Influential factors of inclined fracture induction logging based on numerical simulation and physical experiment

Abstract

When the fracture normal forms an angle relative to the borehole axis, the induction logging response to the fractured formation consists of two contributions: one is the volume contribution caused by the eddy current, and the other is the charge contribution caused by the cumulative charges on the upper and lower boundaries of the fracture; both contributions are nonlinear. Researching the distribution of surface charges and eddy current in inclined fractured formations is of great significance for logging analysts and geologists to fully understand induction logging laws in such setting. However, there is insufficient research on this aspect. In this work, first, an electromagnetic field calculation method under the condition of existing cumulative charges at the interfaces was developed. Second, an induction logging numerical simulation model of inclined fractures based on the three-dimensional (3D) finite element method (FEM) was established, and the distribution laws of cumulative charges and eddy current in fractures under different dip angles were summarised. Third, we used the annular conductive region in the fracture as the object of our research, and analysed the influence law of different conductive regions distribution on induction logging. Finally, we carried out physical experiments to verify the numerical results and achieved good agreement between the two results. Hence, it proves the validity of the methods and conclusions.