Abstract: Commercial Application and Interpretation of Borehole Gravimeter

J. W. Bradley

In recent years, Amoco Production Company has evaluated approximately 80 wells with the La Coste-Romberg borehole gravimeter. Many of these surveys have been in the search for and evaluation of commercial hydrocarbon reservoirs. Additional surveys have provided background-density information for geophysical and geological evaluations, including surface-gravity interpretation and seismic modeling.

In two primary applications the BHGM has been run routinely with economic success. The first takes advantage of the BHGM's capability to operate in the presence of casing, distinguishing between shallow dry gas and freshwater sands in the Gulf Coast. The second application involves reservoir definition in lime-reef environments. Fracture porosity, as well as porosity in proximity to the well bore, has been isolated successfuly where normal logging procedures have failed. This application has been successful economically. Though few commercial applications for the borehole gravimeter have been tested, the potential of this geophysical tool is great.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90976©1976 AAPG-SEPM-SEG Pacific Section Meeting, San Francisco, California