Exploration Well - What information is gathered?

[TBone]

Hi all

Im in need of finding out what parameters are usually collected in an exploration well. Does anybody have knowledge of this, or perhaps somebody could point me in direction of some literature?

I assume that at least lithology, porosity and permeablilty are found by LWD/Core sampling, and that fluid samples are taken. Is there for instance performed some sort of flow measurement, or pressure build-up test. Is drainage area estimated?

I am somewhat in doubt of what kind of procedures are performed on an exploration well contra a production well.

Thanks

[Shakespear]

Well I tried to find you something but strangely not much could be found on the net.

From my experience on exploration wells I can tell you that the client (I was working as a logging engineer) would run almost every logging tool for open holes. All depends on your budget !!!! MDT are expensive nut provide a lot of valuable information. VSP, again expensive and not all did it.

What you do in an exploration well will also depend how far you are from know fields.

Try to find a book for exploration geologists as these are the people that will be involved in this part of the operations. I never saw a reservoir engineer on a exploration well, only geologists (maybe you are one?).

Look for this on the net - Process for Evaluating Exploration Prospects

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Also you may want to consider logging while drilling !!!

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[vinomarky]

In an exploration well your objectives are to prove up resources - so every sort of data gathering that supports this!

Not just electric logs for formation properties, but DST's/MDT's for producibility and fluid samples. Mudlogs for shows (fluorescence / gas levels). Depending upon the situation, you may want to consider seriously whether you will pull back and sidetrack to find the hydrocarbon/water contact. In fact, even if you dont intersect hydrocarbons, but suspect hydrocarbons may be present updip, you need to make sure you get water pressures as a minimum, perhaps even some water samples (try to pull enough to avoid filtrate contamination) for tieing in your water leg to possible regional aquifer trends

Step back and think what data you can gather to prove up;
Volumes / contacts
Deliverability
Fluid types and quality/composition

And make sure you think of the well in the context of your possible development plan - What information would you require before you would get to FID (Final investment decision) on a possible development project - because it may save you an appraisal well later if you can gather that one more piece of information now.

Just a few points from the top of my head - by no means exhaustive!

[casing guy]

For Wildcat exploration wells normally shallow gas is to be aware of and once you drill the surface hole(normally with sea water) you got to run conductor casing and cement then drill another section (BHA: Rock Bit(if Soft Formation), Motor, Bent Sub etc...and Gyro) then perform FIT, LOT all drilling parameter&samples will be collected to determine the pore pressure, types of formation, direction and then cement it...then drill another smaller section with full BHA(if very deviated well LWD/MWD has to be considered)/open hole wireline logging with full series(depends on what data you would like to gethered)