Well site Geological investigation

&
Mud logging techniques
The well site geologist, as the source of all
operational geologic information, Which links the
chain of communications between well site and
management.

The well site geologist responsible for overall

successful termination of project aiming for
hydrocarbon exploration.
 Role of Geologist at well site

• GTO- Geotechnical order

• Reporting and notification
• Maintenance of Geology lab
• Monitoring of well
• Calculation of lag time
• Coring and side wall coring
• Sample collection and description
• Hydrocarbon detection
• Preparation of master log and composite log
• Production testing
• Rig release
Reporting and Notification

Regular reporting
Daily report
Irregular reporting
Reporting during drilling
Final well report
Other reports

Notification
Services
Dispatches
• Depth Recording and monitoring of basic
•Rate of penetration drilling parameters
•Pump strokes
•Mud density
•Mud pit volume
•Weight on bit
•R.P.M. and torque
•Mud temperature and resistivity (in and out)
• Monitoring mud parameter and advising the chemistry personnel's

• Collection of gas, oil and water samples obtained during testing

operations
• Recommending Side wall coring
• Keeping the well log (master log) up to date
• Evaluating oil and /or gas show
 Calculation of lag time

Time required for the cuttings to travel along with the mud stream
from the bottom of the hole to the point of collection- the shale shaker.

Annular volume.
Lag Time (in minutes) = ------------------
Mud flow rate

Annular volume: (VOH + VC) - (VDP + VDC)

VOH - volume of open hole

VC - volume of casing
VDP - volume of drill pipe
VDC - volume of drill collar

Mud flow rate: volume of mud pumped/ stroke * no. of stroke/ minute.
 Coring and side wall coring
Core samples requirement for,

 Sedimentological study for environment prediction and diagenetic aspects

 Lithological studies for correlation

 Paleontological, Palynological and Petrological studies

Porosity, Permeability and Fluid saturation

Source rock studies

Capillary pressure, relative permeability and resistivity

Formation damage

Calibration of well logs

 Core description
[Link]/ field TOP
[Link] number
[Link] no and interval of coring
[Link] of coring
[Link] of core barrel
[Link] percentage and in Cms
[Link] indication
[Link] cutting time in minutes/ meter
[Link] and formation Bottom
[Link] bit, size and type 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
[Link] data, RPM and weight on weight
[Link] of the Geologist describing the core.
 Sample examination

Sample is Tested for all fluoresence

Bit cutting collection
scanned and under ultra violet light
from shale shaker
washed

Dried artificialy with the

Under wet condition checked for help of infra red lamps
texture and colour

Examined under
microscope lithology
description

Lithological description Sample in small

plotted graphically in Data record in cutting envelope for
the well log report form future examination
 Sample description
• Logging the core
• Lithology identification
• Texture- Grain shape, Sorting, Fabric.
• Color
• Induration and degree of weathering.
• Sedimentary structures.
• Bedding contacts
• Fossils and trace fossils.
• Cementing/ matrix
• Visual Porosity
• Hydrocarbon indications

tex
Lithology identification
 Texture- Grain shape

Visual comparison chart for estimating roundness and Sphericty (Powers 1982)
Texture- Sorting Fabric

Sorting images.
Sandstone seen with hand lens.
Induration and degree of weathering

Very Friable- Crumble easily between fingers.

Friable- Rubbing with finger numerous grains.

Hard- Grains can be separated with from sample with

steel probe. Breaks easily when hit with hammer.

Very hard- Grains are difficult to separate with steel

probe. Difficult to break with hammer.
Vugs and Pore channels in carbonates
Porosity reduction in Sandstone
Graphic logs/ core logging

Litho logy identification

Texture- Grain shape,
Sorting, Fabric.
Color
Induration and degree of
weathering.
Sedimentary structures.
Bedding contacts
Fossils and trace fossils.
Grain size analysis
 Staining techniques for mineral identification
Mineral Mineral
Groups Reagent Stain

Feigl's solution (solid Ag2SO4

Aragonite Black
dissolved in MnSO4,7H20)

Mg-calcite Alizarin red S in alkaline solution Purple

Lemberg solution (ferric chloride)
Calcite Brown to Black
Alizarin red S
Dolomite Amaranth stain Deep red
Fe-Calcite K-Ferricyanide or alizarin red S Mauve-Purple

Fe-Dolomite K-Ferricyanide solution Light Blue

Siderite- Dark Brown/
Combined application of alizarin
Rhodochrosite Black-Blue
red S,
Smithsonite- Feigl's solution, Na-thiocyanate,
Cerussite Colorless-Dark Red
benzidene.
Magnesian solution, NaOH and Brown-Orange red
Witherite
HCl
Staining methods for minerals in sediments: thin section (Modified after Friedmen 1978)
 Staining and bleeding
•Often bleeding oil & gas may be observed in cores and in drill
cuttings from relatively tight formation
•The amount of oil staining on ditch cutting and cores is
primarily a function of the distribution of porosity and oil
distribution within the pores.
• Colour of stain is related to oil gravity
• Heavy oils-- stains dark brown
• Light oils-- stains colourless.
 Hydrocarbon detection

Odor
[Link] gas will have no odor.
[Link] of odor depends upon - size of sample.
[Link] HC is present, describe as oil or condensate odor.
[Link] on strength of odor detected, should be
reported as (a) Good (b) Fair (c) Faint
 Fluorescence

• Colourof fluorescence of crudes ranges from brown through green,

golden, blue, yellow to white in most instances.

• Heavier oils– dark fluorescence

• Distribution– may be even, spotted or mottled.

• Intensity range– bright, dull, pale, faint.

• Pinpoint fluorescence is associated with individual sand grains and may

indicate condensate or gas.

•HC fluorescence will appear to flow and diffuse insolvent as the oil
• dissolves, where as mineral fluorescence will remain undisturbed.
 Reaction in acid of oil bearing rock fragments
In case of calcareous rock:

The reaction forms lasting iridescent bubbles large

enough to raise the rock fragment off the bottom of the
container in which the acid is held and sometimes even
large enough to carry the fragment to the surface of the
acid.

In case of oil bearing non- calcareous sandstone

Large lasting bubbles form on the surface but not float

the fragment. the large bubbles result from the surface
tension caused by oil in the sample
Preparation of Master log
Preparation of composite log
 Production testing
1. Casing lowering
2. Cementation
3. Hermetical testing-b(It refers to closed cycle pressure testing of
casings of wells completed by pumping water at steady rate to detect
leakage before handing over the well for production testing.)
4. Cement Bond logging
5. Perforation
6. Activation
7. Stimulation
8. Reservoir study
9. Handing over to Asset
 Well completions
Types of completion
according to casing programme

• Open hole completion: the production casing is set on top of the pay
zone
• Perforated completion: the producing interval is covered by production
casing
• Liner completion: the production casing is set on top of pay zone and is
followed by a liner

according to casing and formation isolation

• Open end completion: no isolation between casing and tubing string
• Packer completion: casing is isolated from the formation pressure by
setting a packer.
 What is Mud logging?

Mud logging is serve to provides monitor well site

activities and to analyse the drilling cuttings for lithology
identification and hydrocarbon evaluation.

The resulting plots of those activities and cutting analysis

versus depth is termed a Mud log.
 Purpose Mud logging

- Observing drilling efficiency, depth and ROP, lag time

determination.

Comprehensive formation

Evaluation, cuttings sampling and lithological description.

-Gas sampling and analysis.
-Apply drilling safety.
 The mud logging unit crew responsibility

• Personnel trained in the interpretation of all derived data,

capable of providing interpretation and observations to the
well site geologist and to the company .
• Monitor drilling parameters and abnormal events.
• Monitor mud properties and the pit volumes.
• Monitor gas and its components using FID,
• Chromatograph-Integrator, CO2and H2S.
• Data processing, storage, display and transmission to oil
company in town.
• Print out, store and display mud logs, pressure logs and
other logs needed at the well site.
• Perform specialized tests and analyses.
 Mud logging Sensor type
It is used for safe drilling operation With different sensors it
Measures

[Link] weight
2. Hook load – Load on drilling draw works
3. Bit weight
4. Drill depth
5. Torque
6. Rate of penetration
7. Mud pump stoke counter- for lag time
8. Flow line Temperature
9. Gas detection- Most important sensor
10. The return of drilling fluid from the well
11. Stand pipe pressure
12. Mud weight
13. Pit volume- for change in volume
14. Mud Resistivity
15. Casing annulus pressure
16. H2S detector
 Sensors function
• Block height: Monitor the position of the traveling block, operate as ROP
indicator Measure depth, locate in the draw work.
• Hook load: Measure the tension on the cable from draw work, location:
deadline.
• Stand Pipe pressure (SPP): the system measure the pressure of mud on
the standpipe, locate in stand pipe pressure.
• Rotary torque measure torque being applied to the drill string, location:
Rotary table or top drive motor power cable.
• Pit volume measure the ultrasonic transmitter time to calculate the mud in
the tank, location: mud pit.
• Rotary table system: technical data: Sensor type: Proximity switch,
measure range: 0 ～ 300 rpm/spm.
• Mud temperature system: use resistance change (Pt) to measure
mud temperature.

• Mud Density Measuring System: the system use twin remote

diaphragm sensors to measures mud density in and out, location:
In-section pit, Out-Shale shake.

• Mud Conductivity Measuring System: a probe type sensor is used

to measure an induced current in the mud loop, location: In-section
pit, Out-Shale shake.

• Mud flow out system : a variable position paddle is used to

measure the amount of mud in the flow line quantity, location: flow
line.

• H2S sensor: technical Data: Sensor type: electrochemical measure

range: 0 ～ 100 ppm, Signal output: Computer, alarms

• Location: Rig floor, shale shaker, caller, mud logging unit.

Mud logging

Other parameters are

1.D exponent
[Link]
[Link] factor
[Link] density
[Link] log
 Advantage mud logging

• Random errors minimized, best accuracy. More time for

interpretation & More time for monitor.

• Fully computerized service- High speed data processing

(possible data transmission) Better presentation of data &
On time decision making.

• Best possible equipment design- Maximum possible

accuracy.

• Intrinsic safety- Safety environment

Mud Logger Work station at Drilling site
 Hook load

The solid state electronic hook load sensor is installed on the dead
line above the anchor.

It can be installed on 1" – 2" rope sizes, and is used to measure

string weight, hook load, and bit weight.
Mud Flow Sensor
The Flow Sensor is used to
measure the return of drilling
fluid from the well by
measuring the percentage of
fullness of the flow return line.

The sensor is used as a trend

indicator for drilling problems
such as lost circulation or
kicks.
Bit Tracking Depth

The bit tracking sensor is

used to measure drill
depth, bit location, rate of
penetration, drill pipe
velocity, and peak drill
pipe velocity.

The sensor is installed

on the crown of the
drilling rig in close
proximity to the fast
sheave.
Mud Temperature
Preparation of Master log of Mud logging unit
RIG RELEASE