Notes

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1
Spontaneous Potential Measurement
Spontaneous Potential
Schlumberger 1999
Notes
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP Theory 1
SP results from electric currents flowing in the
drilling mud.
There are three sources of the currents, two
electrochemical and one electrokinetic.
Membrane potential - largest.
Liquid - junction potential.
Streaming potential - smallest.
Notes
The Spontaneous Potential (SP) was first noticed as a perturbation on early electrical resistivity logs. It was
quickly realised that the curve was reacting to the permeable formations and it was added to the standard
presentation. (Very early logs labelled it as porosity). The reactions governing this simple effect depend mainly
on the difference between the ionic concentrations of the connate water and the invading mud filtrate.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP theory 2
Membrane and Liquid Potential
These two effects are the main components of the SP. They are
caused because the mud flitrate and the formation waters contain
NaCl in different proportions.
Firstly, shales are permeable to the Sodium ions but not
the Chlorine. Hence there is a movement of charged
particles through the shale creating a current and thus a potential.
The ions Na+ and Cl- have different mobilities at the junction of
the invaded and virgin zones. The movement of the ions across
this boundary creates another current and hence a potential.
Streaming Potential
This is generated by flow of the mud filtrate through the mud
cake. As this does not normally occur this effect is small. It will
only become important if there are high differential pressures
across the formations.
Notes
In front of a permeable bed the SP currents flow through four media:
The borehole and the mud cake.
The invaded zone.
The virgin zone.
The shale.
In each there is a potential drop corresponding to the resistivity met.
In practice, the drop measured is that of the borehole which is only a part of the total (a major part). In a perfect
case with an insulating plug this would be the total e.m.f. (see diagram on previous page).
This deflection is the Static SP (SSP). The measurement is close to this theoretical value.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP theory 3
Notes
A typical scale would be -20 mV to +80mV going from the right hand side of track 1 to the left hand side. This is
at 10mV per division.
It is important to choose the scale so that the curve stays in the track. This is usually done during the repeat section
or after monitoring the movement during the run into the well.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP scales
The SP is measured in millivolts, mV.
The scale on the log shows a number of mV per
division for example 20mV/division. This gives a
total for the track of 200mV.
The scale across the track is variable and depends
on the conditions in the well.
The scale is set during logging to have the SP
curve in the track over the zone of interest and as
much of the rest of the log as possible.
Notes
The convention is that the SP deflection is negative when the Rmf>Rw and positive when the opposite is true. The
Magnitude of the deflection depends on the difference between the two and the temperature.
The shale base line may shift over a long interval. Hence, before any computations the base line is adjusted back in
agreement for all the shales in the interval.
The maximum deflection indicates the cleanest zone. Smaller values of SSP mean increasing shaliness.
Note the SSP in this example is -60mV (3 divisions at 20mV per division).
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
log-1
The SSP is the
quantity to be
determined.
It is the deflection
seen on the SP
from the Shale
Base Line (zero
point) to the Sand
Line (max.
deflection)
Notes
The SP is nearly always run in conjunction with a resistivity log. The example shows an SP deflection opposite the
same zones with separation in the resistivity curves. The shale points, where all the resistivity logs overlay,
corresponds to the maximum of the SP.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
example log 2
The maximum
SP deflection in
this example
occurs at the
same depths as
the resistivity
curves show a
separation.
The minimum
point on the SP
corresponds to
where all the
resistivity
curves overlay,
no invasion, a
shale.
Notes
The log depends on invasion, if there is no invasion there is no SP. Hence the SP shows where there is
permeability. If there is permeability there must also be porosity.
The vertical resolution of the tool is poor, hence while it will show the boundaries they will not be precise.
The volume of shale can be computed from the SP using a simple linear equation.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP uses
Differentiate potentially porous and permeable
reservoir rocks from impermeable clays.
Define bed boundaries.
Give an indication of shaliness (maximum
deflection is clean; minimum is shale).
Determine Rw in both salt and fresh muds.
Notes
The SP is an excellent method of computing the vital Rw parameter. The Rmf value is usually measured on a
sample, if not it can be computed from charts knowing the mud salinity. The constant, K, is a complex figure that
is incorporated into the charts.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
Rw from the SP
Rw is often known from client information or
local knowledge.
The SP can be used to check the value or compute
it when it is unavailable.
It is especially useful when there are variations
along the borehole.
K is a constant - depending on the temperature.
we
mfe
R
R
k SSP log =
Notes
The first chart gives the ratio of Rmfe/Rwe knowing the SSP and the temperature.
Rmfe and Rwe are used instead of Rmf and Rw as the complete equation relates the chemical Activities of the two
solutions. These equivalent resistivities take this transform into account.
The entire computation must be carried at the relevant borehole temperature.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
Rw from the SP
Knowing the SSP (the maximum deflection) from
the log and the temperature, the ratio of
resistivities is obtained from Log Interpretation
Chart SP-1.
output =
Rmfe
Rwe
Notes
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
Rw from SP 2
Rmf is measured, using the mud cell.
Rmfe is computed from Log Interpretation Chart
SP-2.
Rwe is computed, from the ratio above and Rmfe.
Chart SP-2 is used to determine Rw.
Notes
The chart is given in most Chart Books.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
Salinities chart
This chart is used to compute salinities from
resistivities of solution e.g. mud, and vice versa.
It is also used to find the resistivities at a given
temperature.
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.8
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
0.08
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
50 75 100 125 150 200 250 300 350 400
10
15
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25
30
40
50
100
150
200
250
300
400
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
4000
5000
10,000
15,000
20,000
2 8 0 , 0 0 0
2
0
0
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0
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0
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0
7
0
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0
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7
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0
, 0
0
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, 0
0
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, 0
0
0
1
7
, 0
0
0
2
0
, 0
0
0
2 5 0 , 0 0 02 0 0 , 0 0 0
1 7 0 , 0 0 0
1 4 0 , 0 0 01 2 0 , 0 0 0
1 0 0 , 0 0 0
8 0 , 0 0 0
7 0 , 0 0 0
6 0 , 0 0 0
5 0 , 0 0 0
4 0 , 0 0 0
3 0 , 0 0 0
3 0 0 , 0 0 0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 140 160 200 80 90 100 120 180
p
p
m
G
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7
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Temperature (F or C)
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C
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Notes
In some situations there can be a number of different salinities along the logged interval. In this case the SP
deflection will show these beds as distinct from each other.
This is the only measurement that will show the changes in salinity. Resistivity tool will simply show more or less
resistivity which could be salinity changes or changes in water saturation i.e. hydrocarbon presence.
13
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP borehole Effects - 1
Baseline shifts:
These can occur when there are beds of different
salinities separated by a shale which does not act
as a perfect membrane.
Notes
Carbonates:
Due to the irregular nature of the porosity distribution in most carbonates, the SP is usually poor or non-existent in
this type of rock. The current flows are interrupted by resistive rocks and odd pore geometries.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP Borehole Effects - 2
Resistive formation:
The presence of a resistive bed in a permeable
interval will disrupt the SP deflection. The
current is contained and hence the potential drop
changes with depth. The log takes a sloped
appearance.
The log in this situation can no longer define the
bed boundaries correctly.
Notes
Unit effects such as magnetized cable drum or measure wheel will superimpose a sine wave on the SP curve.
The source is simple to recognise from the period of the effect.
In both these cases, it may be possible to eliminate the problem.
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Spontaneous Potential Measurement
SP surface Effects
The SP can be affected by a number of surface
effects as it relies on the fish as its reference
electrode.
Power lines, electric trains, electric welding, close
radio transmitters:
All these create ground currents which disrupt he
"fish" reference causing a poor, sometimes
useless, log.