Mud Logging

Geology
Sampling and
Formation Evaluation
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Information-gathering During Well Construction

ML ML
Surface MWD Sub-Surface

OH
LWD Logging
Completion
Depth

Cased Hole
Testing Logging

Seconds Minutes / Hours Days / Weeks Months

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‘Instantaneous’ Parameters

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Lagged Parameters

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Formation Evaluation

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Geological Data

Lithological Examination

 Unwashed -- under UV light for hydrocarbon fluorescence

 Washed – Under UV light & solvent test
 Washed – Under microscope, geologic description
 Calcimetry
 Shale Density
 Thin Section (optional)
 Core chip examination (optional)

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Geological Data

Sample Collection
Sample Catching Arrangement
Mud Box
(possum
belly)
Flow Control
Gates

Coarse
Solids
Fine Screen
Solids
Discharge Mud and fine
solids
Coarse Board or Plate
Solids (emergency use)
Discharge

5 gallon Pail
(best results)

Controlling Excessive Cuttings Flow

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Fabricate lid with Partly cover Pail with
or
Geological Data

Wash Baths for Samples From oil-based Muds

Rinse Initial Wash

15 december 2003 Photo: Jim Peck

Geological Data
Sieve 2 (or 5) mm
Washing, Grading,
Cavings?
Analysis Raw Sample
Sieve 0.25 mm

Washing
Sieve 0.063 mm

Drying
Washing

 Sample Grading and splitting

Geologic description Fluoroscope Reference

Sample Set
Microscope
Direct/‘cut’ fluorescence
Calcimetry
Shale Density Calcimetry
Shale Density
Thin Section (optional) Shale Factor

 Core chip examination (optional) Geochemical Washed

and Dried
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Sampling

Storing unwashed samples

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Sampling

Analysing
Samples

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Sampling

Analytical Solutions
Item Purpose
Acid, hydrochloric (HCl), 10% and 50% carbonate, anhydrite detection in samples
solution in water
Acid, nitric (HNO 3) Lignite/coal testing
Alizarin Red S dye (solution of Alizarin carbonate detection by staining
Red with HCl and potassium
ferricyanide K 3Fe(CN)6, in water)
Barium Chloride (BaCl 2), solution in test for presence of sulfates
distilled water
Calcium carbonate (CaCO 3), 100%, reference for manocalcimeter calibration
powdered
Chlorothene (1,1,1 trichloroethane) solvent for detection of hydrocarbon fluorescence
Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol wetting agent
(CH3CHOHCH3)
Phenolphthalein cement identificatio n in samples
Potassium chromate (K2CrO 4), solution titration of salts
in distilled water
Silver nitrate (AgNO 3), solution in qualitative testing for chlorides
distilled water
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Geological Data

Well Name

Depth

Date and Time

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Geological Data

Sample Description
Rock Percentages Rock Descriptions Calcimetry Result
Sample Description Worksheet

Depth (ft) Lithology % Description Cal/ Cavings/Comments

CLY SST LST MRL SLT Dol
1000 90 10 C layst one: Predominat ely dark grey, light grey in 15/25 T race of angular cavings: 15mm x
part s, moderat ely firm, occ soft , blocky t ext ure, 10mm x 3 mm. L ight grey-green,
calcareous, t race micro mica and pyrit e. moderat ely firm, calcareous,
possibly from O rkney Format ion
Sandst one: Predominat ely t ransparant t o t ranslucent ,
loose quart z grains, very fine t o fine, moderat ely well
sort ed, well rounded t o rounded grains, spherical,
no cement , N O H Y D RO C A RBO N SH O W S.
(Sandst one also recovered as RO C K FL O U R: W hit e,
grey mot t led, very soft , amorphous t ext ure, t race
glauconit e and pyrit e.)

Caving Descriptions
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Geological Data

Microscopic Analysis/Fluorescence Oil Fluorescence

Drill Cuttings under Microscope

1.2mm
‘Cut’ (solvent) Fluorescence

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Geological Data

Oil/gas Shows in Samples

Qualitative Fluorescence testing :

• Direct (hydrocarbon/mineral fluorescence)
• Cut (solvent application; positive test for HC)
• Residual (after solvent evaporation)

Other potential signs of hydrocarbons:

• Gas ‘Pops’ in fresh cuttings
• ‘Bobbing’ test in dilute HCL

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Geological Data

Quantitative Fluorescence Testing (QFT)

QFT2™ is both a well-site and laboratory UV-fluorescence technique

for detecting and analyzing extractable whole oil from drill cuttings,
cores, and environmental samples. Users can obtain both oil quantity
and API gravity from emission measurements at two wavelengths.

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Geological Data

Claimed Advantages of QFT

• Provides repeatable results with greatly improved sensitivity over

visual methods, especially for light oils and condensates.
• Provides immediately useful weight percent oil (Wt % Oil) instead
of relative fluorescence values or subjective visual description.
• Provides API gravity estimates that help characterize in-situ
hydrocarbons.
• Provides a direct estimate of oil in the formation.

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Geological Data

QFT Log Example

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Geological Data

Manocalcimeter The Manocalcimeter measures the carbonate content

of rock samples by recording the pressure of carbon
dioxide produced from a reaction with 50% HCl acid.

• Entirely mechanical - no external power source

• Built-in chart recorder
• Distinguishes between different carbonates;
CaCO3 and CaMg(CO3)2 (dolomite)

1- Locking knob for cell holder

2- Manual chart drive
3- Recorder pen
4- Reaction cell body
5- Cell volume corrector
6- Ampoule breaker push-button
7- Reaction chamber
8- Ampoule holder
9- Clock stopper
10- Clock winder

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Geological Data

Calcimetry

The Autocalcimeter measures and records the

amount of carbonates contained in rock
samples, and can quantify:
 calcite CaCO3
 dolomite CaMg(CO3)2
The carbonate content of a rock sample is
determined from the carbon dioxide (CO2)
liberated during a chemical reaction between a
known quantity of the sample and
hydrochloric acid.

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Geological Data

Calcimetry

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Geological Data

Shale Density
With careful selection of
cuttings, and assuming
uncontaminated shales are
available, shale density can
Under-compacted directly indicate
Over pressured Zone undercompaction.
Depth

Methods
 Microsol
 Heavy Liquids
 Variable Density Column
2.2 Shale Density 2.7  Pycnometer

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Geological Data

Microsol
The Microsol is specifically adapted to provide a simple method
for density logging of shales, without the use of noxious
chemicals.
The operator uses the Microsol to weigh a sample in air, then in
distilled water (SG = 1). Dividing the weight in air by the
difference between weight in air and weight in water gives the
specific gravity of the sample.

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Sampling

Microsol

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Geological Data

Microsol

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 Sampling

Variable-density Column
The operator, after calibrating the
Airtight
column with glass beads of known Stopper
densities, drops a shale cutting into the Graduated
column. Cylinder
Cylinder Volume (ml)
Shale 300
When the cutting comes to rest, the Cutting
operator uses a calibration chart to
determine the bulk density of the Density 200
Beads
cutting.
Screen 100
The liquids used in the column are
usually Bromoform (SG 2.85) and 1,1,1
Trichloroethane (SG 1.47). 3.0 2.8 2.6 2.4 2.2 2.0
Density (g/cc)

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Sampling

Dense Liquors
This uses a densimetric balance to determine the volumetric mass of a liquid
in grams/cm3.
To measure shale cuttings density, selected samples are immersed in tubes
containing solutions of increasing density, precisely measured with a Mohr
balance. The sample density will be somewhere between that of the solution
in which it sinks and the one in which it floats.
The liquids used are usually Bromoform (SG 2.85) and
1,1,1 Trichloroethane (SG 1.47).

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Geological Data

Gas Displacement Pycnometer

The method uses gas displacement (Mariottes's

Law) to measure a solid volume (in this case
shale cuttings) of a known weight.

The pycnometer compares the cutting weight

to volume to determine the density.

The gas displacement principle measures

density of the matrix (minerals plus non-
effective porosity).

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Sampling

Isotube Gas Sampling

Isotubes are reusable metal cylinders which are used

to obtain samples of drilled gases for off-site isotopic
analysis.
The Isotube manifold normally is mounted inside the
mud logging cabin, on the side of the instrument rack
and connected in-line with the gas flow line from the
gas trap to the vacuum pump.

At any time, the operator can take a sample by shifting

the valve on the manifold; this closes one tube while
opening the other; thus there is minimal
interruption of flow to the gas detectors.

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Photo: G. G. Haines
Sampling

Isotube Gas Sampling

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Sampling

Subtitle

15 december 2003

Photo: G. G. Haines