Formation evaluation at the wellsite was initially carried out by geologists examining cuttings and formation gas collected from the mud stream and "lagged" to bit depth, a practice known as mud logging or surface logging. Over the years, technological advances and economic viability allowed ever more complex downhole measurement tools to be created and run. These MWD and LWD tools determine several formation properties and have become uniquely associated with formation evaluation. In today's business climate, upstream oil and gas companies are increasingly focused on capital efficiency and return on investment (ROI). Delivery of an acceptable ROI to private and public investors is currently challenging in unconventional plays. However, these challenges also apply offshore with its high cost operations, the focus on trimming budgets, reduction of nonproductive time (NPT) and risk, and getting the best data at the best price. By reinventing mud logging through the development of robotic solutions and advanced software for the collection and analysis of drilled cuttings, including real-time geochemistry at the well site, Diversified Well Logging (DWL) is providing a tool to help operators achieve better capital efficiency and ROI. As a result, high-resolution quantitative data at low risk and cost are available for geologists and engineers, meaning that formation evaluation can return to the surface.

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