METHOD FOR DETECTING HYDROCARBON ZONES IN A GEOLOGICAL FORMATION

摘要

A method for detecting hydrocarbon zones in a geological formation, includingobtaininga plurality of pulverized drill cutting samples representative of thegeological materialencountered at measured depth intervals, each drill cutting obtained atperiodic intervals duringthe drilling process; measuring each cutting sample with a color measuringdevice to obtain avalue representing the degree of lightness of the particular cutting sample;and analyzing themeasured lightness values by order of borehole depth that the respectivecutting sample wasobtained to determine the presence of geological zones likely to possessproduciblehydrocarbons. L* data may be combined with other well logging data to improvethehydrocarbon layer determination accuracy. A method also for locating the drillbit within adesired hydrocarbon layer during directional drilling.