Resistivity and Induction Log

REVISION
Gamma Ray Log
Vsh (%) GR Value(Log) −GR min
=
GR max− GR min
 Introduction
• The resistivity log: measure formation resistivity
i.e resistance to passage of an electric current
(laterolog)
• Conductivity : measure formation conductivity
(the ability to conduct an electric current
induction log)
• Most rock material are essentially insulator ;
the present of fluid (conductive or resistive).
• A porous formation with salty water ; low
resistivity.
• A porous formation with HC ; high resistivity.
 Basic Theory
Resistance increases with length, decreases as cross-sectional area
increases
R = ra/L (ohm-meters2/meter)

r = resistivity
a = area
L = length
R = resistance

The resistivity of a substance is a measure of its ability to impede

the flow of electrical current.

Resistivity is the key to hydrocarbon saturation determination.

Porosity gives the volume of fluids but does not indicate which fluid is
occupying that pore space.
Current can only pass through
the water in the formation,
hence the resistivity depend on :
1. Resistivity of the formation
water.
2. Amount of water present.
3. Pore structure.
 Earth resistivity and conductivity

• Resistivity is unit of ohms (Ω) m2/m ; being

resistance with normalized dimensions.
• To measure resistivity, 2 type of test can be done:
• A current is passed between two electrodes on a
logging tool and the potential drop between them
provide resistivity; direct measurement
• A current is induced in the formation around the
borehole and the capacity to carry the current is
observed; indirect measurement
 2 1x1000
Resistivity (ohms m /m) =
conductivity (milliohms / m)

• A normal rocks consist not just of rock

materials, but also voids or pore.
• Pores space principally filled with water in
subsurface term (but HC may also filled the
pores space).
• Conductivity is essentially restricted to formation waters,
which varies from fresh to saline, salinity increase along
depth.
Rock Resistivity – Formation Resistivity Factor “F”
• Rock texture, geometry of pores and pore connections play important
roles in determination of rock resistivity ; formation resistivity factor
(F).
• Rock has large inhibiting effect ; F >>>
• F and porosity show a consistent relationship
• F influenced by grain shape
• In petrophysics, it is necessary to quantify the relationship between F
and porosity.
• F is usually between 5 and 500, higher number indicating a greater
effect due to formation.
• Porous sandstone has F=10, a poorly permeable limestone has value
300 – 400.
• F is dimensionless Ro = FxRw
• F is an independent element in the expression of rock resistivity
• F is not depend on formation fluid salinity.
• F is the ratio of formation resistivity to the resistivity of
the fluid which it contain.
Resistivity (conductivity) of clays
• F no longer constant
• Clays conducts electricity in two ways; through
pore water and clay it self.
• Clay consists of stacked silicate layers which in the
presence of water, become negatively charged.
• Clay is like an inverted electric cable ; absorbed
water & bounded water
• The capacity of clays to conduct electricity varies
between clay species and seems to depend on
the surface area available in the clay ; cation
exchange capacity (CEC).
 CEC : Cation Exchange Capacity

Montmorillonite has greater specific surface area has greater CEC

compare to other type of clay minerals.
• The conductivity behavior of clays in clay-sand
mixtures is complex:
• Bound water ; formation fluid
• Higher resistivity of formation fluids, the greater
the current carried by the shale.
• In oil zones ; formation fluid have very high resistivity,
the clay are conductive, resistivities in oil saturation
shaly sand may be quite low.
Factors that affect resistivity
Zones of Invasion and Resistivity
 Jh
Department of Petroleu
Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Bui
 Resistivity profile variations

• Variation in resistivity borehole depend on the

mixing of two fluids, mud filtrate and
formation fluid.
• Essentially, three types of mud are used; salt-
water mud, fresh-water mud, and oil based
mud.
 Oil (Hydrocarbon) zone resistivity profiles

• Mud filtrate will replace oil and gas immediately

around the borehole, essentially replacing them
through the flushed zone, while the original
saturation in HC is only found in the virgin
formation.
• Rxo (moderate high); Rt (extremely high)
• Resistivity increase away from the borehole, deeper
into the formation.
• Shallow log; read the flushed zone, showing less
resistivity compare to deep log
• The separation between shallow and deep tools curves is
a diagnostic of hydrocarbons ; “hydrocarbon separation”
• Use as a quick look technique to find HC need to verify
with calculation since curve separation can be caused by
fresh water and many HC zone do not give any obvious
separation between shallow and deep.
• In practice, the behaviour of fluids in a drill
encountered HC zone is not simple.
• Theoretically there is a differential rate of
flushing of formation water and of oil or gas
by mud filtrate.
• Create a zone where there is high volume of
formation water with only residual
hydrocarbons low resistivity annulus on the
outer fringe of the flushed zone.
Remigration of HC to flushed zone:
• From the reading of MSFL (Microspherically Focused Log)
• Normally showing highly permeable reservoir

Prepared by:
Oil based mud resistivity profiles
• Used in order to stop water loss
• Good lubricant and reduces drilling time considerably
• The oil filtrate will mix with the HC in HC zone, while
water filtrate will be immiscible.
• The oil filtrate caused difficulty in identifying
invasion in oil zone
• High resistivity will be recorded close to the
borehole in water zone.
• When using oil based mud, the invasion behavior
monitoring can not be done by standard resistivity log
(laterolog), it only can be measured by array induction
log.
:
Rider, 2002
 Resistivity Logging
There are two types of resistivity logging tools:
• Laterolog tools send a current from electrodes on the
logging tool, through the formation, to a return
electrode located either at surface or downhole.
– Laterolog tools need a conductive path between the logging tool
and the formation
• Induction tools generate current loops in the formation
and measure the strength of the electromagnetic signal
created by these current loops.
– Induction tools do not require a conductive path in the borehole.
They work in oil-base muds and air-filled holes.
Basic Resistivity tool types
Laterolog Logging Tools Induction Logging Tools
 Laterolog vs. Induction Current Path
Borehole Logging Tool

Invaded
Laterolog Response
Zone

Uninvaded
Zone

Induction Response
Laterolog
Current is forced
through the mud
into the formation
Dual Laterolog Measurement

LLD: deep measurement,

currect returns to
surface.

LLS: shallow measurement,

current returns to the
tool itself.
Laterolog Shallow (LLS)

A2

280 Hz
Current
Source A1
Bucking Current

M2
Monitoring
Loop
M1

Measure Current
A0
Laterolog Deep (LLD)

35 Hz Current
LCM Module
Fish

Bucking Current
A2
35 Hz
Aux Mon.
Loop A1*
Bucking Current A1

M2
Monitoring
Loop M1

Measure Current A0
Laterolog invasion effects
Laterolog

Schlumberger
Laterolog invasion effects
Ra = VRm(Rm) + VRmc(Rmc) + Vrxo(Rxo) + VRt(Rt)

Rmc

RXO

Rt

Rm
 Prepared by:
Jhonny S.T., M.Sc
Department of Petroleum Engineering
Faculty of Engineering, Technology and Built Environment,
UCSI University
Inductions Log
AIT
AIT-H Stand-Off Positioning
Induction
 Operating Range
./ 0.1 to 2000 ohmm
./ Moderate Rxo < Rt
./ Rt/Rm <100 (with hole diameter considered)
./ Large diameter holes with moderate Rt/Rm
and moderate Rt
 Induction response errors

• Skin effect & Mutual Inductance

• Borehole effect
• Cave effect
• Shoulder effect
• Invasion effects
1/Ra = 1/(VRm(Rm)) + 1/(VRmc(Rmc)) + 1/(Vrxo(Rxo)) + 1/(VRt(Rt))

Rmc

Rxo

Rt

Rm
Induction Resistivity in Deviated
Wells
Shallow
Resistivity Relative dip angle
Deep Resistivity

low relative high relative

dip angle dip angle
 LATEROLOG VERSUS
INDUCTION Laterolog Induction
OBM no yes
*It is possible if some conditions are
met:
Salt water mud yes possible in
Hole is small and in gauge. small holes*
Resistivity is low (contrast Rt/Rm is
low). Fresh mud no** yes
Tool position is well known.
High resistivity yes no
**It is possible if the resistivity is high,
i.e. the contrast Rt/Rm is high. Air-filled hole no yes
***If string correction applied.
Low resistivity possible*** yes

Rt < Rxo Induction

preferred
Rt > Rxo Laterolog
preferred
 Log Characteristics

• Bed Resolution:
• The micro-resistivity tools are capable of very fine
bed resolution, the finest of all the logging tools.
• For petrophysical calculations it is important to
know the minimum bed resolution for true
formation resistivity measurement.
• Induction log give very poor bed-boundary
resolution.
 Depth of Investigation
• Logs from deep reading devices especially the
induction logs are best used for gross formation
characteristics in which individual beds are
unimportant.
• Deep reading logs should not be used for
absolute bed values or characteristic which have
rapid vertical changes (vertical anisotropy).
 Log format and scales

• The unit of resistivity logs is ohms m2/m 

ohm meter.
• Resistivity logs are plotted on a logarithmic
scale.
• Deep and shallow tool readings are plotted
side by side on the same track to allow direct
comparison.
Unwanted logging effects
Groningen Effect
• Caused by highly resistive beds
overlying the formation that is
being measured.
• This forces the deep current
into the mud column.
• This is caused by the voltage
reference (cable-torpedo)
becoming non-zero.
• LLd reads too high
• More pronounced at low
resistivity
Borehole & Invasion Effects

Ra = Vm*Rm + Vxo*Rxo + Vt*Rt

Resistivities measured in series

 Quantitative Uses

• Rock resistivity was the parameter depicted

on the first well log and it was also the first
parameter to be used quantitatively.
• To determined the water saturation (Sw).
Shc = 1 – Sw ; Shc = saturation in Hydrocarbon.
• Basic equations of petrophysics.
Ro = F x Rw
over all resistivity : formation resistivity factor x formation fluid resistivity.
 I = Ro/Rw

Resistivity index = the resistivity of rock containing

Hydrocarbon divided by the resistivity of rock with
100% water.
Thank You