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Abstract The Western Offshore Basin, stretching from Gujarat to Maharashtra along the western coast of India, is a geologically significant region. It covers a vast area of the Arabian Sea, transitioning from the continental shelf to deep oceanic waters. This basin holds substantial reserves of oil and natural gas, making it highly important for hydrocarbon exploration and production. In the pursuit of maximizing production rates and recovery efficiency, the petroleum industry recognizes the value of horizontal wells in this region. By drilling horizontally, these wells offer an effective solution for reducing the number of wells required to exploit a field, thanks to their extensive exposure to the reservoir. However, it is crucial to address the challenges associated with completing these wells to extend their operational lifespan. To optimize oil recovery and enhance well longevity, it is essential to complete horizontal wells with an appropriate number of Inflow Control Devices (ICDs) that possess suitable Flow Resistance Ratings (FRR). This configuration ensures the uniform distribution of flow along the horizontal section in highly permeable formations. It also helps manage early breakthrough at the heel in thin oil formations and delays water breakthrough in locations with high permeability in heterogeneous formations. The advent of advanced high-definition Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) electrical imaging services has revolutionized subsurface characterization during drilling operations. This state-of-the-art technology combines LWD measurements with high-resolution electrical imaging capabilities, providing unprecedented insights into the geological formations surrounding the wellbore. Real-time images enable the timely detection and mitigation of wellbore stability issues, such as drilling-induced tensile fractures and breakout. Additionally, real-time images facilitate sedimentary steering, enabling optimal placement of the wellbore within the formation. This paper aims to assess the advancements in high-definition logging-while-drilling electrical imaging tools. These tools acquire micro resistivity data around the entire circumference of the borehole while the bottomhole assembly (BHA) is rotating. The processed micro resistivity images obtained from LWD effectively reveal the presence of fractures, which are subsequently categorized into different zones to determine the optimal ICD completion based on fracture density. The high-definition images acquired using the LWD Electrical Image logging tool provide clear visualization of detailed fractures, vugs, and connected vugs.
Bagga et al. (Thu,) studied this question.