2015 IEEE International Conference on Computational Intelligence & Communication Technology
Wavelet analysis of well-logging data in petrophysical and stratigraphic
correlation
Zhang Rongxi
College of Computer Science
Beijing University of Technology
Beijing, China
zhangrongxi@bjut.edu.cn
Abstract—Sequence stratigraphy is a great contribution to the
analysis and characterization of oil reservoirs. But how to
divide sequence stratigraphic units quantitatively is the urgent
problem to solve. Well logging signal representing lithology
and physical properties embrace much information related to
sedimentary cycles, and wavelet analysis of signal has good
time-frequency local adjustable performance to be able to
identified different frequency cycles. So we can draw the
conclusion that the sediment cycles in different periods can be
identified by using wavelet and analysis of well log curves.
In terms of the properties of the wavelet bases and the
characteristics of logging signals, dmey 12 is chosen for the
cycle classification of logging curve. The research shows that
the wavelet analysis is a helpful complementary technique for
the location of stratigraphic sequences.
Keywords- Wavelet transform; well logging; stratigraphic
sequence; dmey
I. INTRODUCTION
High resolution sequence stratigraphy analysis is based
on the division and correlation of sequence stratigraphic
units of the three order sequence, which can be provide fine
stratigraphic framework for the study of sedimentary system
and reservoir and seal. Limited to the current research status,
low resolution of seismic data, lacking of drilling and coring
data. Based on the limited research data, using well logging
data to divide sequence stratigraphy became the first choice.
Logging data has the characteristics of high vertical
resolution and good continuity, which contains abundant
geological information, is a reflection of a certain physical
parameters of formation change with depth, thus is favorable
recognition based on the analysis of high resolution sequence
stratigraphy. But the sequence division especially sequence
unit division of high precision greatly influenced by
subjective factors. Using the traditional manual method is
not only time-consuming and laborious, but the results are
easily affected by the knowledge, experience and proficiency
of staff. It is difficult to form an objective and unified
scheme with traditional manual method. And automatic
stratification can avoid these situations.
Wavelet analysis is a time - frequency analysis method,
which is different from Fu Liye transform in frequency
domain analysis. Wavelet analysis is known as the
978-1-4799-6023-1/15 $31.00 © 2015 IEEE 18
DOI 10.1109/CICT.2015.17
“mathematical microscope” due to its multi-resolution and
multi-scale analysis property. The signal can be decomposed
into a variety of different channels and frequency
components, or can be decomposed into different scale
components. So we can use the multi-scale analysis of well
logging data to get the low and high frequency signals, and
demarcation of sequence stratigraphy. In the analysis and
processing of signals using wavelet theory, different scholars
have different opinions on how to select the wavelet base.
And selecting different wavelet basis for processing the same
signal will have a totally different results. Through
theoretical analysis and experimental comparison, combined
with the characteristics of logging signal, wavelet dmey is
chosen for the cycle classification of logging curve. And the
method has well applied in the analysis of real data.
II. WAVELET BASE SELECTION
Well logging signal contains a lot of noise signal, and the
effective signal is hidden in the background noise. Therefore
the selection of wavelet basis function which is applied to the
logging signal characteristics is the primary task.
In the process of signal by wavelet analysis, the well-
known wavelet include: Haar ǃ Daubechies ǃ Coiflets ǃ
SymletsǃBiorthgonalǃMorletǃMeyer and Mexican hat
and so on.
Each has a different wavelet function and scale function
expressions, orthogonality, compact support characteristics.
And in theory, the wavelet function which be selected should
be smooth, compact support, symmetry and vanishing
moments and so on. Compactly supported ensure excellent
local spatial properties; symmetry to ensure filtering wavelet
with linear phase shift which will not cause signal distortion;
the level of smoothness will effect the resolution of
frequency; the numbers of vanishing moments reflect the
degree of concentration of energy. But the properties cannot
be satisfied simultaneously, compact support is incompatible
with smoothness. If the wavelet with highly smoothness, the
length of the wavelet support will increase, and vise versa.
The orthogonality and the symmetry cannot be guaranteed at
the same time. Therefore, the most suitable wavelet base
should be selected to process logging data.
The amount of information of the signal in the practical
application is too many and it is too hard to find the
appropriate mode. This article analyzes the characteristics of sedimentary environment. This also reflects the objectivity of
eight kinds of commonly used wavelet in MATLAB (Tab.1). wavelet transform in sedimentary cycle division. Therefore,
we should choose a well of higher accuracy and better
Table 1. Wavelet types and properties quality curve for wavelet transform, then do the division of
the sedimentary cycle.
wavelet Representation Orthogonality Biorthogonality
Haar haar yes yes IV. PROCESSING STEPS
Daubechies dbN yes yes
(1)Reading the logging data.
Biorthgonal biorNr.Nd no yes
Coiflets coif yes yes The logging data are sampling in the equal distance, so
Symlets symN yes yes only need the abscissa of logging signals when reading
Morlet morl no no logging data.
Mexican mexh no no (2)Removing abnormal data
hat There are always some invalid data in the logging data,
Meyey meyr yes yes
wavelet Representation Compact Symmetry which will have a negative impact on the final result. The
support abnormal points are usually at the ends of the logging curve.
Haar haar yes Symmetric (3)The discrete wavelet transform
Daubechies dbN yes Approximate Deal the processed data by one-dimensional discrete
Symmetry
wavelet transform, and obtain the low frequency curve data.
Biorthgonal biorNr.Nd yes Asymmetric
Coiflets coif yes Approximate (4)The turning point matrix
Symmetry Calculate the turning point matrix of the discrete data after
Symlets symN yes Approximate
Symmetry
decomposing. As a (i − 1 ), a (i ), a (i + 1 ) represent three
Morlet morl no Symmetric
Mexican mexh no Symmetric points which are adjacent to the GR(P,N,Q), If these three
hat
Meyey meyr no Symmetric points satisfied the following inequalities, then take the point
P as the turning point.
For abnormal signals of the edge jump, symmetric
wavelet exhibits a maximum value and symmetric wavelet ­a (i − 1) ≤ a (i ) ­a (i − 1) ≥ a (i )
presents zero. And the abnormal signals on the peak jump is ® ®
exactly the opposite of the situation. So we should choose ¯a (i ) ≥ a (i + 1) or ¯a (i ) ≤ a (i + 1)
the anti-symmetric wavelet function when detecting the edge (5) Sequence division
of signals, and the symmetric wavelet function should be Finally carry on the sequence division of logging curve.
choosed at peak detection . That will eliminate Daubechies, Computing the Euclidean distance between the turning
Biorthgonal, Coiflets and Symlets wavelet. The time points and the adjacent points in the matrix M, obtain the
localization ability of Haar wavelet is very strong, and the distance matrix D.
frequency localization ability is weak. But the processing of 1
logging signals is in the frequency domain, So the Haar
§ p (i,k )−M (i+1,k ) 2·
2
wavelet does not meet the requirements. d (i ) = ¨ ¦ M ¸
© k =1 ¹
The wavelet function must have smooth performance in
practical application for the requirements of the convenience
of analysis and compute, but smooth contradicts with
compact support. Calculating the maximum value in matrix D which
Only the wavelet functions which satisfy orthogonality including m values. And the longitudinal coordinates of
can be used to do multi-scale and multi-resolution analysis. these points are the division points corresponding to the m+1
Therefore after the analysis of each wavelet function layers . The division work is completed on the well logging
properties, we choose the Meyer function as the wavelet to curves.
process discrete transform on logging data.
III. LOGGING SELECTION
Selection logging is also an important step. The different
curves have different geological meanings, representing
different stratigraphic response. But comparing the curves of
SP, GR and RES to the transform results of wavelet, it can
be found that, the different loggings get the transformation
results are similar in shape. This is because that the change
of different parameters in the stratum is mainly affected by
the sedimentary environment. These parameters will be
showing consistent cyclicity with cycle changes of

19

Figure 1. Wavelet analysis process
V. APPLICATION
According to the principles and research procedures
mentioned before, we selected the Lower Cretaceous of the
Tarim basin as the research object. The H16 well is located
in the north of Tarim basin , the tectonic position is relatively
stable, the lithology is interbeded Sandstone and Mudstone.
This paper uses dmey wavelet, does the wavelet transform
on the logging curves. Compare the results of different cures
transformation, it can be seen that the cycle characters which
obtained by transformation of GR logs is obvious.
First, decomposing the logging signal into a high
frequency signal cD1 and a low frequency signal cA1
respectively, and then decomposing the signal cA1 into a
high frequency signal cD2 and a low frequency signal cA2,
and so on. This paper has carried on 10~12 times
decomposition of the signal according to the length of the
logging data. Extract the signals cD9~cD12 which represent
the low frequency part of the original curve. The low-
frequency part of the signal corresponding to the long-term
depositional cycle, can be used to determine the three order
sequence.
We can see from the experimental results(Fig.2), the
results obtained by wavelet transform of logging signal is
better coincided with that coming from the traditional
logging sequence stratigraphy.
VI. CONCLUSION
Logging data includes much geology information, is the
main data of identifying sedimentary cycles. Based on the
discrete wavelet analysis of the logging data, an effective
method of division of the sequence stratigraphic units can be
20
concluded. This paper carries the dmey wavelet transform on
the GR logging curves and gets the time-frequency
characteristic for sequence stratigraphic division with multi-
scale.
By the application of this method to real data analysis, it
can reduce the influence of human factors, improve the
accuracy of the sequence stratigraphy and the efficiency of
the division.
VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work was supported by the “rixin talent” cultivation
project of Being University of Technology.(Grant
No.007000543114532).
REFERENCES
[1] Aitken, J. F., and S. S. Flint, Variable expressions of inter fluvial
sequence boundaries in the Breathitt Group (Pennsylvanian), eastern
Kentucky, USA, in J. A. Howell, and J. F. Aitken, eds., High
resolution sequence stratigraphy: Innovations and applications:
Geological Society of London, Special Publication, 1995, : 193-206.
[2] Allen, M. B., D. I. M. Macdonald, X. Zhao, S. J. Vincet, and C.
Brouet-Menzies, Transtensional deformation in the evolution of the
Bohai Basin, northern China: Geological Society of London, Special
Publications, 1998, v135: 215-229.
[3] Andreas P, Frederik P A. Detection of sedimentary cyclicity and
stratigraphic completeness by wavelet analysis: an application to late
Alibian cyclostratigraphy of the western Canada sedimentary
basin[J]. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 1999, 69(4): 862-875.
[4] Ayhan, I., and W. Nemec, Early Miocene lacustrine deposits and
sequence stratigraphy of the Ermenek Basin, Central Taurides,
Turkey: Sedimentary Geology, 2005,v173: 233-275.
[5] Benveniste A, Nikoukhah R, Willsky A S. Multiscale system
theory[R]. In: Proc. 29th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control,
Honolulu, HI, 1990: 2484-2487.
[6] Brian S C. Sequence stratigraphy of nonmarine Jurassic - Cretaceous
rocks, central cordilleran foreland- basin system. GSA Bulletin, 1997,
109(9): 1206- 1222.
[7] Brown IM. 1997. A new method for correlation of multiple
stratigraphic sequences. Computers & Geosciences, 23(5):697-700.
[8] Bruhn R, Steel R J. High- resolution sequence stratigraphy of a clastic
foredeep succession (Paleocene, Spitsbergen): An example of
peripheral- bulge- controlled deposition architecture. Journal of
Sedimentary Research, 2003, 73(5): 745- 755
[9] Cao Yingchang, Jiang Zaixing, Xia Bin, Wang
Jufeng&WangWeidong. 2003a. Some methods for identifying
sequenceboundaries and condensation sections using well logging.
Journal of the University ofPetroleum, 27 (2):23-26.
[10] Cao Yingchang, Jiang Zaixing, Xia Bin, Yang Weili&Zhang Jiazhen.
2003b. Method, principle and example of identifying sequence
stratigraphical boundary using sonic logging. Acta Sedimentologica
Sinica, 21(2):318-322.
[11] Chen Maoshan. 1999. Two novel depthdomain frequency
spectrumanalysis method for logging data and their application to
sequence stratigraphy research. Oil Geophysical Prospecting,
34(1):57 -64.
[12] Daniel J M, Kenneth A E. Sequence stratigraphy of Upper
Mississippian strata in the central appalachians: A record of
glacioeustasy and tectonoeustasy in a foreland basin setting. AAPG
Bulletin, 2000, 84(2): 210- 233.
Figure2. Division of sequence units use dmey wavelet analysis

21