Well Logging

The Basic Laterolog Tools

Laterolog 3 (LL3)
Laterolog 7 (LL7)
Spherical Focused Log (SFL)

Dr. Nasser Al-Muafa

 Overview
• Basic Laterolog Tools
• LL3, LL7, SFL Theory of Measurement
• Calibration
• Quality Control
• Factors Influencing Measurement
• Log Example

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 Introduction
• Conventional electrodes devices and MRT have two main
limitations:
1- in thin beds the response is distorted,
2- In salt water based mud the current emitted by the
conventional tool is confined within the borehole mud
column or within the mudcake layer (concerning MRT).
• Also to define the resistivity distribution around the
wellbore (due to mud filtrate invasion), several apparent
resistivity readings of tools of different radius of
investigation is required.
• To overcome these limitations, a family of tools that uses
different current focusing schemes and with different
depth of investigation has been developed.
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 Laterolog 3 (LL3)
• Laterologs are usually used to
investigate formations that display a
wide range of resistivity.
• The LL3 has 3 current emitting
electrodes.
• The middle one A0 , which is 1 foot
long emits the main constant current
I0, while the 5 foot long electrodes
either side of it emit a current that is
designed to help keep the central
current more focused.
• This is called a bucking current and
the electrodes are called guard
electrodes.
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 Laterolog 3 (LL3)
• In this simple tool the bucking current is the same as
that from the central electrode, and the potential of
the central electrode is measured relative to the
potential at infinity to give a potential difference V0.
• This potential difference and the known current from
the central electrode A0 are used to calculate the
formation resistivity, using a known geometrical factor
for the arrangement.
Ra = G* V0/I0
Where the parameter G is dependent on tool design,
and is called the calibration coefficient because it
usually is determined experimentally.
• The vertical resolution of the LL3 is 1 ft- Excellent
VR.
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 Laterolog 7 (LL7)
• The LL7 has 7 electrodes.
• A constant current I0 is emitted from the central
electrode A0.
• A bucking current is emitted from the two far
electrodes A1U and A1L (80 inches apart), and is
automatically adjusted such that the two pairs of
monitoring electrodes are brought to the same
potential difference. Then the current from the
central electrode is focused in a thin disk far out
into the formation.
• The potential V0 between one of the monitoring
electrodes and the potential at infinity is then
measured, and knowing the current I0 from the
central electrode allows the formation resistivity
to be calculated providing the geometrical factor
of the arrangement is known (calculated
theoretically and tested in the calibration of the
device).
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 Laterolog 7 (LL7)
• This electrode arrangement
produces a thin disk of current
that is confined between the two
sets of measuring electrodes
(32 inches apart).
• The strongly focused beam is
little affected by hole size,
penetrates the invaded zone,
and measures the resistivity of
the virgin formation, Rt.
• The vertical resolution of the
LL7 is 3 ft. and the sensitivity is
0.2 to 20,000 Ohm.m.

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 Spherically Focused Log (SFL)
• The need to define resistivity
distribution around bore hole
including shallow depth
promoted the design of SFL.
• The spherically focussed log
(SFL) has an electrode
arrangement (Fig. on the
right) that ensures the current
is focussed quasi-spherically
(almost spherically).
• It is useful as it is sensitive
only to the resistivity of the
invaded zone.

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 SFL Theory of Measurement
• The principle of SFL devices is
that the current return
electrode is located a relatively
short distance from current
electrode Ao.
• With this configuration the
equipotential surfaces assume
a spherical shape.
• The tool readings is influenced
mostly by the invaded zone.