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How to characterize fractures in reservoirs using borehole and core

images: case studies

D. H A L L E R 1 & F. P O R T U R A S 2
1Elf Petroleum Norge as, P.O. Box 168, N-4001 Stavanger, Norway
2 Western Atlas Logging Services, P.O. Box 953, N-4040 Hafrsfjord, Norway

Abstract: Microconductivity array and acoustic imaging of the borehole wall provide
valuable multidatasets which are used to characterize the geological strata and especially the
reservoirs in exploration activities and during development of producing zones. This paper
presents a tutorial of the main applications and a methodology to follow when performing
fracture interpretation. Borehole image interpretation should not be a routine work
referring to 'a cook book'. It must rely on our geological and structural knowledge and
experience, on basic notions about tool principles and image processing, and on geometrical
calibrations to cores. Vatious examples will be given, showing:
(a) natural fractures; how to distinguish them from drilling-induced fractures;
(b) typical drilling-induced fractures and borehole breakouts; how to identify them;
(c) a tricky case where cemented fractures might be confused with open ones.
The match between interpretation of borehole images and production data appears now
to be the most efficient way to manage fractures in reservoirs.

Fractures may affect reservoir behaviour in a
drastic way. When open, they act as pathways
for hydrocarbon production and may even
transform a very low permeability reservoir into
a highly productive zone. When cemented, they
act as barriers to hydrocarbon flow, hindering
the motion of hydrocarbons toward the well. In
the case of a fault being sealed, either due to clay
smearing, cementation or cataclasis, it can lead
to compartmentalization of the reservoir with
different pressure regimes, water tables or even
fluid types in each individual panel.
Therefore, identification and characterization
of fractures have been always a major concern
for reservoir geologists.
All the information about fractures comes
from wells. Fractures can be either observed
directly on cores or inferred from wireline or
production logs. Fracture detection from wire-
line logs has always been something speculative,
until the middle of the eighties, when high
resolution borehole images broke through on
the market. They opened a new perspective for
fracture characterization in reservoirs and gave
birth to a new geological discipline: the ability to
identify fractures and to characterize them,
especially with regard to their influence on the
reservoir behaviour. This requires both experi-
ence with fractures, based on field work and
rock mechanics, and good understanding of the
physical principles governing the functioning of
the logging tool. In other words, this discipline is
not a simple exercise based on cookery books; it
belongs to the world of geological interpreta-
tion, which can always provide tricky cases,
where a quick-look interpretation seems so
obvious but which may be proven to be
definitely wrong.
This will be elaborated on, based on several
case study interpretations of high resolution
borehole images dealing with fractures. All of
them are taken from wells drilled in the
Norwegian Continental Shelf.
Not all the presented cases display phenom-
ena of prime importance for the considered case
study, but they all deal with problems which
might be fundamental in other circumstances.
Fracture characterization using well data
through the past
Fracture identification and characterization was
first conducted on cores, because cores are an
ideal medium to observe fractures, where one
can easely see if they are open or healed with
diagenetic minerals or alternatively smeared or
injected with sedimentary material. It is possible
to measure the open width of the fractures and
sometimes to observe slickenslides on their
planes, which can indicate direction of tectonic
motion. One can try to define fracturation
frequency, based on simple mathematical means.

HALLER,D. & PORTURAS,F. 1998. How to characterize fractures in reservoirs using borehole and 249
core images: case studies In: HARVEY,P. K. 8z LOVELL,M. A. (eds) Core-Log Integration,
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 136, 249-259
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250 D. HALLER & F. PORTURAS

But what remains more difficult to define is
their orientation, since the orientation of the
core itself is not preserved when bringing the
corebarrel to the surface. In the past, a specific
technique has been implemented in order to
determine orientations of the fractures. For each
segment of core pieces which could be matched
together, all geological elements, both bedding
and fractures, were oriented. This was achieved
by 'unrolling' the core surface and plotting this
elements on a stereonet. The re-orientation of
the fractures was obtained by two consecutive
rotations on stereonet, the criteria being to fit
the bedding measured on cores with the bedding
attitude deduced from dipmeter log. This
technique was laborious, rather inaccurate, and
it had its own limitations, when bedding could
not be observed (e.g. massive limestones) or
when bedding is perpendicular to the borehole axis.
In a more general way, studies on cores have
their own limitations too. Most of the time the
reservoir is not cored entirely and by no means
all wells are cored. Moreover, in the case of the
well intersecting a fracture corridor, the core
recovery might be drastically affected by lack of
coherence of the rock. It therefore ends up with
the situation where the zone of highest interest
for fracture analysis is lost for observation.
Besides cores, indirect means have also been
used to identify fractures acting significantly in
the drainage of a reservoir, such as identification
of mud losses, open-hole injectivity tests with
flow-meter and temperature surveys, pressure
transient analysis, all three of which allow
definition of the producing fractures, in the case
of a low permeability matrix ( H a l l e r & Hamon
1993).
However, it has always been evident that some
specific tools were needed to achieve proper
observation of fractures in reservoirs. But
fracture intersection by a borehole being most
of the time less than a centimetre thick, is really
a tough challenge for logging tools, whose
resolution is most of the time above one
centimetre. Besides the array acoustic tools
whose processing of Stonely waves allows
location of fracture zones but not the orientation
of the fractures, it is obvious that only high-
resolution tools can really identify the elemen-
tary fractures. Therefore, the first attempts to
identify fractures were made using conventional,
four, six or eight electrode dipmeter recordings.
Erratic peaks observed on one track with no
lithological continuity on the other tracks were
considered to correspond to fracture intersection
and it was tempting to identify them automati-
cally, the aim being the definition of fracture
intensity. This approach was considered to be
unreliable and anyway did not provide any
orientation.
So, when the borehole images appeared on the
market, it was as if the geologist had gained the
capacity for 'seeing' the fractures inside the
reservoirs. These tools blended the characteris-
tics required: high resolution retative to fracture
size and high sampling density in giving an
image of the borehole wall which allows the
orientation of the fractures to be determined.
Description of the new imaging tools
There are two main types of tool for acquisition
of images, one based on microconductivity
arrays and the other on acoustic imaging
methods, both providing imagery of high
resolution in the order of millimetres. Both
types of tool currently operate on single passes
and are equipped with similar orientation units,
such as accelerometers and magnetometers
which give navigation data for proper fracture
geometrical orientation.
The microconductivity array tools can carry
between 16 and 32 buttons which are mounted
on pad carriers, with 4, 6 or 8 arms. The amount
of data acquired is huge and has influenced
further development of new telemetry and data

Fig. 1. Example of natural open fractures developing in a brittle carbonate cemented layer (example 1). The FMI image
(left-hand) shows mainly two steeply dipping conductive fractures (in black), whose extent stops sharply at the edge of
the carbonate layer. This is typical of a fracture developing in a brittle layer interbedded with less porous brittle rocks.
Interpretation of these fractures as natural open ones is sensible. Unrolled core photograph (right-hand) zoomed on this
carbonate layer proves that this interpretation is correct. One large natural open fracture is observed; in the fracture
plane, calcite crystals have been seen and strong hydrocarbon shows have been reported, indicating that this fractures
acted as hydrocarbon pathways through this tight level.

Fig. 2. Example of natural open fractures developing in a brittle carbonate rock (example 2). The CBIL amplitude image
(left-hand) and core-like display (right-hand) show a dark sinusoidal feature at xx83.4 m (a). The minimum of the
sinusoid shows an easterly dip. The fracture was interpreted as an open one and fits well with drilling losses. Note also a
low reflective (black) fracture (b) subparallel to borehole axis, trending NNE-SSW, interpreted as a drilling-induced one.
The well is deviated and the lowside of the borehole is revealed by the marks of the previous logging tools (c). The CBIL
image was acquired in an oil-based mud.
 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016

250 D. HALLER & F. PORTURAS

But what remains more difficult to define is
their orientation, since the orientation of the
core itself is not preserved when bringing the
corebarrel to the surface. In the past, a specific
technique has been implemented in order to
determine orientations of the fractures. For each
segment of core pieces which could be matched
together, all geological elements, both bedding
and fractures, were oriented. This was achieved
by 'unrolling' the core surface and plotting this
elements on a stereonet. The re-orientation of
the fractures was obtained by two consecutive
rotations on stereonet, the criteria being to fit
the bedding measured on cores with the bedding
attitude deduced from dipmeter log. This
technique was laborious, rather inaccurate, and
it had its own limitations, when bedding could
not be observed (e.g. massive limestones) or
when bedding is perpendicular to the borehole axis.
In a more general way, studies on cores have
their own limitations too. Most of the time the
reservoir is not cored entirely and by no means
all wells are cored. Moreover, in the case of the
well intersecting a fracture corridor, the core
recovery might be drastically affected by lack of
coherence of the rock. It therefore ends up with
the situation where the zone of highest interest
for fracture analysis is lost for observation.
Besides cores, indirect means have also been
used to identify fractures acting significantly in
the drainage of a reservoir, such as identification
of mud losses, open-hole injectivity tests with
flow-meter and temperature surveys, pressure
transient analysis, all three of which allow
definition of the producing fractures, in the case
of a low permeability matrix ( H a l l e r & Hamon
1993).
However, it has always been evident that some
specific tools were needed to achieve proper
observation of fractures in reservoirs. But
fracture intersection by a borehole being most
of the time less than a centimetre thick, is really
a tough challenge for logging tools, whose
resolution is most of the time above one
centimetre. Besides the array acoustic tools
whose processing of Stonely waves allows
location of fracture zones but not the orientation
of the fractures, it is obvious that only high-
resolution tools can really identify the elemen-
tary fractures. Therefore, the first attempts to
identify fractures were made using conventional,
four, six or eight electrode dipmeter recordings.
Erratic peaks observed on one track with no
lithological continuity on the other tracks were
considered to correspond to fracture intersection
and it was tempting to identify them automati-
cally, the aim being the definition of fracture
intensity. This approach was considered to be
unreliable and anyway did not provide any
orientation.
So, when the borehole images appeared on the
market, it was as if the geologist had gained the
capacity for 'seeing' the fractures inside the
reservoirs. These tools blended the characteris-
tics required: high resolution retative to fracture
size and high sampling density in giving an
image of the borehole wall which allows the
orientation of the fractures to be determined.
Description of the new imaging tools
There are two main types of tool for acquisition
of images, one based on microconductivity
arrays and the other on acoustic imaging
methods, both providing imagery of high
resolution in the order of millimetres. Both
types of tool currently operate on single passes
and are equipped with similar orientation units,
such as accelerometers and magnetometers
which give navigation data for proper fracture
geometrical orientation.
The microconductivity array tools can carry
between 16 and 32 buttons which are mounted
on pad carriers, with 4, 6 or 8 arms. The amount
of data acquired is huge and has influenced
further development of new telemetry and data

Fig. 1. Example of natural open fractures developing in a brittle carbonate cemented layer (example 1). The FMI image
(left-hand) shows mainly two steeply dipping conductive fractures (in black), whose extent stops sharply at the edge of
the carbonate layer. This is typical of a fracture developing in a brittle layer interbedded with less porous brittle rocks.
Interpretation of these fractures as natural open ones is sensible. Unrolled core photograph (right-hand) zoomed on this
carbonate layer proves that this interpretation is correct. One large natural open fracture is observed; in the fracture
plane, calcite crystals have been seen and strong hydrocarbon shows have been reported, indicating that this fractures
acted as hydrocarbon pathways through this tight level.

Fig. 2. Example of natural open fractures developing in a brittle carbonate rock (example 2). The CBIL amplitude image
(left-hand) and core-like display (right-hand) show a dark sinusoidal feature at xx83.4 m (a). The minimum of the
sinusoid shows an easterly dip. The fracture was interpreted as an open one and fits well with drilling losses. Note also a
low reflective (black) fracture (b) subparallel to borehole axis, trending NNE-SSW, interpreted as a drilling-induced one.
The well is deviated and the lowside of the borehole is revealed by the marks of the previous logging tools (c). The CBIL
image was acquired in an oil-based mud.
 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016

252 D. HALLER & F. PORTURAS

transfer systems. The image coverage around the some intervals.

borehole varies with the bitsize of the drill. The
basic operating principle of the tools consist in
applying an alternating exciting voltage between
the top electrode and the imaging electrodes
located on the arms of the tool. An electric
current proportional to the formation conduc-
tivity flows through the formation and is
measured by each electrode (Serra 1989; Safinya
et al. 1991). A few tools have extra built-in
powered standoffs to maximize sensor-to-wall
contact and centralization, particularly when
operating in highly deviated wells.
The acoustic imaging tools are mostly using
rotating transducers and are operating in a
pulse-echo mode, allowing simultaneous acqui-
sition of both amplitude and travel time to the
borehole wall. This scanner rotates from 6 to 12
revolutions per second and provides a full
coverage of the borehole wall, regardless of the
borehole diameter. Furthermore the travel time
image represents an ultra sensitive 360 degrees
borehole caliper. The diameter of the rotating
transducers varies from 0.6 to 5cm. Acoustic
tools have the advantage of operating also in oil-
based mud, but they require low to moderate
mud density because the solids in heavy muds
hamper the ultrasonic wave propagation.
A new generation of integrated imaging tools
record the two images in one pass, by simulta-
neous electrical and acoustic illumination of the
borehole wall. These integrated tools acquire
twice as much information and provide a much
more comprehensive borehole description of the
formation.
Case studies
Example 1. Identification of natural open
fractures on Fullbore Microlmager (FMI)*
The first example is taken from a development
well drilled in the Brent Middle Jurassic
sandstone reservoir located in the Viking Gra-
ben. Inside the reservoir, carbonated layers have
been encountered and the question has been
raised concerning their barrier efficiency as far as
production concerned. F M I logging having been
run in this well, the analysis was carried out on
these images, supported by core observation for
On the F M I image (Fig. 1), it is observed that
steep dipping conductive fractures develop in-
side the carbonated layer. One particular point
to be noticed is that fractures stop sharply at the
limits of the carbonated layer. This recalls field
observations where brittle layers interbedded
within more ductile rocks show the development
of natural fractures, which very often terminate
sharply at the boundary of the brittle layer.
These fractures being conductive, they are
assumed to be open and invaded by drilling
fluid, which is more conductive than the rock
matrix. Based on this observation, interpretation
of these fractures as natural open ones is
sensible.
This interpretation is supported and con-
firmed by core observation. On the cores,
natural open fractures are observed in front of
these conductive fractures seen on the FMI.
Figure 1 displays an unrolled photograph of the
core surface, which bears strong similarities to
the F M I image, the only difference between
them being the fact that the pictures are not
taken in exactly the same spatial location; the
F M I picture is taken along the borehole wall
plus a certain distance due to electrical penetra-
tion (approx. 2.5 cm), while the core picture has
a smaller radius. In the example displayed in
Fig. 1, an open fracture is observed on core,
which stops sharply at the boundary of the
carbonated layer. Inside the fracture plane,
calcite crystallization is present, showing that
this is clearly a natural fracture. Even more
importantly, hydrocarbon shows are observed
along the fracture plane, indicating that these
fractures act as hydrocarbon pathways through
this tight level. As natural open fractures are
observed in several of the carbonate layers, it is
clear that these tight layers are fractured and will
not act as tight barriers during production, but
will only degrade the vertical permeability.
Example 2. Identification of natural open
fractures on Circumferential Borehole Ima-
ging Log (CBIL)**
This example comes from a deviated well and
the image is taken from the overburden (Cretac-

Fig. 3. Drilling-induced features observed on FMI (a, b; example 3) and CBIL (c, d; example 4). Conductive en-bchelon
fractures, observed on FMI in the upper part of 3a, are developed rather extensively along the whole logged reservoir
with a very constant E-W orientation. They are similar to the drilling-induced fractures illustrated on Fig. 4a. A more
continuous vertical fracture, branching at bed boundaries, observed on CBIL 3c, can be interpreted in the same way. The
large conductive (black) bands observed in the lower part of 3a and b, with small scale rock chips, recall breakouts due to
the present-day stress regime, as illustrated on Fig. 4b. They are oriented N-S. On the CBIL image (3d), breakouts
appear as dark bands, due to the borehole ovalization, the ultrasonic tool working as an ultra sensitive caliper.
Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016

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 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016
254 D. HALLER & F. PORTURAS
eous limestones). Here a CBIL imager was
logged, because this well was drilled with oil-
based mud. Hydrocarbon shows were recorded
in a 20m thick interval and since no core had
been cut, borehole imaging was the only way for
investigating the origin of the shows.
The picture presented on Fig. 2 displays a
natural fracture revealed by a dark sinusoidal
feature, due to low acoustic impedance along the
fracture. This open fracture fits well with drilling
losses, recorded at this depth. Therefore it is
believed that the hydrocarbon flows through
open fractures, the matrix being almost tight.
Example 3. Evidences of drilling-induced
features on FMI image
The emergence of high resolution borehole
imagers has led to the awareness of the effects
of drilling on the borehole wall integrity, which
previously were either ignored or poorly de-
scribed. Identification of drilling-induced frac-
tures is a vital challenge, because they can be
mistaken for natural fractures and lead to a
completely false estimation of the reservoir
potential.
The given example is taken from a wildcat
drilled in the Viking Graben, with the Brent
Middle Jurassic sandstone as a primary objec-
tive. An F M I image was acquired in this
interval.
O n t h e FMI picture, conductive fractures are
extensively developed, with a constant orienta-
tion. They often show a typical en-&helon
pattern (Fig. 3a), which recalls drilling-induced
fractures described as 'petal fractures'. This type
of fracture has been reported in cores taken in
quartzites of Alberta, Canada (Fig. 4a), where
fractures seen at the surface of the core do not
fully penetrate it, demonstrating that they are
induced by coring. It is commonly considered
that these drilling-induced fractures develop
when the hydrostatic pressure within the well-
bore exceeds the hoop stresses around the hole
and that they occur in the direction of the
maximum normal stress (Lehne & Aadnoy
1992).
Another type of drilling-induced features is
also present in this example. On Fig. 3a below
xxl0 and on Fig. 3b, borehole breakouts are
clearly observed. They are revealed by reciprocal
(180 degrees) conductive stripes, due to the
accumulation of drilling mud in the extremities
of the ovalized borehole.
This phenomenon of breakouts has been
studied by rock mechanics experiments under
anisotropic stress conditions (Fig. 4b), and it has
been shown that these features develop along the
direction of minimum normal stress.
So the orientations of drilling-induced frac-
tures and borehole breakouts are directly con-
trolled by the in situ stress regime, with an
orthogonal relationship (Fig. 4c).
Example 4. Evidence of drilling-induced
features on a CBIL image
This example is from the same geographical area
as example 3. Both drilling-induced fractures
(Fig. 3c) and borehole breakouts (Fig. 3d) are
observed. Drilling-induced fractures here pre-
sent a continuous shape, which is more classic,
and their orientation is consistent with the one
observed in the previous example. Borehole
breakouts appear as dark bands, due to borehole
ovalization, the tool working as an ultra
sensitive caliper.
Example 5. Example of fracture identifica-
tion on a FMI Image
The following example illustrates the problems
that an interpreter can face. It is taken from a
deep exploration well drilled in the Viking
Graben with the Brent Middle Jurassic sand-
stones as target.
First, the left hand image displays large
fractures subparallel to the borehole axis (Fig.
5). Their interpretation as natural cemented
fractures is unambiguous, since these fractures
display resistive (white) traces. More equivocal is
the conductive (black) halo observed at each top
and bottom of the sine wave defining the
fracture plane, but this feature is in fact typical
of cemented fractures.
Secondly, the right-hand side image deals with
conductive fractures, whose interpretation is
more difficult. These fractures could have been
considered as natural open ones, which may
represent a major challenge for enhanced
production, since the gas-bearing reservoir was
found tight. Nevertheless they were interpreted
as drilling-induced fractures, relying on their
morphology and on the fact that they present a
constant orientation, parallel to the direction of
the maximum normal stress, as deduced from
other wells in the same area.
A drill-stem test was conducted in front of this
interval, but did not flow, which tends to prove
that the interpretation is correct.
Example 6. Clay smear&g associated with a
normal fault observed on a CBIL image
This example is taken from an exploration well
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HOW TO CHARACTERIZE FRACTURES IN RESERVOIRS 255

Fig. 5. Example of fracture interpretation based on FMI image (example 5). The left-hand picture reveals natural
cemented fractures. They appear as resistive (white) features, with a typical conductive halo at the tops and
bottoms of the sine wave figuring the fracture plane. The right-hand picture exhibits conductive (black) fractures.
They are interpreted as drilling-induced ones since they have a consistent orientation, parallel to the direction of
maximal normal stress, which is deduced from other wells of the same area (like the one shown in Fig. 3a,b).

drilled offshore Mid-Norway, with a water- sediments show a fault drag pattern.
based mud of moderate density. Notice that the edge enhanced CBIL image
On the CBIL image (Fig. 6), is a low acoustic (righ-hand) shows all events as dark sinusoids
impedance (dark) feature with high dip at , regardless of their nature. Edge enhancement is
xx33.5m, cutting through the sandstone. This currently used as a complementary interpreta-
is interpreted as a normal fault. Note the 25 cm tion technique.
thick dark infill of the fault, which is believed to
be the clay smearing, a heterogeneity which
might control transmissibility of the fault. The Example 7. Equivocal resistive response of
enhanced CBIL image (right-hand) assists in cemented fractures on a F M I image
highlighting the fault plane. The arrow-plot
(left-hand track) shows the results of the CBIL This example is taken from a production well of
interpretation, where the fault plane and asso- a field located in the Viking Graben, with gas
ciated fractures have a consistent direction. reservoir in the Brent Middle Jurassic sand-
Furthermore, the tadpoles in the overlying stones. The selected image is a dynamic normal-
 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016

256 D. H A L L E R & F. PORTURAS

Fig. 6. Example of clay smearing associated with a normal fault (example 6). The CBIL image shows a steep
dipping fault at xx33.5 m cutting through the sandstones. The fault appears to be wide and of low acoustic
impedance (dark) due to a 25 cm thick clay smear of the fault plane. The edge enhanced image (right-hand side)
highlights this fault plane. The arrow plot (left-hand track) resulting from the interpretation shows the orientation
of the fault and associated fractures and displays a drag-fault geometry within the above-lying series.
Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016

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258 D. HALLER & F. PORTURAS

Fig. 9. Example of a CBIL image showing the benefits of having fullbore coverage available as opposed to
conventional dipmeter logs (example 9). The arrow plot alone shows an apparent drag which might be interpreted
as being associated with a fault. Both dynamic normalized and edge enhanced images instead show a sedimentary
structure. Furthermore, notice truncation surfaces at xx42.5 m, and very thin laminated beds. Vertical light stripes
are due to marks produced during previous logging operations and also by the metallic blades from the upper
centralizer of the dipmeter tool, which were scraping the mudcake.
 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on March 4, 2016
HOW TO CHARACTERIZE FRACTURES IN RESERVOIRS
ized display and shows fractures in the reservoir
a r o u n d the g a s - w a t e r c o n t a c t located at
xx00.2m (Fig. 7). In the gas-bearing section,
fractures appear conductive and might be
mistaken for open fractures. In the water-wet
section, they show a resistive facies indicative of
cemented fractures. One core taken in the gas-
bearing zone revealed silica cemented fractures.
So the apparently conductive fractures ob-
served in the gas zone are in fact cemented
fractures. Their misleading conductive facies is
due to the fact that the image is dynamically
normalized; the fractures are in fact resistive, but
the matrix is even more resistive due to the very
high gas content. Conversely, on a static
normalized image, the whole gas-bearing zone
appears blank.
This example argues for a combined use of
dynamic normalized images, where the best
contrast is present, and static normalized
images, where the exact resistivity of the
geological features can be ascertained.
Example 8. Example o f a fault identified on
a F M I image
This example is taken from the same production
well as example 7. This well crosses a fault,
cutting away about 80 m of the uppermost
reservoir section. The FMI image was utilized in
order to identify and orientate this fault.
On the dynamic normalized image (Fig. 8,
left-hand), the identification of the fault is
ambiguous. It is crystal clear on the static
normalized image (Fig. 8, right-hand), which
allows definition of the strike and dip of the fault
plane. This is due to the fact that the static
normalized display captures the strong resistivity
contrasts between the conductive shales and the
very resistive gas-bearing sandstones.
The well was sidetracked as a consequence of
this interpretation, avoiding this fault, and it
found a complete reservoir section.
Example 9. Benefits of having images with
fullbore coverage
Conventional dipmeter analysis alone can be
rather ambiguous especially when based only on
computed tadpoles. If interpreting only the
259
arrow plot (Fig. 9, left-hand track), the tadpoles
with decreasing dip at xx43 m could be inter-
preted as drag fold associated with a normal
fault. Full coverage CBIL image (Fig. 9, center)
refutes this, showing clearly that the dip pattern
reflects a sedimentary structure. Interpretation is
made easier by the use of the edge enhancement
display. The reliability of a dipmeter interpreta-
tion is greatly enhanced by the use of borehole
images.
Conclusions
The use of high resolution borehole imagers has
led to a revolution for reservoir geologists, who
now have an insight into the reservoir. It is now
possible for them to discriminate between
natural open fractures, cemented ones, and
drilling-induced features. The main improve-
ment is that it is now easy to orientate all these
geological features. As a matter of fact, match-
ing borehole image interpretations with produc-
tion data appears to be the most efficient way to
manage fractures in reservoirs.
It is a pleasure to thank Elf Petroleum Norge and
Statoil for allowing the borehole images to be used.
The use of * throughout denotes a Mark of
Schlumberger and ** denotes a Mark of Western
Atlas Logging Services.
References
HALLER, D. & HAMON,G. 1993. Meillon-Saint Faust
gas field, Aquitaine basin: structural re-evaluation
aids understanding of water invasion. In: PARKER,
J. R. (ed.) Petroleum Geology of NW Europe,
Proceedings of the 4'h Conference. Geological
Society, London, 1519-1526.
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