Detection performance of azimuthal electromagnetic logging while drilling tool in anisotropic media
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Detection performance of azimuthal electromagnetic logging while drilling tool in anisotropic media Wu Zhen-Guan1,2,3, Wang Lei1,2,3, Fan Yi-Ren1,2,3, Deng Shao-Gui1,2,3, Huang Rui4, and Xing Tao1,2,3 Abstract: Azimuthal electromagnetic (EM) logging while drilling (LWD) has been extensively used in high-angle and horizontal (HA/HZ) wells. However, due to the effects of formation anisotropy, accurate geosteering decision and formation evaluations have become increasingly difficult. To quantitatively analyze the effect of anisotropy on tool responses and data processing, this paper investigates the sensitivity of EM LWD measurements to electric anisotropy and inversion accuracy via forward modeling and inversion. First, a sensitivity factor is defined to quantitatively analyze the sensitivity of the magnetic field components and synthetic signals to electric anisotropy. Then, azimuthal EM LWD responses in anisotropic layered formations are simulated, and the sensitivities to formation parameters for compensated and uncompensated tool configurations are comparatively analyzed. Finally, we discuss the effects of the inversion model on bed boundary inversion in anisotropic formations. Numerical simulation and inversion results show that azimuthal EM LWD can be significantly affected by electric anisotropy. Fortunately, by using a symmetrical compensation configuration, the sensitivity of the geosignals to electric anisotropy can be suppressed, and the boundary detection capability can be further enhanced. Anisotropy normally gives rise to separated resistivity curves and abnormal “horns”; moreover, complicated nonlinear distortion can also arise in geosignals as the tool approaches a bed boundary. If anisotropy effects are ignored in the inversion process, the estimated bed boundary and formation resistivity are usually unreliable, which may mislead geosteering decisions. Keywords: anisotropy, azimuthal electromagnetic LWD, sensitivity, inversion
Introduction Electromagnetic (EM) logging measurements have been widely used for geosteering during drilling in
high-angle and horizontal (HA/HZ) wells because this approach enables accurate real-time measurements of the resistivity distribution as well as the bed boundary position around the borehole. By applying the attenuation effects of EM waves propagating in a lossy
Manuscript received by the Editor August 17, 2018; revised manuscript received March 23, 2020. *This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41674131, No. 41974146, and No. 41904109), the Shandong Province Postdoctoral Innovation Projects (sdbh20180025), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 17CX06041). 1. School of Geosciences, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China. 2. Laboratory for Marine Mineral Resources, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China. 3. CNPC Key Laboratory for Well Logging, China University of Petroleum, Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China. 4. China National Oil
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