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Mud logging (oil exploration)

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For determination of fracking zones, rock porosity, rock layer boundaries and trapped hydrocarbons in mud logging applications

Hiden’s gas analysers provide for the determination of fracking zones, rock porosity, rock layer boundaries and trapped hydrocarbons in mud logging applications.

Overview

Hiden’s gas analysers provide for the determination of fracking zones, rock porosity, rock layer boundaries and trapped hydrocarbons in mud logging applications.

As wells are drilled for oil the determination of the pay zone and the properties of the surrounding media are important to the efficiency of the well. When drilling water is pumped down into the well to both cool the drill bit and bring the material back to the surface. When the rock and oil is brought to the surface the rock can be used to determine the layers properties and the oil and vapours that are brought up can determine the concentration of hydrocarbons of each type. In addition the amount of hydrocarbon distribution can determine the porosity and quality of the zone.

Fracking is where you pump high pressure water into the ground to break up the surrounding rock to create channels for the oil to travel down. Pressure is expensive due to water transport and high pressure pumping. Where the cracks occur is highly dependent on the properties of the rock and its porosity. If it is a softer porous rock it will have little resistance compared to a non-porous rock so when fracking a zone with both porous and non-porous rock only the porous rock gets fracked (it didn’t need it as it was already an oil producer). Mud logging is used to determine the value of these fracking zones as well as their boundaries so pressure is not wasted.

When drilling a well it is only a single hole. If the well is drilled to the side that is the only time that the well will do so, making it quite different from mining. As such determination of when the drill hits a strata with a good pay zone is paramount. This can be determined by what the water brings up to the surface while clearing the shavings of the drill bit.