GEOSPECT USER FORUM

Sample Photos

KiwiKim — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:48:02 GMT

Hi All

I made a very useful discovery a few months ago. you can pretty much use any digital camera to photograph cuttings samples through your microscope! I've got a pretty budget binocular microscope and a Nikon P2 camera. Anyway I was pretty desperate to photograph some cuttings on a wellsite so I thought to myself I'll try shooting through the microscope. I had the camera set on auto and placed the camera lens against the microscope eye piece and what do you know it focused!!

We now photograph almost every sample for our clients and we also find it very useful when writing the final report (sometimes I forget to decribe things or notice them when I'm reviwing photos.)

Anywho here's some examples

http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp238/K-W-E-L/1-Ahirau.jpg

http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp238/K-W-E-L/1-Elgood.jpg

Cool eh?

Forum: Mudlogging Techniques

Computer Performance

Mike — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:32:13 GMT

If your computer is set to WITS in General Settings or the SEND GAS option is selected, you must have the computer plugged into an EDR. Otherwise you will experience extremely slow computer performance. If you are trying to bench test your unit in the shop or calibrate gas when Geospect is not connected to an EDR, simply turn OFF all WITS communication settings.

Forum: Computer Performance

Using Geospect with Wellsight

Mike — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:58:56 GMT

We have a number of customers who are using Geospect with Wellsight. Would someone mind posting methods that are used to import Geospect data into Wellsight? I get asked about this frequently, but I am not an experienced Wellsight user.

Thanks

Forum: Mudlogger's Corner

Auto-Sync Depth Warning

Mike — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 19:39:25 GMT

Setting your Auto-Sync option within Geospect to sync too frequently, seriously diminishes the accuracy of Geospect's ROP calculations.

Example:

Auto sync is set to 20 seconds. This means depth is updated every 20 seconds.

Now when the depth actually changes and Geospect turns over a foot, the ROP is calculated from the time of the last change in depth to the current change in depth. Geospect counts an auto-sync as a change in depth, even if the depth did not change. The ROP is thus counted as less than 20 seconds to drill that particular foot, even if it actually took much longer.

Solution:

Either turn off auto-sync, or set the auto-sync timer to much slower than you are actually drilling, or anticipate drilling.

Forum: WITS

Books Relating to Mudlogging

Mike — Thur, 05 Mar 2009 06:44:34 GMT

Does anyone want to share their favorite oilfield book that might help some of the newer guys and gals get a grip on our business? I guess one of the best that I've ever read is:

"A Nontechnical Guide To Petroleum Geology, Exploration, Drilling and Production"

It's pretty expensive. It was around $50-60 on Amazon.com the last time I bought a copy, but well worth it. It explains everything from planning to production in plain English.

Forum: Mudlogger's Corner

Mudlogging... Art or Science?

Mike — Thur, 05 Mar 2009 06:22:19 GMT

I can see two different styles of mudlogging emerging from the discussions that I have seen so far on this forum. One style is more subjective, where the other is decidedly more objective. Does the tired old college professor's argument of style versus substance apply here? Is mudlogging art or is it science? Or could it be a mixture of both? We report, you decide. Fair and Balanced Mudlogging!

Forum: Mudlogger's Corner

Zeroing at connections

KiwiKim — Thur, 26 Feb 2009 03:39:33 GMT

Hi All

We run a Geospect CC system down here in New Zealand (its a very flexable system by the way for those of you out there who may not be running one).

Anyway as most of you are aware the catalytic bead sensors can at times be quite sensitive to temperature and flow rate. This doesn't really cause problems with peak detection as but can cause baseline drift (is gas starting to get up or is that 5 units I'm seeing simply baseline drift?).

To answer this we have started flicking to "calibrate" at conections to ensure our zero is zero. This draws clean air in through the port on the front of the unit and allows us to check our zero. Flicking back to "normal" just before they start pumping we often see a rise of 1-2 units from the stale mud in the trap then 3-4 unit rise as fresh mud enters the trap just after the pumps start.

Hope that helps someone.

Cheers

Kim

Forum: Mudlogging Techniques

Question about Data and Logging Software

miahnelson — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:56:17 GMT

I unfortunately have not had the pleasure of using a set of Geospect instruments or software. So I have no idea as to how they work in regards to my current question. Since the website states it outputs data to xls format, then I assume its possible to do what I will be explaining next.

Most Mudlogging systems I have used allow for direct access to the raw data in one format or another. By direct access, I mean numeric data in some format that can be manipulated or changed. Normally this is done via MS Access, or MS Excel. This allows us the ability to quickly repair data that is either inaccurate, or misplaced.

A good example would be The driller fails to kick out the geolograph during a connection. At the same time your off bottom switch malfunctions. So the Logging system adds who knows how many feet. Depends on how many times the Driller worked the pipe up and down. You are finally getting some sleep after you have been up for 30 hours straight. They make 300 ft during your nap.

Having direct access to the data allows us to pinpoint the error, delete the incorrect ft, and shift the rest of the data up. I'm sure most of you have done this or something similar at one point or another.

Currently my company is using a logging package that I will not name here unless given permission. This package has the data acquisition and drafting combined into a single program. It only allows for a graphical interface to edit data. It is tedious and time consuming, and does not give the ability to shift large amounts of data. For s simple 10ft correction it works OK, but for anything much bigger it is a real pain to use.

I have contacted the programmer of this software, explained what I wanted to be able to do, and his response was "I suspect there are very few loggers needing or wanting access to raw data, and frankly I am a little curious that you seem to find it easier than editing directly in my software. I am assuming the software you used before required it, and you are used to it which makes sense to a point.

So I ask you other loggers, what is your preference? Do you prefer graphical editing abilities, Or being able to view and edit the raw numeric data?

Forum: Mudlogging Techniques

Mudlogging or Mud Logging

Mike — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:06:41 GMT

Ok guys... which is it? Mudlogging (without the space between mud and logging) or Mud logging (with the space). Please... this has bugged me for years. I need some insight on this.

Forum: Mudlogger's Corner

Lag

myra — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:13:28 GMT

I'll start an interesting one. How do you calculate lag, or do you calculate lag?

Forum: Mudlogging Techniques

Gas Referencing

Mike — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:26:43 GMT

I would like to see some good discussion on the topic of gas referencing. I know there is at least one person on this forum who has experience with this technique.

Forum: Mudlogging Techniques

Two Gas Detectors

myra — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:45:28 GMT

In response to your blog on two gas detectors, I'll pass on the following anecdotal information.

The first well was in Iberia Parish Louisiana. Petron had a gas detector rigged up as well as the one in the mud logging trailer. Their gas consistently read half of what mine did. After several heated discussions with the company man I finally convinced him the two instruments were calibrated differently had showed him the difference. That cured that problem.

In Duval County Texas we had a mud engineer who didn't believe our gas readings. Since the contract for the well called for Totco to have a gas detector rigged up, he talked the company man into having Totco rig it up. The system was an early infrared system that measured every bit of hydrocarbon in the vicinity of the rig. It would bounce from -1000 to 5000 units and points in between. It only took me about three days to have it shipped back off location.

Mike is right about the calibration. Demonstrate to the company rep and anyone else necessary that your instruments are calibrated correctly.

Speaking of gas calibrations, how do you calibrate your hotwire? Does 1% methane in air = 50 units or 100 units? There is a difference between the Gulf Coast and the Mid Continent.

Forum: Mudlogger's Corner

The old days

myra — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:12:50 GMT

I read your blog and smiled. Then there was Crossroads and Fairfield. Seems like a long time ago. Glad to see someone is still up and running.

Forum: General Discussions

Not sure where to post this

CoffeeBreak — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:52:11 GMT

I noticed, that when you "mouse over" the screen shot of your software on your websites main page, the popup text says "Mudlogging Softwar"

http://www.badongo.com/pic/5267064

Just a heads up.

Not sure where I should have posted this either.

Forum: General Discussions

Pump?

WestTxWellsite — Thur, 29 Jan 2009 17:42:03 GMT

I would like to know what everyone is using for carrier air?

I can't seem to find anything very quiet that will supply 7-8 pounds.

I've been using a Thomas pump. It's not all that quiet.

Mike

Forum: Geospect Chromatograph