SOCIETY OF PETROLEUM ENGINEERS OF AIME PAPER

6300 North Central Expressway NUMBER SPE 1400

Dallas, Texas 75206

- THIS IS A PREPRINT --- SUBJECT TO CORRECTION

WIRELINE OPERATIONS IN THE DEEP DELAWARE BASIN

By

J. D. Cunningham - Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation,

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Monahans, Texas
and
F. D. Fulkerson, Member AIME, and L. H. Gollwitzer,
Schlumberger Well Surveying Corporation
Houston , Texas

Publ ication Rights Reserved

This paper is to be presented at the "Deep Drilling and Development Symposium - Delaware Basin"
of the Trans-Pecos Section of the Society of Petroleum Engineers of AIME, to be held in Monahans, Texas, March 31, 1966, and is
considered the property of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Permission to publish is hereby restricted to an abstract of not more than
300 words, with no illustrations, unless the paper is specifically released to the press by the Editor of the Jou.rnal of Petroleum Technology
or the Executive Secretary. Such abstract should contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper is presented.
Publication elsewhere after publication in Journal of Petroleum Technology or Society of Petroleum Engineers Journal is granted on request,
providing proper credit is given that publication and the original presentation of the poper.

Discussion of this poper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of
Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the poper, may be considered for publi-
cation in one of the two SPE magazines.

ABSTRACT operations. These low density muds create problems that

are more or less unique to this area. First, a" operations,
both logging and perforating, are normally run using blow-
Deep wells in the Delaware Basin,
out preventers. A properly installed pressure control
just as in other areas, complicate wireline operations. system enables efficient and safe logging operations.
As compared with shallow well operations, increased Second, the relatively light muds for such deep wells lead
depths, temperatures, and pressures place greater demands to high cable tension during wireline operations. Winch
on equipment and operating techniques. drums and cables must be engineered to operate safely
under these unusually high tensions. A special powered
Temperature, although high in the sheave wheel has been introduced in the Delaware Basin
deeper Basin wells, is less a problem than in other regions to reduce cable tension at the drum and to further reduce
of larger geothermal gradient. A" modern logging possibilities of winch drum collapse, or of cable "cutting
equipment is designed and maintained to perform properly in" to lower layers on the drum.
at temperatures as high as 340 0 F. Some instruments,
such as the Gamma-Ray Neutron, operate at temperatures
up to 500 0 F. Perforating, formerly a problem in high INTRODUCTION
temperature wells, is now accompl ished at temperatures
up to 470 0 F through the use of special high temperature Deep wells in the Delaware Basin are
shaped charge components. Thus, although temperatures
not the easiest wells to log and perforate. In addition to
in deep Basin wells require careful preparation, they do the usual complications at extreme depths--such as
not preclude effective logging and perforating operations.
elevated temperatures and pressures, and greater margin
for error in depth measurements--these wells offer special
Relatively light muds are used in the
problems.
Delaware Basin to increase the efficiency of drilling
References and" lustrations at end of paper.
2 WIRELINE OPERATIONS IN THE DEEP DELAWARE BASIN SPE-1400
-- The mud in many of the wells is cut Iithology changes and to resolve the porosity with reason-
with gas. This creates a problem in maintaining abl e accuracy.
electrical insulation of cables and instruments exposed to
the mud. - Programs are available for computer
processing of data from porosity logs. Using these
-- Both logging and perforating oper- programs, the computers rapidly process the log data to
ations are usually performed with wireline pressure produce a continuous log output of both lithology and
control equipment installed above the rig blowout pre- porosity. With lithology thus identified, the resulting
venter. Although recognized as necessary, the operation porosities are more accurate than would be obtained from
through such equipment complicates wireline operations a single "porosity" log.
and materially increases the rig time required.
In these gas reservoirs a refinement of

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-- The relatively light-weight muds, even one porosity unit is significant.
that necessitate pressure control equipment, also are
usually of high viscosity during logging operations. The Because of the low porosities and high
combined effect of light-weight and high-viscosity mud resistivities of these formations, resistivity logs are of
leads to unusually large cable tensions at the winch drum. limited application for quantitative determination of
water saturation. They are, however, useful for quali-
Electrical wireline operations in tatively locating transition zones and water levels. In
deep Basin wells thus place heavy demands on equipment. these high resistivities, the Laterolog usually provides the
Although the possibility of equipment breakdown is some- more accurate value of formation resistivity. But the
what greater than in shallow well operations, special deep-investigation Induction Log provides greater dis-
equipment and operating techniques now enable effective tinction between water- and hydrocarbon-bearing zones.
logging and perforating of these deep wells. The purpose
of this paper is to discuss electrical wireline operation Shown in Fig. 1 are portions of logs
problems that are more or less peculiar to the deep recorded through part of the Ellenberger formation in a
Delaware Basin, and to describe the means by which these well drilled in the Delaware Basin.
problems are handled.
Perforati ng 0 perations

GENERAL DISCUSSION Many different types of completion

have been used in Basin wells. In addition to open hole
completions below casing, wells have been perforated
Logging Operations
with various types of fluid in the hole, with varying
pressure differential, and with different types and sizes of
The usual objectives of deep drilling
guns. Some wells have been perforated with a uniform
in the Delaware Basin are the gas reservoirs of the
shot density throughout the zone of interest, while others
Devonian and Ellenberger formations. The depths of
were selectively perforated.
these objectives range from 12,000 to 25,000 feet. The
Devonian formation is composed of varying proportions of
Opinions vary as to the most effective
limestone, dolomite, and chert, while the Ellenberger is
technique of completion. Recently, however, there has
predominantly dolomite with only small fractions of other
been an increase in through-tubing completions. In
minerals. Both horizons are characterized by low
these operations, retrievable-carrier shaped-charge guns
porosities--ranging from near zero to ten per cent, and
are used to perforate selected intervals or levels.
almost entirely in the form of vugs and fractures.
Shaped-charge perforating equipment
The primary information requirements
is available to perform at great depth any of the standard
from logs in the deep Delaware Basin are the detection
techniques used in shallower wells. In some instances,
of permeable zones and the determination of porosity.
standard equipment is used in the deeper wells; in others,
The Microlog is normally used to define the permeable
special components are required to withstand elevated
zones. Porosity determinations are based upon compu-
temperatures and pressures. The pressure and temper-
tations of data from one or more of the following logs:
ature limitations of equipment currently available are
Sonic, Density, and Neutron.
shown in Table 1. Special cables and equipment are
available to operate safely at surface pressures up to
In these low porosity formations,
10,000 psi.
accurate porosity determination is difficult. Further, it
is complicated by variations in lithology. Therefore,
two or three "porosity" logs are required to recognize Depth control logs are used for
SPE-1400 J. D. CUNNINGHAM, F. D. FULKERSON, and L. H. GOLLWITZER
accurate selection of perforating depths in all deep well
completions. These logs--gamma ray and/or neutron--
permit the same accuracy as in shallower wells when
correlated with both open hole logs and casing collar
depths.
OVERCOMING PROBLEMS OF
HIGH TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE
Modern logging and perforating
equipment is designed, built, and tested to operate at
temperatures and pressures greater than norma Ily en-
countered in deep Basin wells. Both the geothermal and
pressure gradients in the Basin are relatively low. Even
in the deepest wells the hydrostatic mud pressure is
appreciably less than in deep wells of the Gulf Coast, in
which heavy muds are the rule rather than the exception.
The maximum temperature yet observed
in open-hole operations in the Basin was 355 0 F; inside
casing, the maximum was less than 400 0 F. These
maximums are appreciably less than have been en-
countered in some South Texas and Gulf Coast wells,
where temperatures have been well above 400 0 F in both
open and cased hole operations. While these over-400 0
F. wells presented troubles, Induction-Electrical
Surveys, BHC-Sonic Logs, Gamma Ray-Neutron Logs,
and Continuous Dipmeter Surveys were successfully
recorded in some. You will note in Table II that the
temperature ratings of some of the equipments were
exceeded in these operations.
Special laboratory facilities are used
in the design and testing of downhole equi~ent to with-
stand extremes of temperature and pressure (1 ). Using a
test vessel such as in Fig. 2, equipment can be oper-
ationally tested at pressures up to 30,000 psi and at
temperatures up to 450 0 F. It is from such facilities
that the ratings in Table II were determined. These
ratings are the maximums that should be expected. That
the equipment has performed successfully beyond rating
should not be too surprising--nor should it be assumed
that similar beyond-rating operations would be suc-
cessful. Even at temperatures well below rated figures,
electrical components can suddenly and unexplainably
fail.
The best safeguard against equipment
failure at the well is active preventive maintenance.
While routine maintenance precautions are regularly
performed, special measures are taken when notice is
given of impending operations in a high temperature well.
The equipment to be used is taken into an instrument
maintenance shop. All pieces are checked. Weak or
suspect components are replaced. The downhole units
are heat tested in a portable field oven, such as shown
3
in Fig. 3. This oven allows testing at temperatures as
high as 500 0 F. When the equipment is tuned to peak
performance it is reserved for the high temperature well.
Thus, even though conditions in a deep Basin well may
not exceed equipment ratings, all feasible precautions
are taken to insure efficient operation.
PRECAUTIONS FOR GAS-CUT MUDS
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Special precautions are required for
muds heavily cut with gas. At high temperatures and
pressures, gas tends to enter exposed insulation of
electrical cables and connectors. This problem is most
pronounced when the insulation is rubber. The resulting
gas impregnation causes but Iittle trouble unti I the cable
and instrument are retrieved from the well. However,
during ascent, the reduced hydrostatic pressure allows
the gas to expand. If enough gas is trapped, it will
expand and rupture the insulation. The damaged insu-
lation must then be repaired or replaced prior to any
subsequent descent into the well.
To minimize these problems, plastics,
such as Teflon, are used as insulating materials where
practicable. They offer distinct advantages over rubber
as they are not chemically damaged by gas, and they are
only slightly permeable to gas. For most elements of
the electrical circuit--and for cables in particular--
plastic insulation allows the minor gas quantities to
escape during retrieval from the well, thus preventing
deformation and loss of insulation. Around some of the
larger connectors, even the plastic insulation may re-
quire replacement after deep descents into heavily gas-
cut muds.
PRESSURE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS
The light-weight drilling muds used in
the Delaware Basin offer distinct advantages in increas-
ing penetration rates while drilling, and in minimizing
problems of lost circulation. However, these light muds
complicate wireline operations. The danger of blowout
is real, particularly with the ever present possibility of
further lightening due to. gas cutting. Thus, to insure
against an uncontrolled blowout, open-hole logging
operations are routinely performed through a wireline
pressure control system.
Open-hole logging operations through
pressure control systems present several problems that are
not encountered in cased-hole operations. Open-hole
logging tools are more complex in design. They
frequently have projecting centralizers or caliper arms.
They often require long insulated sections of cable,
4 WIRELINE OPERATIONS IN THE DEEP DELAWARE BASIN
called bridles, to isolate electrodes from the armor of the
cable. Thus, the equipments and techniques used so
effectively for pressure control il'} cased-hole operations
are not directly applicable for open-hole work.
Full lubrication of all instruments and
equipment, required in many cased-hole operations, is
not feasible in open-hole logging. The logging tool and
bridle often approach a length of 250 feet. A riser
sufficiently long for full lubrication is obviously impracti-
cal.
Rather than attempt partial lubrication
it is recommended that a well set-up similar to that shown
in Fig. 4 be used. This system provides complete
containment of well fluids and if the well starts to "kick"
allows cable movement while rig and/or auxiliary pumps
regain an overbalance of pressure. Once stabilization
is achieved the logging tools may be withdrawn and the
pressure control equipment quickly removed to permit the
drill string to be run back into the hole.
It will be noted that the wireline
stuffing box should be approximately 5 to 6 feet above
the rig floor. This arrangement provides protection for
personnel and equipment, but, more important, it also
provides safe and immediate access to the stuffing box.
A greater height above the rig floor would make access
to the stuffing box dangerously time consuming and
difficult.
Specifications of various blowout
preventers used for wireline operations are given in
Table III. The 7-in 0.0., 3000 psi working pressure
preventer is used for most open hole logging operations.
The 5-l/2-in 1.0. of this device is large enough for
passage of all regular logging tools, and the 3000 psi
W. P. is adequate to control any surface pressures likely
to be found in open hole logging operations.
However, if a higher working pressure
is required, the 3-l/2-in 0.0. blowout preventer can
be used. This latter installation requires that the
preventer be removed each time a tool is retrieved from
the well. A new 7-in 0.0. blowout preventer, with
5000 psi W. P., is now being built and will be available
in the near future.
HIGH CABLE TENSIONS
Wireline operations in the deep
Delaware Basin are characterized by unusually high cable
tensions. These unusual tensions are caused by the
relatively light-weight and high-viscosity muds en-
countered in the wells. The low density muds do not
provide the buoyancy afforded by the heavy muds used
SPE-1400
in deep wells of most other areas. And the viscosity of
the muds, although not unusually high when measured at
the surface, is high under down hole logging conditions.
The high viscosity causes a large drag on the cable and
instruments, particularly at high cable speeds. As a
result of these factors it is common to encounter cable
tensions in excess of 8,000 pounds on these wells--
several thousand pounds greater than usually en-
countered at similar depths in other areas.
This high tension does not present a
particular problem as far as breaking strength of the cable
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or hoisting capacity of the truck are concerned. But it
does present a serious problem at the winch drum. If the
cable base is spooled loosely, the cable can cut through
underlying layers. Also, cable damage can occur as a
result of high pressures created at the point at which it
crosses over a wrap already on the drum. The extreme
pressures on the drum core and flanges require unusually
heavy design to prevent yield or drum failure. To over-
come these difficulties, special equipment, some unique
to this area, has been provided.
One new device prompted by
operation problems in the Delaware Basin is the powered
sheave wheel, illustrated in Fig. 5. This wheel is
powered by a hydraulic system and is set to provide
automatically a programmed portion of the total lift
required. In a typical appl ication, where the cable
tension is 8,000 pounds, the powered sheave wheel
supplies 3,000 pounds of lift. The tension at the drum
is thus reduced to 5,000 pounds and the dangers of cable
crushing or cut-through, or of drum failure, are greatly
minimized.
More recently, winch drums have
been equipped with grooved sleeves that position the
first layer of cable. These sleeves permit the use of a
high cable tension in the first layers on the drum.
Consequently, a firm bed is provided so that cable cut-
through is less likely and the pressure on the flanges is
partially relieved. The grooved sleeve has eliminated
the need for the powered sheave wheel on all but the
most severe problems of high cable tension.
CONCLUSIONS
The conditions encountered in the
Deep Delaware Basin have placed new demands on
equipment, personnel, and techniques. Previous
research, testing, and experience in other areas have
met most of these demands satisfactori Iy. Some
problems were unexpected and required creation of new
equipment.
SPE-1400 J. D. CUNNINGHAM,
Continued testing, preventive mainte-
nance, close cooperation and communication between
operator and service company, and creation of new tools
and techniques may be expected to insure effective wire-
line operations in the future.
F. D. FULKERSON, and L. H. GOLLWITZER 5
REFERENCE
1. Fields, R. Q. and Lebourg, M.: 1150,000 Feet
Downhole--In a Modern Laboratory II , paper
presented at Petroleum Mechanical Engin eering
Conference, Houston, Texas, Sept. 20-23. 1959,
of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

TABLE 1 - TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE RATING OF PERFORATING DEVICES

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TEMPERATURE RATING FOR 1 HOUR
GUN TYPE PRESSURE RATING
STANDARD CHARGES HI- TEMP CHARGES

ENCAPSULATED SHAPED 300°F XXX 10,000 PSI

CHARGES

RETRIEVABLE EXPENDABLE 340°F 470°F 15,000 PSI

CARRIERS

RETRIEVABLE CARRIERS 340°F 470°F 20,000 PSI

TABLE 2 - TEMPERATURE RATING OF SWSC LOGGING EQUIPMENT

Cable 500° F
Induction Log 400° F
Dual Induction 340° F
Sonic 400° F
Dipmeter 350° F
Proximity 350° F
Formation Density Compensated 350° F
Sidewall Neutron Porosity 350° F
Gamma Ray - Neutron 500° F
Formation Tester 350° F

All tools will operate to 20,000 psi.

TABLE 3 - PRESSURE CONTROL EQUIPMENT

NORMAL SIZE WORKING DIAMETER TEST PRESSURE WORKING PRESSURE USAGE

PSI PSI

2-7/8" O.D. 2-1/2" I.D. 10,000 5,000 Standard Thru- Tubing or

Tubingless Completions

3-1/2" O.D. 2-1/2" I.D. 15,000 10,000 Special Thru- Tubing or

Tubingless Completions

5-1/2" O.D. 4-1/2" I.D. 6,000 3,000 Standard Casing Completions

or Open Hole Logging

7" O.D. 5-1/2" I.D. 6,000 3,000 Standard Casing Completions

or Open Hole Logging

7" O.D.' 5-11/ 161.D.' 10,000' 5,000' Special Casing Completions

or Open Hole Logging

'Now being built. Will be available in near future

 BHC FDC
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Fig. 1 Portions of logs recorded through Ellenberger formation

in a Delaware Basin well. Microlog indicates perme-
able zones and Gamma Ray, SHC-Sonic, and FDC-
Density Logs define porosity and lithology.
 Downloaded from http://onepetro.org/SPEDDPS/proceedings-pdf/66DDDS/All-66DDDS/SPE-1400-MS/2087335/spe-1400-ms.pdf by guest on 07 November 2023
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