FLAIR fluid logging and analysis in real time is a premium gas service focused on fluid facies characterization and early information about formation fluid composition. Hydrocarbons extracted from the drilling mud at surface are continuously analyzed to provide a unique quantitative analysis of C1–C5 and qualitative information on the C6–C8 components (including methyl-cyclohexane) and light aromatics (benzene and toluene). Drilling conditions such as deepwater wells, cold mud returns, and complex modern drilling fluids do not affect the results.
As part of the service, a FLAIR specialist works closely with you and the centralized Geoservices Expertise Center (GEC), delivering the right information at the right time. The GEC is staffed by engineers and geoscientists with global experience, who assist office and wellsite personnel in optimizing operations.
Quantitative assessment of formation hydrocarbon composition
Because formation fluids are continuously mixed with the drilling mud, accurate gas fraction analysis—or fluid logging—is the only way to access the hydrocarbon composition directly and continuously. Hydrocarbons are extracted from the mud under constant thermodynamic conditions, enabling calibration of the extraction efficiency for every component from C1 to C5. The calibration procedure, paired with a correction for recycled gas, makes the C1–C5 fluid composition—provided at the end of each drilling section—analogous to the composition of the downhole reservoir fluid.
The FLAIR service should be considered complementary to standard fluid analysis, the advantage being that it is available early and on a continuous basis. Integration of FLAIR data with that obtained by various other formation evaluation techniques, provides a robust and more accurate picture of hydrocarbons in the formation. This early quantitative assessment of the composition of potential pay zones while drilling is helping our customers to make faster decisions. The FLAIR service has been implemented in almost all operational and geological environments.
Daily fluid facies log to assist reservoir appraisal
A fluid facies log is generated daily, providing information for:
- analyzing fluid similarities and dissimilarities
- characterizing cap rocks and reservoirs
- delineating pay zones
- determining the composition of formation hydrocarbons
- locating fluid contacts
- identifying compositional gradients in the reservoir
- detecting geochemical alteration
- studying reservoir compartmentalization and connectivity
- performing well-to-well correlation
Close Correlation with PVT Data
The FLAIR service is quantitative in the characterization of the light hydrocarbon gases C1–C5. Gas composition numbers from the FLAIR service and PVT data have a close correlation, as seen in the table below. Consequently, customers have proposed that as a standard approach, datasets generated from the FLAIR service, downhole fluid analysis (DFA), and fluid analysis (e.g., PVT data) should all be compared to verify agreement with one another, thus providing internal quality checks among the datasets. In the table on the right (courtesy of Shell, SPE Number 109861), a comparison is made for a number of basins located in different geographical regions, between the normalized gas composition C1–C5 provided by the FLAIR service and compositional analyses of downhole fluid samples taken from the same interval.
Benefits
- Guidance for critical decisions, which can have significant economic impact, provided by early fluid facies characterization and formation fluid composition analysis at the end of each drilling section.
- Efficient use of rig time through optimization of logging, pressure testing, and sampling programs.
- Reduced risk in high-pressure, high-temperature (HPHT) and other adverse environments because measurements are at surface and may be the only option available.
- Improved likelihood of identifying pay zones with low levels of C1–C5 by additionally monitoring C6–C8 components and aromatics.
- Enhanced geosteering (well placement) in extended-reach horizontal drilling with identification of hydrocarbon-poor and -rich formations.
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