Log Measurements and Tools INTRODUCTION This chapter will explain the operating principles and applications of the majority of ‘openhole wireline logging tools. The petrophysical propertiesof the formations such as porosity, clay content, hydrocarbon saturation and permeability are inferred from specific measurements made on therocks. The tools used to make these measurements, ard the properties which can be inferred or quantified from these measurements Will be presented in this chapter. 2. BOREHOLE ENVIRONMENT Borehole Size ‘The borehole size depends onthe size of the drillbit used The initial drillingis begun with a relatively large diameter drill bit. After the first drilling phase, a casing having a slightly smaller diameter of the drilled hole s placed inside the hole. Cement is injected between the steel casing and the formation wall in order to keep the stec! pipe in place. A second drill bit ofa relatively smaller diameter is lowered down the steel pipe for further drilling of the borehole. The resulting bottom hole diameter ‘varies within the oil industry and it can be as narrow as 5 inches (“slim hole” devices are required to log these smaller diameter boreholes) ‘The drilled boreholeis loggedusingatool string comprising varioustools. The calliper tool is often used as part of the tool string to neasure the internal diameter of the borehole. The tool also provides information about hole quality/condition. Callipers with four or more arms are used to profile the borehole shape. The borehole usually maintains its diameter (gauge) in hard formations. However soft formations are prone to crumble or collapse into the borehole (washout). The calliper log measures a larger hole diameter in washout sections of the borehole and this is shown by ‘overgauge” hole in Figure 1. On the other hand, excessive mud cake can build up across a permeable formation, Filter cake buildup is usually slow and appears as an “undergauge” hole on the calliper log. Some tocls (like density) require a calliper to press its pad against the borehole wall. ‘The Drilling Mud ‘Dilling muds are used to helpremove cuttings ftom the wellbore, to lubricate the drill bit and drill string, to cool the drill bit and to create a borehole pressure as a direct, result of the weight of the mudcolumn. The higher borehole pressure counterbalances: pore pressures in the drilled formation to avoid any blow outs. The drilling mud in same cases is also used to transmit signals from logging tools at in situ downhole ‘on to the surface. Diilling muds are made up of oil, water or a mixture of both. Freshwater muds that have a liquid phase of water are generally lightly treated and contain small ‘cencentrations of salt. They include spud mud: (use appropriate concentrations of ‘ccmmercial clays) and natural muds (use native drilled solids). Saltwater muds on. the other hand contain significant amount of constituents (normally more than 10,000 ‘mg/L of chloride). Examples of saltwater fluidsinclude brakish water and sea water waich also.use various commercial and formation clays for Muid loss control (caustic sada is often used for viscosity change). Saltwater muds are used primarily because of the convenience of make-up water offshore. Instute of Petoleum Engneerng, Heriot-Watt University 3