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Mineralogy from Geochemical Well Logging

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2024

Michael M. Herron
Michael M. Herron*
Affiliation:
Schlumberger-Doll Research, Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
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Abstract

Multivariate statistical analyses of geochemical, mineralogical, and cation-exchange capacity (CEC) data from a Venezuelan oil well were used to construct a model which relates elemental concentrations to mineral abundances. An r-mode factor analysis showed that most of the variance could be accounted for by four independent factors and that these factors were related to individual mineral components: kaolinite, illite, K-feldspar, and heavy minerals. Concentrations of Al, Fe, and K in core samples were used to estimate the abundances of kaolinite, illite, K-feldspar, and, by subtraction from unity, quartz. Concentrations of these elements were also measured remotely in the well by geochemical logging tools and were used to estimate these mineral abundances on a continuous basis as a function of depth. The CEC was estimated from a linear combination of the derived kaolinite and illite abundances. The formation's thermal neutron capture cross section estimated from the log-derived mineralogy and a porosity log agreed well with the measured data. Concentrations of V, among other trace elements, were modeled as linear combinations of the clay mineral abundances. The measured core V agreed with the derived values in shales and water-bearing sands, but exceeded the clay-derived values in samples containing heavy oil. The excess V was used to estimate the V content and API Gravity of the oil. The log-derived clay mineralogy was used to help distinguish nonmarine from transitional depositional environments. Kaolinite was the dominant clay in nonmarine deposits, whereas transitional sediments contained more illite.

Keywords

Elemental analysisMiteKaoliniteMineralogical analysisMultivariate analysisNeutron capture cross sectionWell logging
Type
Research Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 1986 , pp. 204 - 213
Copyright
Copyright © 1986, The Clay Minerals Society

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