Ep 157: Peter Barrett Borehole Imaging with Halliburton

What happens when you mix a deep passion for mathematics with the wild, high-stakes world of subsurface logging? You get a 35-year career on the absolute front lines of borehole imaging. In this episode of the People Behind Energy (PBE) Podcast, host Troy Tittlemier sits down live at the 67th Annual SPWLA Symposium with Peter Barrett, Product Champion for Imaging at Halliburton Wireline and VP of IT for SPWLA. Peter shares his incredible journey from handling open-reel tapes in the UK in 1991 to pioneering the high-frequency resistivity tools used today. We dive deep into the heavy physics of well log analysis, look at how image logs flipped industry preconceptions about oil-based mud upside down, and discuss how AI is shaping the next generation of petrophysics. If you are a geoscientist, petrophysicist, or energy professional interested in formation evaluation, fracture networks, and the future of subsurface data integration, this masterclass is for you. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro & The SPWLA Volunteer Engine 4:15 - A Broken Arm & Borehole Fractures (Safety Moment) 6:23 - Peter’s Journey: From Mathematics to Wireline (1991) 9:47 - 1969: The Birth of Acoustic Borehole Imaging 14:12 - Primary vs. Secondary Porosity & Correcting Tool Dynamics 21:06 - Acoustic vs. Resistivity Logs: Target-Specific Strategies 28:13 - The Oil-Based Mud Breakthrough & The Mudcake Surprise 35:51 - Stoneley Waves: Seeing Fluid & Fractures Far-Field 41:45 - AI in Petrophysics: Reliable, Robust, & Repeatable 51:47 - Mentorship & Giving the Next Gen the Credit 56:03 - The Final Milestone of 1969 & Outro 💡 KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE: The "Mudcake Surprise": Why small fractures in highly resistive oil-based muds give a conductive response. Acoustic vs. Resistivity: When to run both tools simultaneously to achieve the ultimate 360° wellbore view. Far-Field Integration: Using Stoneley waves to look several feet away from the borehole wall to prove fracture connectivity. The 3 Rs of Data: Ensuring machine learning and AI processing remain Reliable, Robust, and Repeatable behind secure firewalls. Subscribe to PBE: Don't miss an episode—hit that subscribe button and turn on notifications! A special thank you to our Media Hub sponsors, Upstream, Integrity Insitu and including Saber Drilling Muds, and the entire SPWLA committee for putting together an incredible 67th annual symposium. #Petrophysics #BoreholeImaging #Wireline #Halliburton #SPWLA #Geology #LogAnalysis #OilAndGas #EnergyIndustry #PBEPodcast