CA1138993A - Well log data analysis system - Google Patents

Well log data analysis system

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Publication number
CA1138993A
CA1138993A CA000341248A CA341248A CA1138993A CA 1138993 A CA1138993 A CA 1138993A CA 000341248 A CA000341248 A CA 000341248A CA 341248 A CA341248 A CA 341248A CA 1138993 A CA1138993 A CA 1138993A
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Canada
Prior art keywords
data
well
disk
digital
well log
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CA000341248A
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French (fr)
Inventor
Donald E. Clark
Leonard V. Turner
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BASIN SURVEYS Inc
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BASIN SURVEYS Inc
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Abstract

WELL LOG DATA ANALYSIS SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure Disclosed is a portable computerized system for performing on-site analysis of well log data. Data analysis programs, including specialized parameters relating to individual wells, are provided on magnetic recording disks.
The data is depth-selected, converted to digital form then transferred, through a computer memory buffer, to a disk.
Analysis programs are loaded from the disk into the computer.
The data is then selectively read from the disk and analyzed by the computer by means of the analysis programs.

Description

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Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention The presen-~ invention pertains to apparatus and methocls for analyzing well logging data. More particularly, the present invention is related to techniques ~or performing computerized acquisition and analysis of data from down-hole logging tools. Due to the relative compactness of the apparatus of the instant in-vention, its fle~ibility and its rapid response, the present in-vention finds particular application in on-site analysis o~ well logging data.
2. Description oE Prior Art .
Well logging is a valued technique in determining the location, extent and quality of hydrocarbon deposits in the earth, as well as in analyzing other characteristics of we~l environments.
Down-hole logging tools are lowered into wells, usually by cables containing multiple electrical conductors by which the tools are connected to various surface instruments. Operation oE the tools may be powered and~or controlled by means oE the surface instrum-entation. As a tool is run along the well, usually upwardly, one or more kinds oE measurements are made, and electronic signals are sent to the surface along the cable conductors conveying the data gathered by the tool at various well depths throughout the logging run. At the surface, a multichannel recorder may receive the data and plot same on a strip chart featuring graduations which may be related to the linear well depths at which the corresponding plotted data was acquired. This graphic portrayal of the ~lalog data, as obtained by the logging tool, may then be analy~ed by a suitably qualified ¦ pe~son, e.g., a petroleum enginee~. Typically, such enalysls is time -2- ~

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consuming and, of course, can be no more accurate than the analog data which has been recorded.
An improvement in the analysis of well logging data involves recording the data for later analysis. The re-corded data may then be transported to a location where a general purpose computer is available, and a computerized version of the analysis is made of the data provided by the logging tool. Where a digital computer is used, the data from the logging tool may be converted from analog to digital form before being recorded.
The introduction of computers to logging analysis has provided a practical tool whereby even extensive mathe-matical operations can be rapidly carried out on the data to facilitate evaluation of underground formations along the well. More recently, and particularly with the advent of compact computng systems, it has become possible to provide a computing system at the well site to receive logging data as the down-hole tool is ~eing run in the well and generating the data. The on-site computer can then be used to analyze the data in a relatively short period of time.
Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided apparatus for operating on well logging data, obtained by means of down-hole logging tools, comprising- a) a digital computer system, including: i) an encoder, operable by means con-vected to cable means by which such down-hole tools are run in such wells, for generating digital tracking signals corresponding to the depth of such tools; ii) an analog-to-; 30 digital converter for receiving said tracking signals, and for receiving said logging data and selectively converting "~' ~3~
same from analog to digital form as directed by said tracking signals; iii) a computer memory including a buffer for receiving and temporarily storing said digi-tal data; and b) a magnetic recording disk for receiving said selected data from said buffer and storing same at locations corresponding to well depths from where such data was acquired, and which contains a data acquisition program for controlling the operation of said analog-to-digital converter and at least one data analysis program for operating on said recorded data by means of said computer system to produce output information indicative of the environment of such well.
The present invention provides a well log analysis technique including at least one analysis program provided on a recording medium, such as a magnetic recording disk.
As logging data is acquired by running a logging tool in a well, tracking signals are generated to identify the various well depths at which the data is being acquired.
An encoder, linked to the cable by which the tool is run in the well, may be utilized to generate the tracking signals in digital form, which are then transmitted to an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The logging data signals are also received by the A/D converter, which is operated to convert data acquired at selected - 3a -': -t~

depths, ^r depth intervals, to diyital for~ with the nece-isary der)th information provided by the trackiny signals. The digital data is then recorded on a recording medium which may be the same magnetic recording dislc which contains the analysis programs.
Multiple logging runs with the same or different logging tools may be carLied ou-t and the data handled as described. All data acquired at specific selected depths and converted to digital form are recorded at the same address locations on the recording medium.
In this way, data from various logging runs on the same well are merged so that all data acquired at a specific depth may be accessed at the same time.
Operation of the A/D converter may be under the control oE
a data acquisition program, by which the depths, or depth intervals, for which data is selected to be converted is determined. The same acquisition program may be used to control the recording of the data on the recording medium.
A computer system including a cornputer memory may be utilized to process the data from reception by the A/D conver-ter to transmission to the recording rnedium. I'he data acqtl;.siti.on program is loaded from the recording medillln int:c) the colllputer prior to acquisition of the data. A buffer, such as a first-in, f:irst-out (F:~ti'O) buffer may he included in the computer memory to ternporarily store the diyital data while the appropriate location in the re-; cording medium i5 being reached to record the data corresponding to a specific well depth. ~he buffer also telnporarily stores the data to be recorded when the data samplinglprocess interrupts the re-cordation process at the specified depth intervals.
The same recording medium which contains the data ac-quisition prograrn and on which the diyita:L data is recorded may also contain one or more data analysis programs. Each such program may be used to operate on the recorded data to effect a specific data ~l.3~
reduction scheme to arrive at one or more physical va~.ues of interest characterist:ic of the particu].ar well being logged. Specific parameters peculiar to the well in question may also be included on the recording medium, even as par~ o.E the data analysis programs.
When all selected data is recorded, the data analysis programs, along with specific parameters,~ y be loaded into the computer. Then, data of interest is located on the recording medium and, in turn, is loadecl into the computer where it is reduced by operation of one or the other of the data analysis programs.
An output display terminal, such as a printer, may be provided to display the output information generated in the process of redu~.;ing the data by mealls of the analysis programs. An input terminal, such as a keyboard, may also be provided for giving manual instructions to the computer, such as specifying the depth intervals for data selection, and specifying parameter ranges within which the data is to be analy~ed.
.. The same magnetic record:irlg disk, for examp].e, may be utilized to store all prograrns,.includiny the data acqulsition and data analysis proyrams, and to record the se.lected digit.al data.
Gene~al.ly, a Eloppy disk may be used ;Eor th:i.s purpose, and is particularly suitab].e sin~e such a recording device may be used as a random access memory device for rapid retrieva:L oE the recorded data. Where increased disk memory is requi.red, a second floppy disk may be employed for addit:ional data storage.
Such Eloppy disks are relatively inexpensive and easily stored~ Consequently, the present inv~nt:ion provides a practical : technique for maintaining a complete p.rograrn].ibrary, as well as data - storage capac;.ty, on a single floppy disk which rnay then be devoted to logging only a specif:ic well. A sc-parate disk with the complete progranllibrarylna~ be provided for each such well to be logged. The prin~ary computer memory may be comp.letely ~reed of all logging ~3~
programs, and is utili:~eclonly durinc3 logging rnl~ls arLd data reductior procedures.
Since the reception, sel.ection and recordation of tLl~ data is carried~ out by means o.E a cornputer under specific program ~, instructions, suc'n data acquisi.tion-takes place on a real time basis.
The ~IFO buffer accommodcltes the record:ing proce-dure, which may be expected-to be the slowest operationi.n the data acquisition process.
By merging all data from specific well clepths within the data fi],e o the floppy disk, and recordillc3 same in a random access mode, retrieval of the desired data for loacling in-to t.he computer is effected in a minimum amount of time. Consequently, th~. analysis of the data may be perforrned on essentially a .real time basis as well.
Us~.: o:E a microcomputer renders all o:E the apparatus necessary to practice the present invention relatively cornpact and portable. Consequently/ the entire process of data acquisition and data reduction may be carried out at thc- well site, and in a relatively brief period of time.

., Brief_Descri~t:ion of the DrawLngs ~; Fig. 1 :is a schemati.c diagram illustrating thc-! various apparatus of the prc!sent invent:ion; arld Fig. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps typically followed in acqlllring and analyzi.ny data according to the present invention Descr.~.ption_of_Prefcrred_F,mboc!iments A b].ock d.iagram o:E the apparatus utili~ed in the presen-t invention is shown generally at 10 in Fig. 1~ A down-hole logging tool 12 is suspended by a cabl.e 14 within the bore of a well 16. As the tool 12 is moved along the well bore 16, u,sually upwardly, measurements are taken by the tool, and data accumu],ated as a result.

The data is sent in tlle form of electr~cal signals along the "~ ~L13f~ 3 conductors forming part of the cable 14 to appropriate instr-umentation at the surface. For e~ample, the data signals may be received by an analog panel unit 18 containing the necessary inter-.face, ~able connectors, indicator lights and the like. Analog data 5 si~nals 20 output from the analog panel 18 are transmitted to a conventional multichannel stri.p chart recorder 22 where the analog signals are graphically displayed as in prior systems.
The cable 14 pas~es over a sheave, or pulley, 24.
A mechanical or electrical linkage 26 connects the sheave 24 to an encoder 28 which produces a sequence oE electrical pulses 30 pro-portional to the rotation of the sheave. Since the movement of the down--hole tool 12 within the we.l.l 16 i.s proportional to rotations of the sheave 24, the digital O-ltpUt signal 30 of the encoder 28 serves as a tracking signal indicative o~ the location or depth of the tool in the well.
The digital traclcing signals 30 and the analog data ; signals 20 are both transmitted to an analog-to-digi.tal converter 32 which i.s connected to a computer 34. The A/D converter 32 may be considered an integral part of the computer system including the ~ata processor and memory o~ the computer 34. Instructiolls 36 are received by the A/D converter 32 from the data processor 34 con-cerning the operation of the A/D converter, and the A/D converter transfers information 38 into the memory associated with the data processor, as discussed in more detail hereinaEter. Although any general purpose digital computer may be employed, a microprocessor, : such as the 8080 manufactured by Al-tair, Inc., is preferredr ensuring that the entire system is portable.
An input-outpl1t term:irla:L 40 is also connected to the .

computer 34. As shown, the terminal 40 includes a keyboard/ printer comhination. However, any terminal, or combination of terminals whereby instructions~ and other information 42 may be input to the 1~3~

computer 3~, ancl intormatior 4~ na,r be ontput from the eompu-er and displayed may be utilized as the terminal .~0~
A disk drive unit 46 is also joined to the computer 34. The drive unit 46 contains the necessary hardware to drive recording disks, and the necesary electronics to record data onto such disks and to retrieve data thereErom. Generally, the presen-c invention may be practiced by utilizing a single recording medium, such as a magnetic reeording dislc 48 r at a time~ However, :Eor inereased storage eapaeity, a second magneti.c recording disk 50 may be used in conjuncti.on with the first disk-48, and the disk drive unit 46 is eapable of reeording and/or retrieviny information rela.tive to both disks. In~ormation is loaded Erom one or the other or both disks into : the eomputer 34 by lines 52. InEormation to be recorded on a ., .
disk is transmitted from the computer 34 to the disk drive unit 15 46 by lines 54.
When no logging data is being acquired or analyzecir the present invention rec~uires no specialized information to be either reeorded in the memory of the computer 34 r or to b* incorporated in the A/D eonverter 32. Al.l the info.rmation necesslry to direct th~
aequisition of the loggi.ng data and to analy~e same may be eonta:ined on a si.ngle record:ing disk 48. Sueh aecfuisition programmlng gene-rally ineludes data aequisition instruetions for operating the A/D
eonverter 32 and direeting the recordation of data on the disk 48.
The analys:is programming may :;nelude one or more programs for redueing the logging data to determine var;.ous eharaeteristics oE
the underground formations.
It will be appreciated that the data 20 presented to the A/D converter 32 is generally in the form of a continuous eleetronic signal of varying valu? indicative of the well environment at the depths where the particular signal segments were produced. The purpose of the A/D converter 32 is to select discrete data samples from the incominy signal 20 and convert these selected da-ta samples to digital form. At least one programable timer/counter is included ~ in the A/D converter 32. Such timer/counter is prograrned, i.e., preset, to a particular number by the data acquisition program loaded into the computer 3~ from the disk ~ and under specific instructions input by the operator by means o:E the terminal ~0 r~he timer/counter then counts the pulses in the tracking signal 30 received from the encoder 28. Since the number of encoder-generated pulses is pro--portional to the distance the logging tool 12 has been moved in the well 16, the timer/counter may be used to signal the sequential passage of equal d.istances by the tool in the well.
; For example, the encocler may be adjusted to produce, say, 120 pulses for every rotation oE the sheave 24 that advances or retracts the cable 14 a distance of one foot. The timer/counter of the A/D converter 32 may be preset to 119. The timer/counter then down-counts on each pulse received from the encoder until 0 is reachcd, when the tool 12 has been moved a distance of one foot in the well 16. At that point, the timer/counter causes the generation of a processor interrupt. The data processor acknowledyes the interrupt, resetting the t:im~/count:ef back to 1:1.9, and upclates a depth calclllatlon. The data signal 20 received by the A/D converter 32 at that point:is converted to digita]. Eorm and transfelred to the mernory of the computer 3~.
In the example descrihed, data in the analoy signals 20 will be selected for conversi.on to dig:ital form and recording on the disk 48 at one foot interval.s of well depth. It will be appreciated that any depth interval may be selected for data sampliny by appropriate:ly instructing the computer 34 and, therefore, the A/D
converter 32 in the setting oE the timer/counter reading the encoder signal 30.

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MOLe 'harlone data sicJnal may be generated by the tool 12 at one time. Further, multiple tools may be run simultaneously to generate multiple data signals. In any event, the analog signal 20 received by the A/D converter 32 may include several individual signals~ To accommodate such multiple data pxoduction, multiple conductors in the cable 14 and the connection 20nlay be utilized, for example, to input inEorrnation to terminals in the A/~ converter 32.
Then, whenever an interrupt is generated, the A/D converter sim-ultaneously converts each of the input signals to digital form and transfers these digital signals, along with the updated depth count, to the camputer rnernory.
Each of the possible several data signals obtained simul-taneously during the logging run may require individual gain set-tings. The data a~quisition program recorded on the disk 48 and previously loaded i.nto the computer 34rnay also include appropriate instructlons for setting the individual gains in the A/D converter 32. Additionally, the keyboard of the terminal 40 may be used to manually instruct the computer system regarding gain settings and the like, or to amend the instruct:ions recorded on the di.sk 48 in the ~0 data acquisition program.
After the data and the corresponding depth signal have been placed in the computer memory, this inormation is tran~smitted by linesS4 to the disk 48 for recording in a data file on the disk.
All of the data acquired at a particular depth in the we]l, as indicated by the tracking signal 3C and the resulting depth cal-culation, is recorded at the same address ]ocation on the disk data file. Where more than one item of data is acquired at a single well depth, either in the same logging run or by a sequence of logging runs, the different data iterns are distinguishable by mQans of appropriat~ program statements, and can be retrieved individually.
The recordationr and sub;equent retrieval oE information on the disk ':

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data f l.e are -thus bv randorm access. The data for any w~ll depth, or any range or interval of well depths, may be retrieved and loaded into the computer by simply accessin~ such data by means of the depth parameter and, where ne~cessary, an appropriate program statement to distinyuish multiple dal:a items from a sing:Le depth. Further, sections oE the well can be logged and then re:Logged, replaciny the previously recorded data a-t a given depth with the newly-acquired data for that depth, without loss of any of the other data. -The data act~u:isi-tion program may also scale the data selected and converted to digital form for recordi.ng according to zero and full-scale calibration factors loaded into the compul:er as ;part of the acqui.si.tion program, or as preliminary instruct.ions inputted to the cornputer by the keyboard of the terminal 4n. As in the case of setting the individual ga:ins for the various data parameters, separate scaling instructions may be utilized~for each type of data parameter acquired and recorded.
The memory oE the computer 34 includes a buf:Eer, spec-ifi.cally a first-in, first-out (FIFO) bllf:Eer/ to temporarily store the dal~a received from the A/D converter 32 ~e~ e the d;l~a i5 2n transmitted to the disk drive ~6. One purpose o;E 6UCII ternporary stor.a;le is to permit the disk drive 46 to locate the appropri~te address. location on the recording disk 48 at which the speciEic data about to be recorded is to be placed. Typically, a tt>tal of 16 pieces of in:Eormation may be st:ored atone address locatiorlon the disk. The dc-pth pararneter is used to identiEy the addrcss locations in the data fi].e. All parameters acquired at a specific depth, wnether during a single logt3ing run or successive lot~ging runs, are recorded at the same depth-ident:ifled address location in the da-ta file on the disk 30Dur:ing the process oE acquiring and storing data, the con~puter 3~1 is required to operate both the data sampling process ky ?3 the A~D converter 32 and the recordaticn process by the disk diive 46. From the discussion hereinbefore, it will be appreciated that the data sampling process, althouyh occurring in real tirne, proceeds intermittently since data is sampled only at specific depth in-tervals. This sampling process is event-driven,i.e., when data from a well depth identified as one from which the data is to sampled reaches the A/D converter 32, the sampliny process takes place automatically, interrupting the computer 34 in whatever it was doing at the time. By contrast,-the recorda-tion process may be carried out relatively con-tinuously, but can be interrupted withoùt any loss of information. Consequently, a foreground/background approach is utilized. The background task is the processiny of sampled data by scaling, etc., and recordation oE same on the disk ~3. The fore-ground task is the event-driven sampLing and conversion of data by the A/D converter 32. When the foreground task in-terrupts the background activity, the data already sampled but not yet recorded c>n the disk 48 is held in the FIFO buffer. AEter the sampling and converting procedures have been completed, and no further data is being sampled by the A/D converter 32, the recordation process continues with the appropriateJy scale~d data heincJ transEerr~d, in turn, from the buffer to the disk drive ~ arld dislc 4~. Generally, during the recorclation process inEormation is withdrawn from -the F:[FO buffer at least as fast as it is put into the buEEer so that the buffer never cornpletely fills.
E'ig. 2 illustrates a flow chart shown generally at 100 of the various steps perEorme~ during the acquisition and analysis of data accordiny to the present invention. The steps so illustrated include steps performed by hardware, s~ch as the A/D converter 32, procedures carried out by computer soEtware proyrams, such as the analysis programs, and steps that may be performed manually, i.e., by the system op~rator.

The firc;t step ]10 involv~s load;ng the programs of the system from a recording disk into the computer. Generally, the entire program to be run by the computer, including all analysis programs, is loaded into the computer at this initial step. However, it is not indended that the invention be limited to loading all data analysis programs be~ore any other steps are carried out by means oE
the computer. The invention may be performed by loading the data analysis programs at a later point in the procedure, and loading only those programs necessary for acquiring and recording data at step 10 110, With all or a portion of the programs loaded into the computer in step 110, the opeLator may input specific instruction~
into the computer at step 112. ~t this point, for exarnple, the operator may instruct the computer to print out operating in-structions included in the loa~ed programs, verify disk files, etc.At the next step lla, the operator instructs the computer as to which parameters, or types of measurements, are to be acquired durincj the running of the log. The depth at which the logging run is to be started and stopped, and the depth interval between data samplings are inputted into the comE~utt?r. At: the same time, the operator indicates the desirecl scales oE values for the diEferent parameters. At this point 114, the operator can also instruct the computer to print out the sampled data at some selected depth interval at least as large as the depth interval at which the system will sample the data. Then, as the individual parame-teLs are sampled, a print out will be provided by the terminal 40 according to the print out interval instructions.
The computer system is now ready to receive and process data values. The logging tool 12 is in position in the well to begin its run. It wil] be appreciated that, as noted b~-!fore, the logging tool 12 Call actually be a collection of tools run at the same time . ' ~ ~,.3~

to produce ml~ltiple 1oqging parameters~ A single tool 12 may also be utilized to ~enerate multiple parameters simultaneously. The operation o the tool or tools 12 is conducted under the control of instrumentation not shown herein. The selection of parameters in step 114 is made to be compatable with the construction and operation of the tool or tools.
As the cable 14 is operated, well logging data is acquired at 116 at the same time that tracking signals are generated at 11~, with both the logging data and the tracking signals being transmitted to the A/D converter 32. Under the control oE the data acquisition prograrn and the computer 34, the A/D converter 32 samples the data 120 at depth intervals specified in step 114. The sampled data is converted to digital form in step 122 and transferred to the computer memory buffer at step 124. Along with the data the corresponding depth parameter, pro~ided by the tracking signal, is transfe~red to the FIFO buf-Eer at step 124 to identify the address locat:ion at which the data from the corresponding depth is recorded on the disk at step 126. It will be apprecia-ted that step 126 may be interrupted by subsequent steps 120-124 as described herelnb(!Eore to ensure that the sampled data is acquired on a real time basis.
At the end of the logging run, the operator is Eaced with a decision 128. IE not all data has been acquired and recorded as inquired at 128, the operator can direct that steps 114-126 be repeated in whole or in part for the same logging tool or another logging tool or tools. The change of logging tools is provided at step 130. This step, of course, may be omitted if there is to be no change in the logging tool, but additional logging runs are to be taken. In any event, if not all data has been acquired and recorded, the system returns to step 114 to acquire additional data and depth tracking signals. Also, all or a portion o the well may be relogged for one or more o the parameters for which data was acquired in the initial logc3ing run. ~teps :l,l4-12~ are repeated as often as necessary to accummulate and record on the dislc 4~ all data desired or necessary. If addi-tiona,l disk recording capacity is required, a second disk 50, which may be accommo('1a-ted by the disk drive 46, may he utilized tv record further data.
Ater al] logging runs are completed, ancl all sampled data is scaled and recorded on the disk ~8 and, possibly, the second disk 50, the system is ready to proceed with analysis of the recorded data. If the data analysis programs were not loaded fr~m the disk 43 into the computer 34 at step llO, they are loaded now at step 132.
At step l34, th~ operator may input specific parameters peculiar to the well logged. Such input rnight include information descriptive of the well. Also, at ste~)134, the operator selects the ranges of the logged parameter va,lues within which he requires the computer to analyze thc data. The operator also dictates the starting depth of data for ~hich t~e analysis is to be carried out, the depth intervals, and the depth at which the analysis is to stop.
Subse~uently, at step 136, the operator directs the computer to ana-Lyze the data accordingly by means oE the analysis program.
Multiple analysis programs may he uti1,;zed at step 136, depending' upon the nature ol- the data ancl the analys,is rerll1ired.
As the analysis proceeds at step 136, the disk data file is searched for data corresponding to the depth interval selected at step 134, starting and stopping at the depths so chosen in that step.
Each time the address,corresponding to the next selected depth is reached on the disk, the pertinent data stored there is read by the disk drive unit 46 ancl loaded into the computer 34. There, the data is operated on by the analysis program to yield one or another result descriptive o the well environment at the related depth. If the result: of the analysis falls beyond the ran~e of parameter values that may have been selected at step 13'1, the result may be unloaded.

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All othtr resuJts are printed as they are developed, at step 13~.
When the analysis of a yiven sample of dat-a is completed that data is dumped by the computer, and the address of the next sample of data to be analyzed is searched, by the depth parameter, on the disk data file.
As the data ls being analyzed, the results o:E the analysis are printed out at step 133. Such analysis output.might include the results of data reduction for each depth interval analyzed as well as conclusions based on an evaluation of the reduced data over the specified depth for which data is beiny analyzed~
At step 140 the computer and/or operator determines whet-her data for all selected depth intervals have been analyzed. Ifnot, steps 136 and 133 are repeated. This loop including steps 136-140 may be considered a complete procedure for a single depth of data, repeated for each depth interval throughout the range oE depth for which data is being analyzed. Also, if more than one depth ranye was selected in step 134, such subse~uent depth ranges may be analyzed by repet:i.tion of steps 136-140.
A.~ter all data for selected depthshave been analy .ed, the opportunity to carry out additional analys.i~ o~ data:is provided at the decision of 142. The same dat.a previously analyzed, for examplet may be operated on according to a different mathematical procedure;
data fr~rn othe.r depth intervals not previously analyzed may be reduced by use of the same or a different analysis program. If : 25 additional analysis programs are to run, steps 134-140 are repeated for the additional programs If necessary, additional programs may be loaded into the computer by repeating step 132. In any event, step 134 may be reached each time new and further data analysis is to occur to add to or alter the well parameters, selection of data to be analyzecl and determination of parameter ranges within which the computer is to operate in analyzing the data.

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~fter all analyses are cornplete, and all results are printed out through repetitions of step 13~, the evaluation oE the logging data is complete and the entire collection oF programs may be dumped from the computer - memory at step 146. At that point, the magnetic recording disk 48 includes recordings of all data acquisition and data analysis programs utilized in the data re-duction process~ as well as all data sampled and recorded on the disk ~8 at the completion of the data acqulsition portion of the pro-cedure. Also, any data recorded on the second d~sk 50 remains on that disk. The computer's memory may be completely clear.
It will be appreciated that the process of loading pro-grams from the disk into the computer does not erase those programs from the disk. Similarly, when data is retrieved from the recording disk during the data analysis portion of the procedure, ~he data is not erased from the disk.

Each disk ~8 not only has the entire data acquisition and analysis program prerecorded thereon, but also has the pfogram tailored to the specific needs of the individual user, i.e., to include those parameters or the like which are individualized to the specific well and the topological area. Since it ll-tilizes a computing system which is not inherelltly cal?.lble oE perEorming the desired ana]ysis, i.e., it has not been preprogrammecl by either hard wiring or by microprogramming, the system of the present invention is flexible as to the various types of well sites and the like for which logging data may be acquired and analyzed. Thus, the programs may be tailored indivldually to the specific job at hand beEore the well logging operation, allowing the da-ta analysis to be performed on essen~ially a real time basis.

It will be appreciated that the present invention m.ay be utilized to obtain any type of logging data, and to analyze such data according to any data reduction schelne. For example, the logging tool ~2 may pro~id~ ~ta relating to bulk density, true resistivity, the hydrogen index, and the percent sand of the logged underground regions. This is the same data which is conventionally obtained and plotted in analog Eorm. The present system, however/ following the sceps as shown in Fig. 2, produces a printed chart which may be easily and quickly under-stood in actual drilling field conditions.
The printed analysis produced at the well site may also provide information as to the average true porosity/ the average water saturation, the average gas saturation, the average oil saturatlon and the total net feet computed. An important feature that may be provided by the analysis is the value of the total estimated recoverable oil in place based on a specified acre spacing, and with an estimated recovery factor and formation volume factor. Sim-ilarly, the analysis may produce an estimate of the recoverable gas in place in cubic feet, based on a speci~ied acre spacing and estimated formation pressure using a specific pressure gradient and based on a specific temperature gradient.
If an induction log, density log, gamma raylog and neutron log have be~?n run, the data analysis program may direct the data processor to compute the arlal.ytic information one Eoot at a time~ for example. The proc:essor will use the induct:ion log data to compute the R.T. porosity. The neutron data will be corrected for shale content by using the data obtained from the gamma ray log. The density porosity may be computed by using the density data and various variables and constants entered by way of the keyboard at steps 114 and/or 134. A cross-plot equation is used in the data analysis program to obtain true porosity by using density and neutron data, and gas saturation is obtained by using true porosity and neutron porosity. The induction log data, along with the entered constants and variables and the true porosity, are used to calculate the water saturation. Oil saturation is calculated by subtracting ,. -1~3-- "

: .

~.3~

both the w~lter saturation and the gas s;turation from 190%. Ry using gas saturation, true porosity, inputted variables and constants, the estirnated recoverable gas in place is computed. Similarly, using true porosity, inputted variahles and constants, the estimated recoverable oil is computed.
As the processor computes each of these quantities, they are prin-ted out on the printer of the input/outpu-t terminal. Each computation is perforrned and printed, say, at one foot intervals.
Thereafter at the end of each depth inte~rval, which may be 10 feet, 12 feet, or any preselected interval, average true porosity, average water saturation, average gas saturation, average oil saturation, total number oE feet computed, total estimated recoverable gas in place, and the total estimated recoverable oil in place, are printed out.
The processor then goes to the next depth interval and the entire process is repeated. At the end of the log analysis, the program is unloaded from the processor, leaving it empty, and the program and the data remain stored on the disk. Because the analysis is printed out in a tabulation format, extenslve pro-~
fessional type evaluation o the outp-lt inEormation is not req--uired, and the drilling per;onel may readily use the results obtained and the prediction of well yields.
With the present invention, the complete analysis program is contained on each separate dlsk 48. Thus, various assumptions on which the analysis is based may be readily altered Erom disk to disk.
For example, the formation pressure gradientmay be varied to provide different estimates of the recoverable gas. I'hus, the analysis to be applied to the data may be changed by simply changing the information contained on the disk 4~. Any of the inventive systems located at any drilling site may use any of the disks 48 appropriate.
The present invention provides a portable, computerized analys;s syste,n capable of receiving and salrlpling loyging data oll a real time basis, and of providing prompt, well-site analysis of such data according to any appropriate data reduction scheme. Flex-ibility of the present invention is maximi~ed by providiny all programmin~ necessary to direct the acquisition of data by the system as well as the reduction oE such data on a single recording disk, which also stores the sampled data. Variations in such programming may be provided on separate disks, each containins all programrniny nccessary to practice the present invention. Thus, the individual requirements of specific wells may be met by p~oviding separate program disks devoted to loyging those respective wells.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the method steps as well as in the details of the illustrated apparatus may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

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Claims (43)

Claims
1. Apparatus for operating on well logging data, obtained by means of down-hole logging tools, comprising:
a) a digital computer system, including:
i) an encoder, operable by means convected to cable means by which such down-hole tools are run in such wells, for generating digital tracking signals corresponding to the depth of such tools;
ii) an analog-to-digital converter for receiving said tracking signals, and for receiving said logging data and selectively converting same from analog to digital form as directed by said tracking signals;
iii) a computer memory including a buffer for receiving and temporarily storing said digital data, and b) a magnetic recording disks for receiving said select-ed data from said buffer and storing same at locations correspon-ding to well depths from where such data was acquired, and which contains a data acquisition program for controlling the operation of said analog-to-digital converter and at least one data analysis program for operating on said recorded data by means of said computer system to produce output information indicative of the environment of such well.
2. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 further comprising an input/output terminal connected to said computer system for selectively inputting information into said computer system and for displaying said output information.
3. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said data is so recorded on said disk in random access mode.
4. Apparatus as defined in Claim 3 further comprising a second magnetic recording disk for providing additional random access data recording capacity.
5. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 further comprising a keyboard input terminal connected to said computer system for selectively inputting information into said computer system.
6. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 further comprising a printer terminal connected to said computer system for printing said output information.
7. Apparatus as defined in Claim 1 further comprising a second magnetic recording disk for providing additional data recording capacity.
8. Apparatus as described in Claim 1 further comprising disk unit means for communicating between said computer system and said recording disk whereby said data may be received and recorded on said disk, and whereby said re-corded data, said data acquisition program and said data analysis program can be loaded into said computer system from said disk.
9. Apparatus as described in Claim 1 further comprising additional data analysis programs included on said disk whereby each such data analysis program includes a specialized data reduction procedure for so operating on said well logging data.
10. Apparatus as described in Claim 1 wherein said data acquisition program further includes scaling procedures for op-erating on said data converted to digital form to selectively scale same.
11. Apparatus for logging wells comprising:
a) at least one down hole logging tool for producing well logging data signals as said tool is run along a well suspended by cable means;
b) means connected to said cable means for producing tracking signals corresponding to the depth of such tool in such well;
c) an analog-to-digital converter for receiving said data signals and converting to digital form such data acquired at specific well depths as identified by said tracking signals;
d) a computer system, including a computer memory for receiving and temporarily storing said converted data signals;
e) recording and playback means for receiving said data signals from said computer and recording same on at least one magnetic record disk such that data from specific well depths are recorded at corresponding locations on such disk;
f) data acquisition program means recorded on said disk, for selectively loading into said computer whereby said data acquisition program means controls the selection of data to be converted to digital form by said analog-to-digital converter and controls the recordation of such selected data on said disk; and g) data analysis program means recorded on said disk, for selectively loading into said computer system whereby said data analysis program means operates on data selected from said disk and loaded into said computer system to produce output information regarding the well environment.
12. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 wherein said data is so recorded on said disk in random access mode.
13. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 further comprising a keyboard input terminal connected to said computer system for selectively inputting information into said computer system.
14. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 further comprising a printer terminal connected to said computer system for printing said output information.
15. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 wherein said data acquisition program means further includes scaling procedures for operating on said data converted to digital form to selectively scale same.
16. Apparatus as defined in Claim 11 further comprising additional data analysis program means included on said disk whereby each such data analysis program means includes a specialized data reduction procedure for so operating on said well logging data.
17. A system for determining parameters of a drilled well, comprising:
a) well log means inserted into the drilled well and for producing well log signals as the well log means is moved relative to the earth surface;
b) means connected to receive said well log signals and for producing digital well log signals therefrom;
c) means for generating electrical signals corresponding to the location of said well log means in said well whereby said well log signals are selected for such production of digital signals;
d) a disk unit for magnetically recording and playing back data fed thereto, said recording being accomplished onto disk record media at locations corresponding to well locations at which said well log means produced corres-ponding well log signals, said disk record media having recorded thereon a specialized analysis program;
e) digital computing means connected to said disk unit for performing said analysis program utilizing said digital well log signals; and f) input/output terminal means connected to said digital computing means having printing means for providing a printed output of said analysis and a keyboard for in-putting control information to said digital computing means.
18. A system as defined in Claim 17 further comprising strip-chart recorder means also connected to receive said well log signals for producing a chart showing variations in said well log signals.
19. A system as defined in Claim 17 wherein said disk record media comprise floppy disks.
20. A system as defined in Claim 17 wherein said specialized analysis program recorded on said disk record media comprises programs which differ one from another regarding preselected data parameters, but which all include the analysis program.
21. Apparatus as defined in Claim 17 wherein said data is so recorded on said disk record media in random access mode.
22. A method of providing well log analysis comprising the following steps:
a) providing a well log data acquisition program on a recording medium;
b) providing at least one well log data analysis program on said recording medium, including means to analyze data in relation to different physical characteristics;
c) providing a computer system;
d) loading said data acquisition program into said computer system;
e) generating tracking signals corresponding to the depth of a down-hole logging tool while obtaining well log data from such down-hole logging tool;
f) under the direction of said data acquisition program, recording said data from selected well depths, as de-termined by said tracking signals, on said recording medium at medium locations corresponding to such selected well depths;
g) loading said data analysis programs into said computer system; and h) selectively loading said recorded data into said computer system and, by means of said computer system, operating on said data with at least one of said data analysis programs.
23. A method as defined in Claim 22 further comprising the following additional steps:
a) obtaining additional well log data from one or more additional down-hole logging tools run on the same well;
b) during each such run of an additional down-hole logging tool, generating tracking signals corresponding to the depth of said logging tool; and c) under the direction of said data acquisition program, recording said data from the additional logging tool runs from selected well depths, as determined by said tracking signals, on said recording medium at medium locations cor-responding to such selected well depths.
24. A method as defined in Claim 22 wherein the recording of such data is carried out in random access mode.
25. A method as defined in Claim 24 further comprising the additional step of scaling said data from selected well depths by operation of said data acquisition program, before said data is so recorded.
26. A method as defined in Claim 25 further comprising the additional step of providing a visual display of the results of such operating on said data with said data analysis programs.
27. A method as defined in Claim 22 further comprising the additional step of scaling said data from selected well depths by operation of said data acquisition program, before said data is so recorded.
28. A method as defined in Claim 22 further comprising the additional step of providing a visual display of the results of such operating on said data with said data analysis programs.
29. A method as defined in Claim 22 wherein said recording medium comprises at least one magnetic recording disk.
30. A method of providing well log analysis comprising the following steps:
a) providing a well log data acquisition program on a recording medium;
b) providing a well log data analysis program on said recording medium;
c) providing a digital computer system, including an analog-to-digital converter and a first-in, first-out buffer, d) loading said data acquisition program into said digital computer system;
e) obtaining well log data from a down-hole logging tool while generating tracking signals corresponding to the depth of said logging tool;
f) under the direction of said data acquisition program:
i) converting said data from selected well depths as determined by said tracking signals to digital form by means of said analog-to-digital converter;
ii) loading said digital data into said first-in, first-out buffer; and iii) recording said digital data on said recording medium at medium locations corresponding to such selected well depths;
g) loading said data analysis program into said digital computer system; and h) selectively loading said recorded data into said computer system and, by means of said computer system, operating on said data with said data analysis program.
31. A method as defined in Claim 30 further comprising the additional step of scaling said data from selected well depths by operation of said data acquisition program, before said data is so recorded.
32. A method as defined in Claim 30 wherein the recording of such data is carried out in random access mode.
33. A method as defined in Claim 30 further comprising the additional step of providing a visual display of the results of such operating on said data with said data analysis program.
34. A method as defined in Claim 30 wherein said recording medium comprises at least one magnetic recording disk.
35. A method of providing well log analysis comprising the following steps:
a) providing a well log data analysis program on a recording medium;
b) obtaining well log data from a down-hole logging tool while generating tracking signals corresponding to the depth of such tool;
c) recording such data on said recording medium at medium locations corresponding to such depths as determined by said tracking signals;
d) loading said analysis program into a computer; and e) selectively loading such recorded data into said computer and, by means of said computer, operating on said data with said analysis program.
36. A method as defined in Claim 35 further comprising the step of converting said data received from such logging tool from analog to digital form before so recording said data.
37. A method as defined in Claim 36 further comprising the following steps:
a) providing an encoder connected to the means by which said tool is run in such well to generate said tracking signals;
and b) selecting such data to be so recorded based on the well depths at which such data is acquired as determined by said tracking signals.
38. A method as defined in Claim 35 wherein said recording medium comprises at least one magnetic recording disk.
39. A method as defined in Claim 35 wherein the recording of such data is carried out in random access mode.
40. A method of providing well log analysis comprising the steps of:
a) obtaining well log data from a down-hole well log tool;
b) generated electrical tracking signals corresponding to the well depth at which said well log data is acquired;
c) selecting said well log data according to such depths by means of said tracking signals;
d) converting said selected well log data to digital form;
e) providing a disk unit connected to receive said digital well log data for recording said data onto magnetic disk record media and playing back said data from said magnetic disk record media;
f) providing an analysis program on each of said magnetic disk record media;
g) recording the well log data on such magnetic disk record media at locations corresponding to the well log depth at which such well log data was obtained;
h) feeding the analysis program into a digital computer means from said magnetic disk record media;
i) replaying recorded data into the digital computer means;
j) causing the digital computer to analyze the digital well log data by means of such analysis program; and k) displaying the results of the analysis.
41. A method as defined in Claim 40 wherein the step of providing an analysis program on each of said disk record media comprises the further step of providing one of a plurality of separate individualized analysis programs on said disk record media.
42. A method as defined in Claim 40 wherein the step of converting said data to digital form comprises the step of utilizing an analog-to-digital converter.
43. A method as defined in Claim 40 further comprising the step of providing an input keyboard for manually instructing the digital computer means.
CA000341248A 1978-12-11 1979-12-05 Well log data analysis system Expired CA1138993A (en)

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US96798378A 1978-12-11 1978-12-11
US967,983 1978-12-11

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111753138A (en) * 2020-05-13 2020-10-09 中国石油天然气集团有限公司 Real-time logging data acquisition method

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111753138A (en) * 2020-05-13 2020-10-09 中国石油天然气集团有限公司 Real-time logging data acquisition method
CN111753138B (en) * 2020-05-13 2023-11-28 中国石油天然气集团有限公司 Real-time logging data acquisition method

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