Company Teams for Logging Technology
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- Saudi Aramco News
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Author: Saudi Aramco News
Released 13 December 2007
DHAHRAN, December 12, 2007 -- EXPEC Advanced Research Center (EXPEC ARC) is teaming up with Baker Hughes to develop the next generation of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging technology, which could be used to obtain rigorous, real-time information on the rock properties in deviated and horizontal small-hole wells.
This high-precision, reduced-diameter, logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool will provide critical information about bound and free fluids, porosity, permeability, fluid identities and tar presence in the reservoir.
This is an illustration of the next-generation nuclear magnetic resonance logging technology being developed by EXPEC ARC and Baker Hughes.
“Saudi Aramco is actively pursuing the development of strategic technologies such as logging-while-drilling tools for real-time formation evaluation and geosteering the trajectories of drilled wells,” said Amin H. Nasser, acting business line head of Exploration and Producing.
“Collaboration with service partners is one of our approaches to develop next-generation tools that meet our business needs,” Nasser added. “This is the first such collaborative technology development project between Saudi Aramco and Baker Hughes, and is another example of this philosophy.”
“This technology will help us to geosteer the trajectories of our deviated, horizontal and multilateral wells and place them in the most productive zones in the reservoir,” said Muhammad M. Al-Saggaf, manager of EXPEC ARC.
He added: “The resulting measurements will provide real-time data for evaluating the reservoir fluid properties and tar presence near the wellbore and therefore avert tar zones in fields such as Manifa, thus facilitating more productive wells.”
Wireline logging is carried out by lowering the logging tools by a wireline into the well. It acquires formation data, such as porosity and fluids, after a well is drilled to its total depth. It is used in vertical or near vertical wells but not in horizontal wells, since the tool settles to the bottom of the horizontal hole.
In contrast, LWD provides formation parameters in real-time, during drilling, thereby helping to steer the well toward the most productive zones.
From left are Ashraf Raafat of Baker Hughes; Ali A. Meshari, acting chief technologist at EXPEC ARC; John Prescott of Baker Hughes; and Muhammad M. Al-Saggaf.
LWD is suited for use in deviated and horizontal wells. Because there is no such tool in the logging industry for small holes (5-7/8-inch and 6-1/8-inch), which are becoming the norm in Saudi Aramco field development, EXPEC ARC has partnered with Baker Hughes to expedite development and deployment of this essential tool.
The project entails the development of a small-diameter LWD NMR tool, with advanced magnet, antenna and processing systems that will acquire NMR measurements through 5-7/8-inch and 6-1/8-inch holes that are drilled in deviated, horizontal and multilateral wells.
The technical team is composed of researchers and professionals from EXPEC ARC, the Reservoir Description and Simulation Department, and Baker Hughes.