A method for identifying the thin layer using the wavelet transform of density logging data

Abstract In the late stage of oilfield development, thin reservoirs become particularly important for oil and gas exploration. However, current density logging, as a primary method of reservoir identification, has a lower resolution in identifying thin-layers. In this study, a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) is utilized in density logs to identify thin-layers. By adopting different Daubechies (dbN) wavelets and decomposition levels, we analyze the approximation coefficients (cA) and detailed coefficients (cD) and identify the thin-layer signal from detailed coefficients. And then, we reconstruct a new density curve with enhanced thin-layer signal for identifying the thin layer. Results show that db4 wavelet and 3 level are the optimum mother wavelet and decomposition level for the density logging. Detailed coefficients (cD3) from 3rd level decomposition are highly consistent with the thin-layer information, which is suitable for thin-layer identification. Besides, the reconstructed density curve shows a higher thin-layer resolution. This method is successfully applied in the oilfield, and the thin-layer resolution of density curve is improved from 30 cm to 15 cm in accordance with microspherically focused logging (RXO).