Customized software for modeling nuclear logging tools used in the exploration and production of oil & gas.
Customized software for modeling nuclear logging tools used in the exploration and production of oil & gas.
1. Evaluating existing logging tools in cased hole wells.
2. R&D to understand nuclear physics as applied in the oil & gas industry.
3. Evaluation of commercial logging tools to determine if they have the accuracy and sensitivity to answer the question.
4. Tool-to-tool comparisons.
Besides the R&D aspects listed above, it allows new hires to be productive within weeks, rather than months.
NICO is a framework of programs, customized Excel files, patches to a large nuclear modeling program, and the "NICO" program for easily generating computer models using industry terminology and data rather than cryptic computer programming commands.
The NICO nuclear software has been used to model nuclear logging tools for the oil & gas industry and the mining industry.
"NICO" software was developed by Don McKeon while working at Random Walk Engineering LLC (owner).
Software has been used for over 20 years as the owner of Random Walk Engineering, LLC (www.RandomWalkEngineering.com). See the website or one of the pages of this website. All software, IP and assets of Random Walk Engineering LLC are now owned by Oilfield Nuclear. Same owner. Same consultant. Same experience. Same results.
Requires define every region, bounding surfaces, material descriptions.
(additional lines needed not shown)
Use the Generic PNC Tool Model
LaB3, 0.5"ODx1.5" @ 10", LaBr3, 1"ODx4" @20"
Defining a a cased hole with tubing requires defining many regions, bounding surfaces and materials. Mistakes are common.
NICO works using commonly available well parameters. Here, an 8.5" borehole, 7"/28# Casing, 4.5"/15.1# Tubing, Casing and Tubing Centered, Class G cement, No Tool Stand-off (i.e. flush with tubing)
Rather simple input, but generates a very complex tool model in a deviated well. NICO can also handle horizontal wells with ease.
Side section-view of the tool in a deviated well.
The computer model is designed to always have the tool along the vertical axis. In the model, the world moves relative to the tool.
That's it!
That's the input for a generic logging tool with 2 LaBr3 detectors, in an 8.5" borehole with 7"/28# Casing and 4-1/2"/15# Tubing, in a Complex Lithology with Water, Oil, Gas and CO2.
This input produces a MCNP file that is 2485 lines long.
This shows the likelihood that a gamma-ray born at a location will be detected by the detector.
Neutron Porosity Tool - the location in the formation when the high energy source neutrons are thermalized.
Litho-Density - the deepest a source gamma-ray travels while still reaching the detector and producing a count.