Chapter 6

SP (Spontaneous Potential) Log

Lecture notes for PET 370

Spring 2012

Prepared by: Thomas W. Engler,

Ph.D., P.E.

+

-

+ -

Concentrated NaCl Sol’n

Dilute NaCl Sol’n

Cl -

Na +

Diffusion Potential

Porous medium

+

-

+ -

Concentrated NaCl Sol’n

Dilute NaCl Sol’n

Cl -

Na +

Membrane Potential

Shale membrane

SP Log Background

Schematic of diffusion-potential

generating cell Schematic of a membrane-potential

generating cell

Definition of Potential Cells

SP Log Background

Origin of SP Curve

Electrochemical

Membrane potential

Electrochemical

Diffusion potential

Electrokinetic

potentials

SP (Spontaneous Potential) Log

A. Identifying permeable bed boundaries

B. Stratigraphic correlations

C. Determination of formation resistivity factor, F

D. Estimation of shale content (Vsh) for shaly sand

formations.

E. Determination of formation water resistivity, Rw

F. All of the above

USES

The SP log is used for:

SP (Spontaneous Potential) Log USES

The SP log was one of the first logs run by the Schlumberger

Brothers in the 1930s. What is the first name of the two

Brothers?

Conrad and Marcel

SP Log

Estimation of shale content Vsh

Schematic SP curve in sand/shale sequence

(Bassiouni, 1994)

Application

Assumptions

zones of same salinity, shale

type....

Typically, overestimates volume of

shale

Vsh = ?

Vsh = ?

Vsh = ?

0%

100%

30%

SP Log Application

Identification of boundaries (Helander, 1983)

SP Log Application

Stratigraphic Correlation

SP Log Application-Rw

Procedure to Obtain Rw

• Identify the shale baseline and clean sand lines on the SP log. The

difference is SP.

• Calculate the formation temperature

• Convert (Rmf)Tm => (Rmf)Tf

• If necessary, correct SP for bed thickness and invasion effects. Read bed

thickness, h and invaded resistivity, Ri. Obtain SSP.

• If necessary, Convert Rmf @ Tf to Rmfe @ Tf.

• Calculate Rwe by:

• Convert Rwe to Rw.

f0.133T61

SSP

10*mfe

Rwe

R

SP Log Application-Rw

Bed thickness/invasion correction

(Western Atlas, 1992)

SP Log Application-Rw

Procedure to Obtain Rw

• Identify the shale baseline and clean sand lines on the SP log. The

difference is SP.

• Calculate the formation temperature

• Convert (Rmf)Tm => (Rmf)Tf

• If necessary, correct SP for bed thickness and invasion effects. Read bed

thickness, h and invaded resistivity, Ri. Obtain SSP.

• If necessary, Convert Rmf @ Tf to Rmfe @ Tf.

• Calculate Rwe by:

• Convert Rwe to Rw.

f0.133T61

SSP

10*mfe

Rwe

R

SP Log Application-Rw

Procedures to Obtain Rw

Rmfe=0.03

Rw=0.20

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

SP = mV

Ri = ohmm

H = ft

-68

-68

4 4 25

25

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

The example is a SP - resistivity log over a series of sands and shales.

Referring to the figure, compute Rw for zone A. The following information is

given:

TTD= 196 deg F @ TD = 9,400 ft. Gulf Coast well

Rmf = 0.71 @ Tm =68 deg. F Rm = 1.00 @ Tm =68 deg. F

Step 1: Determine the SP value as the difference between the shale baseline

and the thick, clean sand line. The shale line is taken as the maximum SP

excursion to the right. The sand line is taken as the maximum deflection to the

left in the zone of interest.

Step 1: The shale baseline and clean sand line are drawn on the figure.

SP = -68 mV is the potential difference.

Step 2: The formation temperature is obtained by linear interpolation between

the mean surface temperature and the recorded bottomhole temperature from

the log.

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

Step 2: The formation temperature can be computed by:

Step 3: The Rmf and Rm at a measured temperature from the log heading, must

be converted to formation temperature.

Step 3: The Rmf at formation temperature is:

Similarly, Rm = 0.55 ohm-m @ Tf

Step 4: The SP reading must be corrected for bed thickness and resistivity

effects. Thin beds and deep invasion reduce the amplitude of the SP to less

than the desired SSP. Enter the figure with the bed thickness and invaded-zone

resistivity from a short normal, SFL or LL8 and estimate the correction factor.

F 129 = 75+9400

417075)-(196 = T f

m- 0.39 = 6.77+129

6.77+68 0.71 = ) fRmf(

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

Step 4: Bed thickness = 25ft.; Ri, = 4 ohm-m from the 16" short normal; thus

Ri/Rm = 7.2 7.5.

From the figure the correction factor = 1.00.

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

Step 5: The mud filtrate resistivity (Rmf) at formation temperature calculated

from Step 3, must be corrected to Rmfe, for use in the SSP equation. The

term equivalent is a result of two assumptions in formulating the SSP

equation:

(1) formation water and mud filtrate are NaCl solutions, and

(2) activity ratios can be replaced by resistivity ratios.

Use the figure to convert from Rmf Rmfe and from Rwe Rw

(Do not use the dashed lines, they are for gyp-based muds).

SP Log Application-Rw

Procedures to Obtain Rw

Rmfe=0.39

Step 5: Since Rmf > 0. 25 then Rmfe =

Rmf= 0.39 ohm-m.

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

Step 6: Calculate Rwe by using:

Step 6: Calculate the equivalent formation water resistivity.

Step 7: Use the equivalence conversion chart to convert Rwe to Rw.

100.133T+61

SSP

*Rmfe = Rwe

m- 0.052 = 10

0.133(129)+61

68-

*0.39 = Rwe

SP Log Application-Rw

Example

Step 7:

Rw = 0. 060 ohm-m

Rw = 0.06

SP Log Application-Rw

Exercise

SP Log Application-Rw

Exercise

Rw Calculation from SP Log Rw Calculation from SP Log

Input Data Calculations

Well Name Problem 6.1 Temp. gradient 0.99 deg. F/100 ft

Formation Name Morrow Sandstone Average formation depth 8126 ft.

Formation temperature,Tf 140 deg. F.

Bottom Hole Temperature 164 deg. F

Mean Surface Temperature 60 deg. F. KC 79.7

Total Depth of Well 10500 ft. Rmf @ Tf 1.04 - m

Depth to top of formation 8114 ft. Rm @ Tf 1.30 - m

Depth to bottom of formation 8138 ft.

Bed thickness, h 24 ft.

Mud Properties Resistivity ratio 49.87

Mud filtrate resistivity,Rmf 2 - m SP correction factor 1.08

Measured temp. of Rmf 70 deg. F. SSP -76 mV

Mud resistivity, Rm 2.50 - m

Measured temp. of Rm 70 deg. F. Rmf(eq) 1.043 - m

Rw(eq) 0.118 - m

Bed Thickness Correction

Invaded zone resistivity,Ri 65.0 - m Rw 0.132 - m

SP deflection -70 mV

SP Log References

Bassiouni, Z: Theory, Measurement, and Interpretation of Well Logs, SPE

Textbook Series, Vol. 4, (1994)

Chapter 6

Dewan, J.T.: Essentials of Modern Openhole Log Interpretation, Pennwell

Publishing, Ok (1983)

Helander, D.P.: Fundamentals of Formation Evaluation, OGCI

Publications,Tulsa, OK (1983)

Schlumberger, Log Interpretation Charts, Houston, TX (1995)

Western Atlas, Log Interpretation Charts, Houston, TX (1992)