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D EXPONENT OFF-LINE

TECHNICAL MANUAL

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Geolog S.p.a.

Via Carlo Porta 21

20098 S. Giuliano Milanese (Mi) Italy

Tel: +39 02 982 521 Fax: +39 02 982 52324

e-mail [email protected] web www.geolog.it

Copyright © 2000 by Geolog S.p.A.

All rights reserved.

No part of the content of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without
the written permission of Geolog S.p.A.

Revision Date Description Issued by Controlled by Approved by

01.00 03/03/2010 FIRST ISSUE JP.Vagnoux G.Di Turi/ G. Ferroni
P. Baldini

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 PRELIMINARIES ................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 PURPOSE .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.2 THEORETICAL DOMAIN ............................................................................................................................................ 4
1.3 SETTINGS OF YOUR CLIENT ........................................................................................................................................ 4
1.4 SYNCHRONIZE THE UNITS WITH THE UNITSMANAGER .................................................................................................... 6
2 STARTING THE SESSION ...................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1 PREFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
2.1.1 Geostatic Gradient ..........................................................................................................................................................8
2.1.2 Normal Hydrostatic Gradient ..........................................................................................................................................9
2.1.3 Drilling Parameters ..........................................................................................................................................................9
2.1.4 Extraction ......................................................................................................................................................................10
2.1.5 Tables ............................................................................................................................................................................10
2.1.6 K Coefficient ..................................................................................................................................................................10
3 WORKING WITH D EXPONENT ...........................................................................................................................11
3.1 SHIFTS .............................................................................................................................................................. 13
3.2 NORMAL COMPACTION TREND ....................................................................................................................... 14
3.3 CALCULATION OF PORE AND FRACTURE GRADIENTS ...................................................................................... 16
4 PRESSURE LOG ...................................................................................................................................................17
5 EXPORT VARIABLES IN ASCII ..............................................................................................................................18

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1 PRELIMINARIES

1.1 Purpose
The D Exponent program is applied on the OFF-LINE WELL and is used to:

Calculate the D Exponent Corrected (called DExRaw) from the drilling
parameters saved in Drilling_01 or any other clone used for the Master Log.

Manipulate the DExRaw using the shift capability

Draw a Normal Compaction Trend in order to follow the behavior of the
compaction of Shale / Clay sediments

Calculate the Pore Gradient in function of a Geostatic Gradient and a Normal
Compaction Trend according to the Eaton method

Insert the Rock Matrix Coefficient (K) to reflect the mechanical behavior of the
formations drilled

Calculate a Fracture Gradient in function of the Geostatic Gradient, Pore
Gradient and K

Export the various variables in ascii / xlx format

Export the various variables inside the Depth DB to draw a Pressure Log

1.2 Theoretical domain

All information concerning the D Exponent methodology for Overpressure detection is
included inside the presentation 06_ENGINEERING GEOPRESSURES.pdf in the Data
Engineer Handbook:

1.3 Settings of your client

The name of the application is DxC.exe and is inside the GeoDesk\Applications.

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It is launched by GWM:

In the Application Data of GeoDesk, be sure that these 10 files are present.
Dxc.ini contains the initialization data, .gg files contains the Geostatic Gradient data,
Dxc.gtr is the graphical configuration and KTable.k is the file containing the K values.

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1.4 Synchronize the Units with the UnitsManager

Pressure Gradients are referred to N/m3
Density Fluids (MWI) is referred to kg/m3
It is necessary that the Pressure Gradients are expressed in a unit equivalent to the
mud density:

MWI in g/l; Pressure Gradient in g/l

MWI in kg/l; Pressure Gradient in kg/cm2/10 or kg/l

MWI in lbm/gal (ppg); Pressure Gradient in lbf/gal

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2 STARTING THE SESSION

The program loads data according to settings contained in the Preferences

and display them according to a standard graphic configuration.

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2.1 Preferences

2.1.1 Geostatic Gradient

Choose the must suitable GG.

It is possible to import another Geostatic Gradient with the Import Geostatic File
option.
Warning: the Depth must be in meters and the Geostatic Gradient in N/m3.

For your information, the Geostatic gradient is always included between 1 and 2.6
kg/cm2/10m.
In case of off-shore wells it is necessary to take the water depth into account; so please
contact JPV for more information in this case.

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2.1.2 Normal Hydrostatic Gradient

Values for Normal Hydrostatic Gradient are always included between 1.02 and 1.08
kg/cm2/10m:
Use 1.03 kg/cm2/10m (8.6ppp) for the Mediterranean area.

2.1.3 Drilling Parameters

Be sure that Drilling Data are read from the clone used for MasterLog (normally
Drilling_01).
Mud Weight MUST bbe MWI (average) ONLY from Drilling Data:

There is the choice between MWI recorded from the sensor and the MWI input in the Mud
Data.

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2.1.4 Extraction

In metric choose a step o 1m or 3 ft to avoid the noises on the curve.

2.1.5 Tables

You have the possibility to create 4 tables containing various interpretations.

It is recommended to use ONLY the 1st table to avoid confusion.

2.1.6 K Coefficient

By clicking on K, you are able to open the Matrix Stress Coefficient table necessary to
calculate the Fracture Gradient.

Load the default KTable.k file.

This table is applicable to most of the well.

In case of Evaporites the K value is 1.
You can input any value and save them with another name:

Always start from 0 and finish at least at 6000m to be sure to cover the entire well.

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3 WORKING WITH D EXPONENT

The tool bar is provided by hints to indicate their function.

Is the curve mode.

You can modify the color and the curves by pressing the edit curve button:

This configuration box is the same than the GO_Configurator’s one.

Select a track, select a curve and modify the scale, layout, Bk layout and Header.
Click Change to validate your choice.

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The 2nd button is the shift mode.

The 3rd button is the Trend Mode.

The 4th button is the scroll mode (up or down of x m or feet)

The 5th filed is the scale

The 6th field is the navigator

The 7th buttons are the zoom in and out capabilities

The 8th button is the Show / Hide Header.

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3.1 SHIFTS
The shift mode allows you to built a continuous curve without discontinuities due to drilling
parameters or bit performanaces or Lithology.
Select a proper scale: 1/10000 or 1/5000 to be able to identify the discontinuities:

To neutralize the shift, click on the points that you want to move and drag it to the
reference point.
Release the cursor, the program will apply the shift and draw the new curve shifted from
this point to the bottom:

The blue curve is the DexC Raw and the red curve is the DexC. The pore gradient is
always calculated from the DexC curve.

The left arrow undo the last shift; the right arrow clears all shifts

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3.2 NORMAL COMPACTION TREND

Click on the Trend mode:

Click on the small pencil to draw the Trend:

Click (left button of the mouse) on the origin of the trend (upper point) and drag the line
keeping the left button of the mouse pressed.
Release the button when the trend is drawn correctly.

The program shows you the theoretical slope of the trend. Rotate the pink trend to find out
the right slope for the regional compaction trend. Use the grey one (0.088 each 1000m):
as possible reference.

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Drag it on the D Exp curve to cover most of the points.

Finally save the trend:

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3.3 CALCULATION OF PORE AND FRACTURE GRADIENTS

Enable Gradients calculations by clicking on the small calculator.

Finally Save the session by clicking on the Save button (upper left)

Remember: it’s not possible to print the D Exp curve and gradients from this
program.
The print out will be done using already prepared configuration in LogViewer.
Refer to next chapter.

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4 PRESSURE LOG
With the GO_Configurator, it is possible to built a Pressure Log reporting the D Exponent
curves and the various gradients:

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5 EXPORT VARIABLES IN ASCII

Click on the small spread sheet in upper right

This allows the export of all variables on an Excel sheet which can be given to the
Customer:

Choose the Excel option and press Next:

Include column titles and press next.

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Click next and keep the default options until this window and choose to open the file.
Click Execute.

An Excel sheet is opened and contains the parameters (SI Units) and the Gradients in SI
and User Units.

This sheet can be modified according to the Customer request.

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