“Surface logging: Adventures in the oil patch”
Thursday 1st August 2024 at 7.00 pm
by Mike Burrell
Field Geology Club of South Australia
Mawson Lecture Theatre,
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide
Note: This lecture has been delayed from the original date in July.
Surface Logging, also known as Mud Logging, is the process of continuously monitoring the drilling mud that circulates through the borehole during drilling operations. The mud carries rock cuttings to the surface, and these cuttings are analysed to provide information about the geology of the formation being drilled. Mud logging can provide valuable information about the lithology, porosity, permeability, hydrocarbon content, and other properties of the formation. The liberated gas is continually analysed as the hole is drilled. In addition, sensors are installed on the rig to record various drilling data. The information recorded includes mechanical, hydraulic, and engineering parameters. Drilling rigs may operate in hostile environments in remote areas with climatic extremes, political uncertainty and exotic wildlife. As such, Mike will reflect on his adventures in the oil patch, where not everything always goes as planned.
Mike Burrell completed his Bachelor of Science in Geology at Flinders University. He spent his career working in the oil patch with Geoservices and Schlumberger. His early years were spent working on rigs in the Cooper / Eromanga Basin, Amadeus Basin, Bass Strait and New Zealand. He then ran Australian operations from Adelaide before becoming part of the Singapore Asia-Pacific Management Team. Subsequent to the acquisition of Geoservices by Schlumberger, Mike spent 3 years living in Paris to assist with the integration process. Mike’s final assignment was Geoservices Operations Manager in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Members and visitors are warmly invited to attend. No booking requirement.
University policy is to close doors at 7.00 pm, so be sure to arrive punctually! The door will however be checked briefly for late arrivals immediately before the main lecture starts (around 7.10 to 7.15 pm). The FGC doorbell will no longer be available.
Refreshments will be served in the tea room following the meeting.
The front entrance to the Mawson Building may be closed off due to construction works on the new wheelchair ramp,
in which case the entrance will be via stairs at the rear of the building (Victoria-Drive side).
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Advanced notice:
The Field Geology Club of South Australia, the Royal Society of South Australia and the Geological Society of Australia (SA Div.) jointly present the 9th Ralph Tate Memorial Lecture
Human Impact or Natural Variability? The Conundrum of Climatic Change
Thursday 5th of September 2024 at 6.30 pm
Mawson Lecture Theatre
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Adelaide
Emeritus Professor Martin Williams
University of Adelaide
The meeting will be held in the Mawson Lecture Theatre as usual but will commence at the earlier time of 6.30 pm, and be preceded by a wine tasting and refreshments in the Alderman room (end of corridor in the Mawson Building) commencing at 5.30pm. There will be no supper following the meeting, but an option of joining the speaker for dinner at a venue TBA.
