Re-Engineered Formation Evaluation Suite Brings Higher Efficiency to Wireline Logging Operations in South East Asia

Abstract

A new wireline combination tool called PLATFORM EXPRESS integrates sensors traditionally used for formation evaluation into a short, highly reliable and efficient wireline logging system. The sensors of the conventional triple combination logging string (density, neutron, resistivity and auxiliary logs) have been upgraded, re-packaged and re-engineered into a combination tool which is less than half as long, can be logged twice as fast and delivers better quality answers. The reengineering of the tool incorporates an accelerometer for real-time depth-matching, and improved pad kinematics for better quality log measurements in poor hole conditions. In the following, we show case studies of the results of PLATFORM EXPRESS logs from the Asia Pacific region, comparing logging times with those of routine operations using conventional technology. A number of example logs are included to illustrate the benefits of the new logging system for improved wellsite data analysis. Introduction One of the objectives of logging is to provide continuous depth-indexed quantitative measurements of formation properties, in order to assist operators in making testing and completion decisions soon after drilling. In the last twenty five years, the combination of density, neutron porosity and resistivity log measurements together with auxiliary curves such as the gamma ray, spontaneous potential and caliper, has become the industry standard evaluation suite. With the introduction of computerized surface equipment and high-speed data transmission these measurements were combined into one logging string, the so-called 'Triple-combo'. Triple-combo's are available as wireline logging combinations or as logging while drilling ("LWD") combinations. In recent years the emphasis in the logging industry has been to improve the accuracy and resolution of individual sensors and to provide yet more combinations. The PLATFORM EXPRESS is a radical departure from this trend. A combination string has been designed from scratch, integrating sensors into a shorter, more robust platform of inter-linked measurements. This change of approach not only yields benefits in terms of compactness and hence operational efficiency, but also generates improvements in data quality and interpretation. P. 415