FMI

The FMI is the latest generation electrical imaging device and belongs
to the family of imaging services provided by most of the service
companies.

The FMI (Fullbore Formation MicroImager) provides micro-resistivity

formation images in water-base mud.

FMI uses scanning electrodes arranged in 24 electrode per pad/flap

arrays (of four pads and four flaps) are used to provide a high spatial
sampling of formation micro-resistivity in both the vertical and
azimuthal directions on the borehole surface.

These two-dimensional micro-resistivity data are then mapped to gray

scale or color to produce “core-like” borehole wall image that allows
fine scale geological features to be described with a very good vertical
resolution.

HISTORY

In the late 1980’s Schlumberger introduced the concept of borehole

electrical images by processing variations of the shallow micro-
resistivity of wellbore walls recorded by a tool Called the Formation
Micro-Scanner (FMS).
This tool was developed by Schlumberger in 1991 as an improvement on
the FMS4 (4 Pad-tool) developed earlier in 1987.
In the early stages this tool only measured closely spaced arrays of
focused shallow resistivity readings that are related to changes  in
rock composition and texture, structure, and fluid content. With
improved technology, micro-resistivity of deeper wells can now be
determined.

WHAT DOES FMI MEASURES? 

Image logs are resistivity or acoustic devices that measure certain
physical properties of the rock at or near the well that can be
displayed as images of the wellbore, which can then be interpreted on a
computer.
Typically rock properties are controlled by factors such as variations in
composition, diagenesis, grain size, grain orientation, pore fluid
variations.
Image logs can provide detailed picture of the wellbore that represent
the geological and petro-physical properties of the section being
logged.

TOOL SPECIFICATION
This tool is a semi-active focusing device , so the response cannot be
output directly as resistivity but is relatively proportional to the
conductivity of the formation.
A 16 Khz voltage is applied across each button with a return to the
cartridge and the current at the button is measured at the same
frequency.
The voltage is increased automatically against resistive formations and
lowered against conductive formation to ensure activity on the
individual micro-conductivity curves.

Electrodes: There are in total 192 electrodes distributed on four pads

and four flaps.
Resolution: The high resolution component of response gives button
resolution ~ button size (5mm).

The tool has a very large dynamic range - from less than 0.1ohm-m to
more than 10,000ohm-m.
The maximum logging speed is 1600 ft/hr (500m/hr), but outside zones
of interest, it can be run at 3200 ft/hr (1000 m/hr).

WORKING 

The measurement principle of the micro-resistivity imaging devices is

straightforward.
Formation Micro Imager (FMI), records an array of micro-resistivity
measurements from 192 sensors on eight pads mounted on four
orthogonally placed caliper arms. 
The spacing and position of the pads provides 80% coverage of an
eight-inch diameter hole and a resolution of 5 mm.
The FMI yields a continuous, high-resolution electrical image of a
borehole (color-coded for resistivity values), and therefore
complements whole cores cut in the  same well.
An applied voltage causes an alternating current to flow from each
button electrode into the formation and then to be received at a
return electrode on the upper part of the tool.
The microelectrodes respond to current density, which is related to
localized formation resistivity.
The tool, therefore, has a high-resolution capability in measuring
variations from button to button.
The resistivity of the interval between the button-electrode array and
the return electrode gives rise to a low-resolution capability in the
form of a background signal.

The tool does not provide an absolute measurement of formation

resistivity but rather a record of changes in resistivity.

FMI TOOL

4 Arms - 8 Pads 192 Electrodes

INTERPRETATION

Structural: Fault,unconformities,sequence boundary

Stratigraphic: Depositional environment, orientation

Reservoir: Thin beds, Permeability trends, Fractures/Vugs, Borehole

geometry

ADVANTAGES
Determine net pay
The FMI (formation micro Imager) gives micro-resistivity formation
images in water-base mud. This is the preferred approach for
determining net pay in laminated sediments of fluvial and turbidite
depositional environments.
Visualize sedimentary features to understand structure
Sedimentary features define important reservoir geometries and
petrophysical reservoir parameters. The interpretation of image-
derived sedimentary data helps you understand sedimentary
structures.

Interpret seismic sections

Well-to-well correlation is difficult in deviated wells with sections of
steep and varying structural dip. Greatly improve your structural
interpretation of seismic sections with high-quality bedding dips to
compute accurate logs of true stratigraphic thickness.

Get more data

Geological information from FMI borehole images helps with stochastic
modeling of the sand-shale distribution. FMI images define channel
heights superbly in amalgamated units. Other variables, such as the
channel width and channel sinuosity, can be estimated using geological
analogs, based on detailed sedimentological analysis of FMI image data.

Improve well construction plans

Borehole images improve mechanical earth models, which in turn helps
to optimize well plans. Better understanding of borehole stability can
save millions of dollars during field development.

APPLICATIONS 

Structural geology ● Structural dips, even in fractured and

conglomeratic formations ● Detection and determination of faults.
Sedimentary features ● Determination of sedimentary dips ●
Definition and characterization of sedimentary bodies and their
boundaries ● Recognition of permeability barriers, and permeability
paths ● Recognition and evaluation of thinly bedded reservoirs

Rock texture ● Qualitative vertical grain-size profile ● Determination

of carbonate texture ● Detection and evaluation of secondary porosity
● Detection and evaluation of fracture systems

Geo-mechanics ● Identification and analysis of drilling-induced

features ● Mud weight selection

Reservoir characterization workflow ● Deterministic modeling of

reservoir bodies ● Guidance for the distribution of reservoir bodies ●
Realistic population of reservoir bodies with petrophysical parameters

DISADVANTAGE

FMI Tool cannot be used with oil based mud

CONCLUSION 

The lighter the shade the more resistive the formation.

FMI measurements respond primarily to fluid properties.

Formation micro-imaging tools have proved superior to the ultrasonic

tele viewers in the identification of sedimentary characteristics and
some structural features such as natural fractures in sedimentary
rocks.

They are especially useful for net-sand definition in thinly laminated

fluvial and turbidite depositional environments.
The FMI-HD microimager delivers high definition by adding completely
new electronics to the industry-standard approach established by the
FMI microimager’s pad-mounted button electrodes.