Well logging is a technique used to determine physical and chemical properties of rock formations and fluids in the subsurface. It involves lowering instruments down boreholes to collect data on properties like porosity, permeability, fluid content. This data is used to locate and define hydrocarbon reservoirs, estimate reserves, and optimize well construction and production. Modern well logging provides cheaper and quicker subsurface data collection compared to traditional coring and cuttings. A variety of open hole and cased hole logging tools and techniques are used at different stages of hydrocarbon exploration and production.