Chương III.

LOG ĐIỆN TRỞ SUẤT

•One of the primary resistivity tools for 2 decades

•used in highly saline boreholes

•will not operate in non-conductive boreholes:

•oil
•fresh/brackish water-based muds
•air drilled holes
•are focussed electrode devices
•minimise influences from borehole
fluids and adjacent formations
•provide better vertical resolution
than induction devices in thin beds
Dual lateralog devices:
•rely on the conductive nature of

the borehole to complete a

current path between tool and

formation
•consist of an electronics
section and a mandrel section
•mandrel supports the
electrodes which are
connected to the electronics
•The measurement current is
emmitted from the centre
electrode

•It is forced to flow laterally into the

formation by the focusing action of
the electrodes either side
Two resistivity measurements are made:

•Deep resistivity, rd
•shallow resistivity, rs
BASIC LAW OF ELECTRODYNAMICS:

TOTAL AMOUNT OF CURRENT EMINATING

FROM AN ELECTRODE MUST FLOW
THROUGH ANY MEDIUM THAT
ENCOMPASSES THAT ELECTRODE
 For example:
This can be represented by:
It then flows radially away A point electrode
from the point electrode in
a steadily increasing
sphere though medium I
surrounding it Current flows from the
battery to the electrode
At any point on the surface
f the sphere at a known r
istance from the
lectrode the current I
Current Density 
ensity is the same 4 r 2
 For example: A point electrode

I
Provided the current density is
uniform and we can measure the
current, I and the voltage drop, E
through the medium then we can r
calculate the resistivity of the
medium
 A point electrode

I
In theory, we could use the
single point electrode model to
log the resistivity of a formation
r
in practice the model breaks
down, so we can’t
IN REALITY WE HAVE A
BOREHOLE A point electrode
FILLED WITH SALINE DRILLING
MUD

THE CONDUCTIVE
Because current will
FORMATION, INtake
the path of least resistance
BOREHOLE
most of thePARTICULAR
The
FLUID
current will flow
through
•THEthe conductive
ZONE OF INTEREST, HAS A
RESISTIVE
borehole
•MUCHand not the formation
HIGHER RESISTIVITY
•ent density is not uniform
FORMATION
•Berefore:
Resistivity
•current density atcannot
a given be calculated
point
cannot be calculated
Lets see what happens if
we increase the length
of the electrode
Single long electrode
Note:
•The whole electrode is
current paths cannot cross
maintained at the
as this would mean same
potential
flowing across a region of
•current can
equipotential only flow
from a region of
this is impossible! high
potential to a region of
lower potential
 Single long electrode

The current paths at the ends of

the electrodes
{
Help to “focus” the current
leaving from the centre of the
electrode into a disk of current
{
{
 Single long electrode

The disk of current is

forced to flow into the
resistive formation by
the focussing effect of
the adjacent current
paths
 Single long electrode

Therefore, any drop in

voltage can be directly
associated with the
current flowing through
the formation and not up
the conductive borehole
 Single long electrode

The disk of current

would have uniform
Figure 3.1

current density that

could be calculated
using:
I
Current Density 
2 rt
 Single long electrode

But only if the current

coming from the central
part of the electrode, I,
Figure 3.1

and the thickness of the

disk, t, was known

I
Current Density 
2 rt
 Lets split the single long
electrode into three
individual electrodes,
maintaining all electrodes at
the same potential
 Three electrode arrangement

First lets split the

electrode into three
Now we need to maintain
the electrodes at the same
potential
A
And finally measure the
current flowing from the
central electrode
 Three electrode arrangement

We now have the ability to calculate

the current density!

We can measure current, I

to the central electrode I
{ A

We know the thickness of the

electrode, t, and hence the
current disk from it.
 Three electrode arrangement

If we can calculate the current

density and we know the voltage
drop through the formation, then we
can calculate the resistivity of the I
formation t{ A
A
 Some terminology

The central electrode from

which the current disk is
emmitted and current
measured, is called the: m A

Measure electrode
 Some terminology

The electrodes either side

of the measure electrode
are called called the: f

m A
guard electrodes
or f
focus electrodes
 Some terminology

The voltage applied to the

measure electrode is
measured with respect to
earth potential:
A

Earth
V
potential
 Earth potential

Earth potential can be defined as:

The potential of a point infinitely far

away from a current source, where the
current density from that source is zero
 Earth potential

In practice, the wireline armor at the surface is

considered far enough away from the measure
electrode that the current density is effectively
zero, and hence at earth potential

we use this as our voltage reference in our

resistivity calculations
 Laterolog tool development

Although our theoretical 3-

electrode model is useable, there
are a few issues which need to
be addressed
Firstly, if we were to
use dc voltage we
would get an error in
our measurement due to
electrolysis
 ~
So we change our dc
voltage to a low
frequency ac voltage
 ~
So we change our
dc voltage to a low
frequency ac
voltage

This solves the problem!

 ~

The next problem we have

is how we measure the
current going to the
measure electrode
 ~

We currently have
all three electrodes
connected to the
same current source

Lets draw it like this

 ~

To measure the
current we need to
drop the voltage over
a known resistor I
R

And then measure the

voltage across it
 ~
This now introduces a
problem with our tool,
as the measure
electrode is now at a
lower potential to our I
R
focus electrodes
 ~

Current will now flow

from our focus
electrodes to our
I
measure electrode due
R
to the difference in
potential
 ~
To prevent this from
happening we
introduce two small
electrodes between
the measure I
R
electrode and focus
electrode
 ~
We can then measure
any potential
difference between
them caused by
current flowing from
I
the focussing electrode R
to the measure
electrode
 ~
We can use this
potential difference as
the input to a bucker
amplifier, the output
of which can drive the I
measure current R
 ~
We can use this
potential difference as
the input to a bucker
amplifier, the output
of which can drive the I
measure current R

Bucker amplifier
 ~

The output of the

bucker amplifier will
increase until the
measure electrode is at I
R
the same potential as
the focus electrodes
Bucker amplifier
 ~
Once this is achieved
there will be no
current flowing from
the focus to the
measure electrodes I
and hence no input to R
the bucker

Bucker amplifier
 ~

Current will be flowing

from the measure
electrode in a disk I
R

Bucker amplifier
 ~
Finally, we need to
know the voltage of
the measure electrode
with respect to earth
potential in order to
I
make the resistivity R
calculation

Bucker amplifier
Finally, we need to
~
know the voltage of
the measure electrode
with respect to earth
potential in order to
make the resistivity I
R
calculation

E
Remote reference
 ~

We now have a
working tool!
I
Lets see how the R
electrodes are identified
E
Remote reference
The electrodes on the
mandrel are #4
numbered as follows:
#3
#2
There are also electrodes #1
#5 and #5’ which we’ll #2’
discuss later #3’
these are made up of other
tool housings #4’
 Let’s consider how the effective
length of the guard electrodes
affects the current paths and more
importantly the depth of
investigation
 We define the depth of
investigation as follows:

The depth at which 50% of the

total measured voltage is dropped
~ There are two things to notice here:

1. The current return point is

relatively close to the mandrel

2. The guard electrodes are short

 For clarity only the main current
~ paths from the measure electrode and
the top guard electrode are shown

50 % of the voltage
drop occurs here
 Now lets increase the size of the
~ guard electrodes and move the
current return further away

50 % of the voltage
drop occurs here
 Conclusion:
The longer guard electrodes
~ increase
keep thethe depthdisk
current of “focussed”
investigation by increasing
for longer, hence 50% dropthe
size of the
occurs focus
futher electrodes
into and
the formation
moving the return point further
away
This time 50 % of
the voltage drop
occurs here
We have covered enough theory now to look at
how a real lateralog tool is configured

Two AC frequencies are used to allow

us to measure two depths of
investigation simultaneously
We also have to run a bridle on top of
the toolstring, to isolate the wireline, and
create the deep current return
The dll consists of the following:
wireline
Bridle electrode
85 ft bridle

Iso sub
Dll electronics

Dll mandrel
 The dll mandrel

Consists of electrodes
#1, #2 (and 2’), #3 (and
3’) and #4 (and 4’)

4
3
2
1
2’
3’
4’
 The dll electronics

Is used as electrode #5
which is the electrode used
for the shallow current
return
5
and also one of the
electrodes used for the deep
4
3
2
guard electrode
1
2’
3’
4’
 The dll electronics
The electrode array needs to
be mirrored
this is done by running a
tool (or tool housing)
beneath the Dll, to make up
5 electrode #5’

4
3
1
2 Usually an mll
2’
3’ or 1309 gr housing
4’
 The iso-sub:
Limits the length of electrode
#5 by electrically isolating the
dll electronics housing from the
rest of the tool string

4
Iso-subs are prone to leaking so
3
2
must be checked electrically
1
2’ prior to every run
3’
4’
 The bridle:
Is 85 ft long and Isolates the
wireline armor from the
toolstring to allow the wireline
armor to be used as the deep
current return
5

The wireline armor is connected

4
3
to bridle conductor #10 in the
2
1 torpedo and hence #10 in the
2’

4’
3’ cablehead
 The bridle:
Has a lead electrode half
way down it
the electrode is used in the
operation of the mll tool as
5
the remote voltage reference

4
3 The bridle electrode is
2
1
2’
connected to conductor #8
3’
4’
 The bridle:
Bridles are also prone to leakage
•never meggar a bridle as this
breaks down the insulation
•connect wireline armor to
5
conductor #10 in bridle
•always pump bridle after each
4 run
3
2
1
2’
3’
4’
 Finally, the wireline:

the wireline immediately

above the bridle is used as
the deep current return, and
5 is fed back down to the dll
via conductor #10
4
3
2
1
2’
3’
4’
 Finally, the wireline:

The wireline armor at

surface is considered earth
potential and is used as the
5 remote voltage reference
it is fed back to the dll via
4
3
2
conductor #7
1
2’
3’
4’
Cond. #7
shallow measurement:

Remember, for a shallow

depth of investigation we want
small guard electrodes and a
close current return point
5
E
4
I 3
2
R 1
2’
Let’s put in our circuitry!
3’
4’
 shallow measurement:
E represents the voltage
Cond. #7

detection circuitry measured

with respect to wireline armor
at surface

5
E I represents the current
I
4 detection circuitry from the
3
R
2 voltage drop over resistor R
1
2’
3’
4’
 shallow measurement:
Cond. #7

The voltage generator for

the shallow produces a
128 hz ac signal on guard
5
electrode #4, returning to
E
~ electronics housing #5
4
I 3
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
Cond. #7
shallow measurement:

The bucker amplifier

drives the measure
electrode until it’s
voltage matches that on
5 electrode #4, and the
E
~ disk of measure current
4
I 3
2
returns to electrode #5
R 1
2’
3’
4’
Cond. #7
shallow measurement:

Shallow
focussing current
5
E
~
I
4
3
Shallow measure
2
R 1
2’
current
3’
4’
Cond. #7
shallow measurement:

Two raw curves are

measured and sent up hole to
be converted to resistivity
5
es E
~ Shallow voltage, es
is 4
I 3
2
shallow current, is
R 1
2’
3’
4’
Cond. #7
deep measurement:

Remember, to increase the

depth of investigation you need
to increase the length of the
guard electrode and move the
5
current return point further
es E
~ away
is I
4
3
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
Cond. #7
deep measurement:

We increase the length of the

guard electrode by joining
~
together electrodes #4 and #5

5
es E We distance the current return
~
is I
4 point by returning the current
3
2 to the wireline armour above
R 1
3’ the bridle
2’

4’
Cond. #7
deep measurement:

Simultaneous current paths are

~ allowed because we use a
different frequency for the
deep and shallow
es E
5
measurements
~
is 4 the deep measurement uses a
I
R 1
3
2 32 hz signal
2’
3’
4’
Cond. #7
deep measurement:

Deep focus current

~

This is how the current paths

5 for the deep measurement
es E
~ look
is I
4
3
R 1
2 Deep measure
2’
3’ current
4’
Cond. #7
deep measurement:

This time the Two raw

~ curves which are measured
and sent up hole are:
5
es
E
ed
~ deep voltage, ed
is 4
id I 3
2
deep current, id
R 1
2’
3’
4’
In standard mode both the 1229 DLL
and the 1239 dll-s both work in exactly
the same way, as shown!
Indeed, the 1229 dll was adequate for
most resistivity logging situations
 TWO LIMITATIONS WERE
REALISED WITH THE 1229 DLL:

1. The groningen phantom effect

2. Railroad tracking
 Groningen phantom effect

•Erroneously high readings in low

resistivity formations lodged below high
resistive beds
•seen as a gradual increase in the resistivity
reading towards the high resistive bed
•first recognised in the groningen gas field
in the netherlands
Groningen phantom effect
Under normal operating conditions the
current doesn’t actually return to a point
on the wireline above the bridle, but
mostly over the first couple of hundred
meters

The current returning to the

cable armor has a decreasing
density the further away
from the bridle you go
Groningen phantom effect
wireline

Current return
region

bridle
 To explain the groningen
Anhydrite As the tool
efefct we need a high resistive
High Resistivity approaches the
bed
anhydrite

Low Resistivity
Reservoir
 As the tool
Anhydrite approaches the
High Resistivity
anhydrite

Low Resistivity
Reservoir
Anhydrite As the tool
High Resistivity approaches the
anhydrite
the current is forced
Low Resistivity to return to a shorter
Reservoir
section of armor
 As the tool approaches
Anhydrite the anhydrite
High Resistivity
the current is forced to
return to a shorter
section of armor
Low Resistivity
Reservoir increasing the current
density and voltage
required
 As the tool approaches the
Anhydrite anhydrite
High Resistivity
the current is forced to
return to a shorter section
of armor
Low Resistivity
Reservoir increasing the current
density and voltage
required
effectively increasing the
return resistance
Anhydrite
High Resistivity

Low Resistivity
Reservoir The solution to the
groningen effect is to
change the location of
the current return
Anhydrite
High Resistivity

Low Resistivity
Reservoir
The solution to the
groningen effect is to
change the location of
the current return
Anhydrite
High Resistivity

Low Resistivity
Reservoir By returning the deep
current to an electrode
beneath the mandrel we
can eliminate the effect
 In practice, the groningen
Anhydritephantom kit requires a
modified difl mandrel to be
High Resistivity
runUnfortunately,
beneath the dll as the
deepbecause the electrode
return electrode
Low Resistivity
return is closer, we
Reservoir
parameters
sacrificeindepth
the software
of
alsoinvestigation!
need to be changed
from standard deep to
‘groningen’ deep
Anhydrite
The shallow measurement is
High Resistivity
not affected by the
groningen effect and hence
is acquired as normal
Low Resistivity
Reservoir

Modified difl mandrel

 Rail road tracking
•Rs and rd curves show a constant
sepAration between them
•apparent in thick shale intervals
•borehole correction charts indicate small
correction required, whereas rs and rd are
severely sepArated
•shallow measurement was considered too
shallow and hence too borehole dependent
 Evidence of
railroad tracking
 Rail road tracking

Although the 1229 dll was able to be

modified for the groningen effect,

No such modification could be done to

remove railroad tracking

The result was a re-design of the dll

electronics and a modification to the
mandrel
 The result:

1239 dll-s
Where the “s” stands for ‘selectable shallow’
 1239 dll-s
The dll-s has the provision to record an
enhanced shallow curve where there is
evidence of railroad tracking

The enhanced shallow measurement:

•deeper depth of investigation
•reduces the large influence of the
borehole, thought to be the cause of
railroad tracking
The enhanced shallow
measurement
85 ft bridle of the dll-s
requires the provision of an
additional electrode:
Iso sub
3516 slad
Iso sub
Dll electronics

Dll mandrel
 We now have the following
electrodes:

With the additional iso-sub

6
and 3516,
Creating electrode #6 for
5
use in the enhanced
4
shallow measurement only
3
2
1
2’
3’
4’
 Let’s put in the circuitry!
Cond. #7

We get a deeper measurement

by joining electrodes #4 and
6 #5
~ We don’t want depth of
5
investigation to be as deep as
E
4
rd, so we return the current to
I 3
2 electrode #6
R 1
2’
3’
4’
 The current paths are as follows:
Cond. #7

6
Enhsh guard
current
~
5
E Enhsh
I
4 measure
3
R 1
2
current
2’
3’
4’
 A few things to note:
Cond. #7

The dll-s mandrel includes

the addition of two small
6
electrodes to improve
~ voltage stability between
E
5
guard and measure
4
electrodes
I 3
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
 mandrel:
Cond. #7

~
5
E
4
I 3
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
 mandrel:
Cond. #7

Electrode #4a
~
5
and #4a’
E
4
I 3
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
 As before, the electrode
Cond. #7

array needs to be mirrored

6 This is done by introducing

an iso-sub and tool/tool
~
5
housing beneath electrode
E #5’ to create electrode #6’
4
I 3
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
 Finally, in order for the tool to
Cond. #7

run in enhanced shallow

mode:
6
Switch #3 in the
~ electronics needs to be set
5 up correctly
E Correct processing parameters
I
4
3
need to be selected
2
R 1
2’
3’
4’
THE DLL-S HAS THREE
SWITCHES WHICH THE
ENGINEER SHOULD BE AWARE
OF

ALL THREE SWITCHES ARE

LOCATED WITHIN THE
ELECTRONICS HOUSING
ELECTRONICS HOUSING:

CONSISTS OF:
1. THE HOUSING ITSELF
2. THE ELECTRONICS
3. THE BLACK BLOCK
SWITCH #1:
#1
LOCATED BEHIND THE BLACK BLOCK
ON TOP BULKHEAD OF ELECTRONICS

IS A ROTARY SWITCH DIFL

MLL
HAS THREE SWITCH ETC.?
POSITIONS DETERMINING
WHICH TOOLS CAN BE
RUN BENEATH THE DLL
 #8
SWITCH #2:
LOCATED AT THE TOP OF #2

THE ELECTRONICS SP
IS A TOGGLE SWITCH ?
REQUIRES THE REMOVAL OF
THE ELECTRONICS TO
CHANGE
SELECTS SP FROM BRIDLE
ELECTRODE ON COND #8 IF
NO SP AVAILABLE ON #7 #7
BELOW DLL
 SWITCH #3:
LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE ELECTRONICS BACKBONE

IS A SHORTING HEADER BAR

USED TO SELECT STANDARD

OR ENHANCED SHALLOW
MODE

#3
 TOOL CONTROL

DLL IS AN ATLAS TOOL

REQUIRES 3516 SLAM

ADAPTER TO DIGITISE
RAW DATA AND ALSO
FOR TOOL CONTROL
 TOOL CONTROL
Slad: lzc dll tool
control window is
slightly different

log
internal zero Deep return:
internal cal standard
Groningen
 TOOL CONTROL
When power is
switched off and on,
3516 reverts to power
up defaults

Always remember to send a tool re-init command

after power up to ensure the 3516 has the correct
relay setting
Cp - required and performed
downhole using internal resistors

Vp - not required!
VB - not required!
Va - required and performed
downhole using internal resistors
1239 DLL-s can be calibrated within
casing
1229 can not!
Launch cal/ver

Select dll cp
Edit/check engineering values

Select dll cp
Depending on which mode you are
required to log in, the following
engineering values should be used:
Switch the tool into cal and
read internal cal:
Then Switch the tool into zero
and read internal zero:
You must confirm which mode the
electronics are set to by comparing the
calibration raw values to:
 Processing parameters
usual borehole and cement parameters:

Dll should have borehole

corrections applied
 Processing parameters
Dll processing parameter’s refer to dll
mode, current return and position
Borehole correction - on/off
Deep type - standard/enhanced
Shallow type - standard/enhanced
position - eccentered/centralised
Deep current return - standard/groningen
conveyance - wireline/pipe conveyed
Groningen return - 40ft / 60ft
 Surface checkout proceedures

The dll calibration uses internal resistors

We must checkout the tool using a test

harness to confirm the correct operation
and mode of the tool
This must be done for every run!
 Test harnesses

There are two types of test harnesses:

1. 1229 dll test harness

2. 1239 dll-s test harness
 Test harnesses

Remember, in standard mode the dll and

dll-s current paths are identical:

In standard return mode,

1229 dll test harness can be used
to check the 1239 dll-s
 Standard dll Test harness

Consists of a resistivity test box that can

be connected to the mandrel:

#1 #2 #3 #4
 Test harnesses
With the tool on the catwalk
connect the harness to the mandrel

#1 #2 #3 #4
 Test harnesses
The top of the test harness looks like this:
CALIBRATOR TEST BOX
FOR DLL 1229
3 5
10 100
1 1000

Rf GUARD
REMOTE REMOTE

#1 #2 #3 #4
 CONNECT THE BOX like this:

REMOTE TO ARMOR NEAR DRUM CALIBRATOR TEST BOX

FOR DLL 1229
3 5
ARD REMOTE TO ARMOR ABOVE BRIDLE 1
10 100
1000

TO C-CLAMP ON DLL ELECTRONICS

Rf
REMOTE
GUARD
REMOT
E

#1 #2 #3 #4
 Test harnesses

Note:
make sure all connections and electrodes
are cleaned to bare metal with a wire
brush and emery paper for a good test

#1 #2 #3 #4
 Test harnesses

NCE THE HARNESS IS CONNECTED:

CARRY OUT A CALIBRATION ON THE DLL
CALIBRATION WILL BE REPEATED DOWNH

SWITCH BOX BETWEEN 1, 10, 100, AND 10

OBSERVE RS AND RD CURVES ON THE LOG

WINDOW
 A FEW DO’S AND
DON’TS

DO CHECK ISO-SUBS FOR

CONTINUITY AND LEAKAGE
BETWEEN EACH RUN
DO NOT RIG UP ISO-SUBS
ATTATCHED TO ANY OTHER TOOL
- HAND CARRY TO DRILL FLOOR!
 A FEW DO’S AND
DON’TS
DO ATTATCH STANDOFFS TO DLL
MANDREL
DO NOT LEAVE DLL IN LOG WHEN
RUNNING THROUGH CASING

DO CHECK BRIDLE BETWEEN

RUNS
DO NOT PULL BRIDLE OVER THE
TOP SHEAVE WHEEL