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Detection performance of azimuthal electromagnetic logging while drilling tool in anisotropic media

  • Borehole geophysics and Rock properties
  • Published:
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Abstract

Azimuthal electromagnetic (EM) logging while drilling (LWD) has been extensively used in high-angle and horizontal (HA/HZ) wells. However, due to the effects of formation anisotropy, accurate geosteering decision and formation evaluations have become increasingly difficult. To quantitatively analyze the effect of anisotropy on tool responses and data processing, this paper investigates the sensitivity of EM LWD measurements to electric anisotropy and inversion accuracy via forward modeling and inversion. First, a sensitivity factor is defined to quantitatively analyze the sensitivity of the magnetic field components and synthetic signals to electric anisotropy. Then, azimuthal EM LWD responses in anisotropic layered formations are simulated, and the sensitivities to formation parameters for compensated and uncompensated tool configurations are comparatively analyzed. Finally, we discuss the effects of the inversion model on bed boundary inversion in anisotropic formations. Numerical simulation and inversion results show that azimuthal EM LWD can be significantly affected by electric anisotropy. Fortunately, by using a symmetrical compensation configuration, the sensitivity of the geosignals to electric anisotropy can be suppressed, and the boundary detection capability can be further enhanced. Anisotropy normally gives rise to separated resistivity curves and abnormal “horns”; moreover, complicated nonlinear distortion can also arise in geosignals as the tool approaches a bed boundary. If anisotropy effects are ignored in the inversion process, the estimated bed boundary and formation resistivity are usually unreliable, which may mislead geosteering decisions.

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Abbreviations

A40H:

2-MHz/101.60–cm (40 in.) attenuation curves, dB

P40H:

2-MHz/101.60-cm (40 in.) phase-shift curves, deg

A28H:

2-MHz/71.12-cm (28 in.) attenuation curves, dB

P28H:

2-MHz/71.12-cm (28 in.) phase-shift curves, deg

SAD4:

400-kHz/243.84-cm (96 in.) attenuation geosignals, dB

SPD4:

400-kHz/243.84-cm (96 in.) phase-shift geosignals, deg

SAS4:

400-kHz/86.36-cm (34 in.) attenuation geosignals, dB

SPS4:

400-kHz/86.36-cm (34 in.) phase-shift geosignals, deg

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, 266580, China

    Zhen-Guan Wu, Lei Wang, Yi-Ren Fan, Shao-Gui Deng & Tao Xing

  2. Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Zhen-Guan Wu, Lei Wang, Yi-Ren Fan, Shao-Gui Deng & Tao Xing

  3. CNPC Key Laboratory for Well Logging, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong, 266580, China

    Zhen-Guan Wu, Lei Wang, Yi-Ren Fan, Shao-Gui Deng & Tao Xing

  4. China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd., Beijing, 100034, China

    Rui Huang

Authors
  1. Zhen-Guan Wu
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  2. Lei Wang
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  3. Yi-Ren Fan
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  4. Shao-Gui Deng
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  5. Rui Huang
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  6. Tao Xing
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lei Wang.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41674131, No. 41974146, and No. 41904109), the Shandong Province Postdoctoral Innovation Projects (sdbh20180025), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 17CX06041).

First author: Wu Zhen-Guan received the B.S. degree from the China University of Petroleum (East China) in 2014. He is currently a Ph.D. student at the China University of Petroleum (East China). His main research interests include fast forward modeling and inversion of electric logging and electric logging interpretation. E-mail: wuzg2014@163.com

Corresponding author: Wang Lei Ph.D. graduated from the China University of Petroleum (East China) in 2018. He is currently a post-doctoral researcher at the China University of Petroleum (East China). His main research interests include I fast forward modeling and inversion of electric logging and electric logging interpretation. E-mail: upcwanglei199133@163.com

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Wu, ZG., Wang, L., Fan, YR. et al. Detection performance of azimuthal electromagnetic logging while drilling tool in anisotropic media. Appl. Geophys. 17, 1–12 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-020-0804-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-020-0804-z

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