Logging Optimization and Data Analysis Enabling Bypass Pay Identification and Hydrocarbon Quantification with Advanced Pulsed Neutron Behind Casing

Ukraine ranks the third largest gas reserves in Europe. Gas production is carried out mainly from the Dnieper-Donets Basin (DDB). A gradual decline in reserves is forcing Ukraine to actively search for possible sources to increase reserves by finding bypassed gas intervals in existing wells or exploration of new prospects. This paper describes 3 case studies, where advanced pulsed neutron logging technology has shown exceptional value in gas-bearing layer identification in different scenarios. The logging technology was applied for formation evaluation. The technology is based on the neutron interaction with the minerals and the fluids contained in the pore space. The logging tool combines measurements from multiple detectors and spacing for self-compensated neutron cross-capture section (sigma) and hydrogen index (HI), and the Fast Neutron Cross Section (FNXS) high-energy neutron elastic cross section rock property. Comprehensive capture and inelastic elemental spectroscopy are simultaneously recorded and processed to describe the elemental composition and the matrix properties, reducing the uncertainties related to drilling cuttings analysis, and overall, the petrophysical evaluation combined with other log outputs. The proposed methodology was tested in several wells, both in open hole and behind casing. In the study we present its application in three wells from different fields of the DDB. The log data acquisition and analysis were performed across several sandstone beds and carbonates formation with low porosities (<10%), in various combinations of casing and holes sizes. The results showed the robustness and effectiveness of using the advanced pulsed neutron logging (PNL) technologies in multiple cases: Case Study A: Enabling a standalone cased hole evaluation and highlighting new potential reservoir zones otherwise overlooked due to absence of open hole logs. Case Study B: Finding by-passed hydrocarbon intervals that were missed from log analysis based on conventional open hole logs for current field operator. Case Study C: Identifying gas saturated reservoirs and providing solid lithology identification that previously was questioned from drilling cuttings in an unconventional reservoir.

Unlocking Potential in Thinly Laminated Reservoirs Through Cased Hole Pulsed Neutron Logging

Field A is located in the center of the Dnieper-Donets basin (DDB), producing gas from clastic reservoirs from several deep horizons in the Upper Visean sediments. The case study highlights the application of advanced pulsed neutron logging technologies and high-resolution data processing to unlock the sedimentary layers’ characteristics and the gas potential behind the casing. Multiple rock measurements are simultaneously recorded for continuous lithology identification, porosity quantification, and differentiating gas-filled porosity from low porosity formations. Dedicated log data acquisition and processing techniques enable investigating the effect of thin laminations on reservoir quality and producibility. The use of advanced pulsed neutron logging and interpretation method reduces the operational risks while securing critical reservoir parameters. A pulsed neutron spectroscopy tool provided a rich dataset including a self-compensated sigma and neutron porosity logs, fast neutron cross section (FNXS) together with capture and inelastic elemental spectroscopy. The logs interpretation was performed integrating FNXS and very high-resolution neutron porosity with mineral dry weight fractions and matrix properties from elemental spectroscopy processing. The comparison between the pulsed neutron measurements with standard open hole logs highlights the critical role of advanced fit-to-purpose logging techniques to accurately describe the underlying complexity of the formation and obtain improved net reservoir and net pay thicknesses in laminated and heterogeneous sequences. The logging objectives were successfully met, and additional valuable information related to the reservoir were determined in an efficient manner. The study also shows the critical value of FNXS as confident gas measurement. The FNXS measures the ability of the formation interacting with fast neutrons which are highly dependent on atomic density and not dominated by particular isotopes such as traditional sigma and porosity measurements. It is highly sensitive to gas-filled porosity, but it is independent of hydrogen index, acting like a cased-hole density measurement. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of accurate knowledge of the mineralogy and matrix as well as the ability to measure at very high resolution to unravel the highly layered nature of the formation and its implication on completion and production strategy. Pulsed neutron logging has evolved over a half century, but the intrinsic physical measurements remain unchanged. With the advent and introduction of the new FNXS measurement and a high-quality spectroscopy elemental concentration, a higher quality measurement and interpretation can be obtained from standalone pulsed neutron logging. The advanced technology and log data analysis interpretation module can be considered as an effective and comprehensive methodology for robust formation evaluation in similar and complex setting.

Petrophysical Analysis of ‘Bright’ Field, Onshore Niger Delta

Petrophysical analysis is key to the success of any oil exploration and exploitation work and this task requires evaluation of the reservoir parameters in order to enhance accurate estimation of the volume of oil in place. This research work involves the use of suite of well logs from 4-wells to carry out the petrophysical analysis of ‘Bright’ Field Niger Delta. The approach used includes lithology identification, reservoir delineation and estimation of reservoir parameters. Two sand bodies were mapped across the entire field showing their geometry and lateral continuity, gamma ray and resistivity logs were used to delineate the reservoirs prior to correlation and relevant equations were used to estimate the reservoir parameters. The result of the petrophysical analysis showed variations in the reservoir parameters within the two correlated sand bodies with high hydrocabon saturation in sand 1 well 1 while the remaining wells within the correlated wells are water bearing. The porosity values range from 0.19 to 0.32, volume of shale from 0.15 to 0.40, water saturation from 0.20 to 0.92 for the sand bodies.

Workflow of Petrophysical Analysis Performed at Mine in Karaganda Coal Basin

For accurate coal bed methane (CBM) reserves estimation, it is necessary to evaluate reservoir characteristics. We present a workflow for formation evaluation of coalbed-methane wells, by interpretation of a limited number of legacy logs, including data preprocessing, lithology identification, proximate analysis and estimation of gas content of coal beds. This workflow allowed the estimation of ash content from the available logs, including selective log (analogue of photoelectric absorption), which was recorded only on the territory of the former Soviet Union and never used for such calculations before. Even though the logs were recorded by old tools with low vertical resolution, we were able to identify heterogeneity of coal seams, using the principle of core ash content distribution. Integrated analysis of old core data and recent laboratory measurements of samples from coal pillars allowed to calculate proximate properties of the coal, which showed good match with observed data and could be considered as input parameters for property distribution in the geological model. Also, it is worth to mention that an advanced plug-in was deployed to perform calculation of proximate properties and gas content for all available options and to significantly reduce time for screening different algorithms and rapidly analyzing results.

Integration of magnetic, gravity, and well-logging data interpretation to delineate the structural framework and formation evaluation of Bahariya Formation, North Diyur area, northern Western Desert, Egypt

The Bahariya Formation in Egypt's Western Desert is a major source for minerals and hydrocarbon accumulation. It is also characterized by a relatively high radiation content because it contains iron oxide deposits that attract radioactive elements. The main objectives of our study are to establish depth to basement, basement configuration and related structural elements, and thickness and configuration of the overlain sedimentary section. In addition to the analysis of well-logging data, many advanced techniques have been applied to analyze magnetic and gravity data, including depth estimation, 2D magnetic and gravity modeling, and 3D inversion of potential field data. By integrating all available data, we can determine the structural control of the study area and evaluate the subsurface parameters. Well logging has been used for interpretation of porous and permeable zones, water saturation calculation, and basic lithology identification. The depth to basement in our study ranges from −1700 to −4500 m. The basement is shallow in the northern parts of the study area and deeper in the southern parts. The main clay minerals of the formation are montmorillonite, chlorite, and a mixed clay layer. The Bahariya Formation is composed mainly of sandy clay and sandstone, and therefore it is considered an excellent reservoir.