Sonic Well Logging

DB #16691
Application Background

 Acoustic or sonic logging uses a transducer

to send out an acoustic pulse that travels
through the fluid in the well and the The transmitter is driven to
surrounding elastic materials (e.g. rocks) at send out a pulsed wave.
a velocity that is related to the lithology and
porosity of the
elastic materials.
 The receivers may detect the signals of: Different wave modes
arrive at the receiver at
 Acoustic energy that travels through the different times.
fluid and reaches the receivers.
 Acoustic energy reflected back to the fluid
at the fluid-solid interface. Stoneley

 Acoustic energy transmitted into the solid

and refracted back to the fluid. compressional shear

 Different wave modes induced within the

solid and at the fluid-solid interface travel at
different speeds and therefore will reach Fastest mode
the receivers at different times. The 2nd Fastest mode
receivers then convert the mechanical Slowest mode
signal to an electrical signal, and the transit
times between the transmitter and the
receivers or between the receivers can be
recorded for velocity logging.
What this Model Does

 This model demonstrates:

- How to model piezoelectric devices as both transmitters and receivers in COMSOL Multiphysics
- How to connect the piezoelectric devices to an external electric circuit
- How to model different wave modes induced in solid and fluid-solid interface using a pulse excitation
- Although this is an example for sonic well logging, the same scheme can be used to model
nondestructive testing
Geometry

 Set the model in a 2D Transmitter

Wall of log
axi-symmetric configuration device
 Water filled well:
- radius = 0.1 m
- height = 6.0 m 2m
 Solid around well:

z coordinate (m)
- radius = 0.7 m Granite
(solid
- height = 6.0 m domain)
 First transducer is connected to an electric
circuit and is excited by a pulse of electric 1st receiver

signal
Radius
 Two other transducers are attached to the of well 1m
0.1m Water
wall of the sonic log device and used as domain
signal receivers
2nd receiver
r coordinate (m)
Details of Piezoelectric Transducers

 The piezoelectric transducers contain composite layers that consist of a piezoceramic (PZT-
5H) layer, two aluminum layers, and two adhesive layers.

Adhesive layers

Aluminum PZT-5H Aluminum

 Multiphysics and Couplings

Piezoelectric Acoustic-Solid Acoustic-Solid

Effect Interaction Interaction
Electrical Solid Solid
Electrostatics Acoustics
Circuit Mechanics Mechanics

An Electrical Circuit is connected to the piezoelectric Between the transducers Between the fluid and
device to drive the device and receive signals and the fluid the surrounding solid
Resistor
2 1
Pressure SOLID
1000[Ω]
+
- Terminal 1
Normal
0 PZD FLUID Acceleration

Bidirectional coupling at the fluid-solid interface

Physics interfaces used:

 Electrical Circuit

 Acoustic-Piezoelectric Interaction, Frequency Domain

 Solid Mechanics
Pressure and Displacement

Both figures are animations (start the slideshow to see them). The data range has been set manually to highlight the waves as they propagate in the system.
Signals at Terminals

Source

Receiver 1

Receiver 2
Detected Electric Signals 1

1st receiver 2nd receiver

Mode arriving 3rd

Mode arriving 3rd

Mode arriving 2nd

Mode arriving 2nd

Mode arriving 1st Mode arriving 1st

 Detected Electric Signals 2

Mode arriving 1st Mode arriving 2nd Mode arriving 3rd

1st receiver

2nd receiver

Estimation of the dt1=1.9e-4 s dt2=3.3e-4 s dt3=7e-4 s

wave speed c1=1[m]/dt1=5263 m/s c2=1[m]/dt2=3030 m/s c3=1[m]/dt3=1429 m/s
based on the time Known granite pressure wave Known granite shear wave A surface wave traveling at the
of flight speed: 5262 m/s speed: 3038 m/s fluid-solid interface - Stoneley
wave
Waves Traveling along Water-Solid Interface

Surface wave
Pressure (solid.pm) along the water-solid interface at different times

Shear wave
Compressional wave
 Wave Traveling along Water-Solid Interface

Fastest mode 2nd fastest mode Slowest mode

t = 4e-4 s

t = 6e-4 s

Estimation of the ds1=1.037 m- ds2=0.6 m ds3=0.29 m

wave speed c1=ds1/2e-4[s]=5185 m/s c2=ds2/2e-4[s]=3000 m/s c3=ds3/2e-4[s]=1450 m/s
based on the Known granite pressure wave Known granite shear wave A surface wave traveling at the
transit distance speed: 5262 m/s speed: 3038 m/s fluid-solid interface - Stoneley
for a known wave
transit time