Abstract
Acoustic waves enter a rock formation from a borehole and are reflected or scattered upon encountering a geologic structure. Consequently, we obtain the structure location represented by the azimuth and distance from the borehole using the acoustic reflection or scattering. Downhole acoustic measurements with the azimuthal resolution are realized using an azimuthal acoustic receiver sonde composed of several arcuate phased array receivers. Eight sensors distributed evenly across the arcuate phased array receiver can record acoustic waves independently; this allows us to adopt the beamforming method. We use a supporting logging tool to conduct the downhole test in two adjacent fluid-filled boreholes, for validating the evaluation of the geologic structure using scattered P-waves. The test results show the multi-azimuth images of the target borehole and the azimuthal variation in scattering amplitudes. Thus, we obtain the precise location of the target borehole. Furthermore, the measured values of the target borehole are consistent with the actual values, indicating that we can accurately evaluate a near-borehole geologic structure with scattered P-waves.
Field validation of imaging an adjacent borehole using scattered P-waves