Research on Technology of Azimuthal Electromagnetic Wave Resistivity logging While Drilling and Its Application in Geosteering

摘要

With the number of old oil fields exploited by horizontal well increased, the complexity and difficulty to extract oil from reservoir geology promote the further development of logging while drilling (LWD) technology. Thus, the LWD technology develops from the initial no-directional shallow measurements to current deep directional measurements. Based on electromagnetic wave propagation theory, electromagnetic wave resistivity logging while drilling technology is adopted to capture the resistivity from formation in real time. According to the polarization angles phenomena of resistivity curve, formation boundary can be detected. On the basis of conventional electromagnetic wave resistivity LWD, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes and GWDC have already carried out the research on azimuthal electromagnetic wave resistivity LWD measurement, and developed different kinds of azimuthal resistivity tools respectively, which can reflect the formation properties through 360° real-time orientation imaging technology directly. In this paper, the operating principles and characteristics of four different kinds of azimuthal resistivity tools are introduced in detail, which helps to point out the research direction on technology of azimuthal electromagnetic wave resistivity logging while drilling and application in geosteering in future.