Applications of the Continuous Dipmeter

an Western Canada ."j cPTbb -0/ - QS

By J. GOETZ"

ABSTRACT IJ,ICROFOCUSED
TYPE CORRELATION CURVES
Thi.s paper discusses the application of the continuous RECORDED BY THE THREE
dip meter, an instrument which not onl:3o' determines dips ELECTRODES
,,
and tops of formations but also )'ields basic information
on sedimentology and stratigraph}'. After a brief descrip-
BOREHOLE
,\
tion of the apparatus and the methods of plotting its
readings, the author explains the inteqnetat.ion of in-
FORMATION
BOUNDARY 'S .:
formation for \"arlou5 g-eologic features - reefs, sands PLANE
-
---.-
J r
)
and unconformities. All of the examples are from oil wells
in 'Vestern Canada, and the influence of the continuous
dipmeter on petroleum exploration is stressed.
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i'
\ l.

INTRODUCTION
"" (. (
~
r'

t.I: I #1I #JlI.

T is a basic physical fact that oil tend!; to migrate to
I a position above water, and that gas tends to mi-
grate above both oil and water. [t seems. therefore,
that nothing is more fundamental in oil exploration
than determining which '··..ay is up. E::isentially, this
is the purpose uf the c.ontinuoLls dip meter. However,
interspersed with the basic information as to which
wa;)! is up is a wealth of other information related
to depositiun. So the dipmetel' becomes, in addition, a
basic tool for studies of sedimentology and strati-
graphy.
*Schl1l1nberger of Canada, Calgary, Alberta.
P'igw'e 1,-The C071timwu..s Dipmetcl" Logging
Instrunumt.
I I ,
m
ELECTRODES I, lr, AND :IlL
Fignrc :1.-ScJlcmatic d1'uwing or
dipllldCl" C10'V(' disp/ne£!.-
JnC1lt.'t 08 the i7isb~wwnt CI'O~S"('S an inclim!d [ormation
bOHlldm·y.
The downhole equipment ()f the continuum, dip-
meter, illustrated in Figure 1, features three identical
set.s of electrodes mounted on ~pring-aetuated wall-
L:ontact arms. The arrns are spaced 120 degrees from
each other. The electrodes lie in a common plane per-
pendicular to the axis of the tool. A::; this system uf
electrodes passes a bed boundary, ,:.;imilal· resistivity
~ignals from each electrode are ::;ent to the .!-ill rface
and recorded on film_ If an anomaly un the curves id
caused by a bedding plane crossing the borehole at
othel- than a gO-degree angle, the anomalies on the
individual cUr\'es occur at slightly different depthH.
Figure 2 ilIusl1'ates the behaviour of the three Cllrves
at a steeply dipping bedding l)lane.
The relative displacements of th~ three curves., in
inches of borehole, are combined with hole caliper
and hole deviation data to compute the amoLlnt and
direction of formation dip. This process is performed
for many correiatable anomalies on the three res.i.!-\tiv-
ity curves.
Computed dip information is then plotted 011 H spe-
cial graph. This 'vector plotting method, illustrated in
Fig'H're 3, affords complete expression of the dip va-
riables, The plots are made on a depth seale similar
to that of the induction-electrical surveyor sonic-
gamma ray log. The base of the vector indicates the
depth in the hole at which the resistivity correlation
'''''as made. The distance frorn the left margin to the
base of the vector represents the angle of dip from
horizontal. The angular polar position of the vector
points down dip in the convention of surface mapping.
and, in keeping with convention, true north is toward
the top of the graph. The strike of the bedding plane
is thus at right angles to the dip vector.

24 The Journal of Canadian Petroleum

 __ .:=.~_ L---'- _ _ ---'---_
DLE ANGLE
,
A
l-1est: _ _
East 0
--0
Zone A
"VE
S overlying sediments. Dips in the draping beds point
Zone B
EXAMPLE
DIP: 10° N 45° E
:,'
Zone C
Figure 8.-Jlfcthod
of plotting Figun~ 4.-Schematic example of
computed dips_ dip plots.
A hypothetical cross section and the corresponding
dipmeter chart are shown in Figu1'e 4. Opposite Zone
A, the changing westerly dip is indicated by vectors
pointing west and indicating 5- to 19-degree dips. In
Zone B, the dip is a constant 9 degrees to the east.
The random dips shown in Zone C include, from the
top, 5 degrees to the north, 4 degrees east, 12 degrees
south and 9 degrees west.
INTERPRETATION
With the dipmeter results plotted, the next step is
interpretation. Just \\'hat information is obtained
from the vector plots? This question may be more
difficult than is apparent at first glance. It is true
that in some formations - for example, deep water
shales deposited belo,\-~ the wave base - the time-
equivalent bedding planes and the lithologic unit
boundaries are almost paralleL In such cases, the dip
vectors reflect structural dip.
However, in other rocks the bedding planes and
the bed boundaries may be at angular variance. Pres-
ent equipment can detect resistivity effects of beds
less than 1 inch thick. The device may respond to
changes in grain size, in shale or clay content, and in
other minor features resulting from shallow water
deposition. These time-equivalent bedding planes may
01' may not be parallel to lithologic bed boundaries or
to structural dip. Although dips computed on such
bedding planes tend to complicate the determination
of structural dip, they provide valuable stratigraphic
information_ The dips reflect the attitude of the un-
derlying surface at the time of deposition, and the
velocity and direction of transporting currents. In
addition, the dips include components caused b:r post-
depositional tilting and differential compaction. In-
terpretation of the dip data is thus more involved
than just determining which way is up. Howe,'er, be-
cause these various components are included in the
measured dips, the continuous dipmeter can be an ef-
fective tool for studies of stratigraphy and sedimen-
tology.
Interpretation of continuous dipmeter data is most
effective when additional geologic knowledge is also
used. Both local and regional features should be con~
sidered in the interpretation. In the following discus~
sion, interpretation is e>...-plained for various geologic
features - reefs, sands and unconformities. All of
the examples are from wells in Western Canada.
TechnofogYt Januory-March, 1966, Montreal
---'--=--
Reefs
10 20 Reefs are among the geological features most ef-
fectively defined by an interpretation of continuous
--0 dipmeter surveys. On the flanks of reefs, dips reflect
--0
--0
drape uver the reef. This drape is caused both by
original deposition on the sloping sides of the reef
--0 and by subsequent differential compaction _of the
away from the reef crest and are usually steepest im-
mediately above the point of reef penetration. Within
the reef proper, the absence of stratified bedding
leads to computation of random dips of widely vary-
! ing directions and amounts. Thus, the plot of dip data
0- from a well on a reef flank yields a characteristic pat-
tern of dips - gradually increasing as the reef is
-4 T approached from above, reaching a maximum imme-
diately above the reef and becoming very random in-
side the reef.
An example of a dip plot from a well on the east
'.,'
fl~nk of the Fort Nelson Slave Point reef is shown
in Figure 5. This draping dip increases over the in-
terval from 5,900 feet to the reef top at 6,252 feet. In
the 80 feet of shale immediatel)' above the reef, the
pronounced easterly dip trend is maintained but there
is greater dispersion in dip magnitude. Some of the-
dip vectors indicate 5 to 10 degrees greater dip than
the basic 12 to 15 degrees. This feature is somewhat
analogous to foreset bedding and can result from sub-
aqueous flow of unconsolidated sediments. In any
event, the plot of data is typical for a well penetrat-
ing a fore-reef facies and indicates a major reef de-
velopment to the west.
Additional geological information is often required
to extract maximum information from the dip data.
In a well penetrating a reef crest, for example, little
or no draping occurs. Only when it is known that the
OEVIlNIAN BIONE ~EEF
~.
-,-
6000
._"
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~,oo
..
, -~'
6z00
~EEF TOP (SLA\ POINT)
,'
01' ,, , .. , "
Figu,re 5.-Plot of dip dat(J, b'om well drilled tlwough the
/fn·e-reef fruies into the Sla1Je Point reef.
25
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--. !
I

BloCK REEF FAe 1E ->--

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: ." \ --I--+-+--If--+--4-'-',-'f-t--"EEF TOP (UOlJ ) UNa::i'l;e,F;o.I'Tl' I EVONlol.l'H
. \\ .. .1.
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,
Fi[/ltI'.,g.-Bcadt-r/('jlosif('rI .<;(/110' I'e/kds II luu' :/urdh-
('usttr!y di}J, willi illtl') 1/a{ I'QJ"iutWlIS til JJwgllilrrdl' CCru:-lI'tI
oy (',.os,~-,~tnrfirimti(JH.
Figl/i"(' fi_-.4 wdl I,"olJl the back-J'e!!! facies on the L('duc
rl'C/ CJ-llil,jts rUJI(rOlJ! dips (If)Ou~ the nof'" top.

O' , <:
Tlw dip plot In F/[f1/t'(' {j is an example from ~\ well
Ll'" drilled on the back-reef flank of a Leduc reef. Th..:!

l
fact that the o\'erl:'ting beds are linu.!stone, with al-

\1 .._
most a complete abEent:e uf !-ihalc. i..:; primarily re-
!-;ponsible for the lack of a dr,lping trend. Fi"st, the
random nature of the dip diHgram is chilractcristir

z~
of reef core nr of non-bedded limestone. wherein the
cakulated dip:::; are likely to bl~ the result of vugs or
fractures. Second, the competE'nt nature of the over-
:;;-
,~

lying bedg does not permit the differential compaction

,~ _71~
that contributes to drape patterns when the overlying

~
beds are shale. It is interesting to note that the dip

J.
vectol·s in the upper part of the Leduc reef appear
grouped in various pattern:s. In the tup 12 feet a
,~ northwesterly dip is indicated, with the ~teepest dill

<'~;;
<'
~ occurring at the shallowest de[lth Hnd wiLh lesser dip,..:;
below. This particular patteI'll is characteristic of
-< foreset deposition and thu~ :-;ugge~t~ that the reef
top is not a true bioherm at this poillt, but rather is

t:- ~
~ 11000
made up of bedded detrital limestone. Such bedded
material is usually deposited ill a direction away from
a reef crest or micro-atoll. Therefore, the dip pattern
. d. in the top few feet of the Leduc reef suggests a
f' s; residual reef high to the southeast.

'''$'
~

~
The gamm~'l ray log and dip plot in Fiyw'c 7 were
obtained from a well in the Pine Creek gas field,
I~· where the target formation is the Leduc reef. In this
,,~

- _J

j
LEOUC
,,~

well, the reef was penetrated too low for production.

[i'ignr~ f.-The dip plot 'I.ndicatcs that the Leduc raf
CIest lS southwest of tit-is well. EU3terly di'P.~ ill the ."!OIH'
0; reef detritus indicate (l. local -reef f1-ont high to the
west.
well is drilled on a reef structure is it possible to say
that the well has penetrated the crest; however, thi~
orientation afforded by the c.ontinuous dipmeter sur-
vey is important.
The dipmeter results in the ~ection from 10,700 feet
to within 50 feet of the top of the Leduc, at 11,100
feet, indicate a fairly uniform dip of about G degree.!:'
to the northeast. This long and uniform dip pattern
suggests a reef front sloping from a crest line to the
southwest. A rough rule of thumb, based on experi-
ence with the Leduc reef, indicates that the reef front
slopes at approximately h"'ice the angle of the dip
in the overlying shale. Thus, in this case, the top of

26 The Journal of Ccmadian Petraleum

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rl T

,{ II
STIlIKE WLLEY bNo
-700 .ub."", ,
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'{~ --~~-----lI3200

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.. f

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I r
..jl Figll1·e IO.-Rcsistivity CU1"VeS and dip plot from Well
J 1 "A", dTilled th?·ough the Mississippian unconfol'mity in
Sll.NO the Balztry u?-eu_ T}~e kI'UJsisrrippiLJ,n is highe?· and the
II basal Cretaceous target sand is missing_ The dip plot indi-
~T SHALE B SILT cates that the sur;ace of the llfississippian deepens to
r the west.
f
~ , 1(;-23

t
l.N1:IJt<FlIR"'ITY VIlNIAPiI
2640' _E

-~
'"
Figun~ lO.-Resistivity curves and dip plot {rom Well
stTike-valley sand indicates that tll(!, well is north of the -700 lubsl:.a
valley a:ds.
B tv.F.KER

3200
the reef is expected to build up at the rate of 12 de-
grees to the south\vest_ In the 50 feet of section im-
mediately above the reef, the dips indicate an east
trend and vary more in magnitude_ This section, as
indicated by the gamma ray log, is considerably more
calcareolls than the overlying shales, and is probably
composed largel)' of detrital reef material from a local
reef front high to the west. This hole was subsequent-
ly sidetracked 700 feet to the southwest. The reef Was
penetrated at a subsea depth which ' ..'as approximate-
I)' 150 feet shallower than in the original hole, and
confirmed the predicted 12-degree slope of the reef
front. [":

Sands
3300
Both the e...xternal shape and the internal cross- ~ : ".
stratification of a sand formation are functions of the
depositional environment. Because the continuous dip-
meter often defines both of these parameters, it offers
an effective means for predicting sand development.
For instance, in the example shown in Figure 8, the Figura It.-Well liB". drilled 2,640 feet. west of Well
"Air (see Figure 10), encountered the Mississippian at
southeasterly dips of var}'ing magnitude indicate that the 1UJ?'mal depth and penetrated a thick basal Cretaceous
the strike of this beach-deposited sand is southwest- sand.
northeast. Depositional information of this nature is
most effective in the hands of stratigraphers and sedi- Unconfonnities
mentologists, where it can be merged with the other
geologic data at their disposaL Angular unconformities are easily recognized as a
The dip plot of a section including a strike-valley plot of continuous dipmeter data by an abrupt change
- sand is shown in Figure 9. The high-angle cross-stra- in dip trend. However, very low angle unconformities.
tification within the sand is typical of strike-valley such as often found in '\Vestern Canada, may be more
deposition - with the croSs bedding directed away difficult to detect. Generally, for low-angle uncon-
from an erosional high. In this example, the uncon- formities, moat significance is placed on the dips of
formable surface dips to the south and thus locates the beds immediately overlying the unconformable
the well north of the strike-valley axis. surface. If the erosional surface is irregular, the

Tel:hnology, J~nuory-Morl:h. 1966, .¥ontreal 27

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0' '0'

J
~~ tE- ~
. . _- -\-=:- ....~
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~~ ,-- ~
c ",,:::'
=0 ;> c
,~

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--
*
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~

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~
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,-""
;,...-
-
liIlA'IITE "'AS'" 56.'10

,, , ,
Figul"e 12.-Dip plot }'rum a well on the east-sOHtJUust
jfal/k of the gl"anitt' high. Tile granite-w0-8h sand 1.'1 Figure 1-1.-A{teT the well in F'ignrf!, 1'2. was lIJhilJstoc1~od
missing. to the sOIlUwast, a Hew hole pcnetrated 20 ft'et of grallitc-
wash 1JQ Y sum/.

draping and depositional patterns already discussed

for reefs and sands are used to define not only the un-
conformable surface but also the direction of eru-
sional highs and lows.
F'igw"c 10 illustrate~ the dip meter diagram and re-
si~ti\·it.Y log of \\rell A, drilled in the Bantry area of
southern Alberta. The target ' ...· as the basal CretaceoLls
sand \'vhieh. when present, occurs just above the ].'1i5-
sissippian ero~ional surface as a channel or strike
valle)" type of sand. Thi:::; well encountered the Mis-
sis:iippian abnormally high, and the sand is missing.
The marine beds above the l\lississippian top show
a wested~r dip and suggest that the ermiional surface
dips in that direction. Figm·e 11 sho\vs a cross section
between 'Veil A and \Vell B (drilled 2,640 feet to the
west of A). [n \Vell B, the top of the l\Hssissippian is
approximatebr 100 feet lower and a thick basal Cre-
taceolls sand is present. The dipmeter plot from 'Well
A showed the dl·Op of the unconformable surface to
the west and thus indicated the most probable direc-
tion to find sand development.
A somewhat simil.ar condition occurs in the granite
waf:ih plays of northern Alberta. Dipmeters on wells
penetrating the granite \vash sands suggest that the
sands accumulated on the flanks and between granite
highs. FigUi-e 12 preF.ents the dip plot and resi.sti"ity
logs on a well which encountered the granite too high
for sand development. The dip data suggest that the.
well is on the east-southeast flank of a granite high.
It was thus inferred that the sand should develop in
a down-dip direction, The well was directionally side-
tracked to the southeast, and, as illustrated in FigUTe-
13, encountered the granite top 42 feet lower at a
distance of 494 feet from the original hole. Also, a
20-foot-thick granite-wash pay sand was found in the
whipstocked hole.
CONCLUSIONS
Considerable progress has been made in the hU-ll
few years in dipmeter instrumentation and interpL'e-
tation. The dipmeter has now become an important
tool in the exploration and develupment of both strllc-
ttlral and stratigL'aphic feature:".
BIBLIOGRAPHY
( 1) Bl·icaHd, .1. M., and Pouj>OJl, A., "Continuous Dip-
meter Survey: The Poteclinometcl' and the i\licro-
focused Devices," paper presented at 5tfL World Pt'-
trolf'!wL Cong~·css. New York, June, 195fJ.
(2 ) GilJ"catfL, J. A., and Maricdli, J. J., "Detailed Strati-
graphic Control Through Dip Computations,"
A.A.P.G. Bulletin, (December, 1964), Vol. 4.8, No. 12,
(3) Thompsoll, J. D., "Continuous Dipmeter Survey Con
Be An Important Exploration Tool," Oil and Gf1..8
JouJ"llal, (December 18, 1961).
( 4) Rowley, David S., BU1·k, Creighton A., and Manud,
Tom, "Oriented Cores in 1964 - Sign of n Techniclli
Renaissance in Diamond Coring?" MiclLigan Ballin
Geological SO(jifJfy, April 24, 196·L
Joseph F. Gaetz was born in Hanover,
Ontario, and graduated in engineering
physics from the University of Toronto
in 1957. He joined Schlumberger after
graduation, and was employed in several
areas throughout Western Canada. He
was appointed as a specialist in dipmeteT
work in 1962, and was recently trans-
ferred to the Lake Maracaibo area of
Venezuela. His previous publications
have included a catalogue of formation
waters of '''!estern Canado.

20 The Journal of Canadian Petroleum