Spontaneous Potential

(SP) Log
MOHAMMAD NOORAZAM BIN ADAN
MUHAMMAD NURSALAM BIN ZULKIFLI
MUHAMMAD AIZUDDIN BIN ZAINAL ABIDIN SHAH
FARHAN HAIRI BIN KASIM
MOHAMAD SHALIHIN BIN MAT SAID

Introduction
Called self or spontaneous potential.
The natural occurrence of potential different in the earth.
Measure the D.C voltage difference between the surface
and borehole electrode.
It is compulsory for the existing of conductive fluid (drilling
mud & connate water) in the borehole.
Generated due to the current flowing in the mud in the
borehole that results form two types of potential.
Electrochemical (membrane & junction).
Electro kinetic.

SP Operation principle
The spontaneous-potential log is a graphic plot of the small differences in
voltage, measured in millivolts, that develop at the contacts between the
borehole fluid, the shale or clay, and the water in the aquifer.
Two sources of potential are recognized.
The first source is the streaming potential caused by electro kinetic phenomena.
This electromotive force (emf) develops when an electrolyte moves through a
permeable medium. The emf appears in the borehole at places where mud is
being forced into permeable beds, although in water wells, streaming potentials
may be generated in zones gaining or losing water.
The second and most important source of SP arises in the electrochemical emf
produced at the junction of dissimilar materials in the borehole.
The junctions are between the following materials : Mud-mud filtrate, mud
filtrate-formation water, formation water-shale, and shale-mud.

SP measurement principle
SP is a natural occurring potential measured in the
borehole mud . This potential is created by
chemically induced electric current flow.

Liquid Junction Potential (Ej) Generation

Mechanism
Occurs at the boundary between the flushed zone
and the virgin zone.
Because of the high salinity of the formation
water, both cations (Na+) and anions (Cl-) will
migrate towards the mud filtrate.
The anions (Cl-) move faster than the cations (Na+
),and the net effect is a current flowing.

Liquid Junction Potential (Ej)

The Na+ ion is comparatively
large and drags 4.5 molecules of
water, while the Cl- ion is smaller
and drags only 2.5 molecules of
water.
Hence, the anion Cl- will migrate
more easily than the Na+ ions.
More positive charges left behind
in the formation
water. These positive charges
restrict further Cl- migration
towards the flushed zone.

Membrane Potential (Em) Generation

Mechanism
Because of its molecular
structure, shale are more
permeable to Na+ cations than
the Cl- anions; a shale acts as
an ionic sieve.
Since Na+ ions effectively
manage to penetrate the shale
bed through from the saline
formation water to the less
saline mud column, a potential
is created known as the
membrane potential (Em).

ADVANTAGES
It indicates movable hydrocarbons, not just the
presence of hydrocarbon
It is independent of porosity and lithology ;therefore it
is more suitable to variable lithology formations
Sp method is very simple and fast
Better adapted for locating top and bottom of the bed
then resistivity log
Supplemental information for interpretation other type
of logs

LIMITATIONS/DISADVANTAGES
This method is limited to fresh muds only(not
working in oil based mud)
It overestimates shale volume I hydrocarbon-bearing
zone
Sensitive to the selection of clean reservoir and shale
points
Efficiency intrude by noise and anomalous(usually
when poor insulator between probe electrode and
cable)

Environmental Effect On SP
(1) OIL Base Muds & Air-Filled Boreholes
() Due to a complete lack of an electrical path in borehole, no
SP will be generated in wells where the hole is filled with
oil-based muds or air.
(2) Shaly Formations
() Shale will reduce the measured SP. This effect permits the
shaliness to be estimated if a clean sand of the same water
salinity is available for comparison.

(3) Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbon saturation may reduce SP measurements, so
only water-bearing sands should be used for determining
Rw from the SP
So, a hydrocarbon bearing zone suppress the SP curve.
(4) Unbalanced Muds
Unbalanced mud columns, with differential pressure into
the formation, can cause streaming potentials that
increase the SP deflection, especially in depleted
reservoirs. There is no way to handle it quantitatively. This
effect is called the electro kinetic SP.

Conclusion
Spontaneous Potential (SP) is due to combinations
of two phenomena which are :
Electrochemical potential is created by the contact
of two solutions with different concentration. It
consists of liquid junction potential (Ej) and
membrane potential (Em).
Electro kinetic potential is created when a solution
is forced, by different pressure, to flow through a
membrane. It is usually negligible.

 SP logs is usually used to identify :

The permeable zone
Bed boundaries
Depositional environment
It also usually used to compute the shale content and
formation water resistivity.

REFFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_potential
_logging
http://www1.uis.no/Fag/Learningspace_kurs/Pe
tBachelor/webpage/tech%5CWell%20logging%5CUn
it-2%20The%20Spontaneous%20Potential%20Log.h
tm
http://petrowiki.org/Spontaneous_(SP)_log
http://www.academia.edu/6396507/Well_Logging_
and_Formation_Evaluation_PAB2084_and_PCB_2044
_Spontaneous_Potential_SP_Log