1. n. [Formation Evaluation]

The distance from the borehole wall that the mud filtrate has penetrated into the formation. The depth of invasion affects whether a log measures the invaded zone, the undisturbed zone or part of each zone. The term is closely related to the diameter of invasion, the latter being twice the depth of invasion plus the borehole diameter. Depth of invasion is a more appropriate parameter for describing the response of pad and azimuthally focused measurements such as density and microresistivity logs. The term is well-defined in the case of a step profile of invasion. In the case of an annulus or a transition zone, two depths must be defined, corresponding to the inner and outer limits of the annulus or transition zone. When the invasion model is not specified, the term usually refers to the outer limit of invasion.

See: azimuthal,  diameter of invasion,  filtrate slump,  flushed zone,  step profile,  transition zone