Formation evaluation

and well log correlation

Swapnil Pal
I M T G e o l o g i c a l Te c h n o l o g y
I n d i a n I n s t i t u t e o f Te c h n o l o g y R o o r k e e

Overview
Well log definition and its importance
Fundamentals of qualitative and quantitative log interpretation
Formation evaluation with well logs
Processing and interpretation of well log data
Conclusion

Well log
The continuous recording
of a geophysical
parameter along a
borehole produces a
geophysical well log.
The value of the
measurement is plotted
continuously against
depth in the well.

Basic Logs Tools and their

Measurements
Gamma Ray
log

Basic Logs Tools and their

Measurements
Calliper log

Basic Logs Tools and their

Measurements
Electrical log

Basic Logs Tools and their

Measurements
Density log

Basic Logs Tools and their

Measurements
Neutron log

Petrophysical Interpretation
Qualitative assessment

Quantitative assessment

Assessment of reservoir
properties, fluid type form
log pattern.

Numerical estimation of
reservoir properties viz. %
of oil, water etc.

Basic steps for quick look

evaluation

Gas
bearing
Hydrocarbon
bearing
Oil bearing

Reservoir

Water
bearing

ROCK

NonReservoir

Qualitative Interpretation
Identification of Reservoir or Non-reservoir

Low gamma ray

(Reservoir rock)

Qualitative Interpretation
Identification of hydrocarbon or water bearing zone

Low gamma ray

+
High Resistivity value

Qualitative Interpretation
Identification of oil or gas bearing zone
Low gamma ray
+
High Resistivity value
+
Large deviation in RHOB and NPHI value
(cross-over region)

Qualitative Interpretation

Gas bearing zone

Oil bearing zone

Water bearing zone

Quantitative Interpretation
Estimation of effective porosity & permeability.
Estimation of volume of clay fraction.
Estimation of hydrocarbon saturation.
Determination of the depth and thickness of net
pay.
Estimation of reserves of hydrocarbon.

Quantitative Interpretation
Estimation of porosity

Quantitative Interpretation
Estimation of porosity
gas bearing zone
Depth (m) Vsh

PHID

PHIdc

PHIN

PHInc

effective
(Gas)

1940

0.710526

0.278788

0.106539

0.46

0.175789

0.145349

1945

0.078947

0.418182

0.399043

0.09

0.058421

0.285174

1948

0.052632

0.381818

0.369059

0.07

0.048947

0.263249

1950

0.039474

0.424242

0.414673

0.06

0.044211

0.29488

1953

0.039474

0.484848

0.475279

0.14

0.124211

0.34736

1957

0.697368

0.327273

0.158214

0.33

0.051053

0.117554

1958

0.644737

0.266667

0.110367

0.41

0.152105

0.132885

Quantitative Interpretation
Estimation of porosity
oil bearing zone
Depth (m) Vsh

PHID

PHIdc

PHIN

PHInc

effective
(Gas)

1970

0.657895

0.236364

0.076874

0.36

0.096842

0.086858

1972

0.644737

0.218182

0.061882

0.325

0.067105

0.064494

1974

0.118421

0.272727

0.244019

0.19

0.142632

0.193325

1976

0.460526

0.272727

0.161085

0.34

0.155789

0.158437

1978

0.276316

0.254545

0.18756

0.22

0.109474

0.148517

1980

0.434211

0.272727

0.167464

0.275

0.101316

0.13439

1982

0.263158

0.284848

0.221053

0.24

0.134737

0.177895

1984

0.723684

0.254545

0.079107

0.43

0.140526

0.109817

Quantitative Interpretation
Estimation of porosity
water bearing zone
Depth (m)

Vsh

PHID

PHIdc

2025

0.236842

0.278788

0.212759

2028

0.565789

0.230303

0.1

2029

0.328947

0.212121

0.142344

2030

0.276316

0.260606

0.188596

2031

0.342105

0.242424

0.15949

2034

0.394737

0.278788

0.16874

2035

0.223684

0.260606

0.202313

2036

0.223684

0.260606

0.202313

2037

0.197368

0.236364

0.189713

Quantitative Interpretation
Estimation of hydrocarbon saturation
Can not be measured directly but inferred from
determination of WATER SATURATION (Sw) from
RESISTIVITY and POROSITY logs.
Sw Fraction of pore space occupied by water.
Sh Fraction of pore space occupied by hydrocarbon.

Sh + S w = 1
Oil
Water

Quantitative Interpretation
Archies equation

Quantitative Interpretation
Calculation of formation water resistivity : Rw
Using Inverse Archies equation

Depth

Rt

Rw

2025

0.95

0.073837

2028

0.7

0.037128

2029

0.1

0.0045

2030

0.8

0.054332

2031

0.9

0.052893

2034

0.7

0.054406

2035

0.7

0.047541

2036

0.7

0.047541

2037

0.85

0.047488

Water bearing zone

Rw= 0.05, this is used in Archies equation to calculate water

saturation in oil and gas bearing zone

Quantitative Interpretation
Calculation of water saturation in oil and gas zones
Depth

PHId

Rt

Sw
(Archie)
0.994843

1940

0.278788

0.65

1945

0.418182

15

1948

0.381818

35

1950

0.424242

48

0.076076

1953

0.484848

33

0.080283

1957

0.327273

0.9

0.720201

1958

0.266667

0.85

0.909509

1970

0.236364

0.946029

1972

0.212121

1.5

0.860707

1974

0.272727

0.579751

1976

0.272727

0.409946

1978

0.254545

2.9

0.515847

1980

0.272727

0.473365

1982

0.290909

1.2

0.701677

1984

0.254545

0.8

0.982143

0.138062
0.098991

Qualitative Interpretation
V/s
Quantitative Interpretation

Gas bearing zone

Oil bearing zone

Hurray!
Oil found!!

Water bearing zone

Conclusion
Well logs contains key information about the formation drilled in
different petro-physical measurements. i.e.

Prospective zones of hydrocarbon.

Reservoir type and thickness.
Estimation of Porosity, permeability.
Fluid type present in the pores and saturation level.

To economically establish the existence of

producible hydrocarbon reservoirs (oil & gas).

References
Archie II: Electrical conduction in hydrocarbon bearing zone. (n.d.). In Rock Physics
(Vol.
36).
Archie III: Electrical conduction in shaly sand. (n.d.). In Rock Physics (Vol. 1).
Archie's law: Electrical conduction in clean, water bearing rock. (n.d.). In Rock
physics/History (Vol. 36).
Halliburton. (n.d.). Log Interpretation Charts.
M H Rider. (1991). The Geological Interpretation of well logs. Glasgow: Whittes
Publishing.
(1989). Open hole well logging Interpretation. Texas: Schlumberger Wireline &
Testing.
Serra, O. (1984). Fundamentals of well log interpretation. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

Thank you