Well Logs and Borehole Image

Course Description

The most universal, comprehensive and concise descriptive documents on oil and gas wells are well logs. They impact the work of almost every oil field group from geologists to roustabouts to bankers. Familiarity with the applications of well logs is therefore essential for people forging their careers in the oil business.

The instructor uses a core-based approach to help participants develop a good grounding in understanding and applying well logging techniques. General principles of physics are presented to explain the functioning of modern logging tools. Wherever possible, the physics of logging measurements is related to everyday tools and applications. Cross-plotting and reconnaissance techniques quickly and efficiently discriminate between water, oil and gas. Error minimization techniques, applicable only to computerized log analysis, produce optimal results. Participants benefit from realistic experience by working in teams on a comprehensive log interpretation exercise.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Understand geological application of the most commonly run well logs, i.e., caliper, gamma ray, sonic (velocity), resistivity, density, neutron, photoelectric factor, borehole images;
  • Read log headers to understand which tool was run in which borehole environment;
  • Quality control the logs;
  • Block logs in geologically meaningful intervals;
  • Identify lithologies using various techniques such as common cross-plots;
  • Calculate net-to-gross ratio and identify pay zones;
  • Interpret the depositional environment.

Participants’ Profile

The course is designed for geologists, petrophysicists and stratigraphers.

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of geology and petrophysics is desirable, along with knowledge of the principles of geoscientific data management.

About the Instructor

Prof. Dr Michael C. Poppelreiter, Director of the South East Asian Carbonate Research Lab (SEACaRL), Shell Chair in Petroleum Geology at the Department of Geosciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP). From October 2019 he has been working for Shell Kuwait. Area of expertise: Shell Subject Matter Expert for carbonate geology, Outcrop and Regional Geological Studies (focus Middle East), Conceptual Modelling, Reservoir Modelling and 3D Digital Modelling, Project management, CO2 in carbonate, Technical Assurance & Capability (TA-2), 25 publications and 2 books on borehole image logs and reservoir geology.