Ministry of higher education ‫وزارة التعميم العالي والبحث العممي‬

Al-Farabi University College ‫كمية الفارابي الجامعة االهمية‬

Dep. Petroleum Engineering ‫قسم هندسة النفط‬

WELL LOGGING

Caliper Log
(Short Report for Final examination, 2019-2020)

Student Name:- Mustafa Ali Muklif

3th, Year
A caliper log is a well logging tool that provides a
continuous measurement of the size and shape of a
borehole along its depth and is commonly used in
hydrocarbon exploration when drilling wells. The
measurements that are recorded can be an important
indicator of cave ins or shale swelling in the borehole,
which can effect the results of other well logs

Introduction:-

A caliper log provides a representation of the diameter of

a borehole along its depth. Wellbores are usually irregular
in diameter, it is important to have a tool such as the
caliper log that measures diameter at multiple locations.
The drilling engineer will use the caliper measurement as
a qualitative indication of both the condition of the wellbore
and the degree to which the mud system has maintained
hole stability. This is also critical information when
calculating the cement volume when the casing is
cemented. Caliper logs can also give some indication of
formation types and whether or not the rocks are hard and
compact or loose gravel.

Field Procedures:

The geophysical/well logging service company conducts

the down hole logging operation and produces both digital
and hard copy logs. The Drilling contractor trips the drill
pipe and bit and conditions the well bore for logging.
Process

The caliper tool measures the variation in borehole

diameter as it is withdrawn from the bottom of the hole,
using two or more articulated arms that push against the
borehole wall. Each arm is typically connected to
a potentiometer which causes the resistance to change as
the diameter of the borehole changes, creating a varying
electrical signal that represents the changing shape of the
borehole. This variation in output is translated into
changes of diameter after a simple calibration and the
caliper log is printed as a continuous series of values of
hole diameter with depth.

Accuracy:
Known challenges with caliper logging include borehole
spiralling. The position of the drill bit may precess as it
drills, leading to spiraling shapes in the wellbore wall, as if
 the hole had been drilled by a screw. If the arms of the
caliper log follow the grooves of the spiral, it will report too
high an average diameter. Moving in and out of the
grooves, the caliper will give erratic or periodically varying
readings.
In most cases, the borehole's circumference will not be a
perfect circle and therefore a caliper tool with several arms
is required to obtain a true understanding of the size and
shape of the borehole. The borehole can change to an
oval shape after drilling, which can cause the caliper log to
overestimate the size of the borehole if its arms get stuck
axis.

Data Access and Acquisition

Caliper logs are usually measured mechanically, with only
a few using ultrasonic devices which provide full azimuthal
coverage with high resolution. The tools measure
diameter at a specific chord across the well.
Figure 5. Caliper log of well HN-13. Target zone for RJD is shown in re d
Best Practices
A single axis caliper provides a single diameter at a
specific chord across the borehole. A multi-axis caliper
has multiple arms and can measure the diameter of the
well bore in multiple locations simultaneously. This
provides useful information as to the shape of the
borehole and when run in conjunction with a orientation
tool can give understanding to the stress orientation.

Potential Pitfalls
An unstable well bore (sluffing, wash outs, etc) can be of
concern in any well logging operation. In extreme
condition, the loss of the logging tool down hole could
possibly result in the loss of the hole and would require
premature abandonment or the necessity to side track to
complete the well drilling operation.

NEPA Analysis
Well logging is a standard operation associated with the
drilling permit approval and is included in the down hole
analysis of the drilling program.

References
1- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caliper_log
2- Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary- Caliper Log