Well Log Interpretation Resistivity Logs

Earth & Environmental Science

University of Texas at Arlington

Resistivity Logs Review

Resistivity Logs are used to determine Water saturation, Sw and hydrocarbon zones, porosity and permeability.

Borehole Environment
Dh = Hole Diameter R = Resistivity Rm = mud Rmc = mud cake Rmf = mud fluids (filtrate) Rxo = rock and filtrate Rt = rock and formation fluids

Resistivity Logs Review

Sw, water saturation can be estimated from a resistivity measurement using the Archie Equation, an empirical relationship derived from experiments done by G.E. Archie in 1942. R0 is the resistivity of rock 100% saturated by water, and Rt is resistivity of same rock with formation fluids.

Resistivity Logs Review

If, Rw = Resistivity of water in the rock pores (measured) R0 = Resistivity of rock 100% saturated by water of Rw.
Then, a Formation Resistivity Factor (F) can be defined: F = R0/Rw, and

R0 = F Rw

Resistivity Logs Review

Based on experiments, Archie found that F could also be related to a tortuosity factor (a) the porosity (F) and a cementation exponent (m) by

Resistivity Logs Review

Combining these relationships produces the Archie Equation:

N, F, a and m are experimentally determined, and there are tables for typical rock types. Rw = resistivity of fluids in the rock and must be estimated at the well site. Rt is the resistivity of the combined rock and fluid measured by the logging tool.

Resistivity Logs Review

Experimentally determined formation factors for various lithologies

Resistivity profiles around Borehole

Formation water is typically saline and normally has a low Rw Water used in drilling mud may be saline or fresh Fresh water has a high Rmf. The resistivity profile around a borehole depends on whether the mud uses fresh or saline water or is oil based.

Resistivity = fcn (Temp, Salinity)

Resistivity profiles around Borehole

Logs typically measure three resistivities: shallow, intermediate and deep corresponding to the three zones around the borehole.
The graph shows resistivity profiles in rock filled with saline water

Resistivity profiles around Borehole

The graph shows resistivity profiles in rock filled with oil (or fresh water).

Resistivity Tools
There are two general types of resistivity tools: Electrode: forces a current through the rock and measures resistivity Induction: Uses a fluctuating electro-magnetic field to induce electrical currents in the rock; it measures conductivity which is converted to restivity.

Resistivity Tools
Electrode logs need a conductor in the well bore so they dont work with fresh water and oil based mud, or air. Electrode tools over the past 40 years are able to focus the current to control the depth of measurement in the borehole environment.

Resistivity Tools
Various electrode logs and depth of measurement:
Flushed Zone
Microlog (ML)

Invaded Zone
Short Normal (SN)

Un-invaded Zone
Long Normal (LN) Lateral Log Deep Laterolog (LLD) Laterolog 3 (LL3) Laterolog 7 (LL7)

Microlaterolog (MLL) Laterolog8 (LL8) Proximity Log (PL) Microspherically Focused Log (MSFL) Spherically Focused Log (SFL) Shallow Laterolog (LLs)

Resistivity Tools
Induction tools do not need a conductor in the bore hole and can be used with fresh water and oil based mud and air. They are designed to read intermediate and deep resistivities and are labeled ILm and ILd respectively. Induction tools do not work well in formations with low conductivity (high resistivity) because only weak currents will be induced in the rock and are hard to measure. The flushed zone resistivity is normally measured with an electrode log.

Resistivity Porosity
In water saturated flushed zones, the porosity can be determined from the short reading resistivity logs. The Archie equation for the flushed zone is:

So solving for F, If there are any hydrocarbons left in the flushed zone, F will be too low.

High Frequency Dielectric Logs

Induction logs operate at low frequencies (up to 20 KHz) where the material conductivity is important. At higher frequencies (GHz) the dielectric properties of the material are important. They are a measure of the energy loss of an electromagnetic wave through the material.

High Frequency Dielectric Logs

Waters dielectric constant is an order of magnitude higher than rock or hydrocarbons, so these tools essentially measure water content. Depth of penetration depends on tool design and usually measures either the flushed zone or invaded zone.

High Frequency Dielectric Logs

The water filled porosity (Fw) from a dielectric log is:

0.5 0.5 ma F w 0.5 p 0.5 w ma

P varies with salinity and a value of 1.2 is typical for formation water.

High Frequency Dielectric Logs

If there are hydrocarbons present, Fw will be lower than the true porosity. Water saturation of the flushed or invaded zone can be estimated using the neutron-density porosity FND. The water saturation, Sxo, will be:

Fw S xo F ND

High Frequency Dielectric Logs

Electromagnetic Propagation Tools (EPT) measure the propagation time of the wave in ns/m. FEPT is:
tp0 tpma F EPT tp fl tpma

tpo is derived from the log

High Frequency Dielectric Logs

The dielectric logs are not effected by water in clay, so they measure the amount of free water in the rock in contrast to the neutron log.

Typical Resistivity Logs

Mud uses fresh water. Whats in the rock pores?

Typical Resistivity Logs

Mud uses saline water. Whats in the rock pores?

Typical Resistivity Logs

Mud uses fresh water. Whats in the rock pores?

Typical Resistivity Logs

Mud uses saline water. Whats in the rock pores?

Tornado Charts
When invasion of the mud filtrate is extensive, the deep restivity reading (RLLD or RILD) will not be Rt, the formation resistivity. Tornado Charts are used to make the correction.

Tornado Charts
Charts are provided by the logging company, and the correct chart must be used for the particular kind of resistivity tool. The one on the left is for an induction tool.

Assignment
Use the resistivity log in Fig. 5.4 this log is over the same interval as the neutron and density logs of the previous exercise. Using the same spreadsheet as in the last exercise, create additional rows for the depths at right using the example spreadsheet (handout).

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