A New Azimuthal Deep-Reading Resistivity Tool for Geosteering and Advanced Formation Evaluation

Abstract

Drilling services and oil companies have long been interested in acquiring the capability of landing a well accurately in a hydrocarbon reservoir and remaining in it for optimal drainage. Although traditional logging-while-drilling (LWD) propagation resistivity tools can help to achieve this goal, their overall effectiveness is not satisfactory because they lack azimuthal sensitivity. Ideally, geosteering and advanced formation evaluations, such as anisotropy calculations, require azimuthally sensitive measurements. This paper discusses a newly developed propagation resistivity tool that is designed to be azimuthally sensitive for use in geosteering and formation evaluation while drilling. It uses the tilted antenna concept to produce directionally sensitive measurements that are lacking in traditional LWD propagation tools. This paper also discusses the theory and the development of this tool, as well as the experimentation and numerical modeling data used to characterize its azimuthal capability. Advanced application algorithms used to calculate the horizontal and the vertical resistivity (anisotropy calculation), as well as dipping angle will be explained in detail. Finally, the paper presents and discusses field examples to demonstrate that this newly developed tool is a two-in-one service: geosteering and advanced formation evaluation. The azimuthal deep-reading resistivity is shown to bear the promise for use in optimization of well trajectory and well placement, as well as in advanced formation evaluation while drilling. This newly developed tool is superior to traditional propagation tools in locating bed boundaries and in keeping the well in the desired pay zone. In addition to providing traditional multi-depth of investigation resistivity measurements, this new tool provides multi-depth of investigation azimuthal resistivity measurements. Introduction Since the introduction of LWD electromagnetic wave propagation resistivity service in the 1980's there has been steady advancement in tool features and capability. The first LWD resistivity tool was introduced in 1983 with single frequency, single spacing, and one depth of investigation1. Multiple depth of investigation capability from single spacing, single frequency, via measurement of phase shift and attenuation was introduced in 19882. In 1991 multiple depth of investigation tools were introduced. Multi-spacing, multil-frequency3, 4, compensated LWD resistivity tools were introduced in 19945. However, most wave propagation tools have followed the traditional design of coaxial transmitters and receivers. Progress in the traditional wave propagation tool design includes adding more transmitter-receiver spacings and frequencies to provide multiple depths of investigation and desirable responses under challenging LWD environments. Today, with the advancement of directional drilling technology and the use of rotary steerable systems, more complex and hard to reach reservoirs are being drilled and evaluated. Traditional wave propagation technology is not adequate because it lacks the azimuthal sensitivity that provides the directionality information and data necessary to evaluate complex anisotropic reservoirs. In 2000, the concept of directional LWD was introduced and that gave way to a new generation of directional tool and services6, 7. This allows accurate geosteering and optimized well placement for maximum oil recovery. Also, it provides the ability to accurately measure the formation anisotropy, dip angle and azimuth for better fluid saturation estimates.

Overcoming Uncertainties Through Advanced Real-Time Wellbore Positioning in Kuwait: A Success Story

“…With operating frequencies of 2 MHz, 500 kHz, and 125 kHz, the sensor retains the advantages of high frequency data, such as greater accuracy in high resistivities and better vertical resolution, while gaining the advantages of the lower frequency measurements, including significantly greater depths of investigation. Consequently, the tool can sense resistivity boundaries around the borehole up to 18 ft away (Bittar 2000(Bittar , 2002Bittar et al 2007). The sensor acquires a total of 36 resistivity logs that correspond to the various spacings and frequencies.…”

“…In addition, one tilted receiving antenna was added at the maximum possible spacing to extend the lateral reach to a depth of first detection nominal of 18 ft. Instead of one non-azimuthal curve per sub-array, the azimuthal sensor measures 32 azimuthal resistivities and derives the non-azimuthal counterpart (Bittar et al 2007). …”

Successful Geosteering in Ecuador Using the Bright Spot Phenomenon from Deep Resistivity Images

“…A new deep azimuthal resistivity logging-while-drilling (LWD) sensor was selected for geosteering in this reservoir (Bittar, 2007). This tool generates deep electrical images, which originate from cylindrical sections located from several inches to several feet within the formation surrounding the wellbore.…”

“…3 shows the sensor studied in this paper. This sensor has been described in great detail in the literature (Bittar, 2002;Bittar et al, 2007). The configuration of the instrument is similar to a classical wave resistivity array with a suite of transmitters and receivers along the collar, except that the receivers are tilted with respect to the tool axis.…”

Some aspects of the directional resistivity physics

“…Directional resistivity has evolved into an enabling technology for geosteering and reservoir navigation (Li et al, 2005;Bell et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2006;Christiaansen et al, 2007;Bittar et al, 2007). LWD resistivity tools equipped with directional antennas provide deep-reading information for proactive well placement.…”