Dispersion and radial depth of investigation of borehole modes |
| |
| Authors: | Bikash K Sinha Sergey Asvadurov |
| |
| Institution: | Schlumberger-Doll Research, Old Quarry Road, Ridgefield, CT 06877-4108, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Sonic techniques in geophysical prospecting involve elastic wave velocity measurements that are performed by placing acoustic transmitters and receivers in a fluid‐filled borehole. The signals recorded at the receivers are processed to obtain compressional‐ and shear‐wave velocities in the surrounding formation. These velocities are generally used in seismic surveys for the time‐to‐depth conversion and other formation parameters, such as porosity and lithology. Depending upon the type of transmitter used (e.g. monopole or dipole) and as a result of eccentering, it is possible to excite axisymmetric (n= 0) , flexural (n= 1) and quadrupole (n= 2) families of modes propagating along the borehole. We present a study of various propagating and leaky modes that includes their dispersion and attenuation characteristics caused by radiation into the surrounding formation. A knowledge of propagation characteristics of borehole modes helps in a proper selection of transmitter bandwidth for suppressing unwanted modes that create problems in the inversion for the compressional‐ and shear‐wave velocities from the dispersive arrivals. It also helps in the design of a transmitter for a preferential excitation of a given mode in order to reduce interference with drill‐collar or drilling noise for sonic measurements‐while‐drilling. Computational results for the axisymmetric family of modes in a fast formation with a shear‐wave velocity of 2032 m/s show the existence of Stoneley, pseudo‐Rayleigh and anharmonic cut‐off modes. In a slow formation with a shear‐wave velocity of 508 m/s, we find the existence of the Stoneley mode and the first leaky compressional mode which cuts in at approximately the same normalized frequency ωa/VS= 2.5 (a is the borehole radius) as that of the fast formation. The corresponding modes among the flexural family include the lowest‐order flexural and anharmonic cut‐off modes. For both the fast and slow formations, the first anharmonic mode cuts in at a normalized frequency ωa/VS= 1.5 approximately. Cut‐off frequencies of anharmonic modes are inversely proportional to the borehole radius in the absence of any tool. The borehole quadrupole mode can also be used for estimating formation shear slownesses. The radial depth of investigation with a quadrupole mode is marginally less than that of a flexural mode because of its higher frequency of excitation. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
|
|
