In Southeast Algeria, an operator sought accurate fracture characterization in Ordovician clastic reservoirs to optimize well completions. The challenge was obtaining high-quality borehole imaging data while drilling. Traditional wireline logging posed risks such as mud losses in deviated wells and did not provide real-time data. Earlier efforts relied on wireline or lower-resolution LWD imagers, which delayed decisions and reduced their quality. As a result, the operator needed a new solution that delivers high-resolution, real-time imaging during drilling.
To meet the challenge, the operator selected the MicroScope Ultra service. Deployed in two wells drilled in 6-in intervals using WBM, this advanced imaging tool operated in wash-down mode to achieve ultrahigh-resolution images, while real-time data transmission allowed surface teams to make immediate operational decisions. The MicroScope Ultra service detected more fracture traces compared to other methods and produced higher-definition facies delineation, enabling superior completion planning. All data matched the quality of high-resolution wireline imagers, but was obtained during drilling, reducing the time between drilling and completion, saving time and cost.
