In this paper, a universal multi–frequency micro-resistivity array imaging (UMMAI) system for subsurface sensing is developed and verified. Different from conventional micro-resistivity imaging equipments, UMMAI is capable to provide high-resolution fullbore formation images in multiple logging environments including an oil-based mud scene, water-based mud scene and water-oil mixed mud scene, owning to the large dynamic range and good linearity of transceivers. With the advantage of diversity in excitation signal frequency, UMMAI presents abundant amplitude–frequency characteristics response images and phase–frequency characteristics response images of subsurface formations at the same time, which is beneficial to multi–frequency image fusion in the future. The fullbore imaging ability of UMMAI is evaluated in three different field tests, and the results show that UMMAI can give satisfactory credible formation images with high resolution, which is suitable for subsurface formation discrimination and useful for reservoir identification.