A permeability log is generated by running borehole tools in a borehole traversing a formation, including at least electromagnetic (EM) tool providing at least a low-frequency complex conductivity measurement at at least one frequency. Data from the EM tool and other data obtained from other tools are provided to a wideband EM model, where a data inversion is conducted to provide a plurality of outputs from which a cementation exponent may be calculated. The cementation exponent is used to find a formation factor at each depth of interest in the borehole, and the formation factor is used to find a permeability value which is used for the permeability log. The permeability log may be generated without the use of core data.