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Petrophysical Evaluation

Competency Statement:

Prepare a logging program for a petroleum exploration well. Determine lithology and pore fluid properties using open hole wireline logs, mud logs, wireline formation tester samples and side wall samples. Use log data to calculate petrophysical properties of a petroleum reservoir including clay volume, porosity, and water saturation.

Learning Objective:

  • Define key petrophysical properties measured by logging tools and their application to petroleum reservoir characterization.
  • Understand the operating principles, capabilities, limitations and uses of common open hole logging devices.
  • Describe basic response and limitation of each log curve type.
  • Determine the petrophysical parameters of a petroleum reservoir: lithology, clay volume, porosity and water saturation.

Assignment Instruction:

Beta Petroleum is planning to drill an exploration well on the Gama structure in the New Basin (see location map). As the Operations Geologist, you will consult with the Petrophysicist to:

  • Develop a data acquisition program (mud-logging and wireline logging) for the Gama 1 well.
  • Understand Quick Look evaluation of log responses for a variety of lithology and pore fill possibilities.
  • Use Quick Look evaluation of the Gama 1 well logs to select wireline formation tester (WLFT) pressure measurement and sample points and to select side wall sample (SWS) depths. You will interpret the fluid distribution in the well and determine the petrophysical parameters of the petroleum reservoir: clay volume, porosity and water saturation.

Apply the petrophysical principles from the Background Knowledge Selector to the Quick Look test log and to the Gama 1 logs provided in References and Field Data to complete each assignment.

Location Map of Gama Structure

Figure 1 Location Map of the Gama Stucture