Mud Logging: An Overview

ILO Mud Logging Unit

Length = 27 feet
Width = 8 feet
Height = 8.5 feet
Weight = 10 tons
ILO Mudlogging Unit Features
• Rugged skid-mounted construction
• UPS backup
• Pressurized and explosion proof
• Escape Hatch
• Dual air conditioning system
• Spacious interior with ample storage space
• Dual gas and depth system
Basic Mud Logging
• Basic mud logging involves:
– Lag time determination
– Depth and ROP determination
– Cuttings sampling and lithological description
– Gas sampling analysis
End of Topic
Lag Time
Lag Time Determination
• What is Lag Time
• What are the factors affecting Lag Time
• How is Lag Time measured
• How is Lag Time checked
Lag Time: Definition
• Lag time is the definite time interval
required for pumping drilled cuttings from a
particular depth to the surface where they
can be collected
Lag Time
• Always exists
• Changes continuously as the hole deepens
• Must be frequently checked and corrected
Factors Affecting Lag Time
• Volume of the mud in the annulus
• Mud flow rate
Annulus: Definition
• It is the space around a pipe in the wellbore,
the outer wall being the wall of either the
hole or casing
• Sometimes called annular space
Volume of Mud in the Hole
• As hole gets deeper, mud volume increases,
therefore, lag time increases
• As the annular diameter gets larger due to
hole washouts the mud volume increases,
the lag time increases
Mud Flow Rate
• The faster the mud is pumped the quicker it
returns to the surface and hence the lag time
is reduced
How Is Lag Time Measured?
• Velocity method: uses annular velocities
• Volume method: uses annular volumes
– In minutes
– In strokes
Well Profile
• Depth: 7750 ft
• Hole size: 8.5”
• Pump Output: 425 gpm at 100 spm
• Casing:
– shoe at 6000 ft
– 9 5/8” OD; 9” ID
• DP:
– 6350 ft.
– 5” OD; 4.276” ID
• DC:
– 1400 ft.
– 7” OD; 3.5” ID
Lag Time Measured Using Velocity Method

Annular velocity ann. sec (ft/min) = 24.51 x Q / (D2 –

d2)
Where,
Q = flow rate (gpm), D = hole or casing ID (ins.), d = DP/DC OD (ins.)

Lag time ann. sec (mins) = Length of annular section /

Annular velocity of annular section
Lag time (mins) =  Lag time ann. sec
Lag time (strokes) = Lag time (mins) x spm
Lag Time measured using Volume method: in minutes

Annular volume = (D2 – d2) x 0.000971 x Length of

annular section
or
Annular volume = ((D2 – d2) / 1029.4) x Length of
annular section
Lag time ann. sec (mins) = Annular volume (bbls) / flow
rate (bbls/min)
Lag time (mins) =  Lag time ann. sec
• Disadvantage: affected by flow rate changes
Lag Time Measured Using Volume Method: Measured in Strokes

Annular volume = (D2 – d2) x 0.000971 x Length of

annular section or
Annular volume = ((D2 – d2) / 1029.4) x Length of
annular section
Pump Output (bbls/stroke) = Pump output (gpm) /
(spm x 42)
Lag time ann. sec (strokes) = Annular volume (bbls) /
Pump Output (bbls/stroke)
• Advantage: not affected by changes in flow rate
Pump Output Calculations
• Duplex pump
Output (gals/stroke) = (0.0515 x Stroke
Length x ((LinerOD)2 – (RodOD)2/2))) x
0.2642 x Efficiency
• Triplex pump
Output (gals/stroke) = (0.0386 x Stroke
Length x (LinerOD)2) x 0.2642 x Efficiency
• Output in bbls/stroke = gals/stroke/42
Actual Lag Determination
• A tracer is used to obtain an “accurate”
measurement of lag time
• Common tracers used are:
– Calcium carbide (most common)
– Rice, wheat, cellophane
– Propane
• Carbide + water -> acetylene
Using A Carbide Tracer: Purpose

• It allows for a check on the lag time

• It serves as a check on the efficiency of the
gas equipment
Using A Carbide Tracer: Frequency

• Under normal circumstances a check

should be made every twenty-four hours or
400 ft, whichever comes first. However, if
carbide information is required due to
suspicions of incorrect lag or washout, then
carbides should be run as required
A Note On Carbide Tracers
• When a downhole motor or MWD tool is in use,
confirm with the drilling supervisor and/or
directional driller whether they will allow tracers to
be run
• Carbide should not be handled with bare hands
• The “Carbide Bomb” should be prepared just
before use to reduce the risk of a build-up of
flammable gas in the unit
• No smoking is allowed during the preparation of a
“Carbide Bomb.”
Using A Carbide Tracer
1. Make a carbide “bomb” by wrapping carbide in an envelope of
paper towels (usu. 2 paper towels) and securing it with scotch
tape. Do not use a lot of tape.
2. Place the carbide bomb in a plastic envelope.
3. Inform the driller that you intend to drop a carbide during
connection.
4. During connection, after the cessation of pumping activity, zero
the stroke counters.
5. On the rig floor, ask the driller to hold the next joint above the
pipe in the slips, while you push the bomb inside the pin. Take
extra care while doing this.
6. In the unit the gas equipment will detect the upcoming carbide.
Note down the strokes when the acetylene peaks.
Using A Carbide Tracer in OBM

If carbide is to be used do the following:

1. Displace mud from the drillstring
suspended by the slips by dipping a piece
of wood
2. Add a small amount of water
3. Drop the carbide bomb in.
Comparing Different Carbide Checks

• In order to compare different carbide

checks, it is important that the same amount
of calcium carbide each time
• Recommended amount is 100 ml (though
not usually followed in the field)
Using Tracers In Air Drilling

• When air drilling is used propane is injected

into the system
Downtime

• “Downtime” or surface-to-bit lag is time it

takes (measured in minutes or strokes) for a
mud packet to travel from the surface to the
bit.
Calculating Downtime

1. DP vol dp sec (bbls) = ID2 x 0.000971 x Section

Length
2. Internal volume (bbls) =  DP vol dp sec
3. Downtime (strokes) = Internal vol / pump
output (bbls/stk)
Carbide Lag Determination
1. Calculate the downtime in strokes
2. Carbide lag strokes = Actual strokes (from carbide) –
downtime in strokes
3. Calculate the theoretical lag in strokes
4. Theoretical Open hole volume (bbls) = Bit diam2 x
0.000971 x Open hole length
5. Excess Carbide volume (bbls) = (Carbide lag strokes –
Theoretical lag in strokes) x Pump output
6. New open hole diam (ins) = ((Theo. OH vol + Carbide
excess vol) / (Open hole length x 0.000971))0.5
Correcting Hole Size After a Carbide Check

• The lag from a carbide check is used if a

significant difference is noted. The
theoretical lag increments are then added
onto the figure for every depth increment.
Calculating the Lag Increment Per Depth Increment

1. Volume increase (bbls) = (D2 – d2) x depth

interval x 0.000971
– Where:
• D2 and d2 are hole/csg ID and DP/DC OD,
respectively
2. Lag increment (strokes/depth interval) =
volume increase (bbls) / pump output
(bbl/stk)
Presentation of Carbide Results on the Mudlog

• Carbide results are placed in the remarks

column of the mudlog
• Example:
Carbide = 0.5% at Vis 45
Lag Time at 7750 ft = 4956 strokes
Pipe Washout Determination With Carbide

• The presence of two acetylene peaks

End of Topic
Depth and ROP
Depth and ROP
• One of the most important parameters to be
monitored
• ROP is possibly a first indication of hole
problems and show intervals
• Depth is measured in feet or meters
• ROP is measured in ft/hr, m/hr, mins/ft or
mins/m
Measured Depth

• All depths are measured at the “kelly down”

position
• The depth is the sum of the BHA, drillstring
and the kelly below the kelly bushing or the
BHA, drillstring and the TDS below the
rotary table
• Get “kelly down” positions from the pipe
tally book
Pipe Tally Book

• The information found in the pipe tally book

usually looks like this:
31.03 S 8105.32 8147.32
30.97 D 8136.29 8178.79
31.00 -88- 8167.29 8209.79
or
93.05 -87- 8054.29 8096.29
93.00 -88- 8167.29 8209.29
Depth Sensors

• Crown block proximity sensors

• Drawworks proximity sensors
• Geolograph optical encoder
Drawworks Sensor
Drawworks Sensor
Proximity Sensors
Optical Encoder
Depth Sensor Installation for
Floaters
Depth Corrections: Precautions

• Check the driller’s addition

• Immediately verify with the driller if the bit
is on bottom after a trip, long periods of
reaming, drilling out cement/float collar and
shoe.
• Check the BHA before RIH
Depth Corrections: Mud Log

• Depth corrections must be indicated in the

mudlogs
• Example:
– NOTE: Correction from 10,060’ to 10,035’ due
to SLM NOTE: Correction from 10,060’ to
10,035’ due to SLM
Factors Affecting ROP
• Mechanical Factors
WOB, RPM, Bit type, Bit wear
• Mud related
Mud weight, Solids content, Fluid loss
• Formation characteristics
Compressive strength, Hardness and abrasion,
Porosity and permeability, Pore pressure
• Hydraulic Factors
Jet Impact Force, Hydraulic Horsepower
Correlation of ROP With Other Logs

• ROP plot if plotted with values increasing

from right should match up with an SP or
GR log
• Can be used with other logs to determine
formation tops
• Lithology interpretation
End of Topic
Gas Logging
Equipment Needed To Remove and Detect Gas Entrained In the Mud

• Gas Trap
• Vacuum system
• Gas detectors (THA, Chromatograph,
Cuttings Gas Analyzer)
Gas Trap
Functions of a Gas Trap
• Extract gases contained in the mud
• Sample consistently
Vacuum System
Gas Unit Definition
• 50 units = 1% gas methane-equivalent
THA Flame Ionization Detector

• THA displays the methane-equivalent (C1)

HC present in the sample in units
• Calibrate once a week
Gas Chromatography

• Gas chromatography is the physical

separation of gases into its components.
Gas Chromatography: Equipment
• FID Gas Chromatograph
• Integrator
• Chromatogram
Gas Chromatograph

• Separates and analyzes hydrocarbons in the ditch

gas sample to determine how much of each
hydrocarbon is contained in the sample
• Data output to an integrator
Integrator
• Integrators are specifically designed to
process the output signal from
chromatographs
• The signal is plotted as a function of time,
forming a plot of symmetric peaks, known
as a chromatogram
Integrator
Chromatogram: Definition
• Recorded gas-air mixture by the
chromatograph /integrator system
Cuttings Gas Detector

• To check the amount of combustible

hydrocarbons in mud and cuttings
• Batch system
• May give an insight into the porosity and
permeability of horizons
Gas Show Evaluation
• What is a gas show?
• Sources of Gas Shows
• Factors affecting Gas Shows
What is a Gas Show?
• It is a significant occurrence of hydrocarbon
gases detected from the mud stream and
identifiable as being the result of the
drilling of a specific increment of formation
• Any deviation in gas amount or
composition from the established
background
Definitions
• True Zero Gas
– The value seen by the THA when pure air is passed
through its detector, for calibration purposes
• System Zero Gas
– The value of gas seen by the THA when circulating off-
bottom under normal conditions. This represents only
contamination or recycled hydrocarbons in the mud.
This value is the baseline above which all gas readings
are taken for drafting on the mudlog.
Background Gas
• A consistent gas value recorded while
drilling a consistent lithology
Gas Shows Type: What is a Good Gas Show?

• To decide whether a gas show is “good” or

“poor” requires a total evaluation of all mud
logging parameters plus a consideration of
many other variables
Sources of Gas In The Mud
• Liberated or gas from drilling
• Produced or post-drilling gas
• Recycled gas
• Contamination gas
Liberated or Gas From Drilling

• This is the gas released from the formation

as the bit crushes it
Produced or Post-drilling Gas
• It is gas which has flowed into the hole from the
formation in the same manner as if the formation
were to be produced
• 2 distinct types
– “Feed-in” gas: A negative differential pressure will cause
the fluids to flow into the hole from the formation
– In a condition of balance or even some overbalance there
will be a continual diffusion of fluids between the
formation and the hole. This is encouraged by the
removal of filter cake by pipe movement and by the flow
of mud past the exposed wall.
Recycled Gas

• Drilling fluid gas that is pumped back into

the hole
• Recycled gas will return at one complete
cycle (down time + lag time + time to travel
through the surface equipment) after the
initial show
Contamination Gas
• Gas resulting from the addition of petroleum products
to the mud (ex: diesel) or from the degradation of
normally inert mud additives (ex: lignosulfonate,
soltex, resinex, lignite)
• Gas from spotting fluids pumped over previously
problem zones or formations
• Biggest culprit is diesel
• Contaminants will usually be noticed by an increase in
background gas, which will linger after the pumps are
off
Contamination Gas: Kelly-cut Gas

• Kelly-cut gas is caused by air trapped in the kelly

or TDS. It arrives one lag time plus a downtime
after circulation commences
• It does not reflect increased gas concentration,
though some gas may enter the borehole when the
cut mud is pumped out of the bit, but rather
greater gas trap efficiency when the air-rich mud
reaches the surface.
Factors Affecting Gas Shows
• Downhole factors:
– Flushing
– Fluid incursion
• Formation characteristics (porosity, permeability and saturation)
• ROP
• Bit size and type
• Flow rate
• Hole contamination
• Surface factors:
– Flowline
– Gas trap
Flushing

• Mud pushes back gas from formation due

to:
– Positive differential pressure
– Presence of permeability and porosity of
formation
– High impact force of jet nozzles (at bottom of
hole)
Fluid Incursion: Causes

• Mainly due to underbalance

• Kick – formation has good porosity and
permeability
• Feed in – formation lacks permeability to
sustain a massive influx
• Caving or sloughing – formation has very
little or no permeability (clay or shales)
• Connection and trip gases
Formation Porosity and Saturation

The amount of gas released into the mud

stream will depend on:
• The absolute porosity
• The effective porosity
• The effective permeability
• Gas saturation relative to the water
saturation
Factors: ROP
• A formation identical in all ways will
produce higher mud gas readings if drilled
at a higher ROP
Factors: Bit Size and Type

• The bigger the hole size the more

formation volume drilled and hence more
gas liberated
• The more numerous and smaller the
cuttings -> more gas will be liberated ->
improved gas shows
Factors: Flow Rate

• Mud flowrate increases -> the volume of

gas and cuttings in a fixed volume of mud
will decrease -> greater volume of mud
passes through the gas trap -> net effect is
zero
• Overall effect is probably not great
Factors: Borehole Contamination

• Common contaminants:
– Degradation of organic-based mud additives
– Crude (more serious contaminant because it
may mask later oil shows)
– Diesel oil
• Gas due to contamination will vary
continuously
Factors: Flowline
• A high degree of degassing occurs at the bell nipple
and flowline
• Loss of gas in the flowline will be esp. high where:
– The flowline is not filled with mud
– Changes in slope promote turbulence
– Sections of the flowline are open to the atmosphere
– The flowline enters the possum belly above the mud level
• Gas extraction efficiency is affected ditch geometry,
location of flowline entry, direction of flow and
degree of turbulence
Factors: Gas Trap
• Efficiency can vary 30%-70%
• The biggest factor that affects efficiency is
maintenance and good operation
Summary of Factors Affecting Gas Shows
• Formation characteristics – porosity, permeability, fluid
saturations
• Flushing effects – overbalance, water loss, formation
porosity/permeability
• Volume of formation cut – controlled by ROP and bit diameter
• Size and nature of cuttings – controlled by bit design
• Flowrate – controlled by pump output and nozzle size
• Produced, recycled and contamination gases in mud
• Loss of mud and gas at the surface – flowline, ditch characteristics
• Gas Trap efficiency
• Vacuum system and gas detection efficiency and calibration
End of Topic
Other Basic Mud Logging Equipment
Other Basic Mud Logging Equipment
• Microscope
• Ultraviolet Light Box
• Pit Level Indicators (delaval, ultrasonic)
• Pump Stroke counters
• Mud weight, temperature, resistivity
• Pressure transducers (pump, casing and hookload)
• H2S sensors
Microscope
• Used for lithological evaluation and
descriptions
Ultraviolet Light Box
• Determine the percentage, physical
character, color and intensity of
hydrocarbon fluorescence in mud and
cuttings
Pump Stroke Counters
• Used to monitor all active mud pumps, primarily
for correct lagging of samples to the surface
• Proximity switch which is tripped by the
movement of the rod of the pump
Pit Level Sensors
• Used to detect any fluctuations in the mud
volume in a pit
Housing for Ultrasonic Pit Sensor
Ultrasonic Sensor
Mud Temperature Sensor
• Used to monitor the temperature of the mud going
into the hole and coming out of it
Mud Resistivity and Temperature Sensors
Mud Weight Sensor

• Used to monitor the density of the mud

going into and coming out of the hole
Electrical Torque Sensor
• Used to indirectly measure the torque generated
by the drillstring by measuring the current
Pressure Transducer
• Used to monitor the hookload (indirectly the
WOB), pump and casing/choke pressures
H2S Sensor
• Used to monitor the H2S in the flowline, shakers,
pits and the gas line leading to the pneumatic
panel
H2S Calibration Kit
End of Topic