1. OPAL On-surface Petrophysical
Analytical Logging
Author: Konstandinos Zamfes MSc,
Authors: Konstandinos Zamfes M.Sc, Chris
Smart M.Sc, Neville Henry, Eldar Hasanov M.Sc,
Steve Zamfes PGeol.
2. OPAL – On Surface Petrophysical Analytical Logging
The OPAL is a standalone unmanned unit collecting cuttings from the possum belly and analyzes them in a
close system. The system produces real time well log curves which are comparable to open hole logs. This
article will show comparisons of OPAL Logs side by side with LWD/MWD logs and Open Hole Logs.
Higher resolution formation measurements will be presented as a case study where measuring Gamma
Ray response of slow moving drilling cuttings producing high statistical measurement results and better
delineation of Sandstone in comparison to MWD/LWD.
A case study will present how the logged GR on OPAL and relatively earlier GR responds of MWD/LWD in
shale detected the potential well cleaning problem. This log difference is an indicator of shale cuttings left
in the well bore. This effect confirmed by decrease in the flow density curve. Early alert of dangerous
drilling conditions was issued. This can prevent a possibility of getting the drill pipe stuck in horizontal
well, as well as other drilling issues.
Gamma Spectrograph is performed by having the sensors placed in direct contact with the cuttings. Case
study of resistivity in the Hydrocarbon Bearing Sandstone is recorded and the higher resistivity in upper
part of Sandston than in the lower part is representing the Sw change. The data are correlated to Gas Log.
Other Outputs are:
1. Petrophysical Log parameters.
2. Well Stability.
3. Well cleaning and volumetric well Caliper to prevent getting stuck.
4. Analytical formation sampling and collecting core like drilling cuttings
5. Liquid loss during drilling
This device tested on CBM in Canada and Texas on Risco well.
3. Historical Slide.
-40C Sample Collected and Washed Automatically, Continuous GR, Resistively,
Density and other analytical measurement similar to Open Hole Logging Tools.
Happy Roughneck
4. 1. In Horizontal drilling and Logging, both conventional and unconventional,
2. In Directional tools loss prevention in the well.
3. Liquid loss in combination with OPAL for fractured reservoirs evaluation and CBM.
4. OPAL data logging in difficult and high temperature wells, where the data may be
lost.
5. Wells where the Well-Bore damage is expected due to mud invasion. Real time
logging data are unaffected by the drilling mud invasion.
6. Analytical Core like sample collection for well log reconstruction and reservoir
properties characterization.
7. Real time Drilling parameters optimization and increasing drilling bit performance.
Where OPAL is effective and valuable.
5. Overview of Electronically Collected OPAL Petrophysical logs Data
OPAL Petrophysical
logs and lithological
data can be formatted
to Petrophysical
standards.
6. Vertical Well Comparison GR Log: MWD vs OPAL Gamma
OPA
L
OPAL
MWD GR OPAL GR Lithological Log by drilling cuttingsROP
Sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone
7. OPAL Logging vs Open Hole logging
Base of Fish Scales
Formation Shale
Mud Flow
OPAL GR
GR
Mud Flow
Open Hole GR
Open hole GR OPAL Gamma
Shale Sandy
Shale Sandy
Sandstone Argilat.
Sandstone Argilat.
10. Gamma Ray & Gamma
spectrograph log
2 Resistivity
Log
Gamma ray
Density Log
Flow Density
Log
Mud density Log
Mud Resistivity Log
Mini-core Sample
collection
OPAL System.
X-Ray
Diffraction
Density Log
Well Caliper LogMud Temperature Log
16. Fluid loss
increase in coal
Resistivity Blue Density Black
Gamma Ray Blue QC - Green
Total Gas Blue
ROP Black
Shale Coal
Fracture
Fracture
17. OPAL
Up and Down Counts
GR-OPAL not Razing
GR-MWD Razing
GR-OPAL Razing GR-OPAL Falling
GR-MWD Falling
18. Differential Hydrocarbon Detector
Quantitatively measure heavy
hydrocarbons (C3-C5) in the gas
stream.
Uses dual gas detectors to compare
response profiles
Distinguishes dry gas, wet gas, oil,
and water accumulations & contacts
Provides hydrocarbon saturation
index and ratio
Dual Stage Glycol Dryer
Prolonged unmanned recording
Normalization techniques accounting
for pump displacement & strokes,
ROP, and hole diameter enable well
to well comparison
20. Differential Gas Detector vs 3rd Party Gas Detection comparison in
Parallel Gas Traps set up.
Conventional Gas Detectors are missing Shale Oil Gas Indication.
3rd Party Gas
695u
Deflecting
negative On OIL
Type Show
Prospectors DT
Gas 16458u
Deflecting
positive On OIL
Type Show
On Gas Type
Show Both
deflecting
Positive
MD-12838’
LD-12825’
Sample #8
MD-12860’
LD-12851’
Sample #9
21. Differential Gas Detector data Real Time Chart
interpretation.
• .
TG=13,075
DTG=5291
OR=6,697/594=11.3 Gas,
Coaly
TG=6,697
DTG=594
OR=13,075/5291=2.5 Oil
Dp 12565MD
Lag 12554MD
Sample #5
22. REMOTE MONITORING BY CLIENT.
Multi Well Monitoring, Quality control redundancy Engineer/Geologist/ Petrophysicist
Live Video
Remote
Digital Logs
Well-1 Well-2 Well-3
23. 1. OPAL system is a tool that is logging the subsea on the surface, and has the benefit of no
parts down hole.
2. OPAL is capable of logging problem wells such as high temperature, deep wells,
exploration high cost, and high risk wells, with unstable formations, and high volatility.
3. OPAL is a tool to have in offshore drilling.
4. OPAL’s data has effective real time information and the data are un-distractible if there
is loss of well integrity.
5. OPAL’s data are available at the rig in real time.
6. OPAL has the capability to produce a set of measurements comparable to a full set of
OPEN Hole Logs, GR, Gamma Spectrograph.
7. The new principal are used in measurements of: Density, X-Ray Density, Resistivity,
Flow density, well cleaning or volumetric caliper, other.
8. OPAL can produce a volumetric caliper of the well in real time.
9. OPAL is collecting automatic sample correlated by Gama Ray log depth control. Digital
control of sample size and intervals required. A mini-core device collecting thin 4” long
sample vials, which representing continuous formation sampling similar to coring.
10.OPAL data in combination with the MWD/LWD are a valuable well bore cleaning and
‘stuck pipe’ prevention system for horizontal well drilling.
What OPAL will provide you in todays diverse Reservoir Evaluation Industry?
24. 11. OPAL real time monitoring with ‘Liquid Loss system’ and ‘Gas Detection DTG
system’ are capable to provide detail ‘Fractured Reservoir Performance data’, well
Stability Data and Fracability Data. The Fracture quantities are measured by volume of
liquid required to fill the fractures.
12. OPAL provides a new measurement principal in the Field of Petrophysics, where
the measurements are performed by analyzing the cuttings column in new way and
compliment the Open Hole logs.
13. OPAL cuttings measurements are performed by shining through the media and
compliment the open hole logs that are using the signal reflected from the well bore wall.
14. OPAL tools are opening new information of formation properties , new
mathematical theoretical solutions for log evaluation.
15. OPAL using principals of physical of continuum similar to principals of mechanics
of continuum for discreet media versus the physics of continuous matter. This
measurements will compliment the OPEN Hole Logs. This will produce new
information on oil and gas reservoir performance.
Conclusion continue.
