Utilising Borehole Images and Acoustic Deep Shear Wave Imaging in the Evaluation of Fractured Basement

The exploration of fractured basement plays has become an increasingly important subject because natural fractures can play a significant role in hydrocarbon migration and storage. Therefore an understanding of the fracture network and geomechanical properties of the well is essential for field development.

Applications for the characterisation and modelling of fractured basement hydrocarbon plays are shown for a North Sea well, utilising the integration of several different types of well dataset. The study focuses on LWD highresolution borehole image data and wireline acoustic deep shear wave imaging, with supporting openhole measurements including drilling performance, caliper, nuclear, resistivity, mineralogy and borehole seismic data. Comparisons are made between the distribution and orientation of natural and geomechanical fractures observed in borehole images, against orientation in acoustic anisotropy and larger-scale dipping planes seen in the DSWI slices, for input into and creation of a discrete fracture network model.