BASIC WELL LOGGING ANALYSIS

THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) L

OG
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Hsieh, Bieng-Zih
Fall 2009

THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG

The spontaneous potential (SP) log was one of the

earliest electric logs used in the petroleum indus
try, and has continued to play a significant role in
well log interpretation.

By far the largest number of wells today have this

type of log included in their log suites.

THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG

(CONT.)

Primarily the spontaneous potential log is used to

identify impermeable zones such as shale, and p
ermeable zones such as sand.
However,

the SP log has several other uses perhaps eq

ually important.

THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG

(CONT.)

The spontaneous potential log is a record of direct

current (DC) voltage differences between the na
turally occurring potential of a moveable electrod
e in the well bore, and the potential of a fixed el
ectrode located at the surface (Doll, 1948).

It is measured in millivolts.

THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG

(CONT.)

Electric currents arising prima

rily from electrochemical fac
tors within the borehole creat
e the SP log response.

These electrochemical factors

are brought about by differe
nces in salinities between m
ud filtrate (Rmf) and formation
water resistivity (Rw) within pe
rmeable beds.
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THE SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SP) LOG

(CONT.)

Because a conductive fluid is

needed in the borehole for th
e SP log to operate, it cannot
be used in non-conductive (i
.e. oil-based) drilling muds.

SP DEFLECTION

FUNCTIONS OF SP LOG
The SP log is recorded on the left hand track of the
log in track #1 and is used to:
(1) detect permeable beds,
(2) detect boundaries of permeable beds,
(3) determine formation water resistivity (R ),
w

(4) determine the volume of shale in permeable

beds.

An auxiliary use of the SP curve is in the detection

of hydrocarbons by the suppression of the SP res
ponse.

FUNCTIONS OF SP LOG

STATIC SPONTANEOUS POTENTIAL (SSP)

The concept of static spontaneous potential (SS

P) is important because SSP represents the maxi
mum SP that a thick, shale-free, porous and perm
eable formation can have for a given ratio between
Rmf /Rw .

SSP is determined by formula or chart and is a nec

essary element for determining accurate values of
R w and volume of shale.
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SHALE BASE LINE

The SP response of shales is rel

atively constant and follows a str
aight line called a shale baseline
.

SP curve deflections are measur

ed from this shale baseline.

Permeable zones are indicated w

here there is SP deflection from
the shale baseline.

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE
Step 0:
Setup Shale-base-line
read SP log recording a
nd 16 Normal Resistivi
ty log reading every 2 f
t from 7430 to 7460

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (C
ONT.)
Step 1:
determine the formati
on temperature (Tf)

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (C
ONT.)
Step 2:
correct the resistivities
of the mud filtrate (Rmf)
and drilling mud (Rm) t
o formation temperatu
re (Tf)

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (C
ONT.)
Step 3:
Determine the SP readi
ng (in water-bearing zo
ne or wet-formation)

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (C
ONT.)
Step 4:
Correct SP to SSP

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (C
ONT.)
Step 5:
Determine R /R ratio
mf
we

Step 6:
Determine R
we

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RESISTIVITY OF FORMATION WATER (R

W ) CALCULATES FROM THE SP CURVE (C
ONT.)
Step 7:
Correct R to R
we
w

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VOLUME OF SHALE CALCULATION

The SP log can be used to calculate the volume of s

hale in a permeable zone by the following formula:

PSP
Vsh 1.0
SSP

The volume of shale in a sand can be used in the e

valuation of shaly sand reservoirs.

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CALCULATE VSH FROM THE SP CURVE

Use SP log recording (P

SP) every 2 ft from 743
0 to 7460

SSP is from step 4

PSP
Vsh 1.0
SSP

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REVIEW SP LOG

The spontaneous potential log (SP) can be used to:

(1) detect permeable beds; (2) detect boundaries o
f permeable beds; (3) determine formation water r
esistivity (Rw); and (4) determine volume of shale (V
sh) in a permeable bed.

The variations in the SP are the result of an electric

potential that is present between the well bore and
the formation as a result of differences in salinities
between Rmf and Rw .
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REVIEW SP LOG (CONT.)

The SP response in shales is relatively constant an

d its continuity of amplitude is referred to as the s
hale baseline.

In permeable beds the SP will do the following rela

tive to the shale baseline: (1) negative deflection to
the left of the shale baseline where Rmf Rw ; (2) p
ositive deflection to the right of the shale baseline
where Rmf Rw ; (3) no deflection where Rmf Rw
.

The SP curve can be suppressed by thin beds, shali

ness, and the presence of gas.

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