Leveraging Thermal Conductivity Gas Detector for Quantitative Assessment of Fluid Contacts and Transition Zones

Evaluating hydrocarbon contact boundaries is essential for estimating the recoverable hydrocarbons in a reservoir. Measurements of quantitative C1-C5 gases along with higher molecular weight gases (above five carbons) such as aromatics and cycloalkanes using Advanced Mud Gas Logging provide critical information about fluid typing. Proper evaluation of heavier gas components will facilitate an informed decision making for well placement, completion strategies, and production methods. This paper presents methodological applications to identify fluid transition zones and contacts. More complex gas ratios using various gas components have shown clear responses linked to fluid behavior changes. Indeed, higher carbon range saturates, and aromatics are key for reservoir characterization, improving the precision to the evaluation process and finally determining the limits of reservoir. Capitalizing on detected geochemical gases towards formation evaluation answers are not comprehensively assessed in the industry. In this novel approach of the pseudo real- time interpretation of the range gaseous hydrocarbons, respective key sets of ratios provide formation evaluation answers of fluid transition zones and contacts where downhole logs are not provided or might have detection limitation. This would enable optimal planning towards wells placement, completion and production with tangible cost optimization.