Geological asset uncertainty reduction

Abstract

A system and method for performing an operation at a wellbore is disclosed. A sample is obtained from a selected depth of the wellbore. A first test is performed on the sample to obtain a first estimate of mineralogy of the sample with a first degree of certainty. A second test is selected for the sample based on the first estimate of mineralogy. The second test is performed on the sample to obtain a second estimate of mineralogy having a second degree of certainty greater than the first degree of certainty. The operation is performed at the selected depth based on the second estimate of mineralogy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of performing an operation at a wellbore, comprising:
 obtaining a sample from a selected depth of the wellbore;   performing a first test on the sample to obtain a first estimate of mineralogy of the sample with a first degree of certainty;   selecting a second test for the sample based on the first estimate of mineralogy;   performing the second test on the sample to obtain a second estimate of mineralogy with a second degree of certainty greater than the first degree of certainty; and   performing the operation at the selected depth based on the second estimate of mineralogy.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a third test for the sample based on the second estimate of mineralogy, performing the third test on the sample to obtain a third estimate of mineralogy having a third degree of certainty greater than the second degree of certainty, and performing the operation based on the third estimate of mineralogy. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first test includes Fourier Transform Infrared testing, the second test includes X-ray fluorescence and the third test includes X-ray diffraction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first test includes at least one of: (i) X-ray diffraction, (ii) scanning electron microscopy, (iii) X-ray fluorescence, and (iv) pyrolysis, the second test includes gas adsorption and the third test includes Fourier Transform Infrared testing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample is a clay sample. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising estimating a clay class of the clay sample from the first test and determining an elemental composition of the clay sample from the second test. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample includes at least one of: (i) a geologic fluid obtained from the borehole; (ii) core cuttings; (iii) a core sample; and (iv) well cavings. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first test includes a gas analysis on the geologic fluid and the second test includes a test on one of the core cuttings, the core sample, and the well cavings. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operation includes selecting the depth for a frac operation based on the second estimate of mineralogy. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising calibrating a log of the formation to the second estimate of mineralogy at the selected depth. 
     
     
         11 . A system for performing an operation at a wellbore, comprising:
 a tool configured to retrieve a sample from a selected depth of the wellbore;   a first device configured to perform a first test on the sample to obtain a first estimate of mineralogy of the sample with a first degree of certainty;   a second device configured to perform a second test on the sample to obtain a second estimate of mineralogy with a second degree of certainty greater than the first degree of certainty; and   a processor configured to:
 select the second device based on the first estimate, and 
 perform the operation at the selected depth of the wellbore based on the second estimate of mineralogy. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a third device configured to perform a third test on the sample to obtain a third estimate of mineralogy having a third degree of certainty greater than the second degree of certainty, wherein the processor selects the third device based on the second estimate of mineralogy and performs the operation based on the third estimate of mineralogy. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first device performs Fourier Transform Infrared Testing, the second device performs X-ray fluorescence testing and the third device performs X-ray diffraction testing. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sample is a clay sample. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first device estimates a clay class of the clay sample and the second device determines an elemental composition of the clay sample. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sample includes at least one of: (i) a geologic fluid obtained from the borehole; (ii) core cuttings; (iii) a core sample; and (iv) well cavings. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the first device performs a gas analysis on the geologic fluid and the second device performs a test on one of the core cuttings, the core sample, and the well cavings. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to select the depth for a frac operation based on the second estimate of mineralogy. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate a log of the formation to the second estimate of mineralogy at the selected depth. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the processor further operates a data analytics program that compares a test result to a data library and provides an indication of the conclusiveness of the test and recommends an action based on the conclusiveness of the test.