The benefits and dangers of using artificial intelligence in petrophysics

Artificial Intelligence,or AI,is a method of data analysis that learns from data,identify patterns and makes predictions with the minimal human intervention.AI is bringing many benefits to petrophysical evaluation.Using case studies,this paper describes several successful applications.The future of AI has even more potential.However,if used carelessly there are potentially grave consequences.A complex Middle East Carbonate field needed a bespoke shaly water saturation equation.AI was used to‘evolve’an ideal equation,together with field specific saturation and cementation exponents.One UKCS gas field had an‘oil problem’.Here,AI was used to unlock the hidden fluid information in the NMR T1 and T2 spectra and successfully differentiate oil and gas zones in real time.A North Sea field with 30 wells had shear velocity data(Vs)in only 4 wells.Vs was required for reservoir modelling and well bore stability prediction.AI was used to predict Vs in all 30 wells.Incorporating high vertical resolution data,the Vs predictions were even better than the recorded logs.As it is not economic to take core data on every well,AI is used to discover the relationships between logs,core,litho-facies and permeability in multi-dimensional data space.As a consequence,all wells in a field were populated with these data to build a robust reservoir model.In addition,the AI predicted data upscaled correctly unlike many conventional techniques.AI gives impressive results when automatically log quality controlling(LQC)and repairing electrical logs for bad hole and sections of missing data.AI doesn’t require prior knowledge of the petrophysical response equations and is self-calibrating.There are no parameters to pick or cross-plots to make.There is very little user intervention and AI avoids the problem of‘garbage in,garbage out’(GIGO),by ignoring noise and outliers.AI programs work with an unlimited number of electrical logs,core and gas chromatography data;and don’t‘fall-over’if some of those inputs are missing.AI programs currently being developed include ones where their machine code evolves using similar rules used by life’s DNA code.These AI programs pose considerable dangers far beyond the oil industry as described in this paper.A‘risk assessment’is essential on all AI programs so that all hazards and risk factors,that could cause harm,are identified and mitigated.

Prediction of new perforation intervals in a depleted reservoir to achieve the maximum productivity: A case study of PNN logging in a cased-well of an Iranian oil reservoir

Pulsed neutron-neutron(PNN)logging is based on emitting neutrons into the near-wellbore zone and computing the neutron count decay due to scattering and capturing.The main application of this logging tool is to determine the current oil saturation and to detect channeling in perforated and non-perforated intervals behind the casing.Correct interpretation of the results obtained from PNN logging enables engineers to predict new perforation intervals in depleted reservoirs.This study examines the application of PNN logging in a well located in one of Iranian oil reservoirs.The interpretation procedure is described step by step.The principle of the PNN logging and the specifications of the tool are discussed and the applications of PNN logging in evaluation of oil saturation,identification of water flooded zones and prediction of potential perforating zones are described.Channeling is also investigated between all layers,good and poor oil zones are characterized based on the calculated oil saturations and new perforation intervals are suggested with the aim to boost oil production from the reservoir.The results of this study show that zones 1 to 5 having low oil saturations,are interpreted as depleted oil zones.Zones 6 to 8 are interpreted as good oil zones having high potential to produce oil.Zone 9 is interpreted as a water zone.