Borehole Image Interpretation

Stress and Fracture Analysis Using Image

Logs
Borehole Image Derived Properties, Applications, Products

Katie Kovac Geologist

Schlumberger
Data and Consulting Services,
US Land West California
Topics

Overview
Basic Tool Theory
Tool Specs
Image Examples and Interpretation
- Natural Fractures
- Induced Fractures
- Fracture Properties
- FracView reservoir fracture spacing calulations
Petrel Single + Multi Well Modeling

2 KMK
 Borehole Image Interpretation

Geological
Workflow

Petrophysical
Technique

to
Distribute
Engineering
Applications

3 KMK
History of Dipmeter / Resistivity Imaging Tools

SHDT FMS Image FMI Image

8 sensors 64 sensors 192 sensors
4 KMK
Formation Micro Imager Tool

For conditions of conductive drilling fluid

Rm < 50 ohm*m

Logging speed 1600 ft/hr

Max. Temperature rating 350 F

Min BH size 6

5 KMK
 Tool Specs

Max. Pressure 20,000 psi

Max. Temp. 350oF
Borehole min. diameter 5 7/8
Borehole max. diameter 21
Logging speed 1800 ft/hr (Image acquisition)
3600 ft/hr (Dipmeter only)
Weight in air 434 lbs
Compressional Strength 12,000 lbf
Depth of Investigation 1 (approx.)
Maximum Mud Resistivity* 50 ohm.m
6 KMK Pad Pressure (max) 49 lb
Borehole Images: Electrical Pictures

7 KMK
FMI Dip Computation

Borehole
0 90 180 270 360
N E S W N
For Straight Hole:

Dip magnitude
proportional to
E amplitude of sine wave

E Dip azimuth located at

S minimum of sine wave
S N
N
N W W TD: 53/270

Dip Azimuth
Dip Magnitude
Dip computation is least
squares fit through a True Dip
E S minimum of 3 selected points

N W

8 KMK
Color of Images

9 KMK
Borehole Image Interpretation

1. Structural analysis hand picked bedding/foliation and

faults, Strucview modeling
2. Sedimentary analysis - stereonet/ azimuth vector analysis,
structural dip removed analysis of sedimentary packages
3. Fracture analysis - hand traced fracture identification of
natural and drilling induced fractures, stress directions from
induced fractures, fracture property calculations, reservoir
fracture spacing estimation with FracView

11 KMK
1. Structural Analysis: Bedding Determination

12 KMK
Stereonet Analysis of Structural Dip

Dip Azimuth 224o

13 KMK
Azimuth Vector of Structural Dip

Curvature with Depth

Suggestive of subtle fold
with Azimuth

14 KMK
StrucView

15 KMK
Structure 3D
Workflow Process

Well path
Borehole Image
Processing

Well path

Tiered
Tiered Deliverables:
Deliverables:
1.
1. Data
Data Visualization
Integration

Visualization
Multiwell

Dip
Dip sets
sets
Multiple
Multiple StrucView
StrucView
2.
2. Data
Data Integration
Integration &&
Interpolation
Interpolation
Faults
Faults && surfaces
surfaces
Structural
Structural Geometry
Geometry

16 KMK
New or Reprocessed Well bores
2. Fracture Characterization
Natural vs. Induced Fractures
Drilling Induced Fractures

Produced during the drilling process

Several different formation mechanisms - all stress related
Orientations should form patterns


Natural Fractures

Formed prior to drilling less predictable in orientations

From completely mineral filled to open

Several possible formation mechanisms (stress, chemical,
curvature, etc.)

Lithbound fragments to continuously open around borehole

18 KMK
Drilling Induced Fracture Categories

Induced Tensile Fractures - the wellbore creates a zone of weakness,

exposing the in-situ S_Hmax stress direction

Induced Shear Fractures the rocks immediately surrounding the

wellbore are exposed to an unloading effect, creating irregular
asymmetrical fractures

Borehole Breakout the wellbore creates a zone of weakness exposing

the in-situ S_Hmin direction, which is perpendicular to the S_Hmax
direction

19 KMK
Borehole Breakout

Borehole failure along direction of minimal horizontal

stress (in vert. wells) (S_Hmin)
Failure area filled with conductive drilling fluid
Usually bisects borehole
Progresses from incipient irregular fractures to
complete failure washouts circumscribing the
borehole (Classes 1-4)

20 KMK
 Borehole
Breakout
Borehole Breakout

Irregular nature

Bisects borehole

Lithologic character
affects occurrence

21 KMK
Tensile Induced Fractures

Indicate maximum horizontal stress direction (S_Hmax)

Borehole fails due to differences in principal horizontal
stresses
Usually vertical fractures bisecting well bore (180
degrees apart)
Appear as thin railroad tracks down the borehole

23 KMK
Tensile Induced Fractures

24 KMK
Drilling Induced-Shear Fractures

Indicates orientation of max horizontal stress (S_Hmax),

but generally irregular
Borehole fails via shear mechanism when excavated
(unloading)
Asymmetric, en echelon, non-planar
Can look jagged or S shaped

26 KMK
Shear Induced Fractures

27 KMK
Drilling Induced Fractures

Convert Dip Data

to
Uniform Strike

Then Put in Vector Plot

28 KMK
Stress Direction Variation vs. Depth

7000 ft
~10 deg Change in Induced
Fracture Strike at 7000ft
Could be suggestive of a
fault, change in fluid
pressure, or some other
105 deg
large scale change
1157000
Above deg ft

29 KMK
Natural Fractures
Quantifying a Fractured Reservoir
Genesis:
Compression, Tension (Up Lift), Curvature, Chemical
Properties:
Fracture Count
Individual + Cumulative Fracture Trace Length
Fracture Aperture
Individual + Cumulative Fracture Porosity
Reservoir Fracture Spacing - FracView

30 KMK
Natural Fracture Categories

Resistive (healed)
Conductive

Continuous

Partially Healed

Lithologically Bound

31 KMK
Resistive Fractures

Filled with a resistive mineral (quartz, calcite, etc.)

Path of current is interrupted resulting in resistive halo
Usually older than open fractures
From small fracture segments to BH continuous
sinusoids
No aperture calculated

32 KMK
Resistive Fractures

Resistive Halo

Resistive Halo

34 KMK
Conductive Fracture Types

Lithologically Bound Fracture

Fracture terminates at lithologic boundary
Partially Healed Fracture

Fracture partially cemented, open section not complete
sinusoid
Continuous Fracture

Complete open sinusoid around well bore

Apertures are generated for all open fractures

35 KMK
Lithbound Fractures

Terminate at
lithologic
boundary
Reason for
termination may
not be visible

36 KMK
Partially Open Fractures

38 KMK
Conductive Fractures

Conjugate Sets

43 KMK
45 KMK
Fracture Aperture Calculation

Inputs

Fracture Trace Length

Mud resistivity, adjusted for temperature
W ARm Rxo
W = fracture aperture
A = excess current
Rm = mud resistivity
Rxo = invaded zone resistivity
46 KMK
Apertures

47 KMK
Fracture Characteristics Computed

Fracture aperture calculated at each point along trace

Average fracture aperture for each fracture
Cumulative number of fractures by type
Fracture trace length
Cumulative fracture TL by type
Fracture porosity
Cumulative fracture porosity

48 KMK
Integrated Trace Length and
Fracture Porosity by Formation

Net Trace Length and Porosity vs. Formation Group

100 0.1
90 0.09

Fracture Porosity %
80 0.08
Trace Length (ft)

70 0.07
Net Frac TL Open
60 0.06
50 0.05 Net Frac TL Healed
40 0.04 Net Frac Porosity
30 0.03
20 0.02
10 0.01
0 0
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53 KMK
 Natural Fractures
Wellbore Trajectory
THE
SAM RESE
E! RVO
ON IR I
LY ST
CON THE HE
NEC WE
TIV LL P
ITY ATH
CHA
? Fracture Intersections Parallel
N GES
? Fracture Intersections Perpendicular !
57 KMK

Brooks and Koepsell,

 Fracture Analysis

Orientation

Density

Spacing

Effective Fracture

Type of Fracture

Natural

Mechanically Induced

Mineralized

Open

58 KMK
 FracView Logic

1 - Effective Fracture Count

2 - Dip of Fractures

3 -Drift of Wellbore
Perpendicular to the Fracture
Strike

60 KMK
Measuring the Fracture Dip

Analysis of Fracture Dip

62 KMK
Correction of Fracture Dip
Fracture Strike vs. Hole Deviation

63 KMK
Well Drift vs. Fracture Strike

Drift of Wellbore Opens a

Geologic Window

NE Drift Effectively Samples NW

striking Fractures
NE drift Under Samples NNE
Striking Fractures

64 KMK
 Fracview Analysis

65 KMK
What kind of Data can be exported from FMI
interpretation?
Fault orientation
Marker tops
Fracture orientation
Fracture characteristics
Log curves

70 KMK
FMI to Fracture Network MWAP
Process Workflow FracView: Reservoir Fracture Spacing
Effective Fracture Count
WellEye Single well visualization Borehole Drift
Dip and Image
Of natural fractures Fracture Angle Inherent Drift
Borehole Image
Processing

Fracture Spacing export by geologic interval Posting of fractures and Discrete Fracture Network
Integration

1.1
0
Multiwell

0. 5
0.7

1
1

0. 1. 5 1
1
5

0.4
1
0.5
2

na 1
2.6 2
Piceance Basin Study
1.9
0.2
Colorado
1 .5 Lith. Corrected Swarm Fracture Spacing
1 0. 0. 1
5 5 Distance Between Fractures
1.3 0.2
na Top Gas to Cameo Interval

POSTED WELL DATA

0.1
TOG_CAMEO_FRAC - LSFD[SLB]

CONTOURS
T OG_CAMEO_FRAC - LSFD [SLB] - Lithologic Corrected Swarm Fracture Density
LSFD_tg_cam.GRD
Contour Interval = 0.5
0 .5
1
1 .5
2
2 .5
3

By: Steve Stancel and Randy Koepsell

New or Reprocessed Well Bores

71 KMK

Luneau, Becker, Kaufman and Koepsell

Questions