Wireline Image Log Quality Control Plays a Vital Role in the Accuracy of Image Log Interpretation and Modeling

T. Mahmood¹

Abstract

Micro-resistivity borehole imaging tools have evolved over the past 30 years from basic dipmeters, with three arms each bearing a single electrode, to today's advanced micro-resistivity tools with rows of electrodes on multiple articulated arms. These advancements in imaging tool technologies are paralleled by transformations in the acquisition and processing software. This paper summarizes the data quality issues that can occur during image acquisition, transmission and processing and the impact they have on the reliability of the final interpretation. These data issues may be obvious when related to the malfunctioning of imaging tools, but more subtle failures can also give misleading results. In many cases, these subtle failures may only be identified if the utmost attention is paid to comprehensive image data quality control and verification. These data quality issues are not necessarily related to hardware but to acquisition or processing software. If overlooked, these issues can have detrimental consequences in exploration and development applications of image logs, including erroneous dip magnitude and dip azimuth results.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90188 ©GEO-2014, 11th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, 10-12 March 2014, Manama, Bahrain