Resistivity imaging using EM propagation measurements

A tangible and non-transitory machine readable medium, comprising instructions to cause a processing system to:

• calculate a resistivity image for a formation utilizing at least one EM propagation measurement of a set of EM propagation measurements generated by an EM logging tool during a drilling operation to allow for mapping-while-drilling or logging—while drilling services that provide delineation of reservoir layers and formation evaluation during the drilling operation, wherein the EM propagation measurements are generated based upon one or more signals transmitted from a transmitter comprising one or more co-axial coils disposed at a first location along the EM logging tool and received by at least one receiver disposed at a second location along the EM logging tool, wherein the at least one receiver comprises at least one of a tilted coil, a transverse coil, or an axial coil as an antenna to receive at least one signal of the one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter of the EM logging tool, wherein the resistivity image is calculated without use of an inversion technique or lookup table, wherein calculation of the resistivity image is based upon a summation of a determined average conductivity of the formation and a determined directional conductivity of the formation;
• and
• generate a control signal for automatic control of a direction of movement of a drilling component based upon the resistivity image for transmission to the EM logging tool to automatically adjust a direction of drilling during the drilling operation by adjusting a direction of a drill bit of the EM logging tool based upon the control signal received by the EM logging tool.

A method, comprising:

• generating EM propagation measurements during a drilling operation to allow for mapping-while-drilling or logging—while drilling services that provide delineation of reservoir layers and formation evaluation during the drilling operation, wherein the EM propagation measurements are generated based upon one or more signals transmitted from a transmitter comprising one or more co-axial coils disposed at a first location along an EM logging tool and received by at least one receiver disposed at a second location along the EM logging tool, wherein the at least one receiver comprises at least one of a tilted coil, a transverse coil, or an axial coil as an antenna to receive at least one signal of the one or more signals transmitted from the transmitter;
• calculating a resistivity image for a formation utilizing at least one EM propagation measurement of the EM propagation measurements and without use of an inversion technique or lookup table, wherein calculating the resistivity image is based upon a summation of a determined average conductivity of the formation and a determined directional conductivity of the formation;
• transmitting the resistivity image for display;
• generating a control signal for automatic control of a direction of movement of a drilling component based upon the resistivity image;
• and
• receiving the control signal via the EM logging tool and automatically adjusting a direction of drilling during the drilling operation by adjusting a direction of a drill bit of the EM logging tool based upon the control signal received by the EM logging tool.