Method to compute density of fractures from image logs

A method for performing a formation-related physical action, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a processor, image data of a wall of a borehole penetrating a formation, the image data comprising image data of fractures intersecting the wall of the borehole;
• defining, with the processor, a volume surrounding the borehole;
• determining, with the processor, a surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in a plurality of depths;
• calculating, with the processor, a fracture density for each defined depth based on the surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in the plurality of depths and a size of the volume;
• and
• performing the formation-related physical action based on the fracture density for each defined depth using an apparatus configured to perform the formation-related physical action;
• wherein adjacent volumes meet or overlap to provide continuous coverage over a defined range of depths.

An apparatus for performing a formation-related physical action, the apparatus comprising:

• a non-transitory processor-readable medium comprising instructions for implementing a method comprising:
• receiving, with a processor, image data of a wall of a borehole penetrating a formation, the image data comprising image data of fractures intersecting the wall of the borehole;
• defining, with the processor, a volume surrounding the borehole;
• determining, with the processor, a surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in a plurality of depths;
• calculating, with the processor, a fracture density for each defined depth based on the surface area of each fracture intersecting the volume at each defined depth in the plurality of depths and a size of the volume by dividing a sum of the surface areas of the fractures intersecting the volume for each defined depth by the size of the volume;
• a processor configured to execute the instructions;
• and
• an apparatus configured to perform the formation-related physical action based on the calculated fracture density for each defined depth.