Ultrasonic borehole velocity imaging
We describe a new technique for making high-resolution velocity images of rocks using refracted ultrasonic waves. The use of refracted waves makes this technique potentially suitable for imaging borehole walls. In the laboratory, we use a single-transmitter, two-receiver, first-arrival method for making velocity measurements, with a spatial resolution on the order of [Formula: see text]. Our acoustic pulses are centered near [Formula: see text]. Scans of a borehole wall reveal dipping thin layers and fractures. When external stress is applied perpendicular to the borehole, stress concentrations appear on our images as axial bands of high and low velocities. Breakouts created by high stress also can be imaged. On a planar sample, a velocity image reveals shale laminations and carbonate stringers. For field applications, this technique offers the potential for imaging in both conductive and nonconductive muds and provides images based on a physical property (velocity) that currently is not used for fine-scale borehole imaging.