Geofluids (2006) 6, 225–233 doi: 10.1111/j.1468-8123.2006.00152.

Real-time mud gas logging and sampling during drilling

J. ERZINGER, T. WIERSBERG AND M. ZIMMER
GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam (GFZ), Telegrafenberg, Potsdam, Germany

ABSTRACT
Continuous mud gas loggings during drilling as well as offline mud gas sampling are standard procedures in oil
and gas operations, where they are used to test reservoir rocks for hydrocarbons while drilling. Our research
group has developed real-time mud gas monitoring techniques for scientific drilling in non-hydrocarbon forma-
tions mainly to sample and study the composition of crustal gases. We describe in detail this technique and pro-
vide examples for the evaluation of the continuous gas logs, which are not always easy to interpret.
Hydrocarbons, helium, radon and with limitations carbon dioxide and hydrogen are the most suitable gases for
the detection of fluid-bearing horizons, shear zones, open fractures, sections of enhanced permeability and per-
mafrost methane hydrate occurrences. Off-site isotope studies on mud gas samples helped reveal the origin and
evolution of deep-seated crustal fluids.

Key words: deep fluid, drilling, gases, helium, logging, methane, monitoring, mud gas, radon

Received 12 July 2005; accepted 13 April 2006

Corresponding author: Jörg Erzinger, GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Section 4.2, Telegrafenberg, D-14473
Potsdam, Germany.
Email: erz@gfz-potsdam.de. Tel: ++49 (0)331 288 1420. Fax: ++49 (0)331 288 1474.

Geofluids (2006) 6, 225–233

drilling and to fulfill safety regulations. While mud gas

INTRODUCTION
Hydrocarbon mud gas logging has been commercially used
by the oil industry since the late 1930s to detect and valid-
ate pay horizons while drilling or coring. Generally speak-
ing, the mud gas comprises air and components that are
mechanically released as the drill bit crushes the rocks dur-
ing drilling, components present in the rock pore space,
and gas entering the borehole, either as free gas or, more
likely, dissolved in liquids. A portion of the circulating
mud which returns to surface is run into a mud gas separ-
ator. The extracted mixture of gas and air is then led into
a gas chromatograph (GC), where, usually, the hydrocar-
bons are determined (Whittaker 1991; Hunt 1996).
Depending on client’s needs, either total flammable gases,
or individual hydrocarbons (methane [C1], ethane [C2],
propane [C3], n/i-butane [C4] and pentane [C5]) are ana-
lyzed. For safety reasons, H2S and/or CO2 are sometimes
monitored using separate detectors. Recently, an advanced
approach was introduced which has been termed mud gas
isotope logging. This technique improves standard mud
gas chromatography by incorporating associated genetic
carbon isotope information (Ellis et al. 2003).
The standard industry techniques were designed specifi-
cally to evaluate reservoir rocks for hydrocarbons during
Ó 2006 The Authors
Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
extraction techniques and analysis has significantly
improved in recent years, the resulting mud gas logs are
in most cases not evaluated for non-hydrocarbon gases.
To our knowledge, our group was the first to conduct
real-time mud gas monitoring and sampling in non-reser-
voir rocks, e.g., sandstone and crystalline rock sequences
to gain information on non-hydrocarbon crustal gas con-
tents (Zimmer & Erzinger 1995; Möller et al. 1997;
Bach et al. 1999; Erzinger et al. 2004; Wiersberg et al.
2005). The technique is operationally simple and compar-
atively inexpensive, because it is easily accommodated on
drill rigs and requires no additional rig time. Because the
gas samples are taken during drilling it also has important
application to aiding decisions if and at what depth rock
or fluid samples should be taken. However, the technique
only works if drill mud circulation is established. In
highly fractured or brecciated young volcanic rocks, for
example, there is a likely risk that mud is lost in the drill
hole and does not reach the surface (see e.g., Hawaiian
Scientific Drilling Project, http://www.icdp-online.de/
sites/hawaii/news/news.html). Other fluid sampling
methods, such as wireline, production, and drill-stem test-
ing are desirable but more expensive. However, optimal
information on crustal fluid composition can only be
226 J. ERZINGER et al.
achieved by continuous pumping of a designated test
interval.
This article describes special problems with non-hydro-
carbon mud gas analysis, including data processing and
analysis. Three examples of continuous mud gas logs and
their scientific interpretation are presented.
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND DATA
COLLECTION
The gas dissolved in the drilling mud is extracted mechan-
ically under slight vacuum using a custom-built water-gas
separator (Fig. 1). This is composed of a steel cylinder
(30 cm diameter, variable height) with an explosion-proof
electrical motor on top that drives a stirring impeller
mounted inside the cylinder. It is important that the axle-
shaft bearings should be air tight. The gas separator is nor-
mally installed in the mud pit above the shaker screens as
close as possible to the outlet of the mudflow line to min-
imize air contamination and degassing of the drill mud
immediately before gas extraction. The gas-trap we use has
a much greater volume than most commercial oil-field sep-
arators (see e.g., Whittaker 1991), because the amount of
gas is generally low in crystalline rocks.
The gas space in the separator head depends on the mud
level in the mud pit and on the applied vacuum (15–
20 mbar below ambient air pressure). The mud level
within the cylinder is kept constant with the help of con-
Fig. 1. Sketch of the custom-built mud gas separator.
Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
densation trap bottles (detailed drawings of gas and con-
densation traps are available on request from the authors).
A small membrane pump is used to build up vacuum
and to pump the extracted gas via PTFE tubes (4 mm
inner diameter) into a laboratory trailer, which should be
installed not more than a few tens of meters away from the
gas separator. The gas tubes are heated to prevent water
vapor from condensing within them and to maintain con-
stant gas temperature. Depending on the amount of dis-
solved mud gas, the gas flux is adjusted between 6 and
20 l min)1, which in turn determines the pressure in the
separator and the travel time to the trailer. When the mud
gas content is small, the mud would rise in the separator
cylinder and could flood into the gas flowline. In this case,
the condensation trap acts as a security valve and opens the
separator to the atmosphere. This results in strong air con-
tamination of the mud gas, which is easily recognizable in
the data.
The efficiency of the separator depends mainly on impeller
spin, mud temperature and type, and vacuum applied. Less
soluble gases such as He will be more easily released than
others, so one needs to consider fractionation effects. Gener-
ally, the gas phase released from freshly prepared air-satur-
ated mud yields atmospheric compositions with He slightly
increased and CO2 depleted because of mud alkalinity.
Water vapor is removed from the mud gas flowline with
a Peltier gas cooler at about 5°C, and the gas is fed into
an automatic gas sampling system (Fig. 2). This sampler
collects non-pressurized gas samples from the mud gas
stream in glass or metal cylinders for subsequent laboratory
and isotope investigations off-site. The sampler is remote
controlled either by the mass spectrometer or the GC. The
remote signal is switched on or off when a pre-set thresh-
old concentration of a given type of gas is reached.
From the gas flowline between cooler and collector sys-
tem each analytical device (mass spectrometer, GC, radon
detector) individually takes its necessary amount of gas. At
the end of the mud gas flowline a sensitive mechanical gas
meter is mounted.
Gas mass spec H2, He, Ar, CO2, CH4, N2, O2
Gas chromatograph CH4, C2H6, C3H8, C4H10
Alpha-detector 222Rn
Fig. 2. Sketch of the real-time mud gas monitoring setup. The gas phase is
released from the circulating drilling mud and pumped into a nearby labor-
atory trailer for on-line analysis.
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N2, O2, Ar, CO2, CH4, He, H2 and (H2S) are deter-
mined by a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) of the
type OmniStarÒ (Pfeiffer Vacuum, Germany). The QMS
needs a gas flux of about 30 ml gas per hour. A complete
QMS analysis, with detection limits of 1 ppmv (parts per
million by volume), is achieved with this setup after an
integration time of 12 s. However, a sampling interval of
1 min is chosen to reduce the amount of data produced.
Hydrocarbons (CH4, C2H6, C3H8, i-C4H10, and
n-C4H10) are analyzed at 9-min intervals with a automated
standard field GC, which is equipped with a flame ioniza-
tion detector. Detection limits for the hydrocarbons are at
about 10 ppmv.
The 222Radon activity is determined every 30 min with a
custom-built Lucas cell alpha-detector (scintillation cham-
ber equipped with a photomultiplier). This detector is cal-
ibrated against a reference alpha-ray source. The detection
limit is about 5 Bq m)3 gas. In addition, we routinely
determine electrical conductivity, pH and temperature con-
tinuously during the drilling operation within the mud pit
at 10-min intervals, independent of the commercial mud
logging service.
The analytical devices are controlled at regular intervals
and re-calibrated if necessary with air, pure CO2, and certi-
fied gas mixtures, the compositions of which are selected
according to the expected nature of mud gas. Within the
range of the mud gas concentrations of most field studies,
the specific sensitivity factors of the QMS are independent
of gas concentrations, as verified before and after fieldwork
in our laboratories. During drilling, gas data are recorded
with date and time and a rough time versus depth estimate
is calculated on site using the so-called driller’s depth. Gas
concentration logs are later adjusted for depth according
to the calculated mud flow lag time. Lag time is calculated
from hole capacity, mud pump yield, and hole depth at a
given time by performing carbide tests, regularly (e.g.,
Whittaker 1991). Those data and calculations can be provi-
ded by the mud logging company. Isobaric mass interfer-
ences need to be considered (e.g., 16 Oþ versus 12 C1 Hþ 4,
etc.), as in all application of mass spectrometry.
Offline ‘trip gas’ samples are routinely collected for off-
site laboratory studies. Mud circulation stops during pipe
tripping, logging and other duties allowing gas concentra-
tion to rise in the mud. When circulation resumes, a ‘spike’
of high dissolved gas concentration may show up.
INTERPRETATION OF MUD LOG GASES
The conversion of mud gas contents into concentrations in
the drilled rocks is quantitatively not possible with the
experimental setup described here. Even a qualitative inter-
pretation is difficult and requires the integration of wireline
log responses and cuttings or core sample analysis, the con-
sideration of the chemical behavior of the type of gas, mud
Ó 2006 The Authors
Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
Mud gas logging and sampling 227
conditions, drilling and pumping rates, and specific hole
conditions. Furthermore, the conditions on how the gases
are ‘stored’ in the formations may influence mud gas con-
centrations, too.
If a gas is mainly contained in the solid phase or low
permeability pore systems, the mud gas concentration is
likely to be mainly controlled by drilling rate, type of drill
bit, and mud circulation rate. If gases are dissolved in
mobile fluids, the mud weight balance can determine how
much of the fluid enters the borehole. With excess mud
weight, much of the fluid may be pushed into the pore
space, whereas underbalanced mud weight allow the fluid
to enter the borehole resulting in high mud gas contents.
The presence of free gases in a given subsurface volume
will have a greater effect than an equal volume of porosity
containing a liquid with dissolved gas.
Although free oxygen is unlikely in deep crustal fluids,
the drill mud contains abundant O2 (as well as N2 and
Ar), because it is in contact with the atmosphere. Some of
this O2 reacts with ferrous iron, sulfides, and pipe steel in
the hole, with the result that the gaseous oxygen concen-
tration of the mud, when it returns to surface, is lower
than before. These processes always result in a relative
increase in N2 and Ar concentrations. In this case the N2
to Ar ratio is similar to the atmospheric ratio (approxi-
mately 80) and varies only within analytical error limits. In
most cases, an additional uptake of nitrogen into the drill
mud is not detectable. However, we have experienced cases
where the influx of N2 was strong enough to be recog-
nized by an increasing N2/Ar, as crustal fluids regularly
contain much less Argon relative to nitrogen than the
atmosphere (e.g., Lippmann et al. 2005). The detected
CO2 concentration in the drill mud is not necessarily rep-
resentative of the gas composition at depth. The solubility
of CO2 (and H2S if present) in fluids strongly depends on
pH and temperature. Water-based bentonite drill mud is
generally adjusted at around pH 9, thus, free CO2 reacts
to bicarbonate and carbonate and free H2S reacts to sul-
fate. Therefore, only large amounts of CO2 and H2S enter-
ing the hole may be detected at the surface (see Fig. 6 for
CO2).
Hydrocarbons (HC), He, Rn, CO2, and H2 are variably
enriched in natural deep fluids relative to the atmosphere,
which make these gases much more suitable for detection
of fluid-bearing horizons such as shear zones, open frac-
tures and sections of enhanced permeability. However, care
must be taken if drill mud additives such as esters and
lubricants are used. There is a chance that some CH4 may
be produced artificially during drilling by thermal and/or
mechanical cracking of those additives and of pipe dope
(Faber 1995). In such cases the HC data are disturbed,
especially if igneous rocks poor in HC are drilled. During
the drilling process traces of H2, generally up to
500 ppmv, can be produced in the drill hole because of
228 J. ERZINGER et al.

chemical reactions between the mud and steel of the drill ite as a viscofier was used until a depth of about 7200 m
string and casing. Particularly in the case of high mecha- (Herold et al. 1988). Regarding the physico-chemical
nical strain on diamond drill bits the H2 concentration behavior of gases, this mud type is similar to a normal water-
may be even higher (Zimmer & Erzinger 1995). However, based drill mud. Its defined chemical composition and very
if H2 is enriched in the rocks it can be easily determined low chloride content enabled the detection of even small
(Wiersberg & Erzinger 2005). amounts of saline-forming fluids entering the borehole.
Even if detailed data interpretation is not possible during The continuous drilling fluid analysis in the KTB bore-
drilling on site, mud gas analysis often represents the only holes indicated several fluid inflow zones with increased
possibility to gain continuous information on the gas con- concentrations of chloride and/or methane and/or
tents of the drilled rocks, and it allows aimed gas sampling, helium. Here, we just consider the most prominent mud
for e.g., isotope studies. In the words of Whittaker (1991): gas shows in the KTB-HB (Fig. 3). More detailed informa-
‘The essence of mud logging remains real-time informa- tion is available from the KTB data archive (http://
tion!’ www.icdp-online.de/sites/ktb/index/index.html). From
1900 to 2100 m a cataclastic shear zone with graphite-rich
paragneisses was penetrated. Even though the majority of
RESULTS
the CH4 entered the borehole via fissures (proved by log-
This section summarizes exemplary results from three of ging data), the rocks of this zone, which were investigated
ten scientific drilling campaigns we have accompanied in using high-vacuum degassing techniques, are also very rich
recent years. Besides scientific drilling, we also participated in HC. This cataclastic zone is characterized only by high
in semi-commercial drilling for hydrothermal energy HC mud gas, but the drill mud was not enriched in chlor-
resources in Europe. ide. They were called ‘dry’ inflows which means that the
released gas phase was not accompanied by formation
brines, and was released only during drilling which indi-
The KTB example
cates that they originate from small closed volumes.
We developed and optimized the real-time non-hydrocar- Increased 222Rn contents in the mud gas (not shown in
bon mud gas analysis during the German Continental Fig, 3) are caused by uranium enrichments in the graphi-
Deep Drilling Program (KTB) which was designed to tized faults.
study the properties and processes of the deeper continen- Below 3500 m several fluid inflows enriched in CH4,
tal crust by means of two deep borehole near the town of He, and chloride were observed within the amphibolites.
Windischeschenbach (Bavaria, Germany). The project was This type is interpreted as being gas-rich ‘liquid’ or ‘brine’
conducted between 1987 and 1994 and included coring of
a pilot hole (KTB-VB) to 4000 m and drilling the main
hole (KTB-HB), which reached a final depth of 9101 m at
a bottom hole temperature of approximately 265 °C
(Emmermann & Lauterjung 1997).
The main goal of our study was to obtain information
on gas contents in continental crustal rocks, their composi-
tion, origin and depth distribution by investigating drill
cuttings, cored rocks, downhole fluids, and performing
on-line determination of gases dissolved in the drilling
mud. The later proved successful and almost complete
depth profiles were surveyed in both drill holes for CH4
and He. As the KTB-HB was only partly cored, on-line
mud gas analysis often represented the only possibility to
gain continuous information on gas occurrences in the
drilled formations. It was, in addition, an important help
when the time arrived to decide if and to what depth rock
or fluid samples should be taken. Furthermore, technically
problematic horizons, for example a cataclastic zone at
1990 m, could be recognized by a significant increase in
CH4 and He concentrations well before the drill bit
reached this section.
A newly developed water-based mud system with a syn- Fig. 3. Compressed mud gas log of the KTB main hole (KTB-HB) displaying
thetic hectorite type clay mineral instead of natural benton- only the most prominent CH4 (ppmv) and He (ppmv) shows.

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Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
 Mud gas logging and sampling 229

inflows, which were frequently related to open prehnite-
mineralized fissures. The strongest inflow zone was recor-
ded between 5300 and 5400 m immediately after drilling
through a gneiss intercalation of about 80 m thickness.
The occurrences of saline-forming waters are much more
frequent in amphibolites than in gneisses. Drill-stem test-
ing revealed that the formation water pressure never excee-
ded the drill mud column pressure. These inflows belong
to extensive hydraulic fluid system at hydrostatic pressure
(Huenges et al. 1997).
The composition of gaseous hydrocarbons from the
‘dry’ inflow zones differed significantly from those in the
‘brine’-type fissure systems, with relatively high ethane
contents in the former (CH4/C2H6 ¼ 14 versus 40,
respectively). The amount of gases entering the borehole
through individual borehole fractures increased with depth
while the CH4 to He ratios remained relatively constant.
In amphibolite and gneiss sections the CH4/He was about
40 and 25, respectively, probably due to the higher radio-
genic He production rate in the gneisses. The He to Ar
ratio corresponds to those expected for U-, Th- and
K-decay in average magmatic rocks. Hydrogen in the drill-
ing fluid was mainly artificially, created during the drilling
process itself. The N2 isotopic composition did not differ
significantly from that of the atmosphere (see also Zimmer
& Erzinger 1995; Möller et al. 1997; Bach et al. 1999).
The Mallik example
The 2002 Mallik project is a series of three wells drilled to
evaluate the distribution and producibility of permafrost-
associated methane hydrates in the Mackenzie delta area of
Canada (Dallimore & Collett 2005). The gas hydrate
occurrence in the Mallik area is lithologically controlled,
with hydrate horizons confined to the coarse-grained sandy
facies and often separated by fine-grained silty facies and
clay. Earlier drilling campaigns at Mallik have shown exten-
sive gas hydrate accumulations below the permafrost,
mainly in the depth interval 900–1100 m.
The main objectives of mud gas logging within the Mal-
lik 2002 Program were to (i) trace gas hydrate-bearing
horizons while drilling and (ii) distinguish them from
other gas sources such as gas accumulations below non-
permeable strata. This study involved real-time analysis of
gas extracted from drill mud during the drilling of Mallik
4L-38 and 5L-38 wells.
The principal non-atmospheric gas detected in the drill
mud from the Mallik boreholes was CH4, with up to 70
volume percent in the main gas hydrate section at Mallik.
However, even at shallow depth the CH4 concentration in
mud gas reached up to 35 volume percent in some cases.
Although the two wells are separated by only 40 m, they
show slightly different mud gas depth distribution. Some
variation in the absolute CH4 concentrations might be
explained by the slower drilling rate of 5L-38 (larger bore-
hole diameter), resulting in a higher air to natural gas ratio
in the drill mud. Slight variations in the depth distribution
of gas occurrences may result from lateral heterogeneity
proved by gamma-ray logging.
Figure 4 shows gas concentrations versus depth profiles
of Mallik 4L-38 for CH4, He, 222Rn activity as well as the
Bernard parameter, CH4/(C2H6+C3H8). Rn data are fitted

CH4 (vol.%) CH4/(C2H6+C3H8) He (ppmv) 222

Rn (Bq/m3)
1 10 100 10 100 1000 5 10 15 20 25 30 40 80 120 160
0 0 0 0

100 100 100 100

200 200 200 200

300 300 300 300

400 400 400 400

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

Depth (m)

500 500 500 500

600 600 600 600

700 700 700 700

800 800 800 800

900 900 900 900

1000 1000 1000 1000

Fig. 4. Mallik 4L-38 research well: mud gas 1100 1100 1100 1100
concentrations versus depth for CH4 (vol%),
CH4/(C2H6+C3H8), He (ppmv), and 222Rn 1 10 100 10 100 1000 5 10 15 20 25 30 40 80 120 160
(Bq/3). += Probably disturbed by drilling operation

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Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
230 J. ERZINGER et al.
using a running average of about 5 data points. During
drilling of Mallik 4L-38, elevated CH4 concentration were
observed at 107, 646, 766, and 827 m depth, and in 10
distinct layers within the interval of 890–1150 m depth
that contains the main gas hydrate section (890–1110 m).
Most, but not all mud gas CH4 peaks are associated with
gas hydrate-bearing strata. The mud gas data displayed
only little evidence of a ‘free gas’ zone below the gas
hydrate stability field, as found in other gas hydrate
deposits.
From the previous Mallik 2L-38 well, it was known that
gas hydrate at Mallik drill site consist predominantly of
methane hydrate (Lorenson et al. 1999). It is, however,
not possible to identify gas hydrate during drilling based
only on high CH4 concentration in the drill mud. Addi-
tional gas data are necessary to identify the source of gas
dissolved in the drill mud. In combination with high CH4
concentrations, low He concentration in the mud gas can
be used as additional diagnostic tool to trace for gas
hydrates (Fig. 5). For gas from hydrates, a decrease in He
concentration with increasing CH4 concentration is indica-
ted. The He concentration in natural gas hydrate is very
low, because He is too small to be accommodated in the
hydrate lattice at ambient pressure and temperature condi-
tions (Winckler et al. 2002).
Mud gas from the depth interval 766–779 m shows a
positive correlation between CH4 and He. Furthermore,
high CH4/(C2H6+C3H8) ratios generally correlate posi-
tively with the occurrence of gas hydrate, but gas from this
depth showed a relatively low CH4/(C2H6+C3H8) ratio.
Fig. 5. Mallik 4L-38 research well: CH4 versus He mud gas diagram.
Methane hydrate yields lower He concentration with increasing methane,
in contrast to non-hydrate-derived gas.
Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
These observations indicate a gas source distinct from gas
hydrate for that depth interval (Wiersberg et al. 2005).
Within the ice-bonded permafrost (0–609 m), the
helium concentration in the drill mud increased with
depth, probably because gas migration of in situ produced
radiogenic He was inhibited. Rn activity roughly correlates
positively with the logged total gamma ray activity. Based
on the gas hydrate stability conditions, the CH4 occur-
rence at the depth of approximately 107 m cannot be rela-
ted to gas hydrate. However, intrapermafrost gas hydrates
at shallower depths have been found in at least one other
region at the Mackenzie Delta (Dallimore & Collett
1995).
Stable isotope studies on offline mud gas samples
revealed the presence of microbial CH4 in the upper sec-
tion, and, following a transition zone, thermogenic gas at
greater depth. HC derived from the main gas hydrate-bear-
ing section (900–1100 m) are interpreted to be almost
exclusively of thermogenic origin (see also Lorenson et al.
2005).
The SAFOD example
The Parkfield region of central California was selected for
the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD)
because of the simultaneous occurrence of creep and
repeating small-magnitude earthquakes at drillable depths,
several historical M6 earthquakes immediately to the SE,
relatively simple geology, as well as intense geological and
geophysical investigations performed there over the past
20 years [see http://www.earthscope.org]. In June and
July of 2002, the SAFOD pilot hole was drilled to a final
depth of almost 2.2 km, about 1.8 km southwest of the
SAF surface traces in the vicinity of Parkfield City. It pen-
etrates through 768 m of Tertiary and Quaternary sedi-
mentary strata (mainly sandstone) and into the underlying
Cretaceous (Salinian block) granites. Besides extensive geo-
physical downhole measurements, drill cuttings were regu-
larly collected, described, and documented (Boness &
Zoback 2004; Hickman et al. 2004; M. Rymer, personal
communication). However, the planned coring of the low-
ermost 60 m was not successful and no down hole fluid
sampling or hydraulic testing was carried out (see http://
www.ICDP-online.org/sites/sanandreas/index/index.html).
The record of real-time mud gas composition versus
depth for the SAFOD pilot hole is essentially complete
from a depth of 150–2120 m below surface. Concentra-
tions of He, CH4, and CO2 as well as 222Rn activity data,
averaged over 1 m intervals, are displayed in Fig. 6. The
real-time mud gas monitoring during drilling of the
2.2 km-deep SAFOD pilot hole proved successful for both
the sedimentary and granitic section of the borehole.
Within the sedimentary section (0–768 m), mud gas
yielded the highest CH4, CO2, and 222Rn concentrations,
Ó 2006 The Authors

Fig. 6. Down hole variation of mud gas
composition in SAFOD Pilot Hole. Lines in the
lithology column indicate zones of oxidation
(from M. Rymer, personal communication),
geophysically inferred major shear zone are
highlighted (from Boness & Zoback 2004).
whereas He was comparably low. At least four major fluid
inflow zones were identified, at 280–300 m, 390–430 m,
approximately 500 m, and 600–660 m. The uppermost
zone is dominated by CH4 and Rn, whereas the lower
three zones show enrichment in all gases at variable
degrees. As expected, the mud gas concentration was much
higher throughout the sedimentary section than within the
granites below, suggesting that the rocks have higher over-
all porosity and permeability. However, there was no geo-
physical logging performed before the sedimentary section
was cased off to confirm this.
With our setup, we are unable to calculate the amounts
of fluid or gas which entered the borehole. However, it
cannot be very high because there was no observed
increase in mud volume during drilling. Moreover, electri-
cal conductivity of the drill mud did not indicate signifi-
cant addition of either saline brines or water of low
salinity. All gas-rich zones contained high Rn concentra-
tions, which are not unusual for fluids hosted in sandstone
(Ball et al. 1991). We cannot proof whether Rn is gener-
ated locally from U series decay, because gamma ray log-
ging has not been performed. Based mainly on the carbon
isotope signatures of methane investigated on offline mud
gas samples, we conclude that the methane is a mixture of
microbial origin and methane generated by thermal degra-
dation of organic matter. The gas composition and isotope
ratios measured in mud gas from the sedimentary section
are similar to those reported from the Great Valley
Sequence (Jenden et al. 1988).
Mud gas concentrations of CH4 and Rn are much lower
in the underlying basement section than in the sandstone
above, and the average background level of He is higher in
the granites possibly due to their higher U and Th con-
tents. Two of three shear zones inferred from geophysical
Ó 2006 The Authors
Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
Mud gas logging and sampling 231
measurements (1345–1420 m and 1820–1880 m) are also
clearly indicated by increased mud gas concentrations
(Boness & Zoback 2004). The most prominent of these
(1770–1850 m) is the most highly enriched in CH4, Rn,
and CO2. The gas composition encountered at around
1800 m resembles that from the upper sedimentary sec-
tion. Boness & Zoback (2004) concluded from geophysical
measurements that the 1820–1880 m shear zone is
hydraulically conductive, and our gas results permitted spe-
culation that it is hydraulically connected to sedimentary
sequences similar to those drilled in the upper section of
the pilot hole. Later in 2004, the main hole penetrated in
that depth sedimentary layers just 100 m apart from the
pilot hole, which yielded more or less the gas composition
found at around 1800 m in 2002 (Wiersberg & Erzinger
2005). Only 100 and 200 m below that CH4-rich zone,
gases entering the hole have higher concentrations of He
and CO2 and only little hydrocarbon contents. This fluid
component is likely to originate from within the granitic
basement. Additional, weaker gas-rich zones at around
1700 and 2020–2090 m have a composition that is consis-
tent with fluids produced from within the granitoides. Rn
enrichment in mud gas is sometimes correlated with
increasing total gamma ray log readings (e.g., 1410, 1500,
and 1860 m) but in most cases a direct dependency is not
visible. No major fluid influx in the crystalline rock section
is discernible from the mud conductivity values.
Helium and Ne isotopes were studied in offline mud gas
samples. In one sample from 1514 m the mantle contribu-
tion to the He content is estimated to be approximately
9%. At first glance, this degree of mantle influence is unex-
pected for a granitic basement, but it is corroborated by a
study by Kennedy et al. (1993) who found increased
3
He/4He ratios in well fluids associated with the SAF. We
232 J. ERZINGER et al.
emphasize that the measured He isotopic compositions are
lower limits because of mixing with radiogenic He from
the basement rocks. It is likely that ‘pure’ shear zone fluids
have more ‘mantle-like’ values (Erzinger et al. 2004).
CONCLUSIONS
During recent years we have developed real-time mud gas
monitoring techniques for scientific drilling in non-hydro-
carbon formations mainly to sample and study the compo-
sition of crustal gases.
Exemplary results from scientific drilling campaigns show
that:
(1) It is possible to obtain valuable information on the gas
composition of formation fluids in crustal rocks. How-
ever, the technique only works if drill mud circulation
is established.
(2) The conversion of mud gas contents into concentra-
tions in the drilled rocks is quantitatively not possible
with the experimental setup described here.
(3) Even a qualitative interpretation is difficult and requires
the integration of wireline logging data and cuttings or
core sample analysis, the consideration of the chemical
behavior of the gases, mud conditions, drilling para-
meters, and specific hole conditions. Furthermore, the
conditions on how the gases are ‘stored’ in the forma-
tions may influence mud gas concentrations, too.
(4) The technique is operationally simple, relatively inex-
pensive, and it is easily accommodated on drill rigs.
Because the mud gas samples are taken during drilling
it also has important application to aiding decisions if
and at what depth rock or fluid samples should be
taken.
(5) Hydrocarbons, He, Rn, and with limitations CO2 and
H2 are most suitable for detection of fluid-bearing
horizons such as shear zones, open fractures, and sec-
tions of enhanced permeability.
(6) Depending on rock type and fluid permeability graph-
ite-rich shear zones are distinguishable from open fis-
sures by their distinct gas compositions.
(7) Intrapermafrost methane (gas) hydrate-bearing sections
can easily be detected during drilling and discriminated
from other fluid-bearing horizons on the bases of He/
CH4 and hydrocarbon gas ratios.
(8) Laboratory isotope studies on offline mud gas samples
revealed the origin and evolution of hydrocarbons as
well as the nature of He and the degree of mantle
influence.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank all principal investigators of the scientific drilling
campaigns for their interest in our experiments. Special
thanks go to Andreas Tretner, Christian Kujawa, Eckhard
Journal compilation Ó 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, Geofluids, 6, 225–233
Dahms, Judith Schicks, and Rudolf Naumann (all from
GFZ Potsdam), who spent a considerable time at drill sites
around the world. We appreciate the helpful comments
and suggestions of Bob Trumbull, John Parnell, and two
anonymous reviewers which considerably improved the
manuscript. Most of our studies were generously supported
by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Geo-
ForschungsZentrum Potsdam.
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