University

of Zakho

Well logging
Lecture 06
Resistivity tools and application

Abdolsalam Daneshvar
Petroleum Engineering Dept.
College of Engineering
University of Zakho
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Resistivity
Is a fundamental material property which represents how strongly a material opposes the flow
of electric current.
Resistivity logging:
is a method of well logging that works by characterizing the rock or sediment in a borehole by m
easuring its electrical resistivity. The log must run in holes containing electrically conductive mu
d or water.
 Formation factor:
• The formation resistivity factor, FR, is the ratio of the resistivity of a porous medium that is
completely saturated with an ionic brine solution divided by the resistivity of the brine

• Where Ro is the resistivity (ability to impede the flow electric current) of a brine-saturated rock
sample in ohm-m, Rw is the resistivity of the saturating brine in ohm-m, and FR is dimensionless.
10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 2
Lecture #06- Resistivity

The Principle Use of Resistivity log

 Determine hydrocarbon-bearing versus water bearing zones, indicate
permeable zones. determine porosity the rock’s matrix or grains are
nonconductive and any hydrocarbon in the pores are also nonconductive.

 The ability of the rock to transmit current is almost entirely a

function of water in the pores. As the hydrocarbon saturation
of the pores increases (as the water saturation decreases), the
formation’s resistivity increases. As the salinity of the water in
the pores decreases (as Rw increases), the rock’s resistivity
also increases.

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 3

Lecture #06- Resistivity

Electrical log Application and uses

 True formation resistivity and flushed zone
resistivity.
 Quick look hydrocarbon detection.
 Correlation of difference formation.
 Calculation of water saturation
 Texture and faces recognition
 Lithology recognization
 Compaction of shale
 Overpressure zones
 Source rock
 The water bearing zone determination

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 4

Lecture #06- Resistivity

The Correlation of Difference Formation

The resistivity log can used

for correlating the
subsurface data on basis of
same resistivity curve and
the best tool to acquire the
data is deep induction tool.

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 5

Lecture #06- Resistivity

The Texture and Faces Recognization

 The texture has a great effect upon its electrical response, all factor
being equal .This is because the electrical flow through the rock depends
upon the tortuosity of the current flows path.

Water saturation (Sw)

𝑎 𝑅𝑤 1Τ𝑛
𝑆𝑤 = .
∅𝑚 𝑅𝑡

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 6

Lecture #06- Resistivity

The Lithology Recognition

 Electrical logs are dramatically bad at indicating lithology’s.
 shale and carbonate have no characteristic resistivity as their
resistivity depend upon many factor including porosity, compaction
fluid resistivity, texture etc.

Compaction of shales
 In the case of electrical logs, the shale resistivity is seen to increase
slowly but steadily in thick shale sequences. The deep tool should
be used for this. Breaks in the compaction trend can then be used as
indicators of unconformities and faults.

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 7

Lecture #06- Resistivity

Over Pressure Zones

 The beginning of overpressure zones can be seen by a sudden unexplained jump of the
resistivity to lower values in a uniform lithology. This is best observed in shale's and is
associated with the higher Porosity induced by the overpressure.
 The best tools to use are the deep looking tools.
Source Rock
 The resistivity log has the qualitative and quantitative to investigate source rock, the effect
of the source rock on the resistivity log depends on maturity of the organic matter.
The Water Bearing Zone Determination
 Show the response of Rt and Rxo (deep and shallow) in various bearing water reservoir.
 Where formation is impermeable, these is no separation between the type logs, since there is
no flushed zone.

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 8

Lecture #06- Resistivity

Various electrode logs and depth of measurement

Flushed Zone Invaded Zone Un-invaded Zone

Microlog (ML) Short Normal (SN) Long Normal (LN)
Microlaterolog (MLL) Laterolog8 (LL8) Lateral Log
Proximity Log (PL) Spherically Focused Deep Laterolog (LLD)
Log (SFL)
Microspherically Shallow Laterolog Laterolog 3 (LL3)
Focused Log (MSFL) (LLs)
Laterolog 7 (LL7)

10/14/2023 Abdolsalam Daneshvar- Formation Evaluation 2021 9

Lecture #06- Resistivity

1) The Basic Laterologs

 Figure below shows two of the earlier
Laterologs. Each have a number of
electrodes. The LL3 has 3 current
emitting electrodes. The middle one,
which is 1 foot long emits the main
current, while the 5 foot long
electrodes either side of it emit a
current that is designed to help keep
the central current more focused. LL3 LL7

10/14/2023 10
Lecture #06- Resistivity

2) The Dual Laterolog

 The dual laterolog (DLL) is the latest version of the laterolog. As
its name implies, it is a combination of two tools, and can be run
in a deep penetration (LLd) and shallow penetration (LLs) mode.
These are now commonly run simultaneously and together with
an additional very shallow penetration device. The tool has 9
electrodes,
 This tool combination examines the resistivity of the
formation at three depths of penetration (deep,
shallow, and very shallow).
 Both modes of the dual laterolog have a bed resolution
of 2 feet, and a sensitivity of 0.2 to 20,000 Ωm.

10/14/2023 11
Lecture #06- Resistivity

3) The Spherically Focused Log

 The spherically focused log (SFL) has an electrode arrangement that ensures the
current is focused quasi-spherically. It is useful as it is sensitive only to the
resistivity of the invaded zone.

4) Micro-Resistivity Logs
 These are devices that often share the same sort of electrode
arrangements as their larger brothers, but have electrode
The SFL electrode configuration
spacings of a few inches at most. Therefore, they penetrate the
formation to a very small degree and most often do not penetrate
the mud cake. They are all pad mounted devices that are pressed
against the borehole wall, and often have the electrodes arranged
coaxially. Combinations of these tools may be run together on
the same Sonde. The microlog (ML) is a rubber pad with three
button electrodes placed in a line with a 1 inch spacing. The microlog electrode configuration

10/14/2023 12
Lecture #06- Resistivity

5) The Microlaterolog
 The microlaterolog (MLL) is the micro-scale version of the laterolog, and hence
incorporates a current focusing system. The tool is pad mounted, and has a central button
electrode that emits a known measurement current surrounded coaxially by two ring
shaped monitoring electrodes, and a ring-shaped guard electrode that produces a bucking
current as in the DLL. The spacing between electrodes is about 1 inch.

6) The Proximity Log

 The proximity log (PL) was developed from the MLL to overcome problems with mud cakes
over 3/8” thick, and is used to measure RXO. The device is similar, except that it is larger
than the MLL and the functions of the central electrode and the first monitoring ring electrode
are combined into a central button electrode. The tool operates in a similar fashion to the LL3.
It has a depth of penetration of 1½ ft., and is not affected by mud cake. It may, however, be
affected by Rt when the invasion depth is small.

10/14/2023 13
Lecture #06- Resistivity

7) The Micro Spherically Focussed Log (MSFL)

 The micro spherically focussed log (MSFL) is commonly run with the
DLL on one of its stabilizing pads for the purpose of measuring RXO.
It is based on the premise that the best resistivity data is obtained when
the current flow is spherical around the current emitting electrode
(isotropic conditions).

 The current beam emitted by this device is initially very

narrow (1”), but rapidly diverges. It has a depth of
penetration of about 4” (similar to the MLL).

10/14/2023 14
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Induction Logs
 These logs were originally designed for use in boreholes where the drilling fluid
was very resistive (oil-based muds or even gas).
 It can, however, be used reasonably also in water-based muds of high salinity, but has
found its greatest use in wells drilled with fresh water-based muds.
 The Sonde consists of 2 wire coils, a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx). High
frequency alternating current (20 kHz) of constant amplitude is applied to the transmitter
coil. This gives rise to an alternating magnetic field around the Sonde that induces
secondary currents in the formation. These currents flow in coaxial loops around the
sonde, and in turn create their own alternating magnetic field, which induces currents in
the receiver coil of the sonde. The received signal is measured, and its size is
proportional to the conductivity of the formation. Clearly there will be direct coupling of
the transmitter coil and the receiver coil signals. This is removed by additional coils,
which also serve to improve the vertical and depth of penetration focusing of the tool.
10/14/2023 15
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Induction Logs
 The intensity of the secondary currents generated in the formation depends upon
the location in the formation relative to the transmitter and receiver coils. Hence
there is a spatially varying geometrical factor to take into account. Figure below
shows two ground loops of secondary current induced by the transmitter and
sensed by the receiver.

 The actual signal recorded by the receiver will be

the sum of all ground loops in the space
investigated by the tool.

10/14/2023 16
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Induction Logs
 Figure below shows the sensitivity map for this space for a homogeneous medium,
showing that 50% of the total signal comes from close to the tool (borehole and
invaded zone) between the transmitter and the receiver.
 The skin effect is a problem that occurs
with very conductive formations which
results in the reduction of the signal. This is
automatically corrected for during the
logging run.
 Induction logs are calibrated at the wellsite in air (zero
conductivity) and using a 400 mS test loop that is
placed around the sonde. The calibration is
subsequently checked in the well opposite zero
conductivity formations (e.g., anhydrite), if available.

10/14/2023 17
Lecture #06- Resistivity

The Dual Induction-Laterolog

 The dual induction laterolog (DIL) has several parts: (i) a deep penetrating induction log
(ILd), (ii) a medium penetration induction log (ILm), a shallow investigation laterolog
(LLs) and an SP electrode. The ILm has a vertical resolution about the same as the ILd
but about half the penetration depth.

Comparing Laterologs and Induction Logs

 At first sight it seems that induction logs and laterologs are complimentary:
a) Induction logs provide conductivity (that can be converted to resistivity).
b) Laterologs provide resistivity (that can be converted to conductivity).
c) Induction logs work best in wells with low conductivity fluids.
d) Laterologs work best in wells with low resistivity fluids.
e) Both logs provide a range of depths of penetrations and vertical resolutions.

10/14/2023 18
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Electrical tool penetration and resistivity measurements

10/14/2023 19
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Recognition of Hydrocarbon Zones

 Shale formation:
Noting a difference in the
shallow, medium and deep
resistivity tool responses.
4. LLD > LLS > SFL : (OIL ZONE)
WITH GOOD SEPARATION
3. LLD = LLS > SFL : (WATER ZONE)
Next page each part has been
explained

10/14/2023 20
Lecture #06- Resistivity

Recognition of Hydrocarbon Zones

1. If all three curves are low resistivity, and overlie each other, the formation is an
impermeable shale, or, rarely, the formation is permeable and water-bearing but the
mud filtrate has the same resistivity as the formation water.

2. If all three curves are higher resistivity than the surrounding shales, and overlie each
other, the formation is an impermeable cleaner formation (sandstone, limestone).

3. If the shallow curve has low resistivity, but the medium and deep penetrating tools
have a higher resistivity that is the same (they overlie each other), the formation is
permeable and contains only formation water.

4. If the shallow curve has low resistivity, the medium as a higher resistivity, and the
deep one has an even higher resistivity (i.e., there is separation of the medium and
deep tool responses), the formation is permeable and contains hydrocarbons.
10/14/2023 21