Beyond the Elements: XRD Mineralogy & XRF Analysis

for Advanced Mud Logging

Agenda

Meet the Speakers Jose Brum, Field Sales Engineer, Olympus Dawn Snyder, Geologist, Diversified Well Logging

Topics XRF & XRD Basics X-ray technology in oil & gas drilling Advanced mud logging techniques On-site XRF and XRD Q&A Session

Save Time Easy sample prep On-site analysis Fast results

Reduce Costs Send fewer samples to outside lab Avoid downtime waiting for results Prevent re-drilling with real-time data

Be Decisive Continuously test while drilling Geosteering without guesswork View drill depth vs mineralogy comparison plots

Benefits of on-site XRD & XRF analysis

What is X-ray fluorescence?

Quantitative elemental analysis Mg - U Measures ppm - % for most elements

What is X-ray fluorescence?

Typical XRF Spectra

What is X-ray diffraction?

Direct mineralogy with XRD Quantitative mineral phase analysis Rough range of analysis is ~ 2% - 100%

What is X-ray diffraction?

Typical XRD Patterns

Quartz

Dolomite

Gypsum

Illite

2650 ft

6250 ft

XRD vs XRF?

Both use an X-ray source and detector Both measure the response to X-rays interacting

with a substance Both provide a measurement to help identify a

substance

XRF XRD

Elemental Analysis Compound Analysis

Contains Fe Contains Fe2O3 vs Fe3O4

Contains Ca Polymorphs: CaCO3

calcite vs aragonite vs vaterite

Unconventional resources

CHALLENGE: Majority of wells being drilled in N.A. are in unconventional resource plays

SOLUTION: Advancements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have made production from unconventional resources commercially viable

Finding the sweet spot

CHALLENGE: Geology, geochemistry, geo-mechanical properties can vary significantly throughout the play within visually homogenous shales

SOLUTION: XRD & XRF shows molecular level to identify areas with more carbonates, areas that are more siliceous, and places of changes in the clay

Monitoring mineralogy trends with XRD

Monitoring mineralogy trends with XRD

Brittle zones

CHALLENGE: Brittle zones necessary to pinpoint sweet spots for fracking can appear and disappear quickly in horizontal sections

SOLUTION: XRD data can be used to derive the brittleness of the shales within reservoirs

Rock type CHALLENGE: Need to identify oil & gas bearing zones, permeability and porosity for optimum production

SOLUTION: XRD can identify the rock types that indicate oil & gas bearing zones

Marker elements

CHALLENGE: Finding boundary layers and staying in the pay zone while drilling

SOLUTION: XRF can identify upper and lower marker elements to indicate when you have entered the pay zone or if you have left it

Monitoring elemental composition with XRF

Elemental composition vs drilling depths

Downhole vs surface techniques

CHALLENGES: Downhole measurements such as gamma, resistivity or wireline tools can fail due to temperature, pressure or vibration in the wellbore

SOLUTION: Surface-based data from XRD and XRF have little to no impact on the drilling operations and can provide the mineralogy data regardless of downhole conditions

Compatible Fluids

CHALLENGE: Drilling and injection fluids can interact with the formation in undesirable ways

SOLUTION: XRD can analyze the mineralogy so the compatible fluid can be used

Scaling

CHALLENGE: Scaling can block wells and reduce permeability of the formation

SOLUTION: XRD can identify the type of scaling so you can choose the right treatment chemicals

Common oilfield scales

Optimizing ProductionCHALLENGE: Typical well has between 25-50 stages, costing close to $250k per stage, with a typical production rate of 2%

SOLUTION: Placing stages in the most brittle areas of the formation will help to optimize production, reduce cost and minimize environmental impact of fracturing

Advanced Mudlogging

CHALLENGE: Surface-based measurements need to provide a detailed and reliable view of what is happening sub-surface

SOLUTION: Field XRD and XRF combined with the mud logger and the microscope provides detailed results using visual and analytical techniques

Advanced Mudlogging

CHALLENGE: Problems such as wellbore stability and fluid losses can arise while drilling

SOLUTION: If pilot well cuttings were logged, subsequent cavings can be immediately identified with on-site XRD and XRF to pinpoint the location of losses.

Used with permission from Aaron Watkins

Advanced Mudlogging

XRD Data - Pattern Comparison

Waterfall plot of 13 samples showing change in mineralogy through depth of several thousand feet of drilling with intensities normalized to 100% for visualization

Range = Red at 2350 – Blue at 6250

XRD Data - Pattern Comparison

Comparisons show visual changes in the diffraction pattern that do not require technical training to notice

XRD Data - Pattern Comparison

Quartz

Dolomite

Gypsum

Illite

2650 ft

6250 ft

XRD Data - Pattern Comparison

3400 ft

3870 ft

Illite

IlliteChlorite

XRD Data - Analysis Speed

secondary peaks clear

1 min / 4 exposures

3 min / 11 exposures

10 min / 36 exposures

For identifiable peaks, quantification stabilizes

very quickly

secondary peaks visible

primary peaks visible - likely identifiable

XRD Quantification Quick Semi-Quant (XPowder) can be set-up with a few

patterns and turned into a push-button operation Select phases visually from a small database Setting up reference files for future quantification of similar

matrices

Field XRD vs lab XRD

XRF Analysis Output

Depth Al Si P S K Ca Ti V Mn Fe Ni Cu Zn Zr

12430 4.04 13.7 0.17 0.24 2.31 2.05 0.44 0 0.03 5.11 0.0212450 2.82 13.3 0.14 0.29 1.33 3.27 0.34 0.04 0.03 4.39 0.01 0.0312470 3.31 14.2 0.2 0.33 1.38 3.34 0.35 0.04 4.53 0.0312490 3.53 12.1 0.2 0.74 1.57 4.29 1.78 1.03 0.22 5.15 0.01 0.01 0.0312510 3.39 11.8 0.17 0.5 1.64 4.37 1.03 0.6 0.12 4.8 0.0312530 3.77 11.2 0.26 0.38 1.36 7.95 1.28 0.75 0.18 4.45 0.02 0.0212550 3.44 10.9 0.15 0.41 1.46 7.3 1.21 0.55 0.14 4.28 0.0312570 2.77 9.38 0.18 0.26 1.27 8.26 0.75 0.26 0.08 3.87 0.01 0.0312590 3.11 10.5 0.17 0.62 1.42 6.16 1.88 1.19 0.34 4.78 0.02 0.01 0.0312610 3.07 9.91 0.15 0.26 1.34 7.82 0.58 0.17 0.09 3.82 0.01 0.01 0.0212630 3.19 10.7 0.17 0.33 1.59 5.29 0.5 0.11 0.08 4.52 0.01 0.03

On-site XRD & XRF Analysis

CHALLENGE: Samples sent to lab for XRD & XRF analysis can take days/wks for results

SOLUTION: Advances in XRD & XRF units have made them accessible for use in mobile labs

Inside the Diversified Well Logging Trailer

Your Mobile Lab Starts with Olympus

X5000 Portable XRF

BTX-IIBenchtop XRD

TERRA Portable XRD

Submit your questions now!