Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Sonic Logs
PETE 3036
Well Logging
Fall 2015
Objectives
1. To understand the physical principles behind the
operation of Sonic logging tools,
2. To learn how to interpret sonic/acoustic logs in terms
of lithology and types of fluids, and some other
petrophysical properties
3. To understand the importance of environmental and
interpretation corrections applied to sonic logs.
Acoustic waves
Acoustic waves are pressure waves that propagate (move)
through the earth in a manner and velocity that is
dependent upon the characteristics and geometry of the
formations. These waves are recorded and analyzed to
estimate many properties of interest in the oil field.
Acoustic waves move through a medium as wavefronts.
The wavefronts are classified by how they move in relation
to the particle movement.
Acoustic Classifications
term
Definition
Seismic
Seismic means to shake or to move violently. Seismic applications in the oil field
originated from the study of seismic events in the earth (i.e., earthquakes). Seismic
applications can be distinguished from other acoustic applications as the energy wave
can be felt as it moves through the earth. Seismic measurements cover very large areas.
sonic
Sonic applications fall into a higher range of frequencies than seismic. These are the
frequencies that can be heard by most human beings. The area of investigation of sonic
waves is much smaller than that of seismic waves. Sonic measurements can be thought
of as microseismic measurements.
Ultrasonic Ultrasonic waves can neither be heard nor felt by people. The area of investigation of
ultrasonic waves is very small and is normally directly in front of the energy source.
Analyzing Sound
The analysis of the sonic waveform falls into
two categories:
Velocity measurements
Amplitude measurements
Velocity Measurements
The measurement of the speed at which each of the
wave fronts (compressional and shear) travel along the
borehole has several applications:
Time to depth conversion can be accomplished by
using the compressional velocity.
Porosity can be estimated by using the compressional
velocity.
Elastic properties can be determined by the
relationship between compressional and shear
velocities which can be used to estimate properties such
as:
Poisson's ratio
Young's Modulus of elasticity
Amplitude Measurements
The measurement of the amplitudes of
the received waveforms is primarily a
cased hole application. The primary
application of this measurement is to
determine the density of the material
that is behind the casing.
Sonic amplitudes are measured with
the same equipment used for the open
hole velocity measurements. Since
slowness is not being measured only
one receiver is needed. Because of
different applications, most amplitude
measuring tools consist of a minimum
of one transmitter and two receivers.
More generally:
t = A + B
Single-receiver system
VC
E (1 )
(1 )(1 2 )
VS
Porosity Determination
Wyllie time Average Method for Determining
Porosity
t log t ma
t
f
ma
Lithology
Sandstone
Limestone
Dolomite
Anydridte
Salt
t log t ma 1
.
B
t
cp
f
ma
Problems:
Transit time includes path
through mud.
Logging tool must be
centralized.
Cycle skipping
Single-receiver system
Compressional
waves
E1
E3
E2
T0
50
sec
Rayleigh
waves
Mud waves
Upper
transmitter
R1
R2
R3
R4
Lower
transmitter
term
Definition
Compressional The compressional arrival is used to estimate the velocity of the formation and the
energy transferred at the boundaries between materials in a well. The
compressional wave has the highest velocity.
Shear
The shear arrival is used to estimate the shear velocity of the formation. The shear
wave is slower than the compressional wave. It ca be as much as one half the
velocity of the compressional wave.
Stoneley
The Stoneley wave is the lowest wave. It exists only on the boundary between the
borehole and the formation. The Stoneley wave has ramifications in fracture
identification.
SONIC LOGS
Types of Sound
Waves:
Compressional/
Pressure/
longitudinal
Shear/ transverse
Stonely / guided
Comparison of a BHC log run with a centered sonde to one run with
a deliberately tilted sonde.
t log t ma 1
.
B
t
cp
f
ma
Example
Shale velocity is 120 ft/section: undercompacted
Bcp = 120/100 = 1.2
Travel time in the wet sand is 113 sec/foot
Travel time for sandstone is 55.5 sec/foot
Travel time for water is 189 sec/foot
= [ (113-55.5)/(189-55.5)]/ 1.2 = 36%
Gas slower velocity than water other effects
True Porosity in Gas Zone = .7 calculated from
time average method assuming fluid is water
Crude Oil Travel time = 238 sec/foot
Provided wellbore is
uniform diameter.
DEPTH OF INVESTIGATION
Depth of investigation varies with wavelength
= velocity/frequency
velocity = 5000-25000 ft/sec
frequency of 20kHz = 20000 cycles per second
varies from 0.25 to 1.25 ft
Thickness of 3 is required to support a compressional
Wave
Therefore, depth of investigation will vary with the
velocity in the formation higher velocity, greater
depth
0.75 ft to 3.75 feet
Enlarged Boreholes
Minimum critical transmitter to receiver distance
may exceed tool design in enlarged boreholes and
slow formations (high cmf)
Washouts in unconsolidated sandstone formations
may result in anamalously slow travel time
readings
looks like cycle skipping
subjectively edited out replaced with data from
regional trend curves for seismic calibration
cannot be used for porosity or lithology
determination
Cycle skipping
occurs when
compressional
wave is
attenuated due
to gas and
fractures.
Cycle Skipping
Indicated by anomalously slow travel times
Thin beds, gas sands, poorly consolidated
formations
Identification: comparison with expected
results from adjacent sands and trend curves
Subjectively edited with trend data or data
from other logs
OK for synthetic seismic, time to depth
conversions
Porosity or lithology determination not possible
Homework
What is the compressional and shear waves
travel time at 6600, 6650, 6918, and 9950 feet?
What is the sonic velocity at these depths?
What is the sonic porosity in the sandstones?
If the sandstones grains were calcite instead of
quartz, what would be the porosity?
If a neutron log showed 28% porosity in a
carbonate rock, and a sonic log showed 20%
porosity, what is the percentage of vuggy
porosity?
Problem 10.3 from the textbook
Sonic Logging
Log Evaluation
QUESTION: what zones are potential economic
hydrocarbon reservoirs
REQUIRED: porosity, permeability and hydrocarbons
SANDSTONES
CARBONATES
STEP 1 Identify porous zones
STEP 2 Identify resistive zones
STEP 3 More detailed analysis
Gas Effect
Terminology
Pay zone that contains economic
hydrocarbons
Gross sand true vertical thickness of total
sand
Net sand gross sand thickness minus
thickness of interbedded shale or tight streaks
Net pay net sand that contains hydrocarbons
t L S xo t mf 1 S xo t hc
Vsh t sh 1 Vsh t ma
tL
Sxo tmf
tL t ma
s
t f t ma
s = Porosity calculated from sonic log reading,
fraction
GR
API
CALIX
IN
DT
200
16
140
USFT
40
30
SPHI
%
10
4100
Sonic travel time
Gamma
Ray
Sonic
porosity
4200
Caliper
SONIC LOG
001) BONANZA 1
GRC
0
150
SPC
-160 MV
40
ACAL
6
16
0.2
0.2
0.2
ILDC
SNC
MLLCF
200
200
RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15
DT
150 us/f 50
200
10700
150
10800
Sonic
Log
10900
DT
us/f
50
EXAMPLE
Calculating Rock Porosity
Using an Acoustic Log
Calculate the porosity for the following intervals. The measured travel times
from the log are summarized in the following table.
0.2
0.2
0.2
ILDC
SNC
MLLCF
200
200
RHOC
1.95
2.95
CNLLC
0.45
-0.15
DT
150 us/f 50
SPHI
45
ss
-15
200
10700
10800
SPHI
10900