2 Oileld Review

Evaluating and Monitoring Reservoirs

Behind Casing
Kevin Bellman
EnCana Corporation
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Scott Bittner
Ankur Gupta
Sugar Land, Texas, USA
David Cameron
Bruce Miller
Stavanger, Norway
Edwin Cervantes
Anthony Fondyga
Diego Jaramillo
Venkat Pacha
Quito, Ecuador
Trent Hunter
Al Salsman
Calgary, Alberta
Oscar Kelder
Statoil
Stavanger, Norway
Ruperto Orozco
EnCanEcuador Corporation
Quito, Ecuador
Trevor Spagrud
Enterra Energy Corporation
Calgary, Alberta
For help in preparation of this article, thanks to Darwin Ellis,
Ridgeeld, Connecticut, USA; Enrique Gonzlez, Quito,
Ecuador; Martin Hyden, Dwight Peters and Miguel
Villalobos, Clamart, France; Martin Isaacs, Sugar Land,
Texas, USA; and Marvin Markley, New Orleans,
Louisiana, USA.
ABC (Analysis Behind Casing), AIT (Array Induction Imager
Tool), CBT (Cement Bond Tool), CHDT (Cased Hole
Dynamics Tester), CHFD (Cased Hole Formation Density),
CHFP (Cased Hole Formation Porosity), CHFR (Cased Hole
Formation Resistivity), CHFR-Plus (Cased Hole Formation
Resistivity), CNL (Compensated Neutron Log), DSI (Dipole
Shear Sonic Imager), GPIT (General Purpose Inclinometry
Tool), InterACT, MDT (Modular Formation Dynamics Tester),
Platform Express, PowerSTIM, PS Platform, RST (Reservoir
Saturation Tool), RSTPro (Reservoir Saturation Tool for PS
Platform string), SpectroLith, TLC (Tough Logging Conditions),
USI (UltraSonic Imager) and Variable Density are marks of
Schlumberger.
Advanced formation-evaluation services help accurately determine porosity,
resistivity, lithology, shale content, uid saturations and pressure, and recover
formation-uid samples in cased wells. Innovative tool designs and processing
software make formation evaluation behind casing a viable option to evaluate
bypassed zones and intervals that must be cased before openhole logs are run.
Cased hole data reveal the effects of time on producing zones. Exploration and
production companies now are able to obtain cost-effective, useful data in
difcult operating environments.
Imagine trying to read a newspaper in a dark
room, or to sense with your hands the tempera-
ture of a baked potato or the texture of a rock
while wearing insulated gloves. Measuring rock
properties using logging tools is equally difcult
when the formation is on the other side of steel
casing and cement. Signicant software and tool
developments now make possible rigorous evalu-
ation of formations behind casing.
Advanced formation-evaluation services help
exploration and production (E&P) companies
search for additional or initially unrecognized
zones and identify bypassed hydrocarbons after
casing is set. These innovative, cased hole wire-
line services facilitate determining porosity,
lithology, shale content, uid saturations and
pressure. A state-of-the-art testing tool recovers
formation-uid samples from cased holes. The
ABC Analysis Behind Casing suite of services
offers a robust, cost-effective method for E&P
companies to analyze or monitor formations in
wells that are already cased.
Whether dealing with aging elds or new dis-
coveries, cased hole services bolster effective
decision-making. For example, ABC services pro-
vide backup logs when openhole logging is too
risky. The tools also offer valuable data when
looking for bypassed pay in older wells or when
monitoring saturation, depletion and pressure to
optimally manage oil and gas elds.
In this article, we review cased hole formation-
evaluation tools and examine their effectiveness
in operations in Canada, Ecuador and the
Norwegian North Sea.
Evaluation Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Given the choice, many operators prefer evaluat-
ing formations that are not yet cased. There are
many instances, however, when the risk of open-
hole logging is too great, or when it makes
economic sense to conduct logging operations
after drilling operations have ceased and the
drilling rig has been released. For example, in a
multiwell drilling campaign, some operators prefer
Summer 2003 3
to case all the wells and evaluate them after-
wards. There also are existing wells and elds in
which the potential rewards behind casing are
too rich to bypass.
In mature elds, commonly known as brown-
elds, operators reevaluate zones that might have
been logged decades ago using only gamma ray,
spontaneous potential and resistivity devices.
In other situations, wellbores might penetrate for-
mations that were not logged at all. New measure-
ments facilitate formation evaluation no matter
how old the well is. Typically, the cost of acquiring
data from these cased holes is far less than that of
drilling a new well solely to gather data. The risk
of cased hole logging operations is also substan-
tially less than that of drilling operations.
When drilling new wells, operators occasionally
encounter formations in which openhole-
logging conditions are difcult. Rather than risk
losing tools due to sticking in these formations,
operators may opt for cased hole formation eval-
uation, or they may acquire cased hole logs to
complement logs acquired while drilling. In
areas where openhole logging is difcult, opera-
tors save time and money and optimize their
formation-evaluation programs by planning
cased hole logging operations ahead of time.
Cased hole logging also helps operators
evaluate the effects of production, such as the
movement of uid contacts, changes in satura-
tion and pressure, and depletion and injection
proles. An integrated suite of new and not-so-new
tools makes these types of evaluations possible
and cost-effective.
Formation Evaluation Behind Casing
Several key elements contribute to effective for-
mation evaluation behind casing. A thorough
understanding of the condition of the casing and
cement is a prerequisite for successful evaluation.
A cement-evaluation log, ideally a combination of
USI UltraSonic Imager and CBT Cement Bond
Tool data, reveals any anomalies in the cement
sheath that might affect results from through-
casing formation-evaluation tools. Of course,
the diameter of the wellbore and completion
conguration inuence logging-tool selection.
Skilled log interpreters incorporate comple-
tion detailswellbore geometry, tubulars, incli-
nation angle and any downhole restrictions
and the well-log data into production estimates
and recommendations for perforating or other
procedures, such as stimulation treatments.
These recommendations stem from a detailed
description of the formationporosity, lithology
and fluid saturationderived from density,
gamma ray, neutron, resistivity, sonic and spec-
troscopy data. Fluid-mobility data from cased
hole testers complement the petrophysical anal-
ysis. Time-lapse evaluations require two sets of
these data.
Many ABC services are available to meet
diverse customer requirements (below). To eval-
uate saturation, the CHFR Cased Hole Formation
Resistivity tool applies groundbreaking technolo-
gies for deep-reading resistivity measurements
beyond steel casing.
1
The new CHFR-Plus Cased
Hole Formation Resistivity tool offers enhanced
hardware and measurement techniques that
improve the operational efciency of cased hole
resistivity measurements. Both tools operate in a
similar way, by introducing current into the cas-
ing. A voltage drop occurs as a small amount of
the current escapes into the formation. The volt-
age drop is proportional to formation conductiv-
ity, allowing calculation of formation resistivity.
Commercially available since 2000, the origi-
nal CHFR device has proved its value worldwide
for applications such as evaluation of bypassed
pay, reevaluation of old elds, reservoir and
saturation monitoring and primary evaluation of
wellbores cased before complete formation eval-
uation. The CHFR-Plus tool, introduced in 2002,
offers similar measurement capabilities, but at
twice the speed of the CHFR device, because of a
new measurement technique.
2
To date, the CHFR
and CHFR-Plus tools have performed more than
800 logging jobs.
The RSTPro Reservoir Saturation Tool for the
PS Platform string also helps determine satura-
tion. Formation sigma measurements are most
effective in high-salinity formation uids for
water-saturation answers.
3
As part of the RSTPro
service, SpectroLith lithology processing of
spectra from neutron-induced gamma ray
spectroscopy tools quanties lithology interpre-
tations.
4
Carbon/oxygen logging, commonly
known as C/O logging, can give saturation results
in fresh water and in waters of unknown salinity,
for example in zones where there is ongoing
water injection and the salinity of the injected
water differs from that of the original water in
place. When made more than once on a given
reservoir, saturation measurements from the
CHFR and RSTPro devices are key elements of
time-lapse monitoring for reservoir management.
To complement saturation analyses, the
CHFP Cased Hole Formation Porosity tool mea-
sures formation porosity and sigma. This tool has
an electronic neutron source, also known as a
minitron, eliminating the need for a chemical
source. Borehole shielding and focusing allow
petrophysicists to perform environmental correc-
tions. The CNL Compensated Neutron Log device
also may be run in cased holes, but requires more
extensive environmental corrections because it
lacks the borehole shielding and focusing of the
CHFP device.
The CHFD Cased Hole Formation Density tool
uses a new characterization of the three-detector
density device incorporated in the Platform
Express tool specically for cased hole operations.
The DSI Dipole Shear Sonic Imager tool
provides accurate measurements of formation
compressional transit timesused to establish
porosity and as a gas indicator. The tool also
measures shear slownesskey for evaluating
mechanical properties such as wellbore or
perforation stability, hydraulic fracture-height
prediction or sanding analysis.
5
DSI results can
also be used to determine stress anisotropy, a key
component for oriented fracturing. The data also
contribute to geophysical interpretations using
synthetic seismograms, vertical seismic proles
and amplitude variation with offset analysis.
Fully combinable with other cased hole logging
tools, the DSI device operates at logging speeds
up to 3600 ft/hr [1100 m/hr]. Prior to running the
DSI tool, it is crucial to evaluate cement integrity
because a high-quality cement sheath improves
the quality of DSI results.
The CHDT Cased Hole Dynamics Tester tool is
a unique tool that measures multiple pressures
and collects uid samples behind casing.
6
The
tool drills a small hole through casing and cement
and into the formation. After measuring pressure
and collecting uid samples, the tool plugs the
hole drilled through the casing. The device has
been used to drill more than 300 holes and has a
success rate of more than 91% when the operator
has chosen to plug the test hole. CHDT operations
4 Oileld Review
Property
Casing condition
Cement condition
Lithology
Pressure
Lithology
Porosity
Oil content
Gas content
Fluid identification
Logging Tools
USI tool and caliper devices
USI and CBT tools
RST and RSTPro tools and
SpectroLith lithology
processing of spectra
CHDT tool
Gamma ray, density and neutron tools
CHFD, CHFP, CNL and DSI tools
RST and CHFR tools
Neutron and sonic tools
CHDT tool
>
Components of ABC Analysis Behind Casing
services. ABC tool combinations may be selected
to complement openhole data or to achieve
specic formation-evaluation objectives.
Summer 2003 5
offer a cost-effective method to optimize recom-
pletion plans, enhance old or incomplete log data,
assess pay zones and evaluate wells for their eco-
nomic potential. The tool also can be used to
monitor ood fronts and measure their effective-
ness in secondary-recovery operations.
Customized software, known as the ABC
Composer, helps log interpreters prepare mean-
ingful composite log presentations. The software
can incorporate PDS and ASCII les.
7
Thorough prejob planning is essential for suc-
cessful ABC services. Job preparation includes a
bit and scraper run to clear debris from the well-
bore. Wellbore conditions affect certain tools
more than others. For example, in the presence
of corrosion, the CHFR tool is susceptible to poor
electrical contact with the casing. USI and CBT
logs identify potential casing corrosion, so run-
ning these tools before deploying the CHFR
device is recommended practice.
Contingency Logging in Norway
To develop the Snorre field, located in the
Tampen area offshore Norway in the North Sea,
Statoil and its partners are drilling development
wells from two platforms (right).
8
In the
Norwegian sector, this eld is second in size only
to the Ekosk eld. Thanks in part to continual
application of new technology, the Snorre eld
has been producing oil and gas for more than a
decade. Horizontal production wells drain sev-
eral complex reservoirs by water-alternating-gas
(WAG) injection. WAG injection creates distinct
pressure regimes in separate reservoir compart-
ments. Understanding these pressure regimes is
critical to effective reservoir management.
In a Snorre injection well with deviation of
63 from vertical, logging-while-drilling (LWD)
measurements were acquired from 4070 to
1. For more on the CHFR tool: Aulia K, Poernomo B,
Richmond WC, Wicaksono AH, Bguin P, Benimeli D,
Dubourg I, Rouault G, VanderWal P, Boyd A, Farag S,
Ferraris P, McDougall A, Rosa M and Sharbak D:
Resistivity Behind Casing, Oileld Review 13, no. 1
(Spring 2001): 225.
2. The CHFR-Plus device introduces current on the side of
the casing opposite where current is owing to reduce
the sensitivity of the measurement to the resistance of
the casing. Also, the calibration step for this device
occurs at the same time as the formation-resistivity
measurement, saving additional time.
3. Sigma is the macroscopic cross section for the absorp-
tion of thermal neutrons, or capture cross section, of a
volume of matter, measured in capture units (c.u.). Sigma
also refers to a log of this quantity. Sigma is the principal
output of the pulsed neutron capture log, which is mainly
used to determine water saturation behind casing. Sigma
typically increases as water saturation increases, or as
oil saturation decreases. For more on pulsed neutron
cased hole logging: Albertin I, Darling H, Mahdavi M,
Cratonic, mainly low relief
Paleogeographic map of the Late Triassic in the northern North Sea
Continental, lacustrine sediments
Deltaic, coastal and shallow
marine clastic sediments
Shallow-marine, mainly shales
with minor carbonate sediments
Normal fault
Carbonate rocks
Direction of clastic influx
Direction of intrabasinal
clastic transport
DENMARK
NORWAY
Tampen Spur and Snorre field
Bergen
Shetland Platform
G
ra
m
p
ia
n
H
ig
h
Stavanger
Edinburgh
Oslo
NORWAY
DENMARK
SWEDEN
FINLAND
Oslo
Bergen
Snorre
Stavanger
N
o
r
t
h
S
e
a
0
0 200 400 600 km
100 200 400 miles 300
100 km
<
Location of the Snorre eld, Norwegian North
Sea. The paleogeographic map (lower right)
shows that the Tampen area sits in normally
faulted, continental or lacustrine sediments of
the Statfjord formation. These complex reser-
voirs are now undergoing water-alternating-gas
(WAG) injection. Successful WAG operations
depend on a thorough understanding of reser-
voir compartments and their pressures.
Plasek R, Cedeo I, Hemingway J, Richter P, Markley M,
Olesen J-R, Roscoe B and Zeng W: The Many Facets of
Pulsed Neutron Cased Hole Logging, Oileld Review 8,
no. 2 (Summer 1996): 2841.
4. The term spectroscopy refers to the study of the compo-
sition and structure of matter using various analytical
instruments to measure the emission and dispersion of
particles or energy. For more on the use of the RSTPro
device in carbonate rocks: Akbar M, Vissapragada B,
Alghamdi AH, Allen D, Herron M, Carnegie A, Dutta D,
Olesen J-R, Chourasiya RD, Logan D, Stief D,
Netherwood R, Russell SD and Saxena K: A Snapshot of
Carbonate Reservoir Evaluation, Oileld Review 12, no. 4
(Winter 2000/2001): 2041.
5. For more on DSI technology: Brie A, Endo T, Hoyle D,
Codazzi D, Esmersoy C, Hsu K, Denoo S, Mueller MC,
Plona T, Shenoy R and Sinha B: New Directions in Sonic
Logging, Oileld Review 10, no. 1 (Spring 1998): 4055.
6. For more on the CHDT tool: Burgess K, Fields T, Harrigan E,
Golich GM, MacDougall T, Reeves R, Smith S,
Thornsberry K, Ritchie B, Rivero R and Siegfried R:
Formation Testing and Sampling Through Casing,
Oileld Review 14, no. 1 (Spring 2002): 4657.
Fields T, Gillis G, Ritchie B and Siegfried R: Formation
Testing and Sampling Through Casing, GasTIPS 8, no. 3
(Summer 2002): 3236.
7. Picture Description Script (PDS) is a proprietary
Schlumberger graphics format for displaying log data.
American Standard Code for Information Interchange
(ASCII) is another industry standard for computer
data formats.
8. On January 1, 2003, Norsk Hydro turned over operator-
ship of the Snorre eld to Statoil. For more information:
Snorre Turns 10 With Second-Highest Remaining
Reserves (March 6, 2003):
http://www.hydro.com/en/press_room/news/archive/
2002_08/SnorreBirthday_en.html
For more on the Snorre eld: Snorre (March 13, 2003):
http://www.statoil.com/STATOILCOM/SVG00990.NSF?ope
ndatabase&lang=en&artid=7840C91E88FEBE93C1256B3D
003B8F41
4820 m [13,353 to 15,814 ft]. Additional mea-
surements from the DSI, MDT Modular
Formation Dynamics Tester and Platform
Express tools using the TLC Tough Logging
Conditions system were originally planned for
the entire openhole section.
The Platform Express integrated wireline log-
ging tool, the DSI device and the MDT tool were
run in combination to acquire openhole data and
three formation pressures. The MDT pressure
measurements were sufcient to characterize
the pressure regime in the upper reservoir sec-
tion. This Snorre well was not considered high
risk, but the logging tools reached a depth of just
4440 m [14,568 ft] because of hole problems,
measuring only 50 m [164 ft] of the reservoir
interval and leaving a critical 380-m [1247-ft]
interval through the remaining reservoir section
without porosity logs of any type.
The operator decided to set casing and deploy
an ABC tool suite to obtain the required data.
This ABC logging program, which was the rst use
of the ABC suite, included the USI, CBT and GPIT
General Purpose Inclinometry Tool devices to
evaluate cement quality across the interval (left).
The CHFD, CHFP, DSI and GPIT devices were run
for formation evaluation. The operation was
planned and executed without problems, and
the data were transmitted using the InterACT
real-time monitoring and data delivery system for
processing by Schlumberger Data & Consulting
Services in Stavanger, Norway, and New Orleans,
Louisiana, USA, and the Schlumberger-Doll
Research Center in Ridgeeld, Connecticut, USA.
The cased hole logs closely match the openhole
logs in overlapping intervals.
The operator characterizes certain wells as
high-risk because the time between drilling and
achieving zonal isolation of the reservoir units is
critical.
9
Time spent running openhole logs
primarily the MDT device for pressure data
allows borehole conditions to deteriorate, some-
times to the degree that the casing cannot be run
successfully or cement quality is suboptimal and
zonal isolation cannot be achieved. To eliminate
this problem, the operator selected the CHDT
service to obtain formation pressures through
casing and cement.
6 Oileld Review
-1000.0
-500.0
0.3
2.6
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
X050
Casing Condition
Cement Map
Cement Map Bonded
Shale Solids
Bound Water
Effective Porosity
vol/vol
vol/vol
0.0
1.0
1.0
Hydrostatic Pressure
bar 400.0 250.0
0.0
Clay Volume
Sand
Hydrocarbon
Formation CHDT Pressures
Well
Sketch
Depth,
m
Internal
Radius
Average
4 5 in.
X100
X200
X300
X250
X350
X450
X550
X400
X500
X150
Formation Pressure
bar 400.0 250.0
External
Radius
Average
4 5 in.
>
ABC services in the North Sea. Logging-while-
drilling (LWD) results from this Snorre well,
shown in Track 2, demonstrate alternating sand
and shale layers. This composite log is one of
many possible ways to display data acquired
using ABC services.
CANADA
ALBERTA
Calgary
11-26-34-7
well
0
0 200 400 km
100 200 miles
>
Location of the 11-26-34-7 well, Caroline eld, central Alberta, Canada.
Summer 2003 7
To date, three CHDT jobs have been com-
pleted in the Snorre eld; additional jobs are
planned. These have been some of the most chal-
lenging tractor-conveyed CHDT wells in the
world.
10
The rst Snorre well in which the tool
was run was highly deviatedapproximately
83and, therefore, the first ever tractor-
conveyed CHDT operation. It also was the rst
commercial use of the CHDT tool in the Snorre
eld. The second well was the rst CHDT job in a
horizontal wellin this case, a well with a 95
deviation. At 1460 kg [3219 lbm], the tool string
for that job, which included both pressure and
sampling modules, remains the heaviest
conveyed by tractor to date. Recently, the rst
dual-probe CHDT tool string was run in a Snorre
well to maximize the number of test points in a
single trip. Valuable formation-pressure data
have been obtained from these three CHDT oper-
ations. The main lesson learned is that good
cement quality is crucial for a proper and reli-
able CHDT formation-pressure interpretation.
For high-risk Snorre production wells, forma-
tion-pressure data help establish uniform
pressure zones in the completion design and
optimize the completion-uid weight. Without
pressure data, completion-uid weight is based
on the maximum pore-pressure prognosis for
well control. If the reservoir pressure is consid-
erably lower than this prognosis, the well will not
ow, which delays production. In addition, the
well will require an intervention for stimulation
operations, which cost more than USD 1 million
in rig time alone.
Pressure data in the high-risk injection wells
are vital for conrming communication between
injection wells and production wells located in
the same fault block. If the reservoir pressure in
a newly drilled injector is at initial pore pressure,
then the injector is not in communication with
producing wells and will not increase oil recov-
ery. A new injector is requiredat a cost of
approximately USD 10 millionto sweep hydro-
carbons from the producing reservoir.
Formation Evaluation Behind Casing
in Canada
In the Caroline eld of Alberta, Canada, Big Horn
Resources, Ltd. (now part of Enterra Energy
Corp.), drilled the 11-26-34-7 well to test two
potential hydrocarbon zones (previous page,
top). A downhole bridge prevented openhole
logging tools from accessing the bottom 50 m of
the well, which was the location of the primary
objective. The secondary objective was evaluated
using openhole resistivity and porosity logs.
Big Horn Resources wanted to evaluate gas-
detection indications from mud logging, but had
to run casing because of poor wellbore conditions
for openhole logging. The company planned to
gather additional reservoir information by log-
ging behind casing, deploying the USI and CBT
tool combination to assess cement quality, the
DSI and CNL tools to determine porosity, the
CHFR tool to evaluate uid saturations and the
CHDT device to acquire formation-uid samples
and pressure measurements.
The primary and deeper objectivethe
Elkton carbonate formation in the bottom zone
at XX00 mproved to be nonproductive on the
basis of ABC results (above). The CHFR resistiv-
ities, combined with porosity measurements
Casing Segment
Resistance
Repeat Pass
Gamma Ray
Cement
Bond
DSI Sonic
Coherence
ohm-m 0 0.0001
0 API
XX00 m
150
Casing Segment
Resistance
First Pass
ohm-m 0 0.0001
CHFR ResistivityRepeat Pass
ohm-m 2 2000
CHFR ResistivityFirst Pass
ohm-m vol/vol 2 2000
Cased Hole DSI Delta T
s/m s/m 300 100 100 700
Cased Hole Neutron Porosity
0.45 -0.15
>
Cased hole evaluation of primary objective, Caroline eld, Canada. The CHFR resistivities (Track 3),
combined with porosity measurements from the sonic and neutron tools (Track 4), indicated high water
saturation in the primary, deeper objective near XX00 m. Since there was no gas indication from the
neutron and sonic combination, this zone was abandoned.
9. For more on zonal isolation in the Tampen area: Abbas R,
Cunningham E, Munk T, Bjelland B, Chukwueke V, Ferri A,
Garrison G, Hollies D, Labat C and Moussa O: Solutions
for Long-Term Zonal Isolation, Oileld Review 14, no. 3
(Autumn 2002): 1629.
10. A tractor is a device used to convey equipment in wells
beyond the point where gravity alone would help the
equipment reach the bottom of the hole.
from the sonic and neutron tools, indicated high
water saturation, and since there was no gas indi-
cation from the neutron and sonic combination,
this zone was abandoned.
The secondary, upper zone at XX75 m, a
Cretaceous sandstone of the Mannville Group,
the Rock Creek formation, was expected to be
gas-bearing; its productivity was evaluated with a
CHDT sample (above). The CHDT uid sampling
conrmed the presence of hydrocarbon in this
zone. On the basis of uid-mobility estimates
(the ratio of permeability to viscosity in units of
mD/cp), however, the potential mobility of the
uid was uncertain, but considered likely to be
low. Big Horn Resources elected to perforate this
zone using tubing-conveyed perforating technol-
ogy. Pressure-transient measurements from a
ow test conrmed the low mobility estimate
from the CHDT device, so the company aban-
doned the upper zone. (next page, top). Without
the data from the CHDT tool, the company might
have invested over CAD 250,000 for hydraulic
fracturing and ow testing of this well.
The experience of Big Horn Resources
demonstrates that formation evaluation behind
casing can be a viable alternative to openhole
logging when wellbore conditions make openhole
logging difcult and increase the risk of sticking
logging tools in the hole while performing these
operations. For operators deciding whether to
perform expensive operations, such as well com-
pletions, stimulation or testing operations, on
the basis of incomplete formation evaluations,
ABC services are a cost-effective alternative.
Formation Evaluation in Ecuador
Openhole logging operations in the Dorine eld,
Oriente basin, Ecuador, are risky and often expen-
sive because of borehole-stability issues. The eld
is in development, so the operator, AEC Ecuador
Ltd. (now EnCana Corporation), is emphasizing
rig efciency and minimizing capital and operat-
ing expenses. AEC decided to acquire cased hole
logs for a well in which openhole logs had been
acquired several months earlier. By comparing
openhole and cased hole logs, the operator sought
to gain condence in an evaluation technique
that would help reduce eld-development costs.
Rather than spending time and money acquiring
suboptimal openhole data from difcult wells, the
operator was considering acquiring only cased
hole logs in future wells. Cased hole density,
porosity and sonic data closely matched openhole
data (next page, bottom).
Several conditions led to the high quality of
the cased hole data. The operator and
Schlumberger performed extensive prejob
planning to ensure that the well was a suitable
candidate for ABC services. Specically, engi-
neers checked the condition of the cement
sheath to ensure that the well was an appropri-
ate candidate for using the CHFP, DSI and CHFD
devices. The USI and CBT tool used in combina-
tion indicated the cement quality was generally
good. Corrosion can be a particular concern
when using the CHFR device in older wells, but
the casing in this well was new.
As operations began, the wellsite crew ran
scrapers in the wellbore to remove cement
stringers or scale that might interfere with cased
hole data acquisition. Data were transmitted to
8 Oileld Review
Cased Hole Gamma Ray
API 0 150
Caliper
in. 6 16
Bit Size
Resistivity Decision Track Cement Map Depth, m
in. 6 16
90-in. AIT-H Investigation
ohm-m 0.2 2000
10-in. AIT-H Investigation
ohm-m 0.2 2000
CHFR Resistivity
ohm-m 0.2 2000
Casing
in. 0 20
Openhole Bulk Density
g/cm
3
1.95 2.95
Cased Hole Thermal Neutron Porosity
vol/vol 0.45 -0.15
Openhole Thermal Neutron Porosity
vol/vol 0.45 -0.15
Formation Pressure
psi 4050 4550
Hydrostatic Pressure
psi 4050 4550
XX75
XX50
>
Cased hole evaluation of another Caroline eld zone, Canada. The upper sandstone reservoir is
clearly visible in the green gamma ray curve (Track 1) above XX75 m. CHFR data (blue circles) overlay
deep-reading resistivity data (red curves) in Track 2. The operator decided to acquire CHDT pressure
data from the lower part of the sandstone (blue and red circles in Track 3). The cement map (Track 4)
guided CHDT test points. This cased hole evaluation prompted the operator to complete the well in the
lower part of the sandstone interval.
11. For more on PowerSTIM well optimization services:
Al-Qarni AO, Ault B, Heckman R, McClure S, Denoo S,
Rowe W, Fairhurst D, Kaiser B, Logan D, McNally AC,
Norville MA, Seim MR and Ramsey L: From Reservoir
Specics to Stimulation Solutions, Oileld Review 12,
no. 4 (Winter 2000/2001): 4260.
Summer 2003 9
Schlumberger Data & Consulting Services in
Quito in real time using the InterACT service.
This example from the Dorine eld demonstrates
that logging after setting casing is a cost-
effective method of formation evaluation when
borehole stability presents unacceptable risks.
ABC services have been used elsewhere in
Ecuador. For example, an operator selected the
CHFR device to reevaluate saturation in a zone of
interest in which openhole logs indicated a rela-
tively high water saturation; the CHFR results
indicated a lower water saturation. The ABC
services also have proved to be a critical part of
the candidate-recognition process to evaluate
wells for PowerSTIM well optimization services.
11
ABC results helped determine Youngs modulus,
Poissons ratio and the formation-fracture gradi-
ent, which are crucial inputs for optimizing the
design of the hydraulic fracturing operations.
ABC services also have been used in wells
that had to be cased before openhole logs
were acquired.
Staying Ahead Behind Casing
As more E&P companies emphasize browneld
activity, formation evaluation behind casing will
become more essential as a cost-effective
method to optimize production. ABC services,
including interpretation support, allow compa-
nies to acquire and interpret data and then make
informed decisions, such as sidetrack drilling,
offset drilling, well interventions, wellbore or
eld monitoring, and other operations.
ABC services make it possible for E&P com-
panies to obtain well logs in situations that
previously would have impeded or prevented
data acquisition. In adverse wellbore conditions,
such as wells experiencing borehole-stability
problems, operators now can decide to run
casing and conduct logging operations after-
wards using the ABC services. For older elds,
operators may use these services to evaluate
potential pay behind pipe rather than drill a new
well simply to acquire data. Producing wells and
elds are easily monitored using ABC tools. In
many situations, planning these operations
ahead of time minimizes rig-time costs. Perhaps
the only obstacles to successful data acquisition
with these tools are well accessibility and the
condition of the casing, cement and well-comple-
tion hardware. As service companies and E&P
companies gain familiarity with comprehensive
formation evaluation through casing, they will
continue to seek rst-class answers to questions
about ever-changing reservoirs. GMG
120
100
80
60
40
P
r
e
t
e
s
t

v
o
l
u
m
e
,

c
m
3
20
0
-20
-40
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
P
r
e
s
s
u
r
e
,

k
P
a
15,000
10,000
5000
0
0 2000 4000 6000 8000
Elapsed time, sec
10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000
Quartz gauge pressures
Strain gauge pressures
Bit penetration position
Pretest volume
Casing-seal test Drill casing Formation pretests Plug casing
>
CHDT results from Caroline eld, Canada. This plot of CHDT pressure versus time shows a complete
test cycle, beginning with the casing-seal test, drilling into the casing, performing multiple formation
pretests and plugging the casing. The pressure changed as soon as the tool drilled through the casing,
which is typical for this region. The USI log in this well revealed the existence of cement channels in
the zone, which might have inuenced the pressure response. The test required more than four hours
to complete because of the low permeability of the zone. An openhole formation test of similar duration
would present a higher risk of sticking the tool. In this case, the logging tools were run from a service
rig, which cost much less than a drilling rig.
MD, ft
X060
X070
X080
X090
X100
Openhole Compressional Slowness
s/ft
Cased Hole Compressional Slowness
s/ft
Caliper
in. 6 16 140 40 140 40
Openhole Thermal Neutron Porosity
vol/vol
Cased Hole Thermal Neutron Porosity
vol/vol
Cased Hole Gamma Ray
API 0 150 0.6 0 0.6 0
Openhole Bulk Density
g/cm
3
Cased Hole Bulk Density
g/cm
3
Openhole Gamma Ray
API 0 150 1.65 2.65 1.65 2.65
>
Comparison of openhole and cased hole density, porosity and sonic data. Openhole and cased hole
data (Tracks 2 and 3) match closely.