Logging Through the Bit

Increasing use of horizontal drilling has spurred E&P companies to look for more
cost-effective ways to log their wells. To meet this need, an innovative logging
service has been developed. Operators are now capitalizing on a unique conveyance
method that uses small-diameter tools to obtain formation evaluation data in highly
deviated or extended-reach wells.

James Aivalis Advances in drilling and completion technology Often, gamma ray logs obtained by measure-
Tony Meszaros are helping E&P companies open and develop ment-while-drilling (MWD) tools are used during
Robert Porter new plays previously deemed uneconomic. In geosteering to determine stratigraphic position.
Rick Reischman many of these plays, operators are turning to For some wells, the MWD gamma ray log may pro-
Robin Ridley horizontal drilling and hydraulic stimulation to vide the sole petrophysical input for designing
Peter Wells
increase wellbore exposure to productive forma- perforating and formation fracturing programs.
ThruBit LLC
tions. However, horizontal or high-angle wells can Although the gamma ray log may help geologists
Houston, Texas, USA
be difficult to evaluate. Often, these wells cannot identify target zones through correlations with
Benjamin W. Crouch be logged on wireline without specialized convey- offset well logs, gamma ray measurements alone
Osage Resources, LLC ance equipment, which frequently results in are not sufficient to characterize reservoir prop-
Hutchinson, Kansas, USA added expense and operational delays. An unfor- erties that impact production. Measuring lateral
tunate consequence is that some operators forgo and vertical variations in lithology, mineralogy,
Taylor L. Reid the acquisition of petrophysical data entirely. grain size, porosity, permeability and fluid content
Oasis Petroleum, Inc. In high-angle wells, the combined effects of in complex unconventional reservoirs requires a
Houston, Texas borehole trajectory and geology hamper an oper- suite of logging tools.
ator’s ability to acquire the data needed to assess The capability to identify changes in reser-
Gary A. Simpson
a reservoir and develop a stimulation program to voir rock, which petrophysical logs provide, can
Forest Oil Corporation
enhance payout. To meet the challenges of high- significantly affect a well’s completion program
Houston, Texas
angle wells, the industry has steadily refined and its economics. This is particularly relevant
Oilfield Review Summer 2012: 24, no. 2. technology for acquiring openhole logs. Logging for unconventional plays or other tight forma-
Copyright © 2012 Schlumberger. while drilling (LWD), tractor conveyance and tions, in which fracture treatments must be
For help in preparation of this article, thanks to Martin various pipe-conveyed logging techniques are divided into several stages to stimulate a pay
Isaacs and Rick von Flatern, Houston; and Tony Smithson,
Northport, Alabama, USA. just a few of the options currently available.1 zone that extends thousands of feet along a hori-
Geo-Frac, Mangrove, Portal, SureLog and ThruBit are marks Nevertheless, there are costs—in the form of tool zontal wellbore. By excluding some zones, while
of Schlumberger.
rentals or rig time—associated with these alter- selectively perforating and stimulating the inter-
1. Billingham M, El-Toukhy AM, Hashem MK, Hassaan M,
Lorente M, Sheiretov T and Loth M: “Conveyance— native methods. vals most likely to be productive, operators may
Down and Out in the Oil Field,“ Oilfield Review 23, no. 2 In the unconventional plays of North America, reduce the number of stages required to opti-
(Summer 2011): 18–31.
such costs may adversely impact development mally fracture a reservoir. Decreasing the num-
2. Pitcher J and Buller D: “Shale Assets: Applying the
Right Technology for Improving Results,” Search and strategies. A major factor in field development ber and length of stages conserves water, sand
Discovery Article 40883, adapted from an oral economics is the cost of drilling and completing and other resources, thereby reducing expenses
presentation at AAPG International Conference and
Exhibition, Milan, Italy, October 23–26, 2011. each horizontal well. It is therefore common in and the overall impact of well stimulation.
some unconventional plays for operators to limit
use of logging suites.2

44 Oilfield Review
Summer 2012 45
 Telemetry, Memory,
Induction Tool Neutron Tool Density Tool Sonic Tool
Gamma Ray Tool
Measurements Gamma ray, Induction resistivity, Neutron porosity Bulk density, Shear and
borehole temperature, spontaneous potential, photoelectric factor, compressional
tool acceleration mud resistivity hole size velocity
Diameter 2 1/8 in. 2 1/8 in. 2 1/8 in. 2 1/8 in. 2 1/8 in.
Length 74 in. [188 cm] 185 in. [470 cm] 74 in. [188 cm] 128 in. [325 cm] 144 in. [366 cm]
Temperature 300°F [150°C] 300°F [150°C] 300°F [150°C] 300°F [150°C] 300°F [150°C]
Pressure 15,000 psi [103 MPa] 15,000 psi [103 MPa] 15,000 psi [103 MPa] 15,000 psi [103 MPa] 15,000 psi [103 MPa]
Logging Speed 1,800 ft/h [550 m/h] 3,600 ft/h [1,100 m/h] 1,800 ft/h [550 m/h] 1,800 ft/h [550 m/h] 3,600 ft/h [1,100 m/h]
Vertical Resolution 12 in. to 24 in. 1 in., 2 in. and 4 in. 12 in. to 15 in. 9 in. to 12 in. 6 in. to 24 in.
[30 cm to 61 cm] [3 cm, 5 cm and 10 cm] [30 cm to 38 cm] [23 cm to 30 cm] [15 cm to 61 cm]
Depth of Investigation 12 in. [30 cm] 10 in., 20 in., 30 in., 60 in. and 90 in. 10 in. [25 cm] 12 in. [30 cm] 3 in. [7 cm]
[25 cm, 51 cm, 76 cm, 152 cm and 228 cm]
Hole Size 4 in. to 14 in. 4 in. to 14 in. 4 in. to 16 in. 4 in. to 16 in. 4 in. to 14 in.

> SureLog tool specifications. Any of these tools may be combined to permit operators to run a triple- or quad-combo logging string. All tool diameters are
small enough to run in 4-in. holes.

A unique, cost-effective logging system has to obtain a full suite of measurements during a The density tool measures formation bulk den-
been developed to help operators obtain valuable single logging run. sity (ρb), photoelectric factor (Pe) and borehole
formation data in high-angle wellbores. The sys- The SureLog telemetry, memory and gamma size. The raw measurement processing includes a
tem, developed by ThruBit LLC, uses mud pump ray device is run as the topmost logging tool to correction algorithm that preserves overall den-
pressure to deliver small-diameter logging tools provide communications and memory functional- sity accuracy across a wide range of borehole
down the center of the drillstring and out through ity for the entire logging string. The gamma ray sizes, mud types and mud weights. The tool’s scin-
a specialized bit to log the open borehole beyond. detector measures naturally occurring gamma tillation detectors are housed in an articulated
Traveling through this drillpipe conduit to TD, rays in the formation to provide a qualitative pad for better contact with the formation to
the tools are pumped through the bit opening evaluation of clay content. A multiaxis acceler- improve overall measurement quality in deviated
where they can survey the formation as the drill- ometer in the tool monitors downhole tool orien- and rugose holes (next page, top left). The density
pipe is tripped out of the hole. Schlumberger tation, motion and vibration. The tool also tool uses a single-arm caliper to measure hole size
acquired ThruBit LLC in 2011. measures borehole inclination and temperature. and to press the tool against the formation.
This article provides an overview of the equip- The array induction tool has five median The SureLog waveform sonic tool has a mono-
ment and deployment system that make the depths of investigation and three vertical resolu- pole transmitter and a six-receiver array.
ThruBit logging technique possible. Datasets tions. In some configurations, a combinable spon- Waveforms recorded at each of the six receivers
obtained with this system help demonstrate its taneous potential (SP) tool is run immediately are subsequently processed using a slowness-
quality and usefulness. below the induction tool. The SP measurement time coherence technique to obtain compres-
gives a qualitative indication of formation shali- sional (Vp) and shear (Vs) velocities. Monopole
Logging Essentials ness and permeability and can be used to deter- shear velocity can be determined from the sonic
The concept of logging through the bit centers on mine equivalent formation water resistivity. A measurement in formations whose compres-
two requirements: logging tools that are small mud resistivity sensor is built in for array induc- sional and shear velocities are faster than the
enough to pass through the drillstring and a bit tion corrections and analysis of borehole fluids. acoustic velocity in mud (Vmud).
designed to permit their passage into the open The SureLog neutron tool operates in both The Portal PDC bit is designed to allow log-
borehole. The ThruBit logging system uses spe- openhole and cased hole environments. It uses a ging tools to pass through the end of the drill-
cially designed logging tools that combine small californium [Cf] source to obtain thermal neu- string without requiring removal of the bit. This
diameters with high-pressure, high-temperature tron porosity measurements. In addition to bore- bit is hollow at the center, with a 21/2-in.
capabilities. At 2 1/8-in. diameter, all tools in the hole temperature and pressure corrections, the [63.5-mm] opening at its crown—the center of
SureLog suite are small enough to pass through neutron porosity measurement may be corrected the bit face (next page, top right). The bit design
the center of most drillpipe, jars, collars and bits for environmental factors such as hole size, mud is adaptable to almost any PDC bit model rang-
(above). Each tool can withstand temperatures to type, mud weight, mudcake thickness, salinity ing in size from 57/8 in. to 121/4 in. in diameter. The
300°F [150°C] and pressures up to 15,000 psi and tool standoff. bits are manufactured in a variety of blade and
[103 MPa]. These tools can be run in combination cutter configurations to accommodate drilling
and lithology requirements.

46 Oilfield Review
 > Portal bit. This specialized bit is engineered to meet drilling requirements for a variety of rock types.
The main feature of this PDC bit (side view, left) is a central hole (top view, right) to permit passage of
the slim-diameter logging string. (Figure courtesy of Smith Bits, a Schlumberger company.)

Caliper

the movement of a no-go collar located near the leaving only enough open hole for the logging
Density top of the logging toolstring. The sub prevents the sensors to extend beyond the bit.
pad
no-go collar from traveling farther downhole With the Portal bit at target depth, the logging
while permitting the logging sensors to protrude crew inserts the SureLog toolstring into the drill-
into open hole, just beyond the bit face. pipe, installs pressure control equipment and low-
ThruBit surface pressure equipment is ers the SureLog suite of tools on wireline. The
designed to control the well in the event of an wireline connection allows the ThruBit logging
unexpected surge in pressure. This equipment engineer to create a downlog and monitor tool-
allows the driller to rotate and reciprocate the string functionality from the moment the logging
drillstring and to circulate while deploying log- tools leave the surface until they are switched to
ging tools.3 A float valve may also be installed memory mode. The drillpipe protects the logging
in the bottomhole assembly (BHA) to provide tools and wireline as they are lowered downhole.
> SureLog density tool. Scintillation detectors, an added measure of well control. This flapper- At the point where wellbore inclination pre-
housed in a pad that articulates from the main style float valve allows logging tools and ancil- vents gravitational descent, the rig’s mud pumps
tool, measure both formation bulk density and lary equipment to pass through the valve in are engaged to pump the tools to the end of the
photoelectric factor. The tool uses a single-arm both directions.4 drillstring. The drillpipe provides a smooth bore
caliper to increase overall pad contact with the
formation while it measures borehole size. to ensure that the small-diameter tools deploy
Downhole Deployment to the bit face. Pump pressure and mud flow
The ThruBit deployment system uses the Portal force the logging sensors out through the opening
bit to ream and condition the wellbore in prepa- in the Portal bit. The tools stop once the no-go
A hangoff sub, positioned above the Portal bit, ration for logging. Once the BHA has reached log-
3. In some wells, the ability to circulate during logging may
enables the logging sensors to extend immedi- ging depth, the drilling crew trips the BHA out of prove helpful in reducing borehole temperature when the
ately beneath the bit when logging in memory the hole to install a Portal bit and hangoff sub. As bottomhole temperature approaches the tool’s
temperature rating.
mode. In this mode, the wireline is detached the Portal bit and hangoff sub are tripped back 4. Reischman RL and Porter RC: “An Innovative New
from the toolstring and retrieved to the surface. into the hole, the driller uses the Portal bit to System for Obtaining Open Hole Logs in Difficult Wells,”
paper AADE-11-NTCE-67, presented at the AADE
Batteries power the tools, and the log data are ream past ledges and tight spots encountered on National Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston,
stored in onboard memory. The hangoff sub pre- the way to TD. Once the wellbore is conditioned April 12–14, 2011.
cisely positions the logging tools as they extend for logging, the driller positions the bit just above
through the opening in the bit. This sub restricts the base of the lowest interval to be logged,

Summer 2012 47
 1

> ThruBit logging sequence. A Portal bit is used to ream to TD to prepare the hole for logging (1). The driller pulls the bit off bottom, leaving enough room
to accommodate the SureLog suite of logging tools. The logging toolstring is pumped through the drillpipe (2). With tools positioned beneath the bit, the
ThruBit logging engineer verifies tool function, then disconnects the wireline and draws the cable back to the surface (3). As the drilling crew trips pipe
out of the hole, the logging tools survey and record formation data (4). Logging is complete when the tools are pulled up into the casing (5). With the bit and
tools inside the casing, the logging crew lowers the retrieval tool on wireline, latches the tools and retrieves them to the surface (6). Once the logging tools
are recovered from the drillstring, the driller is free to ream to the bottom or resume other operations in preparation for the next phase of drilling (7).

device near the top of the toolstring reaches the dropoff and retrieval assembly are reeled back to drillpipe is tripped out of the well. After the zone
hangoff sub. the surface and removed from the drillstring. of interest has been logged, the logging crew can
The logging engineer performs a final check This leaves a fishing neck exposed at the upper lower a retrieval tool on wireline to retract the
of toolstring functionality before opening the end of the logging tools to permit ready retrieval logging tools back through the Portal bit and
caliper on the density tool. Accelerometers inside of the tools and the density and neutron sources drillpipe. With the toolstring retrieved to the
the tool verify that the density skid is oriented through the drillpipe at any time—eliminating surface, the driller is free to resume normal oper-
against the low side of the hole. The logging engi- the need to trip pipe. ations in preparation for the next phase of well
neer then signals the toolstring to release the Operating in memory mode, the logging tools activity (above). Alternatively, the tools can
wireline. The wireline and the upper part of a survey the formation and record the data as the simply be tripped to the surface with the pipe.

48 Oilfield Review
However, early retrieval permits the data to be if well conditions deteriorate, and the drillpipe conveyance techniques. As the number of plays
downloaded, verified and transmitted while becomes stuck, the logging tools and the density proliferated across the US, they provided a
the pipe is still being pulled out of the hole— and neutron sources can be retrieved prior to proving ground for ThruBit logging technology.
providing more time for the operator to plan com- activating jars or implementing other stuck pipe The use of this technology has since expanded
pletion operations. procedures. With the logging string laid out on to other unconventional plays where high-
This deployment system can positively the catwalk, the driller may jar the drillstring angle wells make logs difficult to obtain.
impact a logging operation. The rig time spent without fear of damaging the tools. In North Dakota, USA, Oasis Petroleum, Inc.
on acquiring logs is reduced because deploy- The flexibility of this system is opening the way utilized the ThruBit logging system to evaluate a
ment and acquisition can take place during the for its use in other challenging logging situations. Bakken Shale well drilled to 20,766 ft [6,330 m]
conditioning trip. Because they are not deployed MD with a 10,000-ft [3,050-m] lateral section.
until the bit is in position near TD, the tools Field Applications The well had a 29.5°/100-ft [29.5°/30-m] radius of
receive less exposure to shocks, vibrations and The geometry of extended-reach wells makes curvature and was deviated up to 91° from the
high temperatures. Risk is minimized because them inherently difficult to log. Unconventional vertical (below). Oasis used a Portal bit during
the tools are retrievable and the system provides plays, commonly exploited through horizontal the reaming run to prepare the hole for log-
the driller with full well control capability. Thus, wells, have created a demand for specialized ging prior to running production liner. The

Intermediate casing

Drillpipe Hangoff sub Portal bit Telemetry, memory, Density Total length: 63.7 ft [19.4 m]
gamma ray tool tool
Caliper

Drillstring

Wired dropoff No-go collar Batteries Neutron Induction array

and retrieval tool tool tool

Drilled radius,
29.5°/100 ft

BHA SureLog logging string

> Logging an extended-reach well. Oasis Petroleum used the ThruBit system to log a well drilled in the Bakken formation. The 20,766-ft well, with a
10,000-ft lateral section, was deviated up to 91°. The hangoff assembly, battery and retrieval tool (inset) enable logs to be recorded in memory mode as
pipe was tripped from the well. The tools can be retrieved at any time after the wireline is released. (Adapted from Reischman and Porter, reference 4.)

Summer 2012 49
ThruBit system enabled the driller to maintain South Texas, USA, has seen a resurgence in Central to their study was the capability to
circulation as logging tools were deployed around drilling as oil and gas companies pursue new acquire and analyze log data from the horizontal
the curve and through the extended lateral sec- unconventional plays. In Gonzales County, Forest wellbores; thus, they carefully weighed the con-
tion. The SureLog suite of logging tools safely Oil Corporation has drilled several wells to veyance options. Forest had concerns with slick-
passed through the drillpipe and out the bit to develop the Cretaceous Eagle Ford play. To line retrievability of MWD components, needed
acquire formation evaluation data as the pipe was exploit a rather narrow oil window, the company for geosteering, in the event that LWD tools were
tripped out of the well. In a single logging run, drills high-angle wells that target a 20 ft [6 m] used to evaluate the formation; other pipe-
Oasis geoscientists obtained the petrophysical thick sweet spot within an 80- to 110-ft [24- to conveyed methods for logging consumed extra rig
data they needed to evaluate the Bakken section. 34-m] reservoir section. These wells are typically time. Needing to evaluate the producing zones,
In Barber County, Kansas, USA, Osage drilled to around 12,000 ft [3,660 m] MD, and are Forest used ThruBit logging to obtain a suite of
Resources, LLC sought to optimize perforation deviated between 87° and 92° with lateral sec- logs in horizontal wells slated for an upcoming
placement and length of fracture stages in a tions of about 5,500 ft [1,675 m] through the drilling campaign.
horizontal well drilled in the Mississippi Lime Eagle Ford. As these wells were drilled, the driller made a
play. This play, initially discovered and exploited Working from 3D seismic data obtained over series of short trips to clean out cuttings beds
through vertical drilling, is being revitalized the lease area, Forest geoscientists have identified from the horizontal section. Once the hole was
through horizontal wells and multistage frac- a number of locations within the Eagle Ford conditioned, the driller tripped the directional
ture stimulation treatments. The Mississippi to develop further. These locations were drilled BHA out of the well and ran back in the hole with
Lime is highly variable, consisting of limestone, with input from an MWD gamma ray tool for a Portal bit and hangoff sub, reaming past any
dolomite and siliceous deposits of tripolite, geosteering. Once drilled, early wells were stimu- tight spots on the way to TD. The SureLog quad-
chert and spiculite. To properly evaluate the lated using a geometric approach: divide the combo logging suite was then pumped through
well, Osage needed more than an MWD gamma lateral section into 300-ft [90-m] stages, then per- the drillpipe to TD on wireline. The logging tools
ray log. forate and fracture, pumping 240,000 lbm [109,000 were pumped out through the Portal bit. Once
The ThruBit logging crew made up a SureLog kg] of sand into each stage. To execute this strat- the logging engineer verified toolstring operabil-
quad-combo toolstring, consisting of gamma ray, egy, Forest engineers used the “plug and perf” ity, the tools were released from the wireline,
caliper, resistivity, neutron, density and sonic method, in which a bridge plug is set between frac- which was reeled back to the surface. The logging
tools. This toolstring was pumped down through ture stages to isolate perforation clusters. tools recorded formation data in memory mode
4-in. drillpipe, and the logs were recorded in After completing several of these wells, as the drillpipe was pulled out of the hole. After it
memory mode as drillpipe was tripped out of the Forest petrophysicists and engineers had reached the casing shoe, the toolstring was
hole. Once the logging tools reached casing, they acquired enough data to evaluate production in retrieved on wireline and the data were down-
were retrieved to the surface by wireline. With the Eagle Ford. The engineers noted that, loaded. If needed, the driller could then make
the 6 1/8-in. Portal bit still downhole, the driller although several wells had been drilled and com- another conditioning trip back to TD before lay-
was able to ream back to TD for a final cleanup pleted in a similar manner, production varied ing down pipe for a casing run. By combining the
trip in preparation for a subsequent casing run. widely once the wells were brought on stream. logging run with a conditioning trip, the operator
The log data revealed significant lithological Some wells were producing significant volumes of saved more than 24 hours of rig time when com-
changes along the length of the lateral wellbore high-salinity water, not common to either the pared with the time needed for conventional
(next page). This information prompted Osage Eagle Ford or the adjacent Austin Chalk forma- pipe-conveyed methods.
engineers to reassess their initial stimulation tion above. This water was attributed to the Buda Forest Oil petrophysicists used sonic and den-
strategy and shift focus toward treating the toe or the Edwards Limestone and indicated that the sity data to derive rock properties such as Young’s
of the wellbore, where better reservoir condi- hydraulic fractures had penetrated below the modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Shear-wave anisot-
tions were found. Sonic data were used to com- Eagle Ford, providing a water migration pathway ropy from the SureLog sonic tool enabled Forest
pute a brittleness curve. This curve provided a to underlying formations. geophysicists to compare attributes of natural
basis for dividing the stimulation into separate Forest Oil engineers and geoscientists fractures in the wellbore with those seen in 3D
intervals according to rock type, which helped mounted a study to determine why some wells seismic data. This information was instrumental
the operator optimize stage lengths, pad sizes stood out—either as good or bad producers— in mapping new exploration targets and provid-
and perforation clusters. Sonic waveform data and to fine-tune their drilling and completion ing a better understanding of the seismic attri-
indicated where the formation was naturally strategies in this formation. Their investigations butes needed to evaluate their extensive acreage
fractured along the wellbore, which helped sought to achieve the following outcomes: position for future drillsite selection.
Osage engineers design a hydraulic fracturing sOPTIMIZETHELANDINGSECTIONINFUTUREHORIZON- Forest was able to capitalize on a more
program that minimized the risk of early screen- tal wells selective approach to fracturing. The mechani-
out during stimulation. They added another frac- sIMPROVEFRACTURECLUSTEREFlCIENCIESANDFRAC- cal properties data processed from the SureLog
turing stage to the plan and successfully ture initiation suite proved crucial for grouping hydraulic
completed the revised stimulation program. The sPREVENT WATER PRODUCTION FROM UNDERLYING fracturing stages by highlighting rock of similar
well is producing significantly better than other formations
Mississippi Lime wells in the area. sREDUCESTIMULATIONANDCOMPLETIONCOSTS

50 Oilfield Review
 Correlation Depth Resistivity Porosity Sonic Data Brittleness
90-in. Induction Density Correction
0.2 ohm.m 2,000 – 0.75 g/cm3 0.25
60-in. Induction Neutron Porosity
0.2 ohm.m 2,000 30 % –10 Sonic Waveform Amplitude
30-in. Induction Density Porosity
0.2 ohm.m 2,000 30 % –10 low high
Gamma Ray 20-in. Induction Photoelectric Factor Shear Wave Semblance Brittleness
0 gAPI 200 0.2 ohm.m 2,000 0 20 1 –1 0 % 100
Caliper Depth, 10-in. Induction Crossover Possible Fractures More Brittle
6 in. 16 ft 0.2 ohm.m 2,000

X,050

X,100

X,150

> Evaluating a lateral wellbore in the Mississippi Lime Formation. After running a SureLog quad-combo logging string in a horizontal well, Osage Resources
engineers determined that formation properties varied considerably throughout the length of this horizontal interval. Porosity (Track 3) varies from 4% to 16%.
The sonic waveform and shear semblance curves indicate natural fractures (Track 4, yellow) through some intervals. A brittleness calculation (Track 5),
which is used to produce a quicklook curve related to the stress profile, also shows contrasts in brittleness. Based on these curves, along with elevated
resistivities (Track 2), Osage Resources was able to select optimal zones for hydraulic stimulation (Track 4, yellow).

Summer 2012 51
 Cuttings Lithology Depth Resistivity, S2, TOC Density, Neutron, Sonic Fracture Sonic Data Tracers Sonic Waveform Mechanical Properties
90-in. Induction
0.2 ohm.m 2,000
30-in. Induction
TVD
0.2 ohm.m 2,000
V,200 ft U,200
10-in. Induction
Total Clays
0.2 ohm.m 2,000
Semblance
TVD Bulk Density
Quartz
V,200 ft U,200 1.95 g/cm3 2.95 low high
Sonic Waveform Amplitude
Carbonate S2 Neutron Porosity TVD
0 mg/g 25 45 % –15 low high V,200 ft U,200
Pyrite Total Organic Carbon Compressional Slowness TVD Iridium Tracer Compressional Slowness
0 % 10 140 μs/ft 40 V,200 ft U,200 0 gAPI 2,000 40 μs/ft 240
Total Organic Carbon Total Organic Carbon Shear Slowness Shear Wave Semblance Scandium Tracer Fast Shear Slowness TVD
Measured 0 % 10 440 μs/ft 40 1 0.5 0 gAPI 2,000 40 μs/ft 240 V,200 ft U,200
Porosity Depth, Cuttings: S2 TVD Mud Log Total Gas Strontium Tracer Slow Shear Slowness Brittleness
Stages
ft 0 mg/g 25 V,200 ft U,200 0 500 0 gAPI 2,000 40 μs/ft 240 0 % 100

U,000

V,000

Stage 19

Stage 18

Stage 17
W,000
Stage 16

Stage 15

Stage 14

Stage 13
X,000 Stage 12

Stage 11

Stage 10

Stage 9

Y,000 Stage 8

Stage 7

Stage 6

Stage 5

Z,000 Stage 4

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1

> Forest Oil log montage. This Eagle Ford formation evaluation interpretation combines ThruBit data with cuttings analysis and computed rock properties to
determine the optimal placement of fracture stages in a South Texas well. Although gas spikes (Track 5, green) are seen throughout this interval, the sweet
spot in this horizontal well extends from about W,700 to Z,400 ft measured depth. Onsite geochemical analysis of wellbore cuttings obtained through this
interval shows a marked increase in total organic carbon, or TOC, (Track 2, black dots) and S2—hydrocarbons generated by thermal breakdown of kerogens
(Track 2, purple curve), key indicators of source rock quality. Sonic data (Track 7) show a clear change in the elastic properties of the formation in this zone.
While the P-wave maintains a constant slowness (solid black) throughout the interval, the S-wave splits into two distinct arrivals. The spread between the
fast (dashed black curve) and slow (black dotted) S-wave slownesses is an indicator of anisotropy, possibly attributed to fractures. Using all of the data
together, Forest Oil elected to divide the stimulation program into 19 stages. After the stimulation treatment, tracer logs (Track 6) helped verify that
modifications to the stimulation program created more complex fractures throughout each stage, opening more rock face to production. This optimized
completion strategy resulted in increases in production relative to surrounding wells that had used simple geometric fracture treatments.

52 Oilfield Review
 Density Correction
– 0.75 g/cm3 0.25
Compressional Shear
Neutron Porosity
Semblance Semblance
30 % –10
Gamma Ray 90-in. Induction Resistivity Density Porosity low high low high Poisson’s Ratio Brittleness Fracture Gradient
0 gAPI 150 0.2 ohm.m 200 30 % –10 Compressional 0 1 0 % 100 0 psi/ft 1
Shear Slowness
Caliper Depth, 60-in. Induction Resistivity Photoelectric Factor Slowness Static Young’s Modulus More Brittle Fracture Gradient
6
5 in. 15 ft 0.2 ohm.m 200 0 20 0 μs/ft 240 0 μs/ft 240 0 psi × 10 10

X,250

> Geo-Frac evaluation of a horizontal well in the Bakken formation. SureLog compressional and shear sonic data (Tracks 4 and 5) are used to compute
Poisson’s ratio (Track 6, red). Young’s modulus (Track 6, green), is derived from sonic and bulk density data. The brittleness curve (Track 7), which is estimated
from Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, indicates how easily the rock will fracture under hydraulic pressure. The fracture gradient (Track 8) may be used as
an indicator of stress, showing contrasts along the length of the lateral with lower stresses (red and white) and higher stresses (blue). Used in conjunction
with the other data presented, the brittleness and fracture gradient curves help operators determine intervals best suited for initiating fractures (Track 7, red).

properties (previous page). This information zone can base their completion programs on res- plays, many operators drill horizontal wells; but
was used in 3D fracture design programs to opti- ervoir quality and geomechanical properties. drilling is only part of the story—well stimulation is
mize and confine the fractures to the Eagle Ford With this information, operators can selectively another key to unlocking resources from formations
and overlying productive Austin Chalk forma- target the best zones to stimulate, while elimi- previously deemed unproducible. Hydraulic frac-
tions. Based on these log data, the company now nating unproductive zones from their completion turing is typically required to stimulate these tight
plans 220-ft [67-m] fracture stages and has program. Compressional and shear velocity mea- formations, and a number of advanced programs
saved on stimulation costs by reducing the vol- surements from the SureLog multireceiver mono- have been developed to help operators optimize the
ume of sand pumped into each stage by one- pole sonic tool provide input for the ThruBit fracturing process for each well. All of these pro-
third. Wells stimulated in this manner are Geo-Frac analysis program to compute rock prop- grams rely on petrophysical data.
producing significantly better than those frac- erties, Poisson’s ratio, static Young’s modulus and Well logs are vital for identifying intervals likely
tured using the previous geometric approach, minimum horizontal stress gradient. The stress to benefit most from stimulation. Operators who
and none have produced the high-salinity water data and indicators of reservoir quality, such as use this data-driven approach to selecting fracture
associated with deeper formations. Overall, clay content and porosity, are useful in selecting intervals are able to reduce the amount of sand,
Forest Oil has reduced completion cost per optimal completion zones for hydraulic stimula- water and horsepower expended. Without log data,
stage by about 60% while increasing the number tion. Using the Geo-Frac analysis, the operator they might be left with no choice but to stimulate
of stages per lateral section. Also, oil production can identify zones along the lateral that are most the entire length of horizontal section—with little
averaged over a 30-day period has doubled in likely to be productive (above). regard to reservoir and completion quality.
comparison with the output of earlier wells. Data from the Geo-Frac program may also be The ThruBit conveyance system helps E&P
imported into Mangrove stimulation modeling companies obtain valuable formation data along
Evaluation Tools software, which was developed by Schlumberger the entire length of the wellbore. It provides a
To increase wellbore exposure to unconventional to address unconventional hydraulic fracture cost-effective and operationally efficient alterna-
reservoirs, operators usually need to drill horizon- design. The Mangrove system generates a score tive to standard wireline conveyance or LWD log-
tal wells. These formations generally exhibit high based on reservoir quality and completion quality ging while saving trip time. With a Portal bit
natural gamma ray activity, so gamma ray logs are to rank the intervals of similar rock properties conditioning the hole before the slim-diameter
useful for distinguishing lithologies. Although along a wellbore. Those intervals that score high logging tools are run, the ThruBit system can
effective as correlation tools, gamma ray measure- in reservoir quality and completion quality are acquire petrophysical data in the challenging,
ments are not sufficient for distinguishing produc- prime candidates for hydraulic fracture stimula- high-deviation and extended-reach wellbores that
tive from nonproductive zones, much less for tion. This evaluation facilitates selection of loca- are common to unconventional plays. Using the
designing stimulation programs.5 tions for optimal completion stages and drillstring as a protective conduit for the logging
Rather than relying on a geometric approach perforation clusters. tools and wireline, this system reduces tool expo-
to developing these wells, operators who run a sure to the openhole environment. ThruBit logging
comprehensive suite of logs across the target Portal of Opportunity increases the likelihood of acquiring quality reser-
High-angle and extended-reach wells have been voir log data on the first attempt, particularly
5. Kok J, Moon B, Han SY, Tollefsen E, Baihly J and
Malpani R: “The Significance of Accurate Well Placement central to the development of new plays in tight res- when hole conditions threaten the success of con-
in the Shale Gas Plays,” paper SPE 138438, presented at ervoirs and organic-rich source rocks. To increase ventional conveyance methods. If the bit can
the SPE Tight Gas Completions Conference, San Antonio,
Texas, USA, November 2–3, 2010. wellbore exposure to productive zones in these reach the target, so can the logging tools. —MV

Summer 2012 53