Uncertainty assessment of volumes of investigation to enhance the vertical resolution of well-logs

Whereas well-log data are dense recordings, i.e. low sampling rate, there is a high depth uncertainty. The depth uncertainty originates from the volumetric nature of well-logging that each record belongs to a volume of investigation, around the logging tool. The developed algorithm in this work consists of two parts: (i) uncertainty assessment using Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST). The lower (upper) uncertainty boundary of each well-log is calculated by belief (plausibility) function. (ii) Four simulators are designed for scanning the uncertainty range in order to enhance the vertical resolution of well-logs (similar to 60 cm) by generating simulated-logs (vertical resolution of similar to 15 cm). Shoulder-bed effect is reduced simultaneously with resolution improvement, resulting in more accurate thin-bed characterization. In order to validate functionality of the simulators, two error criteria are considered: ideal- and constraint-based errors. Ideal-based error is applicable in synthetic-logs where the rock specifications are completely known through ideal-logs. However, constraint-based error does not need ideal-log. It measures the error due to the volumetric nature of the well-logs, hence applicable in the real cases. The high correlation (R-2=0.89) between both the errors indicates that the second criterion is precise for validation. Step-by-step procedure of the algorithm is shown in detail on synthetic and real data (a cored interval). Finally, DST-based algorithm is not only automated but also more accurate than geometry-based thin bed characterization method. The error bars of characterizing gamma, density and neutron porosity of thin-beds are lower in DST-based algorithm by 100%, 71% and 66%, respectively.