Caliper log

A caliper log is a set of measurements of the size and shape of a bore hole commonly made when drilling oil and gas wells. This can be an important indicator of cave ins or shale swelling in the bore hole.

The caliper tool measures the variation in bore hole diameter as it is withdrawn from the bottom of the hole. It is constructed with two or more articulated arms that push against the bore hole wall to take measurements. The arms show variable movements of the cursor by measuring electrical resistance, creating electrical variation. The variation in output is translated into changes of diameter after a simple calibration. The caliper log is printed as a continuous series of values of hole diameter with depth.

Known challenges with caliper logging include borehole spiralling. The position of the drill bit may precess as it drills, leading to spiraling shapes in the wellbore wall, as if the hole had been drilled by a screw. If the arms of the caliper log follow the grooves of the spiral, it will report too high an average diameter. Moving in and out of the grooves, the caliper will give erratic or periodically varying readings.