Typical misinterpretations and scientific concepts in well-logging geologic studies

Abstract

The method and theoretical system of well logging geology have been widely used in the fields of basic geology, petroleum geology and engineering geology, but the different response sensitivity of different well logging series to geological information and the mismatching between geophysical properties of multiple well logs and geological genesis of rocks frequently result in misunderstandings in the research process of well logging geology. Therefore, it is in an urgent need to analyze the typical misunderstanding cases in the research of well logging geology and explore the corresponding scientific ideas and countermeasures. After analyzing the typical misunderstandings in the research of well logging geology, this paper investigates vertical resolution scale of various logging series and its contradiction with detection depth and illustrates the importance of the integration of different scales of data. In addition, the factor inducing “fake logging data” and its influence on interpretation evaluation are clarified and a set of ideas for well logging evaluation of geological interpretation is put forward. And the following research results are obtained. First, the typical misunderstandings in the research of well logging geology can be classified into two categories, namely geological body interpretation misunderstanding and reservoir property parameter calculation misunderstanding. Second, special geological phenomena, such as high-density and high-resistivity mudstone can lead to logging data ambiguity, so attention shall be paid to petrophysical response mechanisms during geological logging interpretation. Third, to carry out well logging evaluation of unconventional oil and gas, it is necessary to integrate new technologies of electric imaging logging, dipole acoustic logging and nuclear magnetic resonance logging, and the calibration of core data and the integration of geological ideas can improve the interpretation accuracy. Fourth, In the process of borehole structural logging analysis, sedimentary response, geostress evaluation and fracture identification, geological ideas shall be integrated to avoid the logging interpretation misunderstanding caused by the same response of different geological phenomena in well logs. In conclusion, the dialectical and systematic thinking from geology to logging and then to geology, from practice to recognition and then to practice and from “a narrow view” to “a broad view” can provide a scientific ideas for the comprehensive research of well logging geology.