Wireline logging is an industry specific term used commonly in the oil and gas industry, which involves lowering a logging device or “tool string” attached to a wireline cable into a borehole or oil well which measures the properties of the rock and fluids within the formation.
1927: Brothers Conrad and Marcel Schlumberger performed the first electrical resistivity measurement in a well in Pechelbronn, France. This marked the beginning of wireline logging as a technique for mapping subsurface structures and evaluating the potential for oil and gas reserves.
1930: The spontaneous potential (SP) log was introduced, allowing for the identification of permeable formations like sandstone, limestone, and dolomite.
1939: The gamma-ray log was developed, which measured the natural radioactivity of subsurface formations to provide insights into their lithology and mineral content.
1953: The neutron log was introduced, providing insights into the hydrogen content of formations and the presence of fluids.
1959: The density log was invented, measuring the bulk density of formations to provide information about their composition, porosity, and fluid saturation.
1970s: The digital age began in wireline logging, with more sophisticated tools and data processing techniques.
1980s: High-resolution imaging tools like the formation microscanner (FMS) were developed.
1990s: Logging-while-drilling (LWD) technology combined drilling and logging operations for real-time data acquisition.
Recent and future trends
Wireline logging continues to advance with new technologies like nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and spectroscopy tools, enhancing understanding of subsurface geology. Integration with other data sources and the use of machine learning are also areas of focus. From basic electrical measurements to sophisticated data-driven systems, wireline technology is essential for oil and gas exploration and production.