Cuttings analysis during mud logging

Cuttings provide the first opportunity and, in some wells, the only opportunity to
actually look at the rock that has been drilled. Cuttings give the geologist information
about the formation lithology needed for geologic correlation, the mineral
composition for marker beds, input for the petrophysicist or log analyst, and, in some
cases, enough hydrocarbon to allow some oil-quality measurements to be
performed. Cuttings are also a source for microfossils used in biostratigraphy.

Contents
1 Sample lagging
2 Cuttings collection
3 Cuttings sample examination and description
4 Nomenclature
5 References
6 Noteworthy papers in OnePetro
7 External links
8 See also
9 Category

Sample lagging
Proper sample collection and preparation is of paramount importance. The first step
is to know where the cuttings are from, which is done by performing a lag
calculation. "Lagging" is performed by any of several methods. The most accurate
method is to inject a tracer of some sort into the drilling fluid stream at the surface
and time its exit as it is circulated out. The volume of the mudlines and drillpipe, from
the point of injection to the bit, can be calculated from the pipe measurements
(inside diameter and length). The total tracer residence time in the drill fluid is

(/File%3AVol5_page_0366_eq_001.png)....................(1)

and (/File%3AVol5_page_0366_eq_002.png)....................(2)

so that

(/File%3AVol5_page_0366_eq_003.png)....................(3)

where tan = the lag time from the bit to the point at the surface where the tracer is
measured (usually the shaker box), tt = the total elapsed pumping time from injection
to measurement, q = the mud pump flow rate, Vdp = the internal volume of the
drillpipe and drill collars, and Vs = the internal volume of any surface lines from the
point of tracer injection to the kelly. Commonly used tracers include calcium carbide,
air, and injected reference gas.
Solid carbide is put into the drillpipe when making a connection and pumped down
with the circulating mud. Calcium carbide chemically reacts with water in the drilling
fluid to form acetylene, which is then detected with the THA as it circulates out. Ease
of handling and injection into the circulating mud system makes carbide lagging a
popular choice. Disadvantages include the need for a manual operation, particularly
the need for an additional person on the drill floor during the busy operation of
making a connection, and the requirement that there be ample free water in the
drilling fluid, which is not always the case with oil-based and synthetic mud systems.

Other materials may be injected into the drillpipe while making a connection.
Virtually any benign pulverized solid that can be seen in the mud returns, such as
ground-up bricks. If a high-viscosity sweep is being pumped, that can also be used to
measure lag. These methods do require that logging personnel carefully watch the
shaker screens to catch the appearance of the lag tracer.

When the kelly reaches the rotary table, the drillpipe is raised slightly so that the
current connection between the kelly and the top pipe can be broken. This action
reduces the mud pressure at the bit and can "swab" some formation fluids into the
wellbore. The gas dissolved in this fluid is carried to the surface with circulation,
appearing as "connection gas," and may be used as a lag indicator. Swabbing at
connections may also bring gas in from locations above the bit, depending on pore
pressure gradient, drilling fluid rheology, and annular geometry. If this occurs, an
erroneous lag results.

A less frequently used method for lag determination involves the injection of a
reference gas into the mud pump intake. [1] Reference gas injection, by its original
design, serves primarily as an internal standard for quantifying mud gas
concentration. A noninteracting gas is injected at low rates into the mud pump intake
line, which is controlled to maintain a constant concentration of the referencing gas
in the drilling fluid. Momentarily increasing or decreasing the injection rate results in
a subsequent increase or decrease in gas concentration in the drilling fluid. This
concentration perturbation is noted while monitoring the mud gas using the logger’s
gas analyzer, and its residence time in the system is used in the lag calculation.
Advantages of this measurement include that it can be done on demand without
waiting for a connection, it is independent of drilling fluid composition (no need for
water in the case of nonaqueous drilling fluids), and that it can easily be automated.

Cuttings collection
Samples of drilled cuttings are normally taken at the shaker screens, although some
have proposed and tested devices for diverting a small stream of cuttings-laden mud
from the return line. [2] At predetermined depth or time intervals, the logger or sample
catcher collects a composite sample that contains cuttings representative of the
entire interval drilled since the previous collection. Very typically, cuttings samples
will be taken every 30 ft (10 m), until target bed boundaries are approached, such as
thin marker beds, anticipated reservoir sections, casing points, or coring points.

By placing a board at the base of the shaker screen in line to catch cuttings as they
fall off the end of the screens, the sample catcher assures that a composite sample
accumulates. At the desired sampling time, the sampler scrapes cuttings off the
board into a sampling bucket and adds additional cuttings from several locations
across the screen (the latter, to catch the very latest drilled material circulated up).
This collection yields a composite sample that is fairly representative of the
formations drilled since the last collection. Immediately after sampling, the sampler
should hose down the screen and catching board with water for aqueous drilling
fluids or with the appropriate base fluid for nonaqueous drilling fluids. Proper
cleaning of the composited cuttings calls for placing the cuttings on a fine mesh
screen and flushing with the base drilling fluid.

Cuttings sample examination and description

Proper handling, examination, and description guidelines should be specified when
contracting mud-logging services. This section is not meant to replace an
experienced professional geologist’s interpretation of cuttings, but serves as a guide
to the important "high points" that the logger should remember in applying
procedures presented in appropriate geological guidelines and manuals. Several
excellent references are available. [3][4][5] Swanson’s thorough summary[6] is
presented as a detailed manual.

Scanning a series of samples laid out on the counter allows the logger to get a good
overview of trends, to highlight sample differences that may be the result of quality
variation or contamination, and to help identify bed boundaries. Individual samples
are then examined under a low-power stereomicroscope (10 to 50X) with either
ample natural light or a lamp with a "blue" light or blue filter. Proper illumination is
required so that the true colors of the sample constituent minerals are not distorted.
Digital image capture of select samples adds significantly to the end-of-well
documentation. A quick examination should identify all material present in
significant quantity, including:

Contaminants
Metal
Drilling additives
Lost-circulation material
Suspected caved material
Drilled-formation rock cuttings

This examination should include an assessment of sample quality.

The well databases containing the cuttings log should include an estimate of the
percentage of each rock type, which is an assessment of what is actually seen in
each individual sample, as well as an interpretation of the lithology, which is based
on all the data available to the logger. The logger’s manual should call for a
standardized description protocol containing:

Rock type (with classification)

Color
Texture (grain size, roundness, sorting)
Cement and/or matrix material
Fossils
Sedimentary structures
Porosity and oil shows

Standard abbreviations should be used in the description, as well as standard

symbols as the log is being drawn. [6]

Many special tests are run on rock samples to make on-the-spot determination of
specific minerals. These tests vary from such standard chemicals as alzarin red for
calcite detection to calcimetry for quantitative determination of carbonate content. A
qualified logging geologist will have experience in suggesting and implementing
them.

The sample should be viewed under ultraviolet (UV) light, and any fluorescence
noted (mineral or hydrocarbon). Certain types of hydrocarbons, in the rock pores or
"stained" on the grain surface, may not fluoresce. To test for these, the rock samples
may then be treated with an appropriate organic solvent while being viewed under UV
light. "Streaming" fluorescence may be noted (streamers or wisps of hydrocarbon) as
it moves from the rock cutting into the solvent surrounding the cutting. As the
solvent dries, "residual cut" may be observed as a fluorescing ring or residue in the
examination dish. These are examples of "cut fluorescence."

Sometimes there will be more extraneous material present in the cuttings sample
than actual drilled formation fragments. Commonly seen nonformation solids
include the following:

Cavings from uphole, previously penetrated beds. These will be recognized as

formation material logged earlier and individual cuttings may have shapes that
distinguish them from bit cuttings.
Recirculated cuttings. These are usually smaller, individual grains or
microfossils.
Lost circulation material. Extraneous solids, which have a size to plug up lost
circulation zones, are added to the drilling fluid. These may be as unusual as
cotton seed hulls, ground-up pecan shells, and shredded rubber.
Cement fragments. Close attention should be paid to the drilling record.
Drilling mud. Washing samples using procedures and solvents that are
appropriate for the specific mud system. Consideration for the health of the
logger and the environment is critical.
Pipe dope. This contaminant may fluoresce, giving a false show indication.

This list of contaminant examples is not all inclusive, and judgment, combined with
close attention to the drilling and mud engineers’ records, is critical.

Nomenclature
q = mud pump flow rate, B/D
tan = lag time from the bit to surface, min
tdp = lag time in the drill pipe, min
ts = lag time in surface lines, min
tt = total elapsed pumping time from injection to measurement, min
Vdp = internal volume of the drillpipe and drill collars, bbl
Vs = internal volume of any surface lines tracer injection point to kelly, bbl

References
1. ↑ Amen, R. 1994. Quantifying Hydrocarbon Shows Using On-Line Gas
Referencing. Paper HH presented at the 1994 SPWLA Annual Logging
Symposium, 19–22 June.
2. ↑ Williams, R.D. and Ewing Jr., S.P. 1989. Improved Methods for Sampling Gas
 and Drill Cuttings. SPE Form Eval 4 (2): 167-172. SPE-16759-PA.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/16759-PA (http://dx.doi.org/10.2118/16759-PA)
3. ↑ Low, J.W. 1951. Examination of Well Cuttings. Quarterly of the Colorado
School of Mines 46 (4) 46.
4. ↑ Archie, G.E. 1952. Classification of Carbonate Reservoir Rocks and
Petrophysical Considerations. AAPG Bull. 36 (2): 278-298.
http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1949-52/data/pg/0036/0002
/0250/0278.htm (http://archives.datapages.com/data/bulletns/1949-52
/data/pg/0036/0002/0250/0278.htm)
5. ↑ Dunham, R.J. 1962. Classification of Carbonate Rocks According to
Depositional Texture. In Classification of Carbonate Rocks, W.E. Ham ed.,
Memoir 1, 108-121. Tulsa: AAPG. http://archives.datapages.com
/data/specpubs/carbona2/data/a038/a038/0001/0100/0108.htm_
(http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/carbona2/data/a038
/a038/0001/0100/0108.htm_)
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Swanson, R.G. 1981. Sample Examination Manual. Tulsa, Oklahoma:
American Assn. of Petroleum Geologists.

Noteworthy papers in OnePetro

Use this section to list papers in OnePetro that a reader who wants to learn more
should definitely read

External links
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PetroWiki and OnePetro

See also
Mud logging (/Mud_logging)

Hydrocarbon analysis during mud logging

(/Hydrocarbon_analysis_during_mud_logging)

Formation evaluation during mud logging

(/Formation_evaluation_during_mud_logging)

PEH:Mud_Logging (/PEH%3AMud_Logging)

Category
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1.12.3 Mud logging or surface measurements
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