpolation' is extented for all variables compatible with unit
"dega"

> Multiwell
Techlog 2006.3.3
• Possibility to extend the proposed reference family with the reference data present in the
well

19
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

> Array editor

Techlog 2006.3
• A new dedicated editor for array

Techlog 2006.3
User guide • The folder of the user guide can be modied by the user (the advantage of this system is
the possibility to update the user guide independently of the Techlog version and the pos-
sibility to add a lot of video explanation clips without requiring special network/
administrator permissions)
• Improvements and updates of both user guide and existing tutorials
• New tutorials: Quanti.min, Geophi, BHI
Techlog 2006.3.2
• Geophi
• BHI
• Quanti.min : tutorial integration in online help.
• Quanti updates
• Flushed zone saturation (Archie, water, Juhasz, total shale, Waxman smits, dispersed
shale, indonesia, Simandoux, shale)
• QV function of CEC
• Qvn
• Summaries
• Qceld updates
• Well Editor
• Inventory tools
• Corrections
• Data harmonization
• Wells classication
• Techplot
• PCU-project browser
• Curve Edition Logview
• Printing
• Techdata updates
• Graphical zone editor - zonation editor
• Zonation editor

20
 "Only the foolish learn from experience —
the wise learn from the experience of oth-
ers."
Attributed to Romanian folk wisdom by Rolf Hochhuth

Focus
Let’s have a closer look
This chapter aims at giving some specic information on Yasmina Kechida, a dynamic newly-hired petrophysicist and
specic modules. All these articles are written by Techsia Vélizar Vesselinov will demonstrate how much precious user
team members. time can be saved using Python with Techlog.

In this rst TECHSIANEWS, Richard Ellam and Thomas

Ribreau, a former CoreDB developer and now in charge of
marketing, will show you how CoreDB can assist oil compa-
nies to secure and retrieve any core information.

CoreDB! 22
Deeper with Python! 24
Enhancements! 27

21
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

CoreDB
Import, view and manage
By Richard Ellam and Thomas Ribreau

The status quo. “CoreDB has been designed with real

Oil & Gas companies in mind, to ad-
Data is your company’s primary asset, and manag- dress a real need.”
ing its integrity is critical. Information can become
dispersed, and without strict adherence to data CoreDB Project manager
storage standards companies can lose time and
robust and efcient data storage - that is the rea-
money retrieving and harmonizing data, as well as
son why CoreDB is based on an Oracle database
risk losing it at any time. In addition any data
and is able to manage huge quantities of core
modication brings risk, and to mitigate that risk
data. Secondly a clear and organized storage for-
its key to keep track of where data is and how it
mat, ensuring your coredata remains ordered,
was changed, and that is easier said than done. All
controlled, managed and fully traceable through-
of these issues prevent a company from making
out its lifetime. Thirdly and not least, providing
informed decisions in an efcient manner.
full access to your data through a common inter-
face - using a standard web browser and an easy-
Your needs - storage, control to-use graphical interface, anyone can search,
and accessibility visualize, generate inventories, export... any selec-
tion of the corporate data.
Introducing CoreDB, a dedicated core informa-
tion database system for the 21st century. Firstly a

Core data is your primary asset, maximize its impact on your business

1 Filter
3 Using an advanced query editor, CoreDB lets users
lter any kind of core, geographical or user informa-
tion.
2
Inventory
CoreDB provides mono or multi wellbore inventory
by grouping core information on measurements and
1 conditions.
2 Locate user data
within Countries, Fields, Wells, User-dened group-
ings, Curve types, Curve families, curve data, re-
ports, photos, images...
3 View user data
Enhanced Plotting Ability full user access to pre
4 dened standard plot templates to visualize your
data, with full customization of plots, histograms
and logs.
5 4 Data Editor
Depending on one's rights, a user can control and
edit core data directly from a web browser.
6 5 Export your plots and data
to report formats, excel and full drag and drop ex-
port to Techlog.
6 Core Picture browser
A click on a sample to bring the corresponding core
picture point vs, a click on the core picture sample
icon brings the sample info.
Traceability
CoreDB keeps user activity history that can be ac-
cessed from the administrator console.

Manage, organize and display your core data to your key users

22
 further saved for reuse. Advanced query formula
Accessibility

TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

editor, to enable accurate and specic interroga-
The comprehensive range of CoreDB functional- tion of corporate data.
ity is fully accessible through an IE session, ena-
bling secure and controlled access to your corpo-
rate core database to any approved user at any
time. CoreDB further offers a seamless integration
of the CoreDB environment to Techlog, with sim-
ple drag and drop data accessibility. Advanced query formula editor
A formula can use parenthesis with AND, OR and EX-
CEPT logical operator
Browsing information

Image Viewer
Company Company’s
Full view access to core images, with ability to
database File Migration scroll, zoom in/out, switch resolution and through
auto placement of ‘hotlink’ icons directly on the
core image, quickly link from the core image to a
experiment or a subsequent slice image from its
relevant depth.
Any ODBC or Based on Ora- Excel® spread-
SQL data- cle® database sheets, CSV
bases. files...

Easy population of the CoreDB database from your exis-

tent databases or any formatted file media.
Complete access to your core data from any standard
web browser environment

Ease of data Import

Simple and efcient importation of your existing
core data to the CoreDB environment with utiliza-
tion of templates to further enable batch import
workows. The CoreDB database structure can be Advanced Plotter and Report
fully customized to manage any format of client
data. Full control on import to cut, slice and con-
Export
catenate images. Full user access to dene, create and save detailed
custom Xplots, curev plots and histograms to fully
CSV text format importation with the CoreDB loader.
visualize your core data. These plot templates can
be saved for reuse on a corporate level. Preloaded
templates to visualize common industry standard
plots. Full ability to export plot reports and data to
common ofce applications.

Core picture importation with the CoreDB loader.

Dual Grain Size Histogram display

Data Mining CoreDB is generating a lot interest in the industry

A fast and efcient ability to inventory or lter to due to its unique approach at solving a common
problem.
data of interest. Filters applied at log out are
automatically reloaded on log in, lters can be

23
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

Deeper with Python

By Yasmina Kechida and Vélizar Vesselinov

The objective of this article is to give some hints on how to create and run Python scripts. We will use
examples with a range of useful structures to illustrate how to manage a script. For more details Techsia
provide a tutorial dataset and example scripts during the training: “Techlog Advanced Course”.
For a rst example, we will write a script to calculate water saturation from a choice of either a function
of porosity class and height above free-water-level, or from an input log-derived curve.
The rst step consists in specifying (“declaring”) the input and output variables: PHI, DEPTH,
SWLOG and a parameter called “FWL”, together with a means to choose the “Method”, which we will
dene with an input “String” (A “string” will be read as a literal collection of characters). We also need
to dene our output curve. These inputs and the output are shown in the following table:

Fig 1: Variable and/

or constant speci-
cation of the Python
script

We distinguish the written declaration in uppercase PHI as the variable name, and the system returns in
lowercase the label “phi” as the value of the variable depth-by-depth. The order of the declaration
lines in the list is not important, except for clarity of understanding the ow. The order can be adjusted
by the script creator.
For the script to process over all values present in a curve, the user simply invokes a pre-built function
called “LOOP:” in the appropriate part of the code; there is no lengthy coding of data-housekeeping
routines required.

Fig 2: The Python

script

Remarks on line indentation

Each indented line after the LOOP statement will be considered as being “inside” the LOOP. When a line is typed for which the indents are
all removed, this denotes the nish of the LOOP and the beginning of another segment of the script.
The calculation phase inside the “if method” paragraphs is terminated by the statement containing “elif method”. The “if” and “elif” lines
are indented by the same number of indents, so they are related as steps of the same conditional reasoning statement.

Note the clarity and simplicity of the Python script.

This script can be run “stand-alone” on a specic well because an explicit identication has been incor-
porated in the declaration lines (see Fig 1), or it can be included within a Quanti Table (also known as a
“Quanti Workow”) as a Quanti Custom object. The script then becomes available across multiple
wells and multiple zones without the user having to create any detailed data-housekeeping routines.
Other equations and/or scripts may be invoked in the same Quanti Workow.

24
 TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
Fig 3: Inclusion of
the Python script in
a Quanti Workow
via the “Quanti
Custom” list.

In this rst example, when the script is included in the Quanti Table, the FWL input parameter and the
choice of “Method” may be set zone-by-zone. Furthermore, the FWL parameter could be controlled
by a graphical wheel tool available in the Quanti Table if its precise value needed adjusting.
As a second example we will call directly a predened function library from within Quanti by using the
Python function, “import”. We have the possibility to see all the functions of Quanti available in Py-
thon with the following script:

Fig 4: the Python

script to call the
Quanti functions
that are available in
Python.

What the above simple script does is to load our entire pre-dened petrophysical calculation library
called “TechlogQuanti” into a newly created variable called simply “q”; it then invokes the in-built help
function to list the contents of “q”.
By way of example, we see how to call the function vshGammaRay(...) in our previous script. Below is
shown the Python denition of this function:

vshGammaRay(...)
Return the computed shale volume

vshGammaRay(! arguments: gamma ray (gAPI),

! ! ! gamma ray matrix (gAPI),
! ! ! gamma ray shale (gAPI),
! ! ! method {'Linear', 'Clavier', 'Larionov - tertiary rocks', 'Larionov -
older rocks', 'Stieber - variation I', 'Stieber - Miocene and Pliocene', 'Stieber - varia-
tion II'}) )

The “arguments” are the values you have to specify to execute the calculation:
o gamma ray (gAPI) is the measured value corresponding to the variable GAMM
o gamma ray matrix (gAPI)= 2 is the gamma ray value of the matrix
o gamma ray shale (gAPI)=50 is the shale gamma ray value
o method invokes the particular volume of shale method to apply: ‘Linear’, of course, correspond-
ing to:
Vsh =
(gamma ray ! gamma ray matrix )
! ! (gamma ray shale ! gamma ray matrix )

In our simple example (Fig 6), we dene input variables: PHIT, GAMM and a parameter called
“Method” as an input string. VSH is the output result of the calculation. The “import” function can be
inserted as a step anywhere in the calculations within the Python script, although it is good practice to
make the call to “import” the rst line of the script.

25
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

Fig 5: the Python

script to use the
Quanti library rou-
tine for VSH calcula-
tion from gamma
ray.

The script can be run stand-alone or called via Quanti Custom to be applied easily over many wells and
many zones (see Fig 6). Notice again how the input parameters in the script (Fig 5) have automatically
become Zone-based (Fig 6).

Fig 6: the inclusion

of the Python script
in the Quanti Table.

An automatic layout appears by virtue of the Quanti workow, displaying the result of the script.
Where the conditions are not realized, there are no values in the output curve (see Fig 7).

Fig 7: Quanti plots

showing the result
of the script calcula-
tion with the import
function

26
 Enhancements - two examples

TECHSIANEWS January, 2007

Little things make a good product
By Thomas Ribreau

Techplot-Techdata
The Techdata family list has been improved. Now, not only can users set a min-max for log display in-
dependently of the min-max for crossplot display, change the scale (linear or logarithmic) and log view
color, they can set a baseline and assign two different colors (one per side), set line type (dash, dot,
mixed...), and line thickness, etc.

All available families

can easily be listed
and edited. Default
attributes can be
changed and over-
ridden at a user- pro-
ject- or company-level
of application.

Quanti
The workow design and parameterization screen has been improved. When handling multiple pa-
rameters across multiple zones, users can now choose to promote, demote or assign all the values at the
same time, or they may wish to group the parameters by zone or well for efcient editing. These project-
zone- or well-level defaults are then available for quick access in the next well in the operational se-
quence or the other wells in the study after the key-well parameterisation stage.

A Quanti table
showing multiple
wells with multiple
zones and the des-
ignation of some
parameter values as
project-levl or zone-
level defaults.

27
TECHSIANEWS January, 2007
Rendez-vous with next
TECHSIANEWS
The next edition of TECHSIANEWS will keep you in-
formed as to the progress and developments within our
company and products.

On the organizational side, we will bring you news of our

newly-designed client web portal… and of an internal
corporate project called TIS, designed to manage the
information ow both within our company and with our
user-base.

On the technical side, Techlog 2007.1 is getting ready for

general release in March; this will be the rst major re-
lease of the year and will bring many new developments
to the users: borehole image processing module, thin bed
analysis, saturation height modelling, geophysics, splice
tool, additional environmental corrections… Full details
will appear in the next issue of TECHSIANEWS!

SPWLA 2006
Techsia stand

For more information on Techlog and other Techsia products, please contact us at:

TECHSIA INC TECHSIA SA TECHSIA MIDDLE EAST LLC

10777 Westheimer suite 1100 Cap Alpha Knowledge Oasis Muscat
Houston, TX 77042 Avenue de l’Europe, Clapiers PO Box 32 Rusayl 124
USA F-34940 Montpellier cedex 9 SULTANATE OF OMAN
T +1 713 260 9686 FRANCE T +968 95 41 58 91
F +1 713 260 9687 T +33 4 67 60 99 10
F +33 4 67 60 20 92

www.techsia.com