Production logging

• Production logging tools are run in completed wells

to ascertain the nature and behavior of fluids in or
around the borehole during production or injection.
• These logs are used to analyze dynamic well
performance and the productivity or injectivity of
different zones, to diagnose problem wells, or to
monitor results of a stimulation or completion.
• This discipline deals with a variety of techniques used
to measure well performance, with terms ranging
from annular flow to basket flowmeter, from holdup
to water-cut meter. 
 Production Logs

Production Logs fit into three categories:

 Profile logging,

 Fluid identification, and

 Temperature logging.

Profile Logging : Profile logging may be used to monitor injection

rates in injection wells, to monitor production rates in producing
wells, or to detect casing, tubing, and/or packer leaks, and
channeling behind pipe in poorly cemented zones.
Although some tools can handle both environments, there
are some methods applicable only to injection profiling.
• In general, profiles may be obtained without disturbing
dynamic well behavior by using the proper pressure
control equipment and operating techniques; i.e., logs can,
and should, be run through tubing without having to kill
the well or pull the tubing.
 Before attempting to obtain a profile log, plan the operation in
advance with the logging service company, paying particular
attention to:

· expected flow rate

· casing and tubing size, type, and weight
· expected wellhead pressure
· type of Christmas tree connections
· tubing restrictions
· corrosive or poisonous production fluids
· completion records
· openhole logs
Profiling tools available for measurement of fluid flow rates
fall into three major categories:

 Continuous flowmeters

 Packer or restrictor type flowmeters

• Radioactive tracers (velocity and tracer modes)

PACKER TYPE
FLOW METER
CONTINUOUS
TYPE FLOW
METER
FULLBORE TYPE
FLOW METER
Figure  illustrates a radioactive tracer tool.
The accuracy of fluid flow rate measurements depends on:

 The number of commingled phases

 The well deviation

 The type of tool and the way it is run

 Hole diameter variations

• Production/injection rate variations

• Greater confidence in results can be expected when
there is only one phase flowing (oil or water or gas),
when the well is vertical, and when the appropriate tool
is used for the particular well conditions.

• A lesser degree of confidence can be placed in results

in deviated wells, conditions producing froth or slug
flow, in wells that are "heading," and where the design
limitations of the tools are exceeded (e.g., continuous
flow-meters in low flow rate wells).

• For safety reasons, radioactive tracer surveys should

only be run in injection wells.
Figure shows a
production profile
made from a flowmeter
survey.
 Figure shows a
radioactive
tracer survey
made in a
"time-lapse"
mode.

Note the final destination of the

released tracer material.
Fluid Identification

Production logging tools that can differentiate between oil, gas, and
water in a producing well allow diagnosis of a number of
completion problems, better understanding of reservoir
performance, and monitoring of secondary and tertiary recovery
projects.

In particular, they help to pinpoint gas, oil, and water entries into,
and exits from, the production string, as well as to determine, in
combination with flow measurements, how much of which fluid is
produced from which horizon.
 Many tools are available to distinguish one type of fluid
from another.

Their functions are- measurement of fluid density,

measurement of fluid dielectric constant, recovery of a
fluid sample at well flowing pressure, and measurement of
frequency spectrum of noise generated by fluid flow.

Two commonly used devices are:

(a) The gradiomanometer ( Figure), which measures the

pressure difference in the wellbore between two pressure
sensors at fixed distance apart
THE GRADIOMANOMETER
(B) The fluid density log which measures the
absorption of gamma rays by the fluid between a
gamma ray source and a detector
THE FLUID DENSITY LOG
(c) The hydro log ( Figure ) measures the
dielectric constant of the fluid flowing in the
wellbore.

Because of the large difference between the

dielectric constant of oil and water, the holdup of
the flowing mixture may be estimated.
The hydro log
Figure
illustrates a
downhole
fluid sampler.
• This instrument may be used to retrieve a sample of fluid
from the well.
• It is useful for collecting oil, water, and gas samples for PVT
analysis and pinpointing fluid levels in a well.

• Turbulent fluid movement generates noise. Both the

amplitude and frequency of this noise vary with the quantity
and type of fluid and the medium through which the fluid is
flowing.

• Measurements of these characteristic sounds can be

interpreted to indicate the type of fluid flow and its location.

• In the case of gas, it is possible to calculate the approximate

rate of flow.
TEMPERATURE LOGGING

Temperature logs may be used to monitor fluid flow in

production or injection wells; they have the added
advantage of detecting fluid flow outside the completion
string in tubing/casing annulus or casing/formation annulus.

They are particularly useful for finding gas entries to, or

exits from, the wellbore; channels in poorly cemented
sections; lost circulation zones in openhole; and the cement
top in a recently cemented well.
Three types of temperature measurements are commonly
available:

• a conventional temperature survey,

• a differential temperature survey, and

•a radial differential temperature survey.

Figure illustrates a conventional thermometer and
associated temperature survey.
Figure illustrates the radial differential thermometer and its associated survey
The radial differential thermometer and its associated
survey, in connection with which the operator should

· choose an appropriate scale so that there are no excessive

scale changes over the zone of interest

· log going down where possible so that the presence of the

tool and cable in the wellbore does not influence the
measurement being made

· remember that temperature-measuring devices are

normally quite sensitive to temperature changes, but not
very accurate in absolute terms
Figure illustrates a
temperature log
showing oil
production through a
perforated interval.