Multipole P‐wave logging in formations altered by drilling

Geophysics ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1207-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Baker ◽  
G. A. Winbow

Wave trains produced by conventional and multipole sonic logging tools may be expected to depend upon whether the formation has been altered by the drilling process. Such alteration may include invasion by drilling fluids and/or drilling damage. We show, by theoretical modeling, that a dipole or quadrupole tool operating at conventional logging frequencies (in the range 10–20 kHz) detects P waves from the virgin formation with a much higher signal‐to‐noise ratio than does a monopole tool. This permits the multipole tool to measure formation P‐wave velocities two to three times farther away from the borehole than a conventional monopole tool. This larger radius of investigation typically extends beyond the altered zone for most situations, even for sources and receivers spaced several meters apart. Our conclusion is valid only if the velocity of the altered zone is less than the velocity of the virgin formation. If the velocity of the altered zone is larger than that of the virgin formation, no appreciable benefit is obtained by using a multipole tool. Similar results are demonstrated in measuring S‐wave velocities.

1982 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 1535-1547 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Wright

Seismological experiments have been undertaken at a test site near Chalk River, Ontario that consists of crystalline rocks covered by glacial sediments. Near-surface P and S wave velocity and amplitude variations have been measured along profiles less than 2 km in length. The P and S wave velocities were generally in the range 4.5–5.6 and 2.9–3.2 km/s, respectively. These results are consistent with propagation through fractured gneiss and monzonite, which form the bulk of the rock body. The P wave velocity falls below 5.0 km/s in a region where there is a major fault and in an area of high electrical conductivity; such velocity minima are therefore associated with fracture systems. For some paths, the P and 5 wave velocities were in the ranges 6.2–6.6 and 3.7–4.1 km/s, respectively, showing the presence of thin sheets of gabbro. Temporal changes in P travel times of up to 1.4% over a 12 h period were observed where the sediment cover was thickest. The cause may be changes in the water table. The absence of polarized SH arrivals from specially designed shear wave sources indicates the inhomogeneity of the test site. A Q value of 243 ± 53 for P waves was derived over one relatively homogeneous profile of about 600 m length. P wave velocity minima measured between depths of 25 and 250 m in a borehole correlate well with the distribution of fractures inferred from optical examination of borehole cores, laboratory measurements of seismic velocities, and tube wave studies.


Geophysics ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. E125-E134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenya Zhu ◽  
Shihong Chi ◽  
M. Nafi Toksöz

Development of deepwater fields requires drilling deviated or horizontal wells. Many formations are highly anisotropic, that is, the P- and S-wave velocities vary with propagation direction. Sonic logs acquired in these wells need to be corrected for anisotropy effects before the logs can be used in formation evaluation and seismic applications. In this study, we use a laboratory model made of an orthorhombic Phenolite block to study acoustic logging in deviated wells. We first measure the qP-, qSV-, and SH-wave group velocities by using body waves at angles of 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90° relative to the slowest P-wave principal axis of the Phenolite block. We then drill holes at the same angles in the block. We record monopole and dipole sonic waveforms in these holes and extract the qP-, qSV-, SH-, and Stoneley-wave velocities by using the slowness-time semblance method. The velocities measured through the use of monopole logging and dipole logging vary with borehole deviations. We find that an equivalent transversely isotropic (TI) model can fit the measured qP-, qSV-, and Stoneley-wave velocities very well. The S-wave velocities at low to medium borehole deviations can be used to differentiate an orthorhombic material from a TI one.


Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. D283-D291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Liu ◽  
Wenxiao Qiao ◽  
Xiaohua Che ◽  
Xiaodong Ju ◽  
Junqiang Lu ◽  
...  

We have developed a new 3D acoustic logging tool (3DAC). To examine the azimuthal resolution of 3DAC, we have evaluated a 3D finite-difference time-domain model to simulate a case in which the borehole penetrated a rock formation boundary when the tool worked at the azimuthal-transmitting-azimuthal-receiving mode. The results indicated that there were two types of P-waves with different slowness in waveforms: the P-wave of the harder rock (P1) and the P-wave of the softer rock (P2). The P1-wave can be observed in each azimuthal receiver, but the P2-wave appears only in the azimuthal receivers toward the softer rock. When these two types of rock are both fast formations, two types of S-waves also exist, and they have better azimuthal sensitivity compared with P-waves. The S-wave of the harder rock (S1) appears only in receivers toward the harder rock, and the S-wave of the softer rock (S2) appears only in receivers toward the softer rock. A model was simulated in which the boundary between shale and sand penetrated the borehole but not the borehole axis. The P-wave of shale and the S-wave of sand are azimuthally sensitive to the azimuth angle variation of two formations. In addition, waveforms obtained from 3DAC working at the monopole-transmitting-azimuthal-receiving mode indicate that the corresponding P-waves and S-waves are azimuthally sensitive, too. Finally, we have developed a field example of 3DAC to support our simulation results: The azimuthal variation of the P-wave slowness was observed and can thus be used to reflect the azimuthal heterogeneity of formations.


1996 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 1704-1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. D. Catchings ◽  
W. H. K. Lee

Abstract The 17 January 1994, Northridge, California, earthquake produced strong ground shaking at the Cedar Hills Nursery (referred to here as the Tarzana site) within the city of Tarzana, California, approximately 6 km from the epicenter of the mainshock. Although the Tarzana site is on a hill and is a rock site, accelerations of approximately 1.78 g horizontally and 1.2 g vertically at the Tarzana site are among the highest ever instrumentally recorded for an earthquake. To investigate possible site effects at the Tarzana site, we used explosive-source seismic refraction data to determine the shallow (<70 m) P-and S-wave velocity structure. Our seismic velocity models for the Tarzana site indicate that the local velocity structure may have contributed significantly to the observed shaking. P-wave velocities range from 0.9 to 1.65 km/sec, and S-wave velocities range from 0.20 and 0.6 km/sec for the upper 70 m. We also found evidence for a local S-wave low-velocity zone (LVZ) beneath the top of the hill. The LVZ underlies a CDMG strong-motion recording site at depths between 25 and 60 m below ground surface (BGS). Our velocity model is consistent with the near-surface (<30 m) P- and S-wave velocities and Poisson's ratios measured in a nearby (<30 m) borehole. High Poisson's ratios (0.477 to 0.494) and S-wave attenuation within the LVZ suggest that the LVZ may be composed of highly saturated shales of the Modelo Formation. Because the lateral dimensions of the LVZ approximately correspond to the areas of strongest shaking, we suggest that the highly saturated zone may have contributed to localized strong shaking. Rock sites are generally considered to be ideal locations for site response in urban areas; however, localized, highly saturated rock sites may be a hazard in urban areas that requires further investigation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-158
Author(s):  
Ionelia Panea

Results are presented for shallow seismic reflection measurements performed southwest of Săcel village in Romania for the purpose of obtaining information about the geological structure in the near subsurface. The P-wave and S-wave velocity distributions were also obtained below the soil surface. The measurements were performed along a nearly linear profile on the top of an elongated hill. Most of the shot gathers were characterized by a good signal-to-noise ratio. A depth-converted migrated section was obtained after the processing of shot gathers, on which an image of sedimentary deposits with various thicknesses, separated by shallow faults until a depth of about 80 m, were observed. The P-wave and S-wave velocity-depth models for two segments were of considerable interest for a geotechnical study proposed for the construction of a windmill park. The two- and three-layered P-wave velocity-depth models were comparable until depths of about 10 m after first-arrival traveltime inversions. The lateral variations in the subsurface geological structure and lithology reflected the variations in the P-wave velocity values from both models. The S-wave velocity-depth models for comparable depth intervals were similar to those from the P-wave velocity-depth models. Reliable S-wave velocity distributions were obtained after inversion of fundamental-mode and higher-mode surface waves.


2019 ◽  
Vol 220 (1) ◽  
pp. 393-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Wei Wang ◽  
Li-Yun Fu ◽  
Jia Wei ◽  
Wanting Hou ◽  
Jing Ba ◽  
...  

SUMMARY Thermoelasticity extends the classical elastic theory by coupling the fields of particle displacement and temperature. The classical theory of thermoelasticity, based on a parabolic-type heat-conduction equation, is characteristic of an unphysical behaviour of thermoelastic waves with discontinuities and infinite velocities as a function of frequency. A better physical system of equations incorporates a relaxation term into the heat equation; the equations predict three propagation modes, namely, a fast P wave (E wave), a slow thermal P wave (T wave), and a shear wave (S wave). We formulate a second-order tensor Green's function based on the Fourier transform of the thermodynamic equations. It is the displacement–temperature solution to a point (elastic or heat) source. The snapshots, obtained with the derived second-order tensor Green's function, show that the elastic and thermal P modes are dispersive and lossy, which is confirmed by a plane-wave analysis. These modes have similar characteristics of the fast and slow P waves of poroelasticity. Particularly, the thermal mode is diffusive at low thermal conductivities and becomes wave-like for high thermal conductivities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 283 ◽  
pp. 06003
Author(s):  
Guangxue Zheng ◽  
Hanhao Zhu ◽  
Jun Zhu

A method of geo-acoustic parameter inversion based on the Bayesian theory is proposed for the acquisition of acoustic parameters in shallow sea with the elastic seabed. Firstly, the theoretical prediction value of the sound pressure field is calculated by the fast field method (FFM). According to the Bayesian theory, we establish the misfit function between the measured sound pressure field and the theoretical pressure field. It is under the assumption of Gaussian data errors which are in line with the likelihood function. Finally, the posterior probability density (PPD) of parameters is given as the result of inversion. Our research is conducted in the light of Metropolis sample rules. Apart from numerical simulations, a scaled model experiment has been taken in the laboratory tank. The results of numerical simulations and tank experiments show that sound pressure field calculated by the result of inversion is consistent with the measured sound pressure field. Besides, s-wave velocities, p-wave velocities and seafloor density have fewer uncertainties and are more sensitive to complex sound pressure than s-wave attenuation and p-wave attenuation. The received signals calculated by inversion results are keeping with received signals in the experiment which verify the effectiveness of this method.


2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 627
Author(s):  
R.G. Williams ◽  
G. Roberts ◽  
K. Hawkins

Seismic energy that has been mode converted from pwave to s-wave in the sub-surface may be recorded by multi-component surveys to obtain information about the elastic properties of the earth. Since the energy converted to s-wave is missing from the p-wave an alternative to recording OBC multi-component data is to examine p-wave data for the missing energy. Since pwave velocities are generally faster than s-wave velocities, then for a given reflection point the converted s-wave signal reaches the surface at a shorter offset than the equivalent p-wave information. Thus, it is necessary to record longer offsets for p-wave data than for multicomponent data in order to measure the same information.A non-linear, wide-angle (including post critical) AVO inversion has been developed that allows relative changes in p-wave velocities, s-wave velocities and density to be extracted from long offset p-wave data. To extract amplitudes at long offsets for this inversion it is necessary to image the data correctly, including correcting for higher order moveout and possibly anisotropy if it is present.The higher order moveout may itself be inverted to yield additional information about the anisotropy of the sub-surface.


2015 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Badee Alshameri ◽  
Ismail Bakar ◽  
Aziman Madun ◽  
Edy Tonnizam Mohamad

One of the main geophysical tools (seismic tools) in the laboratory is the bender element. This tool can be used to measure some dynamic soil properties (e.g. shear and Young’s modulus). However, even if it relatively simple to use the bender element, inconsistent testing procedures can cause poor quality in the bender element data. One of the bender element procedure that always neglected is the alignment (different positions of bender element receiver to the transmitter in the vertical axis). The alignment effect was evaluated via changing the horizontal distance between transmitter and receiver starting from 0 to 110 mm for two sizes of the sample's thickness (i.e. 63.17 mm and 91.51 mm). Five methods were applied to calculate the travel times. Those methods were as the following: visually, first-peak, maximum-peak, CCexcel and CCGDS. In general, the experiments indicated uncertain results for both of the P-wave (primary wave) and S-wave (secondary wave) velocities at zone of Dr:D above 0.5:1 (where Dr is the horizontal distance of the receiver from the vertical axis and D is the thickness of the sample). On the other hand, both the visual and first-peak methods show the wave velocities results are higher than obtained from other methods. However, the ratio between the amplitude of transmitter signals to receiver amplitude signal was taken to calculate the damping-slope of the P-wave and S-wave. Thus the results from damping slope show steeply slope when the ratio of  Dr:D is above 0.5:1 compare with gentle slope below ratio 0.5:1 at the sample with thickness equal to 91.51 mm, while there is no variation at a slope in sample with thickness equal to 63.17 mm.


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