PROPRIETARY

Cased Hole Logging

Monitoring Fluid Contacts

Adapted from
Cased Hole Logging Course

by Dale Fitz
URC
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Outline

• Production Logging Overview

• Formation Evaluation
– Gas Liquid Contact Monitoring
– Oil Water Contact Monitoring
• Other CH Logging Tools

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Lecture Objectives
Introduction of cased-hole logging methods to assist in monitoring
and management of fluid contacts.

Students should obtain a general understanding of the types of tools

and their application.
– Production Logging Overview
– Formation Evaluation
– Gas Liquid Contact Monitoring
– Oil Water Contact Monitoring
– Other CH Logging Tools

•Students will be provided an opportunity to evaluate some log

sections as part of a class exercise.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Introduction to Production Logging

What Is Production Logging?
• Production logging is logging a well while flowing or shut-in to
measure the temperature, pressure, density, holdup (saturation),
and velocity of fluids in the well bore.

What Can Be Inferred From These Measurements?

• Water, oil, and gas influx (and outflow) locations.
– Verify perforation depths and perforation performance.
– Identify thief zones.
– Verify water flood front breakthrough.
– Verify gas and water fingering.
• Fluid Flow profile.
– Identify cross flow and flow behind pipe.
– Allocate flow in commingled zones .
– Identify casing, packer, and tubing leaks.
– Verify well completion integrity.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Production Logging Tools
Gas Versus Liquid Holdup
• Differential pressure
• Focused density
• Non-focused density
• Gas holdup
- Low-energy gamma (GHT)
- Index of refraction (GHOST)
• PNS Inelastic Count Ratio
• Neutron
Water Versus Oil Holdup
• Capacitance
• Differential pressure
• Focused density
• Micro-resistivity
Micro-resistivity (DEFT)
• PNS C/O
• PNC Bore-hole Cross Section
Fluid Velocity
• Flow meters - spinners
• Oxygen activation (water)
• Radioactive tracers
• Temperature
Casing And Cement Integrity
• Non-focused density
• Cement bond log
• Multi-finger caliper
• Corrosion log
Fluid Entry
• Noise logs
• Down-hole televiewer
• Temperature
• Most tools listed here.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Typical Production Logging Flow Problems

Water Production from

Leaking Sliding Sleeve
Water
Water Production from
Hole in Corroded Tubing

Water Production from

Watered-Out Zone

Water Production from

Commingled Zone Oil

Gas Production from

Cement Channel
Gas
Water Production from
Leaking Plug

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Data Acquisition - Tool Deployment Techniques
Real-Time Data Acquisition
• Must use braided wire-line electrical cable.
• Large cable size limits pressure range.
• Braided cable limits permissible H2S concentration.
• Can run a long-time, adaptive logging program.
Memory Mode Data Acquisition
• Can use slick-line cable.
• Smaller cable permits higher pressure and H2S concentration.
• Can only run a short (< 4-6 hour), fixed logging program since
tool is battery powered and cannot communicate with surface.
• Lower cost and safer.

Deployment Modes
60-70°, cheap.
• Free-hanging - hole deviation < 60-70° cheap.
60-70°, expensive.
• Coiled tubing - hole deviation > 60-70°
• Down-hole tractor - horizontal wells, moderate.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Wellsite Logging Setup

Pack-off

• 1 manual BOP for low Upper

Sheave Control Head
pressure wells (< 1000 psi)
psi)
Wheel
• 2 or more hydraulic BOPs
for high pressure wells.

Lower Lubricator
Sheave (Riser)
Wheel
To Air Line Crane
Pressure Wiper BOP
Logging Valve
Grease
Unit Reservoir
To Flow
Line

Depth Wheel Well

Head
Hand Pump

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Data Acquisition - Surface Depth Control
Depth Measurement Method
• Depth wheels measure length of cable
in bore-hole. Interval Depth Wheel
• Induction coil measures position of
magnetic mark on logging cable. (Mark
placed at 100 ft intervals in shop.)
• Depth stretch-corrected based on line
tension (weight) recorded at surface.
• Depth set to zero with tool in lubricator.

Limitations
• Depth wheels accurate to 5 feet per
15000 feet under optimal conditions.
• Paraffin buildup on tool can cause
depth wheel to slip. Measuring Induction Wireline
Wheels Pickup Cable
• Frequent tool yo-
yo-yoing can cause Coil
measure wheels to slip.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Data Acquisition - Casing Collar Locator

Principle
• Two magnets, induction coil, & electronics. Casing Collar
• Changes in steel thickness induce current in Locator Tool
induction coil.
• Current produces voltage that is amplified
and recorded versus depth-wheel depth.
• Voltage spike shape changes with logging
direction. Electronics

S Magnet
N

Zero
Point

Coil
N
S
Down Log Up Log

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Data Acquisition - Perforation Depth Control Log
Approach Open-Hole Cased-Hole
• Casing collar locator normally
run with gamma ray (GR) tool. GR
0 120
• First open-hole GR pass GR CCL
(usually from resistivity log) 0 150 -19 1
used as depth reference.
• Cased-hole GR correlated to

4650

4650
open-hole GR.
• Depth measurement adjusted
to equal open-hole depth at TD.
• Casing collar log used for
subsequent recompletion

4700

4700
depth control.

Example
• Cased-hole log recorded 11
feet shallow to open-hole log.
4750

4750
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Calipers
Multi-fingered Calipers (Cheap)
• Have 16, 24, or more small caliper arms that are held against the
casing wall under tension while logging up.
• Normally used to identify casing splits and scale build up.

Ultrasonic Imagers (Expensive)

• Have a rotating acoustic transducer that records an acoustic
waveform multiple times (>24) per rotation.
• Rotation rate and logging speed set to record data at least once
per inch or less.
• Transducer is high frequency (several hundred kHz).
• Travel time used with orientation data to map bore hole profile.
• Compression reflection used to identify poor cement bond.

Key Point
• A caliper must be run when running fluid velocity tools in order to
accurately convert fluid velocity into down-hole flow rate.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Summary
Production Logging Tools
• Traditional tools are temperature, capacitance, differential
pressure, nuclear fluid density, caliper, flow meters, oxygen
activation, radioactive tracers, and corrosion tools.
• These tools are used to do the following:
- Identify casing, packer, and other hardware leaks and failures.
- Identify fluid entry points, quantify fluid holdups, and quantify fluid
flow rates to validate production data and guide workovers.
workovers.

Logging Conveyance
• Proper pressure control and safety equipment must be mobilized
and used.
• Tools can be run slickline (memory) or wireline (surface readout).
Guidelines
• Gamma ray and casing collar log must be run with every
production logging tool string to ensure proper depth control.
• A caliper log should be run whenever a fluid velocity survey is
run and accurate down-hole flow rate estimation is required.
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Data Acquisition - Logging Cost

Set-Up Charge
• Cost for contractor to bring
equipment to well-site & rig up.
• <$500 onshore U.S. to >$20000
offshore and remote locations.
Pressure Service Charge
• Cost for rental of lubricators,
grease injectors, BOP valves,
and control heads.
• Based on surface pressure.
• <$500 for low pressure wells to
>$20000 for 15000 psi wells.
• Extra charge for H2S service.
Depth Charge
• Based on the maximum depth
logged in the well.
• Covers manpower costs for
time to deploy cable with tool.
Logging Charge
• Cost charged per foot of
interval logged.
• Many areas have a base charge
equivalent to logging 600 feet.
• Charge is tool-specific and is
greater for tools requiring very
slow logging speeds.
• Traditional production tools are
cheap. Special tools are not!
Other Issues
• Competition reduces costs.
• Cost per job decreases when
contractor is promised more
jobs per year in a given area.
• Cost for additional basic
measurements is cheap
compared to set-up, pressure,
and depth charges.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Cased Hole
Formation Evaluation

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Cased-Hole Formation Evaluation Production Formation

Logging Evaluation
Objectives:
• Interpret simple gamma ray, neutron,
and pulsed neutron logs to:
• Verify lithology.
lithology. Water Sand
• Identify oil-water contacts.
• Identify gas-liquid contacts.
• Find radioactive scale (water flow).

Topics Oil Sand

• Reservoir Management Issues.

• Basic Nuclear Theory.
• Gamma Ray Applications.
• Neutron Applications.
• Pulsed Neutron Capture Applications.
• Pulsed Neutron Spectroscopy Gas Sand
Applications.
• Appendix - Other Tools

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Information for Proper Reservoir Management
Formation Properties
• Permeability.
Sources of Information
• Porosity.
• Well production history.
• Lithology.
Lithology. • Completion diagram
• Fluid contacts
• Drill cuttings.
• So, Sg, and Sw.
• Whole and sidewall core.
• Mud logs.
Reservoir and Well Problems • Fluid samples.
• Permeability barriers. • Open-hole logs.
• Natural fractures. • Cased-hole logs.
• Faults. • Well tests.
• Gas and water coning. • Seismic data.
• Casing and packer leaks.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Gas-Liquid Contact Monitoring

Purpose
• Use neutron count rate, neutron porosity, and pulsed
neutron capture count rate ratio curves to identify gas-
liquid contacts and intervals of gas influx.

Topics
• Principles
• Examples: East Texas Gas Contact Monitoring
• Examples: Prudhoe Bay Gas Monitoring
• Summary
• CLASS EXERCISE

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Principles: Tools Used for Gas Identification
Pulsed Neutron Capture Dual Neutron Neutron

FAR
7500
GR TRAT NEAR 0 NPHI NEUT
0 150 2.2 0.7 18000 0 0.6 0 0 4000

Sand
4650

GALA

Sand Oil Effect

4700 COWC

Sand Count Count

Ratio Porosity
4750 Rates Rate

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Principles: Count Rate Response

Major Factors That Increase Count Rates
• Increasing gas saturation in the formation.
• Decreasing liquid-filled formation porosity.
• Smaller diameter liquid-filled casing.
• Gas in the casing, tubing, or casing-tubing annulus rather than
liquid.
• CO2 or nitrogen content increases relative to hydrocarbon
content.

Major Factors That Decrease Count Rates

• Increasing formation shaliness.
shaliness.
• Increasing number of casing, tubing, or liner strings that are
liquid-filled.
• Increasing pressure for hydrocarbon gases.
• Mud-filtrate that has not dissipated after casing the well.
• Liquid in casing back-flushing gas in open perforations.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Principles: Source-Detector Spacing
Neutron- Neutron- Sensitivity to Gas:
Neutron Gamma
• Increases with increasing
source-detector spacing.
GR Count Rate Count Rate
0 150 • Disappears at short
source-detector spacing.

Sand Detector Type

RSTA
4650
CNTH
• Gamma ray detectors
Near
Near (TDTP, RSTA) more
CGOC sensitive to saline water
TDTP
CNTH Far than neutron detectors
Far TDTP (CNTH).
COWC 4700
Near
Order of Decreasing Spacing
• CNTH Far ≈ TDTP Far
RSTA • CNTH Near ≈ TDTP Near
Sand Far
4750 • RSTA Far > TDTP Near
• TDTP Near >> RSTA Near

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Principles: Pressure and Specific Gravity

Key Points φ t = 0.3, Sw = 0.8, 200 °F

• Increasing specific gravity
decreases gas effect for N2 CO2
0.990
0.782
0.554

hydrocarbon gas:
- Increasing hydrogen content. 20
- Less gas effect at higher C1H4
pressure.
Pressure (kpsi)

C1H3.36
• Carbon dioxide has strong gas
effect regardless of pressure. C1H3.3
10
- No hydrogen and very small
capture cross section.
• Nitrogen has a weak gas effect
with pressure. Sw = 1
- No hydrogen but large capture 0
30 15 0
cross section effect.
TNPH (sand pu)

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Principles: Porosity and Gas Saturation Effects
Key Points
• Liquid-filled neutron porosity
proportional to total porosity. psi, 200 °F
Methane, 2000 psi,
- Neutron porosity (on a sand/lime
matrix) approximately equals total Gas Saturation (su)
porosity in clean sand/limestone. 100 80 60 40 20 0
30
• Increasing gas saturation
decreases neutron porosity.

Total Porosity (pu)

• Water saturation for low pressure
dry gas in a clean sand is
approximately: 15

High φ t at
TNPH
Sw ≈ high Sg looks
φt like low φ t
at low Sg.
• Neutron response becomes 0
0 15 30
nonlinear for Sw < 20 su.
su. TNPH (sand pu)
• Gas effect is larger at higher
porosity and lower gas pressure.
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Principles: Effects of Production Mechanism

Pressure Depletion Weak Water Drive Strong Water Drive

No Contact Movement Some Contact Movement Contact Movement

Sg Sg Sg
20
0

40
80
60
40

40

80
60

20
0
80
60

20

20
May Not Be
Detectable Detectable
Detectable
Pressure (kpsi)

∆φ N = 6.6 pu
10
∆φ N = 1 pu
∆φ N = 8.8 pu
∆φ N = 10.7 pu

0
30 15 0 30 15 0 30 15 0
TNPH (sand pu) TNPH (sand pu) TNPH (sand pu)

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Time-Lapse Logging: Base and Monitor Logs
Base Log:
• Run shortly after completion.
• Provides a reference to
normalize out porosity and
lithology effects.
4/88
Monitor Log: 4/89
• Run periodically at later times. 4/90
• Responds the same way to 10/90
lithology changes.
10/91
Response Difference 1/93
• Due to changes in: 2/94
- Completion.
- Fluid type
- Fluid saturation.
• Permits detecting very small
changes in fluid saturation.
- Multiple-pass averaging
improves detecting small
changes.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

East Texas Gas Monitoring: Overview

Background
• East Texas fields are typically sand-shale sequences with
porosity greater than 25 pu in the sand intervals.
• The single detector uncalibrated neutron tool is the tool of choice
for gas-liquid contact monitoring. It is cheap and adequate.
adequate.
• Neutron tools are used in Conroe, Friendswood,
Friendswood, and Anahuac.
Anahuac.
• PNC tools are used in Hawkins for GOC and OWC monitoring.
• The primary use is monitoring gas cap expansion and shrinkage.

Data Acquisition Approach

• Tools with a 15-20 inch source-detector spacing are used. This
provides a compromise between statistics and dynamic range.
• Logging speeds are normally 900-1200 fph. fph. Slower is better.
better.
• Filtering is normally with a time constant of 3 seconds (1.5 feet).
• Log sensitivity is adjusted to cover at least 80 per cent of the
track between shale (low count rate) and gas sand (high count
rate). Backup scales are normally used.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Gas Cap Shrinkage - Conroe L. B. McComb 9
8 in BH
12-1-52 NG 6-10-70 NN 5-1/2 in
8 in BH CSG
GR NEUT(CPS) NEUT(CPS) 2-7/8 in
5-1/2 in
0 150 0 2000 CSG 0 4000 TBG

4850
1 MC
Gas Gas
Sand

4900 Gas
Liquid
2 MC (Oil)
4950 Gas
Sand

5000
4-1/2 in 4-1/2 in
Liner Liner

5050
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Difficult Pipe Conditions - Conroe Moore 5

1-26-53 NG 8-1/2 in 6-29-70 NN 8-1/2 in
BH BH
GR NEUT 7 in NEUT(CPS) 7 in
CSG 0 2500 CSG
UC-2 4800
Sand Gas Gas

4850

4900

1 MC Gas
4950
Sand Oil
5 in
Liner

5000 5 in
2 MC Liner
Sand
Oil
Oil

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Gas Cap Blow Down: Webster Field
Well History - WFU-316 TDT-P
• Completed in 1939 as a
TPHI SIGM
Frio sand oil producer.
0.6 0 36 6
• Last oil sand had watered
out by 2000. 5550 Shaly
• Rapid gas cap blow down
commenced by mid-2000. Clean
3/19/01
Logging Program
5600 2/15/01
• TDT-P logs run at 1-3
month intervals:
- TPHI to track GLC 11/10/00
- SIGM for bypassed oil. 5650
8/8/00
Interpretation
5/9/00
• TPHI and SIGM show
steady gas cap shrinkage. 5700
Shaly
• SIGM indicates possible
shaly oil sand > 5695 ft. Water = 25 18 14 = gas

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Importance of Timing of Monitor Logs

Well History - HFU-101
• Completed in 1941 as a
Shrinking Expanding
Woodbine sand oil producer.
Gas Cap Gas Cap
• Field unitized in 1985.
SP GRN GRN
• Gas injection started in 1985.
Interpretation
• 1980 GRN showed GALA
4550

base of sand.
10/84 10/84
• 1983 and 1984 logs show
continued gas cap shrinkage. 4/41
• 1986 log shows gas injection
4600

has reversed gas cap

1/83 11/86
shrinkage.
• 1987 log shows GALA base of 6/80 11/87
sand.
4650

• Careful logging can show

small GOC changes.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Prudhoe Bay Structural Cross Section
West Location Map East
True Dip
Lo 0°
we
rC
ret 2°
ac 3°
eo
- 7000 us
Un
co
mf
Eleen orm
Sand Sag River ity Pit River
Sublik Sandstone
Sandstone
- 8000 Form.

GOC
- 9000
OWC Residual Heavy Oil Tar
Oil

5 Miles Vertical Exaggeration: 25

- 10000
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Prudhoe Bay Western Operating Area

F-5
GOC Monitoring Issues
N-7 • Gas cap expansion.
• Gas migration across faults.
N • Bypassed oil above
discontinuous shale beds.
• Gas coning.

N-7 J-9 J-1 J-10 F-8 F-9 F-1 F-11 F-5

8400
Top of Sadlerochit
OGOC

OOWC
9100
Fault Fault
2000 ft
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only
 Prudhoe Bay Field: Gas Cap Expansion
FAR(CPS) NPHI(PU)
0 1000 30 0
9700

OAHA

9800

GALA

9900

CGOC

10000

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Bypassed Oil Over Discontinuous Shale Beds

GR NPHI(PU) Well 1-8 Schematic

0 150 60 0
12800
10/76
OGOC 10/79
Oil
12718 5/80 Lenses
12850 5/82
10/82

12900 Oil
Discontinuous Lenses
Shale Bed

12950

CGOC
13000

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Prudhoe Bay Eastern Operating Area

GOC Monitoring Issues

• Gas cap expansion.
4-10 • Gas under-running
N continuous shale.
3-11 • Solution gas buildup.
• Gas coning.

4-10 4-7 4-15 9-5 9-16 3-1 3-17 3-8 3-11

8400
OGOC
Top of
Sadler
ochit

Base o OOWC
f Sadler
ochit
9100
2000 ft
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Prudhoe Bay: Gas Under-running Shale

Well 5-1

OGOC GR NPHI(PU)
0 100 35 0
9050

ion
uct
rod
il P
- Dip O
n
Dow 5/77
9100 10/80
10/81
5/82
Shale Barriers
Perforations

10/82
Prevent Coning 9/83
11/86

9150

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Prudhoe Bay: Gas Coning
GR NPHI(PU)
0 100 50 0

11400 Well
2-11
GALA
11500

GALA

11600 11/71
5/82

11700 Gas in
Perfs

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Prudhoe Bay: Solution Gas Build-Up

GR NPHI(PU)
0 100 50 0

11400 Well
9-5

12400
Perforations

12500
4/77
Perforations

2/80
12/81

12600

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Prudhoe Bay WAG Pilot: Introduction
Objectives:
• Determine vertical sweep efficiency of a
water-alternating-gas miscible flood. WAG Pilot
• Quantify final oil saturation. Inverted 9-Spot
• History match reservoir simulation.
Pilot Program
• Located in FS-3 area
• Inverted 9-spot pattern. Observation
• One cored, fiberglass-cased monitor well.
Miscible
• Initial injection program: Injector
- Inject formation water for 3 months.
- Inject gas for 3 weeks.
- Inject formation water for 12 months. 500 ft
Producers
• Several WAG cycles consisting of:
• 6 weeks gas injection
• 6 weeks formation water injection.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Prudhoe Bay Wag Pilot: Logging Program

Logging Tools:
CNTG
• Dual induction tool - DITE:
- Sw changes from resistivity through the ENPH
fiberglass casing. 45 15
NPHI
• 4-detector thermal/epithermal
thermal/epithermal neutron - CNTG: 45 15
- Sg changes from epithermal porosity (ENPH).
- Thermal porosity (NPHI) affected by borated CCL
fiberglass casing collars. X550

Logging Program
• DITE/CNTG run open-hole before casing. CCL
• DITE/CNTG run in 5-passes at these times:
CCL
- Before initial water injection. X600
- At completion of water injection.
- At end of water injection for each WAG cycle.
CCL
• Small expected neutron porosity response:
- Gas replaces about half of residual oil.
- Miscible gas has high density. X650

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Prudhoe Bay WAG Pilot: Schematic
Basic Concepts
Initial • Water flooding reduces oil
Oil
Conditions saturation to 25-35 su.
su.
• Injected WAG miscible gas:
After
Waterflood Water - Immiscibly displaces water to near
irreducible water saturation.
After First - Mixes with oil and lightens it.
WAG Gas Gas
• Injected WAG water:
- Immiscibly displaces gas and oil
After First mixture.
WAG Water
- Total water saturation decrease to
near irreducible water saturation.
After Final - Equivalent remaining oil saturation
WAG Water is less than waterflood ROS.
- Equivalent gas saturation is
expected to be ∼ 10 su.
su.
Tertiary Primary
Recovery Recovery

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Prudhoe Bay WAG Pilot: Early Gas Arrival

Induction Log
• 7/83 ILD shows oil in sand
down to OWC at X641 ft.
GR ILD ∆ENPH
0 150 1 10 100 -2 2σtot 2
• 7/84 ILD shows water
-2 2
X450

down to X583 ft indicating

incomplete water flood. 7/83
7/84
• 9/84 ILD shows water to
X500

top of tar mat at X598 ft.

9/84
Neutron Log Difference
• ENPH(9/84) - ENPH(7/84) = Miscible
X550

∆ENPH.
ENPH. Gas Arrival

• Increases over X583-X588’

as water displaces oil. Incomplete
X600

Water Flood
• Decreases over X512-X538’ Tar
as gas displaces oil. Mat
OWC
• Displaced interval is ∼ 5%
X650

- 2σtot +2σtot
of total. Is it real?

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Prudhoe Bay WAG Pilot: Final Conditions
Final Neutron Log Difference
GR ILD ∆ENPH
• ENPH(7/85) - ENPH(7/84) = 0 150 1 10 100 -2 2σtot 2
∆ENPH.
ENPH.
-2 2

X450
7/83
• Increase from water over
X583-X588’ remains.
7/84
• Decreases over X450-X540’
9/84

X500
as gas displaces more oil.
• Initial indication of gas
breakthrough was real!
Miscible

X550
• Note that miscible gas has Gas Arrival
also under-run the tar mat. - 2σtot

Incomplete
Key Point

X600
Water Flood
Tar
• One can detect small
Mat
changes in gas saturation OWC

X650
(3 su)
su) with careful multiple- +2σtot
pass neutron logging.
Gas Under-running Tar Mat

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Guidelines for Successful GLC Monitoring

Data Acquisition and Interpretation
• Check the well files for existing neutron or PNC logs.
• Try to run the same type of tool at the conditions as the base log.
- GRN with GRN, neutron-neutron with neutron-neutron, PNC with PNC.
- 20-27 inch source-detector spacing recommended.
- 3-level 0.5-ft increment filtering (2 sec time constant at 1800 fph).
fph).
• Select a reasonable logging speed:
- 600 - 900 fph (10 - 15 fpm) for all neutron tools.
- 1200 fph (20 fpm) for newer pulsed neutron tools (RSTA, RMT, RPM)
• Multiple Passes
• 1 pass plus a repeat over the most critical part of the well.
• 3 - 5 passes for difficult time-lapse logging with small expected neutron
count rate response changes or for quantitative monitoring.
• Request digital data plus the field print.
• Scale field print so data cover 70-90 percent of the track.
• Average multiple passes and rescale so the new log overlays the
base log over intervals of the same completion type that have not
changed fluid saturation.
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only
 Summary of Gas-Liquid Contact Monitoring
Tools Used
• Single detector neutron - count rate.
• Compensated neutron - neutron porosity or near/far ratio.
• Pulsed neutron capture - near/far ratio.
Factors Affecting Log Response
• Slow mud filtrate dissipation.
• Casing-liner and casing-tubing overlap.
• Washouts behind pipe and bore hole size.
• Gas in the bore hole and casing-tubing annulus.
Applications
• Monitor gas cap expansion and shrinkage.
• Identify bypassed oil above shale beds.
• Identify depletion problems.
• Estimate displacement efficiency from quantitative saturation
changes.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Contact Monitoring Exercise

• Identify fluid contacts
• Describe what is happening? (ie
(ie gas cap
expansion, shrinkage, oil smearing, etc.)

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Friendswood Field EFB
SP E-Log Gamma Ray Neutron Logs

2/39 7/57 2/62 5/63 5/65 3/68 10/69

5500

5550

5600
OGOC
5650 5640

5700

Monitor Well No. 1 CLASS EXERCISE

• Identify the progression of GOC over time
East • Where was the GOC on 10/69?
Fault • Is there any smearing of oil into the gas cap
WFB or displacement of oil by gas? If so, when
Block
did it begin?

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Friendswood Field WFB

SP E-Log Gamma Ray Neutron Logs

6/43 2/61 2/62 5/63 5/65 3/68 10/69

5600
5640
5650 OGOC

5700

5750

5800

CLASS EXERCISE
EFB • Identify the progression of GOC over time
WFB Monitor • Where was the GOC on 10/69?
Well • Is there any smearing of oil into the gas cap
No. 4
or displacement of the oil by gas? If so,
when did it begin?

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Oil-Water Contact Monitoring
Purpose
• Use basic measurements from PNC, PNS, and induction
tools to identify oil-water contacts and intervals of water
influx.

Topics
• Tools Used for Oil-Water Contact Monitoring
• OWC Monitoring Principles
• Techniques to Enhance OWC Monitoring
• Factors Affecting Reliability of OWC Monitoring
• Examples
• Summary

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Schematic of Reservoir Depletion Problems

Producers Producers Water

Gas Injector
← OGOC
High Permeability

Water Over-
running Lower
Permeability
Shale

Water
Water
Over-
Oil Coning
Drag Oil running
Shale
OOWC →
Water
Poor Aquifer Tar Mat
Support

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Tools Used to Distinguish Oil from Water
Saline Marginal Fresh Fresh Connate- Saline Connate-
Water Salinity Water Saline Injection Fresh Injection

Steel Casing PNC PNC* PNS PNC, PNS PNS

Steel Casing
PNC PNC* None*** PNC None***
and Tubing

Gravel Pack PNC PNS** PNS** PNC PNS**

Fiberglass
Casing
ILD ILD PNS ILD None

Barefoot
ILD ILD, PNS PNS ILD, PNC PNS
Completion

* Requires careful time-lapse logging.

** Very Difficult
*** Sometimes can use production logs
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Oil versus Water: Single-Run PNC Logging

PNC Difference Equation - Assuming Constant Water Salinity

∆Σ t = (1 - φ ) ∆Σ ma + φ ∆Sw (Σ w -Σ hc)

Rule of Thumb for Single-Run Logging

φ ∆Sw (Σ w -Σ hc) > 2 σ {(1 - φ ) ∆Σ ma }

Saturation and Salinity Effects Lithology Uncertainty

Key Points - OWC Identification easier for

• Higher porosity, higher water salinity, and cleaner sands.
• Across OOWC rather than COWC because So > So - Sor.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Single-Run OWC Identification: PNC Log

TDT-P Example

Σ w = 59 cu
Σ hc = 20 cu COWC
So = 0.85
Sor = 0.15
∆Sw = 0.70
φ = 0.27

φ ∆Sw (Σ w -Σ hc) = 7.4 cu 2σ {(1 - φ ) ∆Σ ma } = 2.8 cu

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Oil versus Water: Time-Lapse PNC Example

SIGM SIGM
Mackeral A-2
TDT-G/K/M

Σ w = 34 cu
Σ hc = 22 cu
∆Sw = 0.70
φ = 0.22
Actual log change is
about 2.5 cu because
porosity in this
interval is > 22 pu.

φ ∆Sw (Σ w -Σ hc) = 1.85 cu 2σ {(1 - φ ) ∆Σ ma } = 1.4 cu

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only
 Time-Lapse Enhancement: PNC Lateral Averaging
Single SIGM Lateral
Principle Pass 1978 Average
• Average all curves at
each depth.
• Reduces statistical
uncertainty by
σ n
n = number passes.

Example
• 2 TDT-K runs in
marginal salinity. OWC
1978
• Single-pass overlay
fails to identify
contacts.
• Lateral average
identifies contacts.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Time-Lapse Single 5-Pass Window

Pass Average Average
Enhancement:
OH GR FCOR FCOR COW
PNS Reprocessing 0 150 - 0.05 0.20 - 0.05 0.20 1.40 1.65

Example
• RST-A 5-passes at 70 X450
fph in inelastic mode.
• FCOR is spectral
processed.
• COW is window X500
reprocessed.
• Single-pass spectral
curve barely shows
contact. X550 COWC
• 5-pass spectral
average shows
contact better.
• 5-pass window X550
processing is best.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Effects of Open Perforations
Fortescue A-8C GR SIGM
• Salinity = 31 kppm NaCl.
NaCl.
• Average porosity = 20 pu.
pu.
• 9-7/8 inch BH, 7-5/8 inch CSG.
• Producing 12600 BOPD at
15% water cut.

Issues
• Logged flowing, then shut-in
with Schlumberger TDT-M.
• GR shows radioactive scale
from water flow.
• Flowing log shows oil in
perforations (lowest SIGM).
• Formation water is back-
flushing perfs while shut-in.
• Effect is subtle: 1 - 1.5 cu.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Effects of Bore Hole Fluid Type

Cobia A-7
• Salinity = 29 kppm NaCl.
NaCl. GR SIGM
• Average porosity = 20 pu.
pu.
• 9-7/8 inch BH, 7-5/8 inch CSG.
• Perforated interval had
watered out by 1987.

Issues
• Logged with TDT-M at 900
fph.
fph.
• Oil in BH above base of perfs
in 1985.
• Formation water in BH above
base of perfs in 1987.
• Oil reduces SIGM dynamic
range.
• OH log run with 100 kppm
KCl mud.
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only
 Normalizing Out Bore Hole Fluid Effects
Cobia A-7 Renormalization
40 GR SIGM
SIGM 1985

0
0 40
SIGM 1987

Issues
• Renormalized log shows
water influx below perfs but
also shows oil in upper sand.
• Hot 1987 GR shows
radioactive scale from water
flow.
• Perfs were squeezed and well
was recompleted higher.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Effect of Different Tools: TDT-M vs TDT-P

Cobia F-5 Raw Near Raw Far
• 29 kppm NaCl.
NaCl. GR SIGM Curves Curves
• Ave. porosity = 20 pu.
pu.
• 9-7/8 inch BH, 7-5/8
inch CSG.
Issues
• 1987 TDT-M offset 7
cu to overlay 1989
TDT-P.
• SIGM curves suggest
zone watered out.
• Overlay of raw near
and far curves shows
no change.
• 1989 GR result of
aborted TDT-P pass.
• Only compare
equivalent curves!
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only
 Effects of Different Processing Parameters
Wrong Right
West Kingfish W-1 GR SIGM Parms Parms
• 30 kppm NaCl.
NaCl.
• Ave. porosity = 20 pu.
pu.
• 6-1/2 inch BH, 5-1/2
inch CSG.
Issues
• 1987 and 1990 TDT-M
show no fluid change.
• 1989 and 1990 TDT-P
indicate fluid change
but both used wrong
parameters (below).
• Reprocessed with
correct parameters
showing no change.
• Always use correct 1989: CP29.890 CSIZ = 7.625 in BS = 6.5 in
parameters! 1990: CP32.240 CSIZ = 5.5 in BS = 6.0 in

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

PNC Time-Lapse Monitoring in Marginal Salinity

Mackeral A-4
GR SIGM SIGM
• Salinity = 34 kppm NaCl.
NaCl.
• Average porosity = 20 pu.
pu.
• 9-7/8 inch BH, 7-5/8 inch
CSG.
• Well producing oil with very
little water.
Issues
• Logged in 1981 with TDT-K.
• Logged in 1982 and 1984
with TDT-M.
• SIGM overlay shows clear
upward movement of OWC.
• GR shows increasing
upward water movement
from radioactive scale, e.g.
Ba(
Ba(Ra)SO
Ra)SO4.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 PNC Detection of Water Coning
Well B
• 34 kppm NaCl.
NaCl. TDT-G TDT-G
• Ave. porosity = 20 pu.
pu. 1/72 2/73
• 9-7/8 inch BH, 7-5/8 2/73 3/73
inch CSG.
Issues
• 1/72 TDT-G shows
OWC at 9915 ft.
• 2/72 TDT-G shows
OWC in perfs.
perfs.
• Depletion rate
indicated OWC
should be at 9902 ft.
• Well shut-in 4 days
before 3/73 TDT-G
which shows OWC at
8997 ft confirming
coning.
Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Water Overrunning
Heavy Oil Tar
Prudhoe Bay X-7
• Salinity = 25 kppm NaCl.
NaCl.
• Average porosity = 20 pu.
pu.
• Completion not specified.
• Well producing mostly oil
with some water.

Issues
• Logged in early 1980s with
TDT-M.
• Overlay shows water influx
above heavy oil tar (HOT).
• Separation in perfs due to
water in casing back-
flushing the perfs.
perfs.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Oil-Water Contact Monitoring Summary
Primary Tools and Measurements
• PNC - formation capture cross section for saline water.
• PNS - carbon/oxygen ratio for brackish and mixed salinity water.
• ILD - deep resistivity for bare foot and fiberglass completions.
Ways to Enhance OWC Monitoring
• Multiple-pass averaging.
• Slower logging.
• Designated small-bore monitor wells
• Careful planning.
• Always using same types of tools and procesing.
procesing.
Problems Addressed by OWC Monitoring
• Identification of water coning.
• Identification of water over running lower permeability barriers.
• Identification of drag oil zones.
• Identification of bypassed oil.

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Contact Monitoring Mapping

Use of Contact Data in Surveillance Mapping

WEBSTER FIELD
BLOWDOWN EXAMPLE

Adapted from
“Webster Gas Cap Blowdown Project Design,
Implementation and Results”
by T. Brady and R. Whitson

Upstream Technical Conference 2001

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 INTRODUCTION
Geology
• Created by deep seated dome
• 3 Major Blocks : EFB, WFB, SWFB
• Frio (Oligocene) - High Quality
Sandstone
• Blowdown in Upper Frio reservoirs
EFB
• Average Porosity : 30%
• Permeability : 300 -1000 md WFB

Reservoir Mechanics
• Combination Gas Cap Expansion and
Water Drive SWFB
• EFB : Strong Water Drive
• WFB : Moderate/ Strong Water Drive
• SWFB : Gas Cap Expansion, Limited • EFB - East Fault Break
Water Drive
• WFB - West Fault Break
• Pressure Communication in Gas Cap
• SWFB - Southwest Fault Break

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

WEBSTER FIELD

80.0
Arab Oil
Unitization Embargo
70.0

WW II
60.0
Water
Injection
50.0
Korean War
40.0

30.0 Gas Injection

Begins

20.0 20 ac. Gas Cap

Spacing Blowdown
1999
10.0 10 ac.
Spacing

0.0

Year

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 BLOWDOWN PLANNING

Completion Strategy
• 1B-1E Sands
- Drain from top of 1B

• 1A, IF, IG, 2A Sands

- Individual Completions

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

BLOWDOWN PLANNING
Completion Strategy
• 1B-1E Sands - Drain from top of 1B
• 1A, IF, IG, 2A (Tail Gas Sands) -
Individual Completions

Crestal Wells Overlay

• Workover Existing Wellbores
• High Rate Wells at Crest
• Total 23 wells
• 1 Drill Well

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 BLOWDOWN PLANNING
Completion Strategy
• 1B-1E Sands - Drain from top of 1B
• 1A, IF, IG, 2A (Tail Gas Sands) -
Individual Completions

Crestal Wells
• Workover Existing Wellbores
• High Rate Wells at Crest
• Total 23 wells
• 1 Drill Well

Well Work
• Sand Control and near well stimulation
Vibration Technology Oscillator Used
• Frac - Pack, Gravel Pack For Gravel Pack Screen Recovery
• Lost only 1 well due to casing failure

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

BLOWDOWN PERFORMANCE
Gas Production Webster Gas Cap Blowdown Project Gross Gas Sales
Funding basis : 350

330
• Ramped early production 300

• Peak Rate of 250 M/D 250

250
• Rapid Decline as High
Rate Wells Watered Out
200

150 140
Actual Production :
• Achieved 330 M/D Peak 100

58
• Maintained +300 M/D for 50
4 months 50

• Steep decline mitigated by 0

J-99 J-00 J-01
aggressive depletion of
“tail gas” sands
Funding Actual 01 Outlook

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 BLOWDOWN PERFORMANCE
2800

2100
BHP

1400

700

1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005

Date
Jan-99 Jan-00 Jan-01

ACTUAL BHP MARS

Pressure Decline
• Initial Pressure 2700psi
• Good early project match
• Good history match
• Model delta ~ 400 psi
• At BD start 2060psi
• Similar Experience at
• At BD end 900psi Anahuac and Conroe
Webster Gas Cap Blowdown Project
Reservoir Surveillance School Increasing
ExxonMobil Recovery
- For Company Use Only
12

BLOWDOWN PERFORMANCE
Water Influx
• WFB - Strongest water influx
• EFB / WFB - Rather Independent
• SWFB - Stronger than expected

Water Infux Animation

June, 1998
September, 1999
February, 2000
May, 2000
August, 2000
November, 2000
February, 2001
April, 2001
May, 2001
August, 2001

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Contact Monitoring Exercises
• Problem Solutions

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

Gas Cap Shrinkage - Friendswood Field EFB

SP E-Log Gamma Ray Neutron Logs

2/39 7/57 2/62 5/63 5/65 3/68 10/69

5500

5550

5600
OGOC
5650 5640

5700

Oil Smearing
Monitor Well No. 1 Shrinking Gas Cap

WFB EFB

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only

 Gas Cap Expansion - Friendswood Field WFB
SP E-Log Gamma Ray Neutron Logs

6/43 2/61 2/62 5/63 5/65 3/68 10/69

5600
5640
5650 OGOC

5700

5750

5800

Expanding Gas Cap

EFB Displacing Oil
WFB
Monitor Well No. 4

21

Reservoir Surveillance School ExxonMobil - For Company Use Only