Application of log data in

basin evaluation:
Petrophysical logs, Borehole logging, log
combinations for effective interpretation
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1 BASIN EVALUATION

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4 COMBINATION LOGS

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3 VARIOUS PETROLOGICAL LOGS
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 Basin Evaluation/Analysis
 Basin evaluation is a critical process in geology, geophysics, and hydrogeology that involves analyzing
sedimentary basins to understand their formation, evolution, and potential for containing natural
resources such as oil, gas, and minerals. Here are the key components and steps typically involved in
basin evaluation:
 1. Geological Setting
 Tectonic Setting: Determining the tectonic environment in which the basin formed (e.g., rift, foreland,
intracratonic).
 Stratigraphy: Analyzing the sequence of rock layers to understand their deposition over time.
 Structural Geology: Identifying faults, folds, and other structural features that influence the basin's
architecture.
 2. Basin Architecture
 Sedimentology: Studying the types of sediments, their source, and depositional environments.
 Paleogeography: Reconstructing past geographical settings and environments.
 Sequence Stratigraphy: Dividing the sedimentary sequence into genetically related units bounded by
unconformities.
Applications of Basin Analysis

 Basin analysis has a wide range of applications

across various fields. Here are some of the
primary applications:
 1. Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production
 Oil and Gas Exploration: Identifying and
evaluating potential oil and gas reserves within
sedimentary basins.
 Reservoir Characterization: Understanding the
properties of rock formations that store
hydrocarbons to optimize extraction.
 Enhanced Oil Recovery: Designing strategies
for increasing the amount of extractable oil and
gas.
Elements and processes of a petroleum system
Mineral Exploration

 Economic Geology:
Locating and assessing
mineral deposits, such as
coal, phosphates, and
metallic ores.
 Strategic Minerals:
Identifying basins rich in
critical minerals essential
for modern technology and
industry. The Neuquen Basin is located in central Argentina.
Carbon Sequestration

CO2 Storage: Identifying

suitable geological
formations for the storage
of carbon dioxide to
mitigate climate change.

Monitoring and
Verification: Ensuring the
safety and effectiveness of
CO2 sequestration sites.
 Water Resource Management

Aquifer Pollution Tracking:

Characterization: Understanding the flow of
Studying the properties and contaminants in
extent of aquifers for groundwater systems
groundwater extraction and within sedimentary basins.
management.
Sustainable Water Use:
Evaluating recharge rates Remediation Planning:
and sustainable extraction Designing strategies to
limits for groundwater clean up contaminated
resources. groundwater resources.
Geothermal Energy

 Resource Assessment:
Identifying and
characterizing geothermal
reservoirs for energy
production.
 Development Planning:
Designing efficient
extraction systems for
geothermal energy.

Implications of Spatial Variability in Heat Flow for Geothermal Resource

Evaluation in Large Foreland Basins: The Case of the Western Canada
Sedimentary Basin(Simon Weides,Jacek Majorowicz,2014)
Environmental and Geohazard Assessment
 Environmental Impact
Studies: Assessing the potential
environmental impacts of
resource extraction and other
basin activities.
 Geohazard Evaluation:
Identifying risks such as
earthquakes, landslides, and
subsidence related to basin
structures.
 Urban Planning and Civil Engineering

Selection: Evaluating the suitability of areas for infrastructure development, considering

geological and hydrogeological factors.
Risk Mitigation: Identifying and mitigating risks associated with ground stability and
geohazards for construction projects.
Paleoclimatology and
Paleoenvironmental
Studies

Climate Reconstruction: Using

sedimentary records to
reconstruct past climate
conditions and environmental
changes.
Biodiversity Studies:
Understanding the evolution
and distribution of ancient
ecosystems.
Waste Disposal Management

Basin analysis helps assess the

suitability of a basin for safe and secure
disposal of waste materials. This can
include low-level radioactive waste or
industrial waste products. Factors like
geological stability, potential for
contamination migration, and long-term
environmental impact are evaluated.
Use of Basin Evaluation in
Waste Disposal
Mangement

Geologic environments for nuclear waste

repositories(Evan Paleologos, Abdel-
Mohsen Mohamed,Kosmos Pavlopoulos,2017)
Geological Research: Advancing the understanding of sedimentary processes, basin evolution,
and Earth's history.
Marine Geology: Understanding sedimentary processes and resource potential in offshore
basins.
Coastal Management: Studying sediment dynamics and coastal erosion for sustainable
coastal development.
Application of Log Data in Basin Evaluation

Log data plays a crucial role in the evaluation of sedimentary basins, providing critical
insights into the geological formations, reservoir characteristics, and hydrocarbon
potential. Various types of logs are employed to gather information about the subsurface,
each offering unique perspectives on the basin's geological makeup and resource
potential.
Borehole logging

Also known as well logging, is a process used

to record detailed information about the
geological formations penetrated by a borehole.
This information is crucial for various
applications in the oil and gas industry,
hydrogeology, mining, and environmental
science.

Applications
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production
Groundwater Exploration
Mining
Geotechnical Engineering
Environmental Monitoring

Borehole Logging
Gamma Logs
Gamma ray logs measure the natural radioactivity of formations, primarily due to the presence of radioactive
isotopes like potassium, uranium, and thorium. They are essential in identifying and correlating different
lithologies, particularly between shales and sandstones. High gamma ray readings often correspond to shale
layers, while lower readings indicate the presence of clean sandstones. This information is vital in
understanding the stratigraphy, identifying potential source rocks, and evaluating the overall quality of
reservoir rocks.

Applications Advantages Limitations

Reliable and widely used Sensitivity to

Stratigraphic correlation variations in
Provides information mineralogy
Source rock identification on the overall
composition of the Can be influenced by
Shale content determination formation borehole conditions
Lithology identification Relatively inexpensive
Can be acquired in Limited information
various logging on porosity and
environments permeability
Gamma-ray logging Sonic logging
 Resistivity Logs
Resistivity logs measure the resistance of the formation to the flow of electric current. They are
crucial in determining the presence of hydrocarbons and evaluating reservoir quality. Low
resistivity values generally indicate the presence of conductive fluids like water or
hydrocarbons, while high resistivity values suggest the presence of non-conductive formations
like shales or carbonates.

1 Reservoir characterization Hydrocarbon saturation

2
Resistivity logs help in determination
identifying and delineating By comparing resistivity
reservoir layers, measurements with other
distinguishing between log data, such as porosity
water-saturated and logs, the saturation of
hydrocarbon-saturated hydrocarbons in the
zones. reservoir can be estimated.
3 Fluid type identification 4 Formation evaluation
Resistivity logs can assist Resistivity logs are used in
in differentiating between conjunction with other log
oil and gas reservoirs data to determine porosity,
based on the resistivity permeability, and other
response of these fluids. formation parameters.
 Density Logs
Density logs measure the bulk density of the formation by emitting gamma rays and measuring
the amount of radiation that is backscattered to the detector. This backscattered radiation is
directly related to the density of the formation.

Application Description

Porosity Determination Density logs are used to calculate the porosity of the
formation by comparing the measured bulk density
to the density of the matrix material.
Lithology Identification Different lithologies have distinct density values,
allowing for the identification of various rock types.

Fluid Identification Density logs can differentiate between water-

saturated and hydrocarbon-saturated zones based on
the density differences between water and
hydrocarbons.
Density logs provide crucial information for
Reservoir Characterization reservoir characterization, including porosity,
permeability, and fluid content.
 Density log: bulk density

Photoelectric factor data from a density log

 Neutron Logs
Neutron logs work by bombarding the formation with neutrons and measuring the
number of neutrons that return to the detector. They are primarily used to determine
the hydrogen content of a formation, which is directly related to the presence of water,
oil, and gas.

Hydrogen Content
Neutron logs are highly sensitive to the presence of hydrogen, which
is abundant in water, oil, and gas.

Porosity Determination
The hydrogen content is closely tied to porosity, enabling the
determination of pore space within the formation.

Fluid Identification
Neutron logs help differentiate between water-saturated and
hydrocarbon-saturated zones based on the hydrogen content
variations.
 The log responses for halite, anhydrite, and
gypsum

This log was recorded of part of the Nippewalla Group Blaine Formation evaporites in a well located in Hamilton
County, Kansas.
Sonic logging
Also known as acoustic logging, is a well-logging technique
that measures the travel time of acoustic waves through
subsurface formations to provide information about the
geological and physical properties of these formations. This
method involves lowering a tool equipped with acoustic
transmitters and receivers into a borehole. The tool generates
acoustic waves that travel through the formation and are
detected by receivers.

Uses
Formation Evaluation
Hydrocarbon Exploration and Production
Geothermal Energy Exploration
Mining

Sonic, or Acoustic, Log

 Wireline Logging
Wireline logging involves lowering logging tools down the borehole on a cable called a
wireline. This method is widely used in the oil and gas industry for various applications,
including formation evaluation, well completion, and production monitoring.

Formation Well Completion Production Data Acquisition

Evaluation Monitoring
Wireline logging is Wireline logging tools
Wireline logging used to evaluate the Wireline logging can are designed to
provides detailed effectiveness of well be employed to acquire various types
information about the completion monitor production of log data, including
geological formations, operations, ensuring performance, identify resistivity, gamma ray,
including lithology, proper wellbore potential issues, and density, neutron, and
porosity, permeability, integrity and optimize well sonic logs.
and fluid content. productivity. performance.
 Wireline logging traces
produced by geophysical logging tools.
 Dipmeter Logging

Several descriptive properties can be derived

from the dipmeter survey:
•Lamination thickness and regularity
•Layering contrast and frequency
•Layering continuity
•Flasering and load structures

Dipmeter Log
 Dipmeter profile and strurcutre
determination

This dipmeter example was run in an offshore well on the east

coast Canadian continental shelf.
 Tectonics of the
Chupadera Mesa
region, central New
Mexico
Steven M. Cather,
2009, pp. 127-138

Continuous dipmeter log and interpretation for

part of the Yeso Formation in the Texaco R. Nurmi, 1984
(Steven M. Cather,2009)
Nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR) logging
NMR logs provide information
about the quantities of fluids
present, the properties of
these fluids, and the sizes of
the pores containing these
fluids. From this information,
it is possible to infer or
estimate .
•The volume (porosity) and
distribution (permeability) of
the rock pore space
•Rock composition
•Type and quantity of fluid NMR logging-tool response compared to conventional logging tools.
hydrocarbons
EVALUATION OF LOW RESISTIVITY LOW
•Hydrocarbon producibility CONTRAST RESERVOIR(Muhammad Amin Nizar Bin Che Abd Razak,2012)
 Electrical imaging
•Assisting sedimentological interpretation
•Determining the boundaries and thickness of
depositional sequence and formations
•Identifying sedimentary structures, structural
features, and lithofacies
•Determining the geometry and density of
fractures and faults
•Determining the presence of permeability
paths and potentially impermeable barriers
•Distinguishing natural from anthropogenic
fractures
•Planning well completion, perforation,
fracturing, or drilling locations
Mud Logging
•Mud logging (or Wellsite Geology) is a well
logging process in which drilling mud and
drill bit cuttings from the formation are
evaluated during drilling and their
properties recorded on a strip chart as a
visual analytical tool and stratigraphic cross
sectional representation of the well.

•Provide continuous record of penetration

rate, lithology and hydrocarbon shows.

•These information supports wireline log

data.

•From the cuttings, an oil stains or odor of

oil may be detected, become an excellent
qualitative indicator.

Example of Mud Logging

Seismic logs Uses in Basin Evaluation
These are interpretations of Identification of basin’s structural
history
seismic reflection data. Seismic Delineateing the over all shape
surveys emit sound waves that Stratigraphy

travel through the Earth's

layers and reflect back based
on acoustic impedance
contrasts (differences in
density and velocity). By
analyzing these reflections,
geophysicists create seismic
sections that depict the
subsurface layering.
Segmentation of megathrust rupture zones from fore-arc deformation
patterns over hundreds to millions of years, Arauco Peninsula,
Chile(Daniel Melnick,Bodo Bookhagen,Helmut Echtler,2009)
 Spontaneous Potential (SP) Logs
•Measures natural electrical voltage differences between a borehole and the surface
(without applying any current).
•Works because of variations in salinity between formation fluids and drilling mud.

•Helps identify permeable zones (like sand) and impermeable zones (like shale).
•Indicates the salinity of formation water.
•Can be used to estimate the amount of clay (shale) in a formation.
•Requires conductive drilling mud (oil-based mud won't work).
•Often displayed as a continuous curve with deflections based on formation properties.
•Limited resolution - may not show thin formation
Spontaneous potential (SP) log acquisition schematic

SP log and lithology

Self Potential Logging
Photoelectric Absorption (PEF) Log

The Photoelectric Absorption (PEF) log

measures the photoelectric absorption cross-
section index of the formations surrounding the
borehole. This index is primarily influenced by
the atomic number of the elements in the
formation, making the PEF log useful for
identifying rock types and determining mineral
composition.

Tools used for photo electric data

 Combination Logs for Interpreting Lithologies
Density-Neutron Crossplot Photoelectric Factor Versus Bulk Density
Crossplot

Density-neutron
crossplot, ρb versus ϕN
Photoelectric factor versus bulk density
crossplot, ρe versus Δt
Sonic Versus Neutron Porosity Photoelectric Factor From Density Log in Conjunction With
Crossplot Density and Neutron Porosity

Sonic-neutron crossplot as a lithology

indicator
Combination of gamma ray log,SP log and density log for lithology
determination
 Case Study
Permeability and porosity images based on NMR, sonic, and seismic reflectivity: Application to a carbonate
aquifer

VP and VS plotted against porosity

Permeability and porosity images based on NMR, sonic, and

seismic reflectivity: Application to a carbonate aquifer(Jorge O Parra,Chris Hackert,2003)
Lithology intercepted by well PBF-10 showing VP, VS, bulk density, log-
derived porosity and NMR bound volume logs
NMR derived permeability
and facies evaluation
Lithology determination based on porosity and permeability
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