Caliper Log

By: Saleem Qadir Tunio

Outcomes
Getting familiarity geometry/shape Existence of; 1. Mud-cake 2. Caving and 3. Sloughing Caliper tool with the borehole

Measure hole size and shape

More sophisticated tools record simultaneously borehole shape & orientation.

Measure vertical profile of hole diameter

Mechanical calipers: variation in diameter with depth. Arms linked to the cursor of a variable resistance. Lateral movement of the arms is translated into movements of the cursor along the resistance, and hence variations in electrical output.

Resistance: diameter variation after simple calibration. Logging tools often equipped with a caliper, ie. micrologs + densityneutron caliper arm is used to apply the measuring head of the tool to the borehole well. Often now caliper logs replaced by dipmeter, acquire geometry data in order to derive dip. Dipmeter tool also contains gyroscopic orientation equipment so that the azimuth (bearing) of the two calipers is permanently defined.

Log Presentation
Caliper log is printed out simply as a continuous value of hole diameter with depth.

Simple, Two-arm Caliper Interp.

Simple caliper log: records mechanical response of formation to drilling. Hole: same size (diameter) as bit = ON GAUGE On gauge is always drilling target: good drilling technique. Holes >> diameter of bit: caved or washed out. During deepening of the holes, borehole walls cave is or are broken by the turning drill pipe/eroded by circulating mud. Typical of SHALES (also coals or organic shale): caving can have general lithological significance.

Example: section of Carboniferous from UK East Midlands shale is very laminated or locally fractured.

shale either

Decrease In Borehole Diameter

Hole diameter << bit size (diam.): mud-cake build-up indicated. * Useful indicator of permeability: only permeable beds allow mudcake to form. * Limits of mud-cake indicate clearly the limits of the potential reservoir.

Mud-cake thickness = (bit size diam. caliper reading diam.)/2

Decrease In Borehole Diameter (Contd..)

Remember: thickness may vary between tools. Caliper of a density tool is applied harder to the formation than the caliper of a micro-log. Boreholes with a smaller diam. < bit but rugose are probably sloughed. The zones of small holes TIGHT SPOTS caused by SMECTITE, swelling clay which takes water from the drilling mud which expands.