Diagnostic Use of Thermal Anomalies in Wells $

AARONE. PIERCE,*J. B. COLBY,*AND BELDONA. PETERS^

ABSTRACT
Temperature surveys offer a quick, economic means
(locating cement top, leaks), the fast-response therof diagnosing trouble in wells o r solving well-completion
mometers offer a way to evaluate results of hydraulic
and operation problems. Fast-response thermometers
fracturing and to locate zones actually taking fluids,
a r e now available in both subsurface-recording and
whereas flowmeters show only the point of exit of insurface-recording types. These thermometers can measjected fluids. To evaluate fractures, hot o r cold fluid is
ure temperature anomalies of a s little a s 1 F, o r less.
injected to create a thermal anomaly. A temperature
In addition to conventional uses of temperature surveys
profile then delineates the fractured zone.

INTRODUCTION
Since the 1930's, when subsurface measuring and
recording instruments were first developed, subsurfacerecording thermometers have proved t h a t temperature
surveys in wells a r e direct, economical, and sometimes
the only practical means of solving several types of
drilling and completion problems.'*? Also, surfacerecording thermometers have proved to be very successful f o r many purpose^.'.^ Temperature surveys a r e
now commonly used for:
1. Location of cement freshly placed outside the casing.
2. Location of tubing and casing leaks.
3. Location of excessive g a s entry in oil wells.
4. Location of zones receiving fluids in injection wells.
5. Location of unwanted flow outside casing.
I n recent years, the location of zones receiving fluids
in injection wells h a s increased in importance a s more
extensive use of secondary, and even tertiary, recovery
methods is made. Also, experience h a s shown t h a t temperature surveys can be used to determine location of
hydraulic fractures - and possibly the orientation of
fractures.
Extensive experience with routine temperature surveys a s a means of early detection of possibly dangerous well conditions h a s shown t h a t highly sensitive
thermometers can head off trouble. F o r example, recent
calculations have shown t h a t small oil l e a k s - o f about
30 t o 40 bbl per day--can cause a thermal anomaly of
about 1 F.
Two commonly used subsurface thermometers, the
Amerada and the Humble type, can detect anomalies
this small. Consequently, close attention to survey charts
made in routine reconnaissance runs can result in early
detection of leaks. A subsequent diagnostic r u n can
pin-point the trouble. I n many cases, detailed runs can
lead to correct diagnosis of the trouble and indicate
corrective action.
The purpose of this paper is to show examples of the
use of sensitive, rapid-response thermometers in diagnosing wells. Examples will also be given of more common uses of subsurface-recording thermometers.
"Esso Production Research Company. Houston, Texas
?Humble 011& Refining Co.. Baytown. Texas
$Presented at the spring meeting of the Mid-Continent District, API
Division of Production, March 1966.
'References are at the end of the paper.

RAPID-RESPONSE THERMOMETERS
Two subsurface-recording thermometers available to
the industry a r e the Amerada and Humble types. The
Amerada thermometer consists of a bulb sealed to a
helical Bourdon tube. The bulb and tube both contain
a volatile fluid. Changes in the vapor pressure a r e a
measure of changes in temperature. The improved
Humble-type thermometer consists essentially of a
mercury-filled cylinder equipped with a piston operating
through a packing box. Changes in extension of the
piston a r e caused by changes of the mercury volume,
which a r e a measure of the changes in well temperature.
Both types of instrument contain clock-driven charts on
which extension is marked a s a function of time. D a t a
points a r e read off the charts and correlated with a
record of time and depth kept by the instrument operator a t the surface. Normal continuous logging speed
f o r these tools is about 100 ft/min; for greater accuracy,
stops of 30 sec should be made in intervals of interest.
Agreement between the two types of instruments is
remarkable. Fig. 1 shows a comparison of Amerada
and Humble temperature surveys in a well shut in f o r
7 years. The biggest difference between the measurements of the two instruments is about 1 F. Over most
of the range, there is a difference of less than 1/2 F.
These measurements were made with the Humble and
Amerada instruments coupled during the same traverse.

166
600062006400Y

n.

174

TEMPERATURE
182

O F

190

198

-HUMBLE
S1A
- - - A M E R A D A RT-7
[CURRENT)

SP

lR
PERF.

680070007200

Fig. 1 -Comparison of Amerada and Humble

Temperature Surveys

A point worth observing in this illustration is t h a t

the well surveyed was formerly used f o r g a s injection
into the two zones a t about 6,600 f t and 7,100 f t . Although the well was shut in, dead, and practically full
of water, the thermal depression a t the two injection
zones is still clearly defined.
Instruments used in this survey were the Amerada
RT-7 thermometer and a Humble model STA thermometer. The Humble instrument is 15/4G-in.in diameter and
is provided with a n aluminum case. The smaller size
and aluminum case considerably reduce the heat capaci t y and increase the thermal conductivity of Humbletype thermometers a s compared to heat capacity and
conductivity of the older Humble-type instruments.
Good response is obtained with surface-recording
thermometers. These tools a r e r u n on a conductor cable.
One type, which uses a resistance-wire heat sensor, is
r u n a t rates u p to 15 ft/min. A newer type uses a
semiconductor element with much less mass t h a n t h e
resistance-wire type. The smaller mass permits faster
response; logging speeds u p to 100 ft/min can be used
with good accuracy. Use of two semiconductor elements
spaced a short distance a p a r t i n a down-hole tool gives
another means of measuring temperature differences
much smaller than 1 F. The two sensing elements a r e
in a balanced electrical circuit. When one element senses
a small temperature change, a large deflection is rec0rded.l
SURVEYS I N WATER-INJECTION WELLS
Small Temperature Difference
Usefulness of rapid-response thermometers is shown
in surveys made in water-injection wells. Fig. 2 shows

TEMPERATURE

76

77

78

O F

79 80

1;:.
-

\\ PERF.

CUMULATIVE INJ.-%
Fig. 2 -Temperature and Flowmeter Surveys in
Water-injection Well with Small (2 F) Anomaly

TEMPERATURE O F

I k c,,,,,,,

20% HRS AFTER

~5

(FLOW

, , S!JR,VE,Y
100

0
CUMULATIVE INJ.- %

Fig. 3 -Temperature and Flowmeter Surveys in

Completed Injection Well
results f o r a well in which only a small temperature
difference exists.
I n this well, reservoir temperature was less than 90
F, and injection water temperature was about 65 F. As
Fig. 2 shows, the temperature anomaly found was about
2 F. The plot shows clearly t h a t the perforations from
about 2,460 to 2,485 f t were taking water t h a t was
cooling the formation. A subsequent flownleter survey,
also plotted in Fig. 2, showed t h a t 88 percent (440
B/D) of the injected water left the casing a t 2,485 f t
and 12 percent (60 B/D) left a t 2,460 ft.
Temperature o r Flowmeter Survey?
Whether to use a temperature o r a flowmeter survey,
o r both, to make water injection profiles is a good question. Generally, a flowmeter survey costs more, but it
gives quantitative answers. It tells how much fluid is
leaving the casing and where. A flowmeter survey, however, does not always tell where the fluids enter t h e
formation. A temperature survey, on the other hand,
shows intervals being invaded by injection fluids. It
does not tell how much.
Often, a temperature survey gives a good diagnosis
of a n injection well, but sometimes temperature and
flowmeter surveys complement each other, each contributing needed information to t h e diagnosis. An example in which a temperature survey does a good job
of showing a water-injection profile is given in Fig. 3.
This survey was made in a dual, tubingless-completed
well. About 35 B/D water were being injected through
each string. The temperature survey was r u n only in
the lower string of casing, but i t gave good profiles f o r
both strings.
Note t h a t a normal temperature gradient is followed
until the thermometer approached the perforation in the
upper string a t about 2,330 ft. Water injected through
perforations in the upper string cooled the formation

AARONE. PIERCE,J. B. COLBY,AND BELDONA. PETERS

188

TEMPERATURE

O F

41-1/2 HRS
AFTER SHUT I N

STRING 2
(FLOW
SURVEY)

CUM. INJ., %

Fig. 4 - Temperature and Flowmeter Surveys

Showing Zones Taking Injected Water
a t this depth, and the temperature survey made a clear
picture of the cooling. As the survey went on down,
the gradient went back u p to normal until the perforations in the lower string were approached. The plot
clearly shows the injection zone a t about 2,450 ft. A
later flowmeter survey confirmed the temperature survey finding t h a t water was being injected essentially
through one formation stringer in both the upper and
lower zones, a s shown by the arrows.
A good example of how flowmeter and temperature
data complement each other is shown in Fig. 4. This
well also was a dual con~pletionand was being injected
with water a t about 35 B/D through perforations in
each string. The temperature survey showed water was
being taken by the upper formation a t about 2,190 f t
and a t 2,330 ft. The lower completion was taking water
a t about 3,420 ft. A flowmeter survey then showed t h a t
water was leaving the upper string mostly through
perforations a few feet away from the formations
actually taking the water (in the upper completion).
The interpretation was t h a t water leaving the casing
through perforation a t 2,250-52 f t was communicating
upward to the formation opposite perforations a t 2,18890 ft. Water leaving the casing through perforations a t
2,302-04 f t was migrating to the formation opposite
perforations a t 2,332-34 f t and 2,339-41 ft.
I n these surveys, temperature measurements were
made by stopping t h e instrument every 2 f t in the intervals opposite perforations. Taking readings this often
is important in describing injection profiles. I n routine
reconnaissance surveys, runs can be made moving the
instrument continuously at approximately 300 ft/min.
EVALUATING FRACTURING TREATMENTS
Oil production from multiple, low-permeability zones
is common to many fields in West Texas. F o r good oil
production, well stinlulation by fracturing and water
flooding is often required. When multiple tubingless

completions a r e used, flow often occurs between zones

close to t h e well bore. Diagnostic use of thermal anomalies has been very helpful in getting a measure of
what zones have been fractured and where injected
fluid goes.'
Procedure for Making Anomalies
The procedure used is to inject hot or cold fluid during the fracturing operation. The f r a c fluid used must
be a t a temperature several degrees above o r below the
temperature of the formation. Heat transfers to the
formation and f r a c faces, mainly by conduction. Before
the formation is fractured, a "base" temperature survey
i s made; a f t e r fracturing, a detailed temperature survey
is made through the zone of interest.'
Fig. 5 shows results of a "hot frac" 19 hours a f t e r
the fracturing job. I n this case, water a t 130 F w a s
injected through perforations in sand A. The survey
made a f t e r fracturing shows near-normal temperatures
right down to the upper p a r t of the sand. Through the
sand, a n anomaly of about 2 F indicates t h a t t h e sand
was fractured, but the fracture did not seem to penet r a t e the dense zones above and below it.
These results were obtained with a sensitive, surfacerecording thermometer. Much more extensive work h a s
been done by Agnew? who summarizes results of 344
jobs i n which surface-recording thermometers were
used. Agnew suggests t h a t surface-recording thermometers a r e more convenient, because with them repeated
traverses of the same interval can be made to check
results o r make detailed surveys of intervals in which
unexpected preliminary temperature readings were obtained.
CONVENTIONAL USES O F TEMPERATURE
LOGGING
Locating Top of Cement
Among the older uses of temperature logging is locating the top of cement. The amount of heat evolved by
TEMPERATURE
25001

8I 4

85
I

8'I
6\

O F

'

87 0
88
89
DENSE ZONE
JORMAL GRADIENT

Fig. 5 -Temperature Profile 19 Hours after

Injection of Hot Fracturing Oil

the setting of oil-well cement placed behind casing is

sufficient to be measured inside the casing. In general,
the temperature increases in a n interval of the well bore
above the cement during the usual time allotted for
waiting on cement to set. Fig. 6 shows a n example. In
this well, 5%-in. casing was set a t 12,460 f t in 9%-in.
hole and cemented with 800 sacks. The temperature log,
run 13 hours after cementing, located the top of the
cement a t about 11,250 ft. The dotted line in this graph
shows normal temperature gradient for the formation;
the depression in the borehole is due to circulation of
drilling fluid. The sharp rise a t the top of cement is
from the heat evolved during setting. Usefulness of a
temperature survey is shown by the fact that the height
of cement in this job was found to be only about 50
percent of the calculated height. The difference resulted
from large-diameter washouts in the hole.

9000k

60

1
I
,
-

TUBING LEAK,

10

APPROX FORMATION
TEMPERATURE

APPROX
NORMAL
\\TEMPERATURE

180

TEMPERATURE O F
180
220
260
I

TEMPERATURE O F
100
140

Fig. 6 - Locating Top of Cement

Locating Tubing Leak
Another conventional use of temperature surveys is
shown by Fig. 7. This illustrates leaks in two gas wells
equipped with tubing packers. Both wells had been produced a t moderate rates for some time, then shut in.
Gas expanding through the leaks reduced the temperature several degrees a s shown. The leaks were approximately located in reconnaissance surveys, then pinpointed by stops made a t 25 to 50-ft intervals, a s
shown. In subsequent tubing repair work, the leaks were
found to be very close to the points indicated.

Gas Entry through Small Leak in Casing

Detection of a small leak in the casing of a well is
shown in Fig. 8. This was a low-productivity oil well
that had been killed prior to installing lifting equipment. After i t had been filled with water, i t was dead

70001

Fig. 7 -Locating

Small Gas Leaks in Tubing

on tubing but would flow gas from the oil string. Two
temperature surveys were made. The first was made
with the well completely shut in a t the surface. The
second was made the next day while flowing gas a t the
rate of 0.5 MMcf/D from the oil string. As is shown,
a small casing leak was indicated near surface. Repair
work showed the gas entered from a pressured formation near the bottom of the surface casing, flowed up
the outside of the oil string, and entered the oil string
a t a depth of about 205 ft. Estimated pressure differential for this leak was about 170 psi.

TEMPERATURE O F
80
100

60

120

FLOWING 0 5MMCF/D
FROM OIL STRING

-7 -

1000

Sl. 2 DAYS

Fig. 8 -Locating

-- .. - a

Small Gas Leaks in Casing

AARON E . PIERCE,J. B. COLBY,AND BELDONA. PETERS

190

TEMPERATURE " F

SAND A
A'
B
C

Fig. 9

- Temperature Logs Showing Communication

ably, indicating t h e repair work was effective in stopping the communication.

CONCLUSIONS
Use of temperature surveys in wells can provide considerable diagnostic infoimation. When coupled with
other types of data (flowmeter surveys, pressure tests),
temperature surveys can help locate points of fluid entry
into the well bore in producing wells or entry into the
formation in injection wells.
Fast-response thermometers, either subsurfacerecording o r surface-recording, can be used to help locate induced fractures. Routine reconnaissance surveys,
whlch can be made cheaply and quickly, can spot
trouble. Detailed surveys can then be made to measure
or so,
temperature anomalies of a s little a s a degree
to pin-point the trouble in wells.

Outside Casing (Gas Well)

Communication Outside the Casing
Faulty primary cementing can result in pressure
communication between zones. Fig. 9 shows such a
condition. I n this well, a high-pressure g a s sand (B)
proved to be flowing into two upper zones (A and A')
and a lower zone (C).
. , Because the well had been nroducing a t a r a t e of 8 MMcf/D f o r some time, temperatures were considerably higher than the normal gradient. But a survey made just before a workover showed
a considerable temperature depression in the interval
from about 6,600 to 6,900 f t . This depression was interpreted to mean g a s flow behind the casing. The casing
was perforated and squeeze-cemented. A temperature
survey made a month a f t e r the workover showed t h a t
the temperature depression had been raised consider-

REFERENCES
IPeacock, D. R : What You Can Learn from TemperaE n g ~ . ,37 [I01 96, Sept. (1965).
ture Logs, Petrolet~w~
Willikan, C. V: Temperature Surveys in Wells,
Trans. Am. Inst. Mining Met. Engrs. (Petrolez~mDevelopment and Technology) 142, 15 (1941).
3Riordan, M. B: Surface Indicating Pressure, Temperature, and Flow Equipment, Trc~ns.Ant. I m t . Mining Met. Engrs. pet role?^?)^ Development and Technology) 192, 857 (1951).
4Agnew, B. G: Evaluation of Fracture Treatments
with Temperature Surveys, T,rc~ns.Am. Inst. Mining
Met. E?~grs.(Petrolezcnz. Dcvelopinezt cund Tecl~nology)
892 (1965) ; also J. Petv. Tech., XVIII l71 892, July
(1966).