Spontaneous Potential Measurement

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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
Spontaneous Potential
Schlumberger 1999
1
1
SP Theory 1
SP results from electric currents flowing in the
drilling mud.
There are three sources of the currents, two
electrochemical and one electrokinetic.
Membrane potential - largest.
Liquid - junction potential.
Streaming potential - smallest.
2
2
SP theory 2
Membrane and Liquid Potential
These two effects are the main components of the SP. They are
caused because the mud flitrate and the formation waters contain
NaCl in different proportions.
Firstly, shales are permeable to the Sodium ions but not
the Chlorine. Hence there is a movement of charged
particles through the shale creating a current and thus a potential.
The ions Na+ and Cl- have different mobilities at the junction of
the invaded and virgin zones. The movement of the ions across
this boundary creates another current and hence a potential.
Streaming Potential
This is generated by flow of the mud filtrate through the mud
cake. As this does not normally occur this effect is small. It will
only become important if there are high differential pressures
across the formations.
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3
SP theory 3
4
4
SP scales
The SP is measured in millivolts, mV.
The scale on the log shows a number of mV per
division for example 20mV/division. This gives a
total for the track of 200mV.
The scale across the track is variable and depends
on the conditions in the well.
The scale is set during logging to have the SP
curve in the track over the zone of interest and as
much of the rest of the log as possible.
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5
log-1
The SSP is the
quantity to be
determined.
It is the deflection
seen on the SP
from the Shale
Base Line (zero
point) to the Sand
Line (max.
deflection)
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example log 2
The maximum
SP deflection in
this example
occurs at the
same depths as
the resistivity
curves show a
separation.
The minimum
point on the SP
corresponds to
where all the
resistivity
curves overlay,
no invasion, a
shale.
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SP uses
Differentiate potentially porous and permeable
reservoir rocks from impermeable clays.
Define bed boundaries.
Give an indication of shaliness (maximum

deflection is clean; minimum is shale).
Determine Rw in both salt and fresh muds.
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Rw from the SP
Rw is often known from client information or
local knowledge.
The SP can be used to check the value or compute
it when it is unavailable.
It is especially useful when there are variations
along the borehole.
SSP = k log
Rmfe
Rwe
K is a constant - depending on the temperature.
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9
Rw from the SP
Knowing the SSP (the maximum deflection) from
the log and the temperature, the ratio of
resistivities is obtained from Log Interpretation
Chart SP-1.
Rmfe
output =
Rwe
10
10
Rw from SP 2
Rmf is measured, using the mud cell.

Rmfe is computed from Log Interpretation Chart
SP-2.
Rwe is computed, from the ratio from SP1 and
Rmfe.
11
Chart SP-2 output is Rw.
11
ppm
Grains/gal
at 75F
Salinities chart
200
10
300
15
400
20
10
8
6
5
3
2
600
500
200
0
170
0
140
0
1
2
0
0
100
0
800
700
0.8
0.6
0.5
0.4
300
0
0.3
20,
000
17,
000
14,
0
0
12 0
,
0
00
10,
000
80
70000
0
600
0
50
0
0
400
0
0.2
0.1
0.08
0.06
0.05
80,0
70,0 00
00
6
0
,
0
00
50,0
00
40,0
00
30,0
00
0.04
0.03
0.02
300
,000
0.01
50
10
75
20
30
100
40
125
150
200
50
60 70 80 90 100
280,
250,000
000
200,0
00
170,
0
140, 00
120,000
000
100,
000
Resistivity of Solution ( - m)
250
300 350 400
120 140 160 180 200
25
30
40
50
100
150
200
250
300
400
500
NaCl Concentration (ppm or grains/gal)
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
4000
5000
10,000
15,000
20,000
Temperature (F or C)
This chart is used to compute salinities from

resistivities of solution e.g. mud, and vice versa.
It is also used to find the resistivities at a given
temperature.
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12
SP borehole Effects - 1
Baseline shifts:
These can occur when there are beds of different
salinities separated by a shale which does not act
as a perfect membrane.
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SP Borehole Effects - 2
Resistive formation:
The presence of a resistive bed in a permeable
interval will disrupt the SP deflection. The
current is contained and hence the potential drop
changes with depth. The log takes a sloped
appearance.
The log in this situation can no longer define the

bed boundaries correctly.
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SP surface Effects
The SP can be affected by a number of surface
effects as it relies on the fish as its reference
electrode.
Power lines, electric trains, electric welding, close
radio transmitters:
All these create ground currents which disrupt he
"fish" reference causing a poor, sometimes
useless, log.
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