What's new in MWD and formation evaluation

Many developments have occurred in reservoir characterization, especially in data acquisition while drilling. Some of the latest advances include: (1) powerful, yet efficient and cost effective wireline surface units; (2) an experimental through-casing wireline resistivity log; (3) a proposed wireline multi-electrode resistivity tool for use in conductive muds; (4) increased resistivity log modeling and deconvolution use; (5) wireline acoustic logs to measure shear wave velocity in acoustically slow rock; (6) wireline density, neutron and gamma ray logs to determine porosity and lithology; (7) borehole imaging logs; (8) wireline pulsed neutron capture log inelastic measurements; (9) characterization of wireline elemental analysis logs to determine fluid saturations and rock properties; (10) characterization of wireline nuclear magnetism logs; (11) characterization of wireline nuclear magnetism logs; (12) an experimental paleomagnetic logging tool; (13) an MWD acoustic (sonic) log; (14) MWD density-neutron logs; (15) MWD multi-depth of investigation resistivity measurements; (16) geosteering to reach and stay in geological drilling targets; (17) mud log gas detection; (18) an automatic drill cuttings collection system; (19) slimhole coring and logging of exploration prospects; (19) a sophisticated modular wireline test tool; (20) characterization of mud filtrate invasion and dissipation; (21) mini-permeameters and microporopermeameters; and (22) comprehensive, formation-specific rock propertymore » analog catalogs. This paper reviews the highlights of this new technology. 55 refs., 7 figs.« less