Schlumberger
Wireline & Testing
D. DEFINITION OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
D.1 DEFINITION OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
Production logging is the measurement of
fluid parameters on a zone-by-zone basis to
yield information about the type and movement of fluids within and near the wellbore.
Production logging is intended primarily for
measuring the performance of producing
wells. It provides diagnostic information, pinpoints where fluids such as water, oil and gas
are entering a well and gives an indication
about the efficiency of the perforations.
Traditional production logging involves four
measurements - flow, density, temperature
and pressure. However, only the flow and
density readings are used in traditional quantitative production logging analysis. Temperature and pressure data have normally been
used in a qualitative way to compute in-situ
flow properties and locate zones of entry of
fluid into a well.
By the late 1950s and early 1960s the basic
sensor types had been developed as individual
tools. The surveys required a seperate pass to
obtain flowmeter, gradiomanometer, temperature and so on. 1970 saw the sensors
packaged together in one tool, meaning a
more efficient single run in the hole. The individual measurements still had to be run one
at a time. By the end of the decade advances
in electronics allowed everything to be recorded in a single pass across the zone of interest. This had many advantages not least the
savings in time.
Improvements continued through the 1980s to
the present day with better sensors, especially
pressure gauges, and deployment methods.
The latest tool uses completely new technology to measure a flow profile for the individual fluid phases all around the borehole.
D.2 HISTORY OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
Modern Production Logging is far from the
early beginnings of the technique, with highly
accurate sensors all on a single tool with simultaneous acquisition. However a lot of sensors go back some considerable time. Temperature surveys were first used in the mid
1930s. One use was the estimation of the top
of the cement behind the casing. The setting
process of the cement is an exothermic reaction, it gives off heat. Hence the temperature
sensor sees where there is cement in the
well. (Note; this method is still used, in order
to work well the log has to be run less than 12
hours after the cement has been pumped.)
(01/97) D-1
Introduction to Production Logging
D.3 USES OF PRODUCTION
LOGGING
Production Logging is put to many uses depending on the reservoir type, well conditions
and the perceived problem. (See Figure D1).
Some of the major ones are:
1. Evaluate completion performance
- New wells
- Injection wells
- Re-completions
2. Monitor reservoir performance & variations
- Flow profile
- Well test
(01/97) D-2
- Completion Efficiency
3. Diagnose well problems
- Water entry
- Gas entry
- Leaks and mechanical
problems
- Flow behind casing
4. Other
- Guidance for workover
- Information for enhanced oil
recovery projects
- Identify boundaries for field
development
Schlumberger
Wireline & Testing
Casing
Leak
Tubing
Leak
Packer
Leak
P1
o il
P2>>P1
Bad Cement
Unwanted
fluid flow
P2
Fig. D1: Common problems encountered in the producing wells.
Some are due to mechanical problems others to the reservoirs
(01/97) D-3
Introduction to Production Logging
D.4 PRODUCTION LOGGING
MEASUREMENTS
D.4.1 Tools
Production logging tools consist of a number
of sensors which make the measurements inside the well (Figure D2). The main types are:
1. Flowrate (fluid velocity) measurement
- Spinner rotation
2. Fluid density measurement
- Differential pressure
- Gamma ray attentuation
3. Well bore temperature
- Variance in resistance
4. Well bore pressure
- Strain gauges
- Crystal gauges
A number of auxiliary measurements are used
to augment or assist in the analysis of the
major logs. They are:
Flowmeter
- GR /CCL for correlation
- Caliper (mechanical)
- Fluid sampling
- Noise Logs
- Tracer surveys
- Water Flow Log
Fig. D2: A typical production logging tool string contains a number of sensors
(01/97) D-4
Schlumberger
Wireline & Testing
D.4.2
1. Flowmeter
- Determine producing zones
- Stimulation evaluation
- Secondary recovery
- Flow potential evaluation (SIP,
AOF)
2. Temperature
- Location of production or injection
zones
- Monitor frac performance
- Gas entry
- Fluid movement behind pipe
- Fluid conversions
3. Fluid Density
- Determine volumetric flow in two
phase flow
- Show entry points in three phase
flow
Gradio
Up
Run
Down
Run
Temperature
600
Perforations
Applications of specific
measurements
Each sensor has some specific uses, most are
utilised in combination, however, to give a
total answer for the well/reservoir.
Spinners
700
800
Fig. D3: A typical production log.
4. Pressure
- Well test analysis (kh, skin)
- Reservoir extent, boundaries
- Fluid conversions
- AOF, SIP determination
(01/97) D-5
Introduction to Production Logging
D.5 PRODUCTION LOGGING
ENVIRONMENT
The production logging environment is very
different from that of open hole logging.
Firstly in place there is normally a completion, which can take many forms. The reservoir zone may be open hole, perforated casing
or gravel pack. There may be single or multiple zones and single or multiple tubings.
The log is normally run in dynamic conditions, the well is flowing mixtures of liquids
and gases.
- Oil, water, polymers.
- Methane +, N2, CO2, H2S, He.
(Quite often there are solids present - formation, frac propant, paraffin, scale, diverter
balls, etc.)
Hence care and attention has to be taken in the
logging program so that the maximum information is obtained to answer the problem.
D.6 LOGGING AND
INTERPRETATION
PROCEDURES
The procedure to ensure a successful production log is simple and can be broken down
into three steps,
- programming the job,
- running the job and
- interpreting the data.
D.6.1 Programming the job
The first step starts with defining the problem:
e.g. Oil production is falling, water cut
is increasing.
Then list and quantify symptoms and well
conditions, for example:
Water Cut has increased from 2% to
15% in six months
Total production has fallen from 800 to
500 B/D
GOR - 350 cu ft/bbl
(01/97) D-6
Tubing head pressure - 1200 psia
Oil gravity - 30 oAPI
Gas gravity - 0.7
Then define sensors needed and technique
necessary to gather required data. (Mechanical
configuration of the well must be considered.)
This may include:
Fluid velocity, density, pressure, and
temperature need to be measured
Data is to be taken vs depth and vs time
with the well flowing and static
5 1/2-in. casing set to 9550 ft. 0 deviation
2 7/8-in. tubing set to 9350 ft.
Perforations - 9400-9450 / 9460-9475
Fill (TD ?)
Then determine if there is a reasonable possibility of solving the problem with available
sensors. For instance:
The well is producing above the bubble
point (down hole) and downhole water
production is greater than 10% of the
total downhole flow.
D.6.2 Running the job
The second step starts with gathering all the
required data.
Calibrate the tools
Maintain depth control
Record data optically and magnetically
D.6.3 Interpreting the data
Choose a Single or Biphasic interpretation
model. Select Computer interpretation or
manual. In both cases the general equations
are the same.
Qh = Yh Qt - Yh (1 - Yh) Vs A
Ql = Qt - Qh
Qt - Total flowrate
Schlumberger
Wireline & Testing
Qh - Heavy phase flowrate
Vs - Velocity of the light phase relative to
the heavy phase
Ql - Light phase flowrate
A - Cross-sectional area
Yh - Heavy phase holdup (decimal percent
by volume)
Finally produce the answer (see Figure D4).
Fig. D4: The result of a production log interpretation
D.7 PRODUCTION LOGGING
OPERATIONS
Production logging sensors are available in
many configurations depending on their intended use.
Communication between the operating company and the service company is very important for successful production logging. In any
form of well servicing, good communications
are wise; but, in production logging, good
dialogue is critical to solving production
problems. It is also essential for acquiring
(01/97) D-7
Introduction to Production Logging
good base data to more accurately monitor
well performance and to solve future production problems.
Casing Collar
Locator
Gamma Ray
Although there are many types of sensors, this
does not necessarily imply that several trips
into the well will be needed to solve a particular problem. Acquisition of the various
forms of data can often be accomplished with
one trip into the well by multiplexing the signals from the combined tool string. In addition to rig time savings and convenience, the
reduced number of trips into the hole can
produce less disturbance of the production
profile as a result of fewer pressure releases
with the surface pressure control equipment;
this helps assure that all the sensors are logging the flow conditions with simultaneous
measurements.
D.7.1 Depth Control
Casing Collar Locator Section
Figure D5 shows a combination tool. The
tool has several production logging sensors
and a casing collar locator section. As with
most tools run in casing, it is very important
that casing collars be recorded. Collars are
the only positive depth control link between
the production logging sensors and the formation strata.
Gamma Ray Log
The other half of depth control is a gamma ray
log run in casing simultaneously with a casing
collar log. The gamma ray in casing is depth
matched to the openhole logs; therefore, the
casing collars that were recorded simultaneously will be on depth, or correctly depth
matched, relative to the openhole logs. Any
subsequent services run in casing with a casing collar locator that is depth-matched to the
Gamma ray plus collar log will be on depth
with the openhole logs.
(01/97) D-8
Flowmeter
Fig. D5: Standard tool string showing the casing collar locator and gamma ray
This procedure is necessary for the depth
measurement accuracy required for perforating, plugs, packers, etc. If cement evaluation
is run, a gamma ray and collar locator are
usually combined with the cement evaluation
tool, typically a sonic device, to acquire depth
control data simultaneously with cement information. These logs are not absolutely essential if the production logging tool string
contains a gamma ray section; however, the
gamma ray - collar log is usually run for perforating accuracy far in advance of the decision to run production logging tools that may
contain a gamma ray.
