welly - Well Data Analysis
The examples are checked with welly 0.5.2. This release imports
pkg_resources, so its environment needs setuptools<81. The repository's
scientific test requirements record the other tested dependency versions.
Quick Reference
pythonfrom welly import Well, Project # Load single well w = Well.from_las('well.las') # Access data df = w.df() # DataFrame gr = w.data['GR'] # Curve object values = gr.values # numpy array depth = gr.basis # depth array # Well info print(w.name, w.uwi) print(w.data.keys()) # Available curves # Load multiple wells p = Project.from_las('wells/*.las') for well in p: print(well.name)
Key Classes
| Class | Purpose |
|---|---|
Well | Single well with curves, location, tops |
Project | Collection of wells for multi-well workflows |
Curve | Log curve with depth basis, units, and processing methods |
Essential Operations
Access Curve Data
pythongr = w.data['GR'] print(gr.mnemonic, gr.units) # Metadata print(gr.start, gr.stop, gr.step) # Depth range
Process Curves
pythonimport numpy as np gr = w.data['GR'] # Clean and filter gr_clean = gr.despike(window_length=5, z=2) gr_smooth = gr_clean.apply(window_length=11, func1d=np.nanmean) w.data['GR'] = gr_clean # Use the cleaned curve in subsequent well exports. # Optional dimensionless display array; retain GR's physical API units in w. values = gr_clean.as_numpy().ravel() finite = np.isfinite(values) gr_norm = np.full_like(values, np.nan, dtype=float) if finite.any() and np.ptp(values[finite]) > 0: gr_norm[finite] = (values[finite] - values[finite].min()) / np.ptp(values[finite]) gr_resampled = gr_clean.to_basis(step=0.5) gr_window = gr_clean.to_basis(start=1500, stop=1510) # Outside support is NaN.
See the Curve API for
despike, apply, and to_basis parameters. Review filtering against thin beds
before treating the processed curve as interpretation input.
Work with Formation Tops
pythonw.tops = { 'TopFormationA': 1500.0, 'TopFormationB': 1750.0, } for name, depth in w.tops.items(): print(f"{name}: {depth} m")
Multi-Well Project
pythonfrom welly import Project p = Project.from_las('wells/*.las') print(f"Loaded {len(p)} wells") # Filter and analyze for w in p: if 'GR' in w.data: print(f"{w.name}: GR mean={w.data['GR'].values.mean():.1f}")
Export Data
python# To DataFrame df = w.df() # To LAS file w.to_las('output.las') # To CSV df.to_csv('well_data.csv')
Common Curve Mnemonics
| Mnemonic | Description | Units |
|---|---|---|
| GR | Gamma Ray | GAPI |
| NPHI | Neutron Porosity | v/v |
| RHOB | Bulk Density | g/cc |
| DT | Sonic | us/ft |
| RT/ILD | Deep Resistivity | ohm.m |
| CALI | Caliper | in |
Tips
- Use Project for multi-well workflows - easier than managing individual files
- Check units - welly tracks units, ensure consistency
- Despike before analysis - remove outliers with
curve.despike() - Resample to common basis - use
curve.resample()for cross-well comparison - welly extends lasio - all lasio functionality available
When to Use vs Alternatives
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| welly | Multi-well projects, curve processing, formation tops management |
| lasio | Low-level LAS file I/O, header manipulation, malformed files |
| petropy | Petrophysical calculations (Vsh, porosity, Sw, permeability) |
Use welly when you need to manage wells as objects with curves, tops, and metadata -- especially for multi-well QC and cross-well analysis via Project.
Use lasio instead when you only need to read/write LAS files, handle malformed headers, or need fine control over LAS formatting.
Use petropy instead when your focus is formation evaluation calculations (shale volume, porosity, water saturation) rather than data management.
Common Workflows
Load and QC a multi-well project
text- [ ] Load wells with `Project.from_las('wells/*.las')` - [ ] Check well count and names: `len(p)`, iterate wells - [ ] Verify required curves exist in each well (`'GR' in w.data`) - [ ] Despike and clean noisy curves: `curve.despike()` - [ ] Resample to common depth basis for cross-well comparison - [ ] Compute summary statistics per well (mean, min, max) - [ ] Export cleaned data to LAS or DataFrame
References
- Curve Processing - Despike, smooth, normalize, resample methods
- Project Workflows - Multi-well analysis patterns
Scripts
- scripts/well_qc.py - QC well data for gaps and issues
- scripts/project_stats.py - Compute project-level statistics


