FMS Image Data Processing

 

ODP logging contractor: LDEO-BRG

Hole: 1072B

Leg: 174A

Location: New Jersey Rise (NW Atlantic)

Latitude: 39° 21.9305' N

Longitude: 72° 41.6647' W

Logging date: July, 1997

Bottom felt: 109.5 mbrf

Total penetration: 358.6 mbsf

Total core recovered: none

 

Water depth: 2303 mbrf

FMS Run: 50-297 mbsf

Magnetic declination: -13.69413°

 

The basic principle of the FMS (Formation MicroScanner) is to map the conductivity of the borehole wall with a dense array of sensors. This provides a high resolution electrical image of the formation which can be displayed in either gray or color scale. The purpose of this report is to describe the images from Leg 174A and the different steps used to generate them from the raw FMS measurements.

 

The FMS tool records 4 perpendicular electrical images, using four pads, which are pressed against the borehole wall. Each pad has 16 buttons and the tool provides approximately 25% coverage of the borehole wall. The tool string also contains a triaxial accelerometer and three flux-gate magnetometers (in the GPIT, General Purpose Inclinometry Tool) whose results are used to accurately orient and position the images. Measurements of hole size, cable speed, and natural gamma ray intensity also contribute to the processing.

 

Data Quality

 

The FMS images recorded in Hole 1072B are of good quality, except in the upper part of the hole. A progressive degradation of hole conditions is observed above 130 mbsf; interestingly, however, the topmost ten meters (50-60 mbsf) provide reliable images.

 

Good quality FMS images were obtained in the lower section from 100 to 297 mbsf. The 259-297 mbsf interval shows conductive electrical images with the occurrence of two main and thick resistive layers (276-279 and 265.5267.5 mbsf).

 

The overall matrix resistivity increases at 259 mbsf and above, associated with the development of thin conductive laminated features. These conductive features are more common in the 246-249 and 237-241 mbsf intervals and above 211 mbsf. The transition between lithologic Units I and II is marked by an increase of the resistivity from 147 mbsf upward. This boundary is also marked between 150 and 152 mbsf by highly resistive levels limited by two thick conductive layers (with a thickness of 3 and 6 m above and below respectively). From 100 mbsf upward the images are degraded by the bad hole condition, except in the 50-60 mbsf interval, which shows stratified conductive sediments limited by two resistive layers (56-57 and 54-55 mbsf).

 

The FMS electrical images generally exhibit a mottled structure with either high or low resistive spots, pods or traces. These features are possibly related to burrows or concretions. Electrically contrasted spots occur in the following intervals: 173-174, 220-225, and 240-252 conductive features), and 57.5-58.5, 268-272, and 293-294 (resistive features). Both resistive and conductive features are detected on the images, but are difficult to map. For instance, the 136-137 mbsf interval shows resistive levels with moderate dip angle to the E. Between 185 and 187 mbsf, thin conductive bands present low angle dip to the W-SW.

 

Image Processing

 

Processing is required to convert the electrical current in the formation, emitted by the FMS button electrodes, into a gray or color-scale image representative of the conductivity changes. This is achieved through two main processing phases: data restoration and image display.

 

1) Data Restoration

 

Speed Correction. The data from the z-axis accelerometer is used to correct the vertical position of the data for variations in the speed of the tool (GPIT speed correction), including stick and slip. In addition, image-based speed correction is also applied to the data: the principle behind this is that if the GPIT speed correction is successful, the readings from the two rows of buttons on the pads will line up, and if not, they will be offset from each other (a zigzag effect on the image).

 

Equalization: Equalization is the process whereby the average response of all the buttons of the tool are rendered approximately the same over large intervals, to correct for various tool and borehole effects which affect individual buttons differently. These effects include differences in the gain and offset of the pre-amplification circuits associated with each button, and differences in contact with the borehole wall between buttons on a pad, and between pads.

 

Button Correction. If the measurements from a button are unreasonably different from its neighbors (e.g. dead buttons) over a particular interval, they are declared faulty, and the defective trace is replaced by traces from adjacent good buttons.

 

EMEX voltage correction. The button response (current) is controlled by the EMEX voltage, which is applied between the button electrode and the return electrode. The EMEX voltage is regulated to keep the current response within the operating range. The button response is divided by the EMEX voltage so that the response corresponds more closely to the conductivity of the formation.

 

Depth-shifting: Each of the logging runs are depth-matched to a common scale by means of lining up distinctive features of the natural gamma log from each of the tool strings. If the reference logging run is not the FMS tool string, the specified depth shifts are applied to the FMS images. The position of data located between picks is computed by linear interpolation.

 

2) Image Display:

In "static normalization", a histogram equalization technique is used to obtain the maximum quality image. In this technique, the resistivity range of the entire interval of good data is computed and partitioned into 256 color levels. This type of normalization is best suited for large-scale resistivity variations.

 

The image can be enhanced when it is desirable to highlight features in sections of the well where resistivity events are relatively subdued when compared with the overall resistivity range in the section. This enhancement is called "dynamic normalization". By rescaling the color intensity over a smaller interval, the contrast between adjacent resistivity levels is enhanced. It is important to note that with dynamic normalization, resistivities in two distant sections of the hole cannot be directly compared with each other. A 2-m normalization interval is used.

 

Oriented Presentation: The image is displayed as an unwrapped borehole cylinder (its circumference is derived from the bit size). Several passes can be oriented and merged together on the same presentation to give additional borehole coverage if the tool pads followed a different track. A dipping plane in the borehole will be displayed as a sinusoid on the image; the amplitude of this sinusoid is proportional to the dip of the plane. The images are oriented with respect to north; hence the strike of dipping features can also be determined.

 

For further information or questions about the processing, please contact:

 

Cristina Broglia
Phone: 845-365-8343
Fax: 845-365-3182
E-mail: Cristina Broglia