Using core photos as image logs: An example from a fractured reservoir in Algeria

Abstract

Summary Core photographs provide the highest resolution continuous record of geological information from a borehole. The value of integrating this detailed information with borehole images (and other logs) is well known to borehole geologists. If the core photos are in the form of full circumferential scans they can be converted into a continuous oriented image, which may be analysed in a manner similar to a conventional image log. We discuss the benefits and limitations of the technique and present a case study, where core images formed the basis of a field-wide fracture study. We demonstrate how core photos, in combination with image logs, can be used to define various types of fractures and relate these to the known geological history, including burial history, tectonic and thermal events. This information is key to identifying potential hydraulically conductive fractures and exploiting these in future field development.