Abstract: Fluid Inclusion Well Logs: Migration, Seals, and Proximity to Pay

SMITH, MICHAEL P.

Fluid Inclusion Well Logging is a new technology for mapping petroleum migration, seals, and proximity to pay.

The data are fluid inclusion volatile mass spectra of normal washed drill cuttings, taken at an interval of about 10 meters from surface to TD. Various aspects of the fluid inclusions' compositions are plotted versus depth.

Multiple gas analyses of different fluid inclusion populations are performed for each sample. The compositions of the various fluid inclusion gas aliquots on a single sample can be quite different.

All lithologies and geologic ages are analyzed. There is no difference in data based on age of the samples. The technique works equally well on samples from wells drilled with oil-based or water-based muds. Cores and outcrop samples can also be analyzed.

Migration is documented as petroleum inclusion bearing strata. Migration compartments can be either vertically extensive or focused. Insight is provided into product type, i.e. Dry Gas, Wet Gas, Oil, or Biodegraded Oil.

Seals are documented as boundaries of petroleum-inclusion bearing strata with strata lacking petroleum inclusions, or as boundaries between strata bearing markedly different types of included petroleum.

Proximity to Pay is sometimes inferred by inclusions dominated by water soluble hydrocarbons, i.e. benzene, toluene, methane, and ethane, but lacking the less soluble petroleum constituents, i.e. paraffins and naphthenes.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90944©1997 AAPG Mid-Continent Section Meeting, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma