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Self Potential (SP) Log: Operational Principles, Tool Response, and Applications

The SP log measures natural electrical potentials between a downhole electrode and reference electrode to identify permeable zones. The potential is caused by differences in salinity between formation and mud filtrate waters. Permeable sands create a negative potential while impermeable shales create a positive potential. SP logs can be used to estimate shale volume, calculate formation water resistivity (Rw), identify permeable zones, and interpret depositional environments based on characteristic SP curve shapes. Limitations include thin beds not generating a full potential and hydrocarbon zones not producing a potential.

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238 views18 pages

Self Potential (SP) Log: Operational Principles, Tool Response, and Applications

The SP log measures natural electrical potentials between a downhole electrode and reference electrode to identify permeable zones. The potential is caused by differences in salinity between formation and mud filtrate waters. Permeable sands create a negative potential while impermeable shales create a positive potential. SP logs can be used to estimate shale volume, calculate formation water resistivity (Rw), identify permeable zones, and interpret depositional environments based on characteristic SP curve shapes. Limitations include thin beds not generating a full potential and hydrocarbon zones not producing a potential.

Uploaded by

DZIKRI N R
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Self Potential (SP) Log

Operational Principles, Tool Response, and


Applications
Objectives
• Understand the physical principles behind the operation of SP
borehole tools

• Understand the application of SP Logs

• Interpret SP Logs
Operational Physical Principles
• Spontaneous Potential (SP) is a natural electrical potential / small voltage
(in in mV) measured by a downhole electrode in relative to a reference
electrode (at the surface) in a water-based mud filled open – hole.
• The origin of spontaneous potential is a charge exchange process driven by
difference of salinity between formation water Cw and mud filtrate Cmf
where typically Cw > Cmf
• Permeable Sandstone creates a negative diffusion potential Ed as a
result of the higher mobility of the positive Na+ cations
• Non permeable shale creates a positive membrane potential Em as a
result of anion-blocking of the clay minerals
• SP is the oldest type of log and still common to use
Permeable
Impermeable

Modified from SchÖn (2015) www-odp.tamu.edu


Operational Physical Principles
• SP measurement combines both Ed
and Em
• The maximum difference between the
most negative and the most positive
level is called Static Spontaneous
Potential (SSP)
• kSP is controlled by temperature, type
of electrolyte, and membrane activity
of shale.
Desbrandes (1985):
• kSP is about 71 mV at 250 Celsius for
NaCl
• For Practical use, the empirical
equation by Desbrandes (1985) can be
used
Factors Affecting SP Log
• Bed Thickness & Borehole Size
• If the bed is too thin, then ful SP will not develop
• Depth of invasion
• Corrected using charts
• Hydrocarbons (Sw < 1)
• Causes a reduced magnitude of SP in reservoir zone
• Rw (water resistivity) should only be determined from water bearing zone
• No SP will generate in oil based muds
• Shale baseline Shift can be observed as a result of a clay mineralogy
change, water mineralization, and/or temperature with depth
• Presence of shale reduces SP
Shale
SP Log Salinity Effect Baseline

• If formation fluid has higher salinity


than that of the borehole fluid (Rmf >
Rw), then the deflection of the SP
curve is to the left of the shale
baseline and vice versa if the
formation fluid has lower salinity (Rmf
< Rw)
• There is no deflection if borehole fluid
has the same salinity as formation
water (Rmf = Rw)
• Baseline shift may be due to
unconformity as well.
Rmf = Resistivity of Mud Filtrate
SP Scales
• SP is measured in Millivolts (mV)
• The scale on the log shows a number of mV per division, for example
10mV per division. This gives the total for the track of 100mV
Applications of SP Log
1. Estimate Shale Content (clean sand) :
Vsh
determination
using SP in Shaly
formation
Determine Vsh at Point A!

A
Applications of SP Log
2. Rw Calculation

• The resistivity of formation water Rw is fundamental input for the


calculation of water saturation.
• For Rw determination, mud filtrate resistivity (Rmf) at formation
temperature (T), difference between SP level in a clean zone and a
shale basline (SSP) are used as input.
Applications of SP Log
3. Identify permeable zones
• The negative abnormal on SP
curves usually indicates
permeable zones
• The higher the abnormal range,
the more permeable the
formation is
Permeable zones typically
deflect to the left of the
shale baseline
Applications of SP Log
4. Depositional Environment from SP
curve
• Shales & clays are generally finer –
grained than sands. So, a change in
SP suggest a change in grain size.
• Thus, SP deflection can be an
indication of depositional
sequences, where either sorting,
grain sizes, of cementation change
with depth & create characteristic
SP shapes
• These shapes are referred to as
bells, funnels, or cylinders
Limitation of SP

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