Fundamentals of coaxial and coplanar coil arrays in induction tools

Abstract

Until about ten years ago, all commercial borehole induction devices were built up with the traditional coaxial coil arrays. Since then, those apparatus incorporated the unconventional coplanar coil arrays, in order to investigate thinly laminated reservoirs and to locate axially asymmetrical anomalies like vugs and fractures. In order to comprehend the fundamentals of the coplanar array in induction probes, we present a comparative study with the coaxial array through one-dimensional modeling of some borehole environments, like: 1) homogeneous, isotropic and unlimited conducting media; 2) invaded thick bed with annulus; 3) horizontal and dipping multilayer sequences; 4) gradational transition zone between two thick beds; and 5) thinly laminated formations. The comparative study allows us to conclude that: 1) the skin effect is strongest in the coplanar array responses; 2) the coplanar array responses are more sensitive to mud filtrate invasion and annulus zones, which are direct indicators of movable oil; 3) polarization"horns" on the coplanar array profiles can be good bed boundary indicators; 4) coplanar arrays present the greatest sensitivity to detect and delineate thinly laminated reservoirs. © 2010 Sociedade Brasileira de Geofísica.