Wireline

cable
Well

T1

Upper
Transmitor

R1
R2
R3
R4
T2

Lower
Transmitor

Chapter-8
Sonic Logs
By

Dr. Jorge Salgado Gomes

3/4/2013

Chap -8

Duration of this chapter: 2 classes1(180)

Educational Outcomes
Review some concepts of sound wave
propagation & acoustic property of rocks
Review the principle of the Sonic Tools
Acoustic wave-train; pulse detection; cycle skipping;
calibration; long-spacing tools

Compare tools
Vertical resolution and depth of investigation

The use of the Sonic Tool

Examples of application
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Chap -8

Sonic Logging: Principle

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In a homogeneous formation, the acoustic

(sound) wave emitted from a source
(transmitter) in the middle of the well
propagates radially through the mud and a
receiver (detector) at a certain distance will
record the time the sound waves propagate
through the medium.
The velocity of the medium can therefore
be computed.
Two types of sound waves are propagated:
compressional (pressure) waves and shear
(distortional) waves.
Two other types of waves are propagated:
The Rayleigh wave and the Stoneley wave.
At a receiver we have the combination of
these various waves arrivals.
The aim of the tool is to measure the time
of propagation of a sound wave through the
formation over a fixed distance.
Basically we need a transmitter and a
receiver some distance away on the tool.

Chap -8

Evolution of Sonic Tools

Single Receiver Tool

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Two Receiver Tool

Chap -8

BHC Tool

BHC (Sonic) Tool

Wireline
cable

Well

T1

Upper
Transmitor

R1
R2

R3
R4

3/4/2013

T2

Lower
Transmitor

Notes:
However, there are possible
problems with only one T-R pair.
For example, large cavings will
distort the sonic signal and the
tool may read the mud velocity.
Thus we must use a two receiver
setup. But this setup is still
subject to sonde tilt and to
eliminate this problem, a double
inverted system, with 2T and 4R,
should be used instead (see
diagram).
Hence the tool name BHC Bore
Hole Compensated.

Chap -8

Sound Waves

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Compressional Waves: The wave is

propagated in the compressional mode
that is, the direction of propagation is
parallel to the direction of particle
displacement. These waves can be
propagated through gases, liquids and
solids.
Shear Waves: Are propagated in the shear
mode, i.e., the direction of propagation is
perpendicular to the direction of particle
displacement. Shear waves can be
propagated in solids but not in liquids or
gases.
The Rayleigh Wave: It takes place at the
interface mud-formation and its speed is
quite close to the shear wave speed.
The Stoneley Wave: It takes place in the
mud by interaction between the mud and
the formation; it is very sensitive to the wall
rigidity. The energy is propagated at a low
frequency with small attenuation. Its
velocity is lower than the mud velocity.
Chap -8

Sonic Wave Velocities

Velocity of Compressional Wave

Velocity of Shear Wave

1/ 2

1/ 2

K 1.33

Vp

Vs

Where:
K is the bulk modulus
is the shear modulus
is the density of the medium

Vs is 1.6 to 2.4 times lower than Vp

Velocity of Rayleigh wave ~ 0.9 Vs
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Chap -8

Typical BHC Acoustic Log Presentation

Log readings are scaled not
as velocity but as a transit
time (also known as
slowness), expressed in
microseconds per foot.

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Chap -8

Sonic Response: Wyllie Linear Relationship

t 1 tmatrix t fluid
t tmatrix

t fluid tmatrix
Time Average ft/sec (m/s)
Matrix 19500 (5944)
Fluid 5000 (1524)

35
30
Porosity (pu)

Valid for:
Uniform intergranular
Water-bearing formation
Clean formation: no shale
Compacted formation

25
20
15
10
5

0
120 110 100
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Chap -8

90

80

70

60 50
Slowness s/ft
9

from Wyllies original publication, reprinted by Ellis 1987

Wyllie Time Average for SONIC

Tixiers correction
for compaction.
Bcp is a
compaction
Factor:
Bcp= tsh/100

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Chap -8

10

Raymer-Hunt Equation

26%

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Chap -8

11

Factors Affecting the Measurements

Compaction: The elastic properties of the rock are regarded as
constant if the pressure on the rock is sufficiently large (several
thousand psi). At lower pressures (shallow depth), a correction
factor may be needed, the compaction factor, Cp.
Shaliness: If shale is present in the formation, then it will contribute
to the measured transit time (t).

t log t fluid . t matrix .(1 Vsh ) t shale.Vshale

Hydrocarbon: No significant effect on t
Fractures & vugs: Sonic ignores them (secondary porosity). Sonic
< true total ; Secondary Porosity Index (SPI )= s
Borehole Effects: Should be filled with liquid and hole 50% bit
size. If not we have attenuation of the far receiver signals - cycle
skipping
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Chap -8

12

Sonic Log Cycle Skipping

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Chap -8

13

Schematic Array Sonic

This tool records the complete waveforms to

extract the compressional, shear and stoneley
slowness.

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Chap -8

14

Carbonates: Velocity vs. porosity

7000
vp in m/s

microporosity

6000

interparticle
crystalline porosity

5000

densely cemented
low porous

4000

moldic porosity

3000

8 MPa effective pressure

2000

1000

10

20

30
porosity

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40

50

Different pore types cluster

in the porosity-velocity
field, indicating that
60 scattering at equal porosity
is caused by the
specific pore type and their
resultant elastic property.

Data from: Eberli, G.P., Baechle, G.T., Anselmetti, F.S., 2003, Factors controlling elastic properties in
Chap sediments
-8
15
carbonate
and rocks, The Leading Edge, July 2003, 654-660

Mean Values for Slowness of Matrix, Pore Filling, Concrete & Casing
L - Lehnert et al.1970, S - Schlumberger 1989;
Se - Serra 1984; W - Western Atlas 1992

Material

t in s/m

t in s/ft

Ref.

176.5 328 (187)

167.3 182
consolidated
172.5
semi-consolidated 182.4
unconsolidated
192.9

53.8 100 (57.0)

51.0 55.5
52.6
55.6
58.8 or more

Se
S
W
W
W

Limestone

47.6
43.5 47.6
43.5 47.6 (46.5)

W
S
Se

143.5
142.7

43.5
43.7
43.5

W
L
S

197 558

60 170

Se

Sandstone

156.2
142.7 156.2
149.3 155.8 (152.6)

Dolomite

Shale
Chap -8
3/4/2013

142.7

16

Mean Values for Slowness of Pore Filling, Concrete & Casing

Material

t in s/m

t in s/ft

Ref.

Water (pure)
(10 % NaCl)
(20 % NaCl)

715
682
620

218
208
189

W
W
W

Oil

781

238

Methane
Air

2034
2985

626
910

W
W

Concrete
Casing (steel)

Chap -8
3/4/2013

273 312 (312)

187.3

83.3 95.1 (95.0)

57.1

Se
Se

17

Examples of Application

Tools: BHC, Long Space Sonic (LSS), Array Sonic, Dipole Sonic (DSI)
Porosity & Lithology: All tools determine porosity and lithology
All tools assess secondary porosity
For fracture detection: Array & DSI are the best tools.

Geomechanical Properties
DSI Dipole Sonic Imager, for hard & soft rocks
Array Sonic, for hard rocks only

Seismic Applications
All tools are useful for seismic tie-ins
And for calculation of acoustic impedance for seismic inversion studies
For synthetic seismogram the LSS is a better tool

GeoSteering horizontal wells

LSS is a better tool to detect boundaries above/below the bit

Permeability
Can be computed from the Stoneley slowness

Gas Detection: From the Vp/Vs ratio

Cement Evaluation in Cased Holes
Cement bond quality based on measurements of acoustic wave attenuation

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Chap -8

18

END

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Chap -8

19

Schematic E2 Signal Detection (Two receivers)

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Chap -8

20