Wireline Depth Control

MOST IMPORTANT measurement on every trip to the well

Depth Control Essentials:

• Depth is measured from a fixed datum (the Depth Reference Point) which must be specified by the customer.

• Calibrated IDW (Integrated Depth dual measuring Wheel device) is the primary depth measurement

• Elastic Stretch in cable is manually corrected according to procedure

• Subsequent logs, where a primary depth measurement is not required, are correlated to a Reference Log, which is
specified by the customer. For these services, depth measurement devices other than the IDW may be employed.

• No need for magnetic marks (non-mandatory)

• Traceability through standard recording and reporting

Accuracy: +/- 5 ft / 10,000 ft (+/- 0.05%)

Repeatability: +/- 2 ft / 10,000 ft (+/-0.02%)

 IDW: Description
Depth is measured by two encoders, each driven by a measuring wheel.
The two measuring wheels are mounted horizontally, opposite to each other,
with the logging cable squeezed in between.

Resolution of IDW Encoders is 0.1”

Encoders

Wheels
 Measured Depth Vs True Depth

• Measured depth is the distance measured (by depth system) along

the actual course of the borehole from the surface reference point.
• True Depth is the real distance along the actual course of the
borehole.
• Main Differences are due to:
– Stretching of cable due to tension
– Temperature effects
– Length of cable between rig and unit
– Height of travelling block
– Lower sheave chain tensioning
– Yo-yo effect
First Trip – First Log
The procedure for the first log in a given well consists of the following steps:

• Set up the Depth System

• Zero the tool: Fixed platform

Place the tool’s zero reference point at the Client’s Depth Reference

Tool’s zero reference is usually the bottom of the tool string

Client’s Depth reference point is usually :

Drill Floor (DF)
Rotary Table or Kelly bushing (KB)

Elevations are normally referenced to a Permanent Datum:

Mean Sea Level
Ground Level
First Trip – First Log
• Zero the Tool: for floater, semi-submersible platform and drill ship equipped
with
with Wave motion Compensator.

1. With WMC de-activated, stop the tool reference at the rotary table.
2. Set system depth to zero or length from tool reference to tool zero.
3. Lower the tool until the head is well below the riser slip joint.
4. Flag the cable at the rotary table and record current depth.
5. Have the driller pull up slowly on the elevators, until the WMC is stroking
about its
mid-point
7. Set system depth to depth recorded in Step 4.
First Trip – First Log
• Measuring the rig-up length between IDW and Rotary Table at Surface
(RULS)

• Running in Hole
• Measuring the rig-up length between IDW and Rotary Table at bottom (RULB)

A few hundred feet before reaching total depth (TD),

repeat above to obtain the Rig-up Length at Bottom, RULB, and record this value.
 First Trip – First Log

• Calculate RULS-RULB (Rig Up Length Surface & Rig Up Length Bottom)

If RULS-RULB > 1ft the rig up is changed and the depth must be corrected.

RULB

RULS

• Stretch correction : Log Down vs. Log Up Policy

First Trip – First Log

• Logging up

Log up without making any further correction

Recheck zero tool at surface: within +/- 2ft over 10.000 ft cable over wheel.
Subsequent Run in Hole (First Trip)
• Zero the tool
• Run in Hole and Check depth System
•Correlate to the first log
• Subsequent Log should be on depth with the first log for the entire log interval

Subsequent Trips
Proceed as if running the initial trip with the following exceptions:

• In conjunction with the customer, decide which previous log is to be

taken as the downhole depth reference. Ensure that a valid copy of
the reference log is available for correlation purposes.
• If the depth reference is a wireline log from a contractor other than
Schlumberger, proceed as for the first log in the well, and investigate and
document any discrepancies found with respect to the reference log.
• Run in hole and record a down log across an overlap section at the
bottom of the reference log. If the overlap section is off by less than 5 ft /
10,000 ft, adjust the depth to match the current down log with the
reference log. Record any corrections made as the Subsequent Trip
Down Log Correction (STDLC)
•
Subsequent Trips

•If the overlap log is off by more than 5 ft / 10,000 ft, investigate and resolve
any problems. Record any depth discrepancies. Consult with the customer to
decide which log to use as the depth reference

• Run down to TD at a reasonable speed so that the tool does not float.
Log repeat and main pass, correcting for stretch as per first trip procedure.

• The logging pass should overlap with the reference log by at least 200 ft if
possible. The depth should match the reference log. Note any
discrepancies.
 Depth Control Aid
The ‘Z’ Chart
Well Sketch Well :
Dog-legs : Date :
Restrictions: Run Number:

Magnetic
Note the position of first wrap
Marks

Write cable wrap depths

on the way down

Check cable wrap depths

on the way up

Spool the cable correctly