Halliburton’s GEM™ Tool Offers A Clearer Picture

HOUSTON - Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) today announced the release of the GEM™ Elemental Analysis tool, which offers rapid and precise evaluation of formations with complex mineralogies. As the newest addition to Halliburton’s portfolio of formation evaluation technologies, the GEM tool offers operators a complete elemental analysis solution for complex reservoirs and complements Halliburton’s existing cuttings evaluation service performed while drilling. When combined with Halliburton’s real-time data acquisition software, it offers customers onsite and remote visualization of formation elemental data quickly and accurately.

“The innovative system design allows the GEM tool to provide the most precise quantitative understanding of complex carbonates and shales for our customers,” said Jonathan Lewis, vice president of Wireline and Perforating, a Halliburton product service line.

The GEM tool improves the measurements of magnesium in carbonates and aluminum in clays and shale - until now the most difficult elements to measure but among the most important needed to describe the reservoir. Also available for the first time in the logging industry, the GEM tool measures manganese, a common constituent of carbonates and sheet silicates. Use of these three additional elements - magnesium, aluminum and manganese - to determine mineralogy improves estimates of porosity, saturation, permeability, detection of swelling clays and rock mechanical properties. Operators obtain more accurate estimates of their reserves, design optimal completion and stimulation programs, and maximize production.

The GEM tool’s attachable cooling system and insulating flask allow the tool to run for long periods downhole operating in conditions up to 350°F and 20,000 psi. Fewer trips downhole reduces operating costs and improves tool redeployment time.

Combining the superior sensitivity of the GEM tool in the vertical sections of wells with Halliburton’s LaserStrat® cutting evaluation service in the horizontal sections provides operators with an understanding of reservoir mineralogy for the entire well. The two services can also be used in conjunction to improve geosteering of horizontal sections.

Halliburton is committed to offering its clients the best elemental analysis solution for the accurate understanding of complex reservoirs, whether needed while drilling or during openhole logging operations.