Extraction of reflected events from sonic-log waveforms using the Karhunen-Loève transform

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. D265-D277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junxiao Li ◽  
Kristopher A. Innanen ◽  
Guo Tao

Sonic-reflection logging, a recently developed borehole geophysical scheme, is in principle capable of providing a clear view of outside the well bore. In this type of acoustic well logging, a key technical obstacle is that the reflected wave signal is almost entirely obscured by the directly arriving P-, S-, and Stoneley wave modes. Effective extraction of these reflection signals from the full acoustic waveforms is therefore a critical data-processing step. We have examined the use of the Karhunen-Loève (KL) transform, combined with a band-limiting filter, as a technique for the extraction of reflections of interest from a mixture with directly arriving wave modes of much higher amplitude. Under the assumption that large energy (squared-amplitude) differences exist between each wave component, the direct Stoneley wave, S-wave, and the P-wave are eliminated sequentially by subtracting the most significant principal components, after which the remaining signal is seen to be dominated by reflected events. Thereafter, the extracted reflections can be used in migration to provide interpretable images of the structures outside the borehole. Synthetic data are used to develop and justify our procedure for subtraction of appropriate KL principal components. Laboratory data are used to demonstrate in detail the suppression of unwanted modes. For comparison, the multiscale slowness-time-coherence method is applied to extract reflections from the same data set. The procedure is exemplified on a field data case with attention paid in particular to the consequences to imaging of near-borehole structures.

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. SF43-SF54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelby L. Peterie ◽  
Richard D. Miller

Tunnel locations are accurately interpreted from diffraction sections of focused mode converted P- to S-wave diffractions from a perpendicular tunnel and P-wave diffractions from a nonperpendicular (oblique) tunnel. Near-surface tunnels are ideal candidates for diffraction imaging due to their small size relative to the seismic wavelength and large acoustic impedance contrast at the tunnel interface. Diffraction imaging algorithms generally assume that the velocities of the primary wave and the diffracted wave are approximately equal, and that the diffraction apex is recorded directly above the scatterpoint. Scattering phenomena from shallow tunnels with kinematic properties that violate these assumptions were observed in one field data set and one synthetic data set. We developed the traveltime equations for mode-converted and oblique diffractions and demonstrated a diffraction imaging algorithm designed for the roll-along style of acquisition. Potential processing and interpretation pitfalls specific to these diffraction types were identified. Based on our observations, recommendations were made to recognize and image mode-converted and oblique diffractions and accurately interpret tunnel depth, horizontal location, and azimuth with respect to the seismic line.


Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. D73-D79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaomu Qi ◽  
Arthur C. H. Cheng ◽  
Yunyue Elita Li

ABSTRACT Formation S-wave attenuation, when combined with compressional attenuation, serves as a potential hydrocarbon indicator for seismic reservoir characterization. Sonic flexural wave measurements provide a direct means for obtaining the in situ S-wave attenuation at log scale. The key characteristic of the flexural wave is that it propagates at the formation shear slowness and experiences shear attenuation at low frequency. However, in a fast formation, the dipole log consists of refracted P- and S-waves in addition to the flexural wave. The refracted P-wave arrives early and can be removed from the dipole waveforms through time windowing. However, the refracted S-wave, which is often embedded in the flexural wave packet, is difficult to separate from the dipole waveforms. The additional energy loss associated with the refracted S-wave results in the estimated dipole attenuation being higher than the shear attenuation at low frequency. To address this issue, we have developed a new method for accurately determining the formation shear attenuation from the dipole sonic log data. The method uses a multifrequency inversion of the frequency-dependent flexural wave attenuation based on energy partitioning. We first developed our method using synthetic data. Application to field data results in a shear attenuation log that is consistent with lithologic interpretation of other available logs.


Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. D369-D381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliot J. H. Dahl ◽  
Kyle T. Spikes

Most subsurface formations of value to exploration contain a heterogeneous fluid-filled pore space, where local fluid-pressure effects can significantly change the velocities of passing seismic waves. To better understand the effect of these local pressure gradients on borehole wave propagation, we combined Chapman’s squirt-flow model with Biot’s poroelastic theory. We applied the unified theory to a slow and fast formation with permeable borehole walls containing different quantities of compliant pores. These results are compared with those for a formation with no soft pores. The discrete wavenumber summation method with a monopole point source generates the wavefields consisting of the P-, S-, leaky-P, Stoneley, and pseudo-Rayleigh waves. The resulting synthetic wave modes are processed using a weighted spectral semblance (WSS) algorithm. We found that the resulting WSS dispersion curves closely matched the analytical expressions for the formation compressional velocity and solutions to the period equation for dispersion for the P-wave, Stoneley-wave, and pseudo-Rayleigh wave phase velocities in the slow and fast formations. The WSS applied to the S-wave part of the waveforms, however, did not correlate as well with its respective analytical expression for formation S-wave velocity, most likely due to interference of the pseudo-Rayleigh wave. To separate changes in formation P- and S-wave velocities versus fluid-flow effects on the Stoneley-wave mode, we computed the slow-P wave dispersion for the same formations. We found that fluid-saturated soft pores significantly affected the P- and S-wave effective formation velocities, whereas the slow-P wave velocity was rather insensitive to the compliant pores. Thus, the large phase-velocity effect on the Stoneley wave mode was mainly due to changes in effective formation P- and S-wave velocities and not to additional fluid mobility.


2005 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 1205-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela Fernández-Viejo ◽  
Ron M Clowes ◽  
J Kim Welford

Shear-wave seismic data recorded along four profiles during the SNoRE 97 (1997 Slave – Northern Cordillera Refraction Experiment) refraction – wide-angle reflection experiment in northwestern Canada are analyzed to provide S-wave velocity (Vs) models. These are combined with previous P-wave velocity (Vp) models to produce cross sections of the ratio Vp/Vs for the crust and upper mantle. The Vp/Vs values are related to rock types through comparisons with published laboratory data. The Slave craton has low Vp/Vs values of 1.68–1.72, indicating a predominantly silicic crustal composition. Higher values (1.78) for the Great Bear and eastern Hottah domains of the Wopmay orogen imply a more mafic than average crustal composition. In the western Hottah and Fort Simpson arc, values of Vp/Vs drop to ∼1.69. These low values continue westward for 700 km into the Foreland and Omineca belts of the Cordillera, providing support for the interpretation from coincident seismic reflection studies that much of the crust from east of the Cordilleran deformation front to the Stikinia terrane of the Intermontane Belt consists of quartzose metasedimentary rocks. Stikinia shows values of 1.78–1.73, consistent with its derivation as a volcanic arc terrane. Upper mantle velocity and ratio values beneath the Slave craton indicate an ultramafic peridotitic composition. In the Wopmay orogen, the presence of low Vp/Vs ratios beneath the Hottah – Fort Simpson transition indicates the presence of pyroxenite in the upper mantle. Across the northern Cordillera, low Vp values and a moderate-to-high ratio in the uppermost mantle are consistent with the region's high heat flow and the possible presence of partial melt.


Geophysics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 1446-1454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Side Jin ◽  
G. Cambois ◽  
C. Vuillermoz

S-wave velocity and density information is crucial for hydrocarbon detection, because they help in the discrimination of pore filling fluids. Unfortunately, these two parameters cannot be accurately resolved from conventional P-wave marine data. Recent developments in ocean‐bottom seismic (OBS) technology make it possible to acquire high quality S-wave data in marine environments. The use of (S)-waves for amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis can give better estimates of S-wave velocity and density contrasts. Like P-wave AVO, S-wave AVO is sensitive to various types of noise. We investigate numerically and analytically the sensitivity of AVO inversion to random noise and errors in angles of incidence. Synthetic examples show that random noise and angle errors can strongly bias the parameter estimation. The use of singular value decomposition offers a simple stabilization scheme to solve for the elastic parameters. The AVO inversion is applied to an OBS data set from the North Sea. Special prestack processing techniques are required for the success of S-wave AVO inversion. The derived S-wave velocity and density contrasts help in detecting the fluid contacts and delineating the extent of the reservoir sand.


Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-52
Author(s):  
Alexey Stovas ◽  
Yuriy Roganov ◽  
Vyacheslav Roganov

An elliptical anisotropic medium is defined as a simplified representation of anisotropy in which the anelliptic parameters are set to zero in all symmetry planes. Despite of the fact that this model is rather seldom observed for real rocks, it is often used as a reference model. The P-wave equations for an elliptical anisotropic medium is well known. However, the S-wave equations have not been derived. Thus, we define all wave modes in elliptical orthorhombic models focusing mostly on the S-wave properties. We show that all wave modes in elliptical orthorhombic model are generally coupled and analyze the effect of additive coupling term. As the result, there is an S wave fundamental singularity point located in one of the symmetry planes depending on the relative magnitude of S wave stiffness coefficients.


Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. B183-B195 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. De Meersman ◽  
J.-M. Kendall ◽  
M. van der Baan

We relocate 303 microseismic events recorded in 1998 by sensors in a single borehole in the North Sea Valhall oil field. A semiautomated array analysis method repicks the P- and S-wave arrival times and P-wave polarizations, which are needed to locate these events. The relocated sources are confined predominantly to a [Formula: see text]-thick zone just above the reservoir, and location uncertainties are half those of previous efforts. Multiplet analysis identifies 40 multiplet groups, which include 208 of the 303 events. The largest group contains 24 events, and five groups contain 10 or more events. Within each multiplet group, we further improve arrival-time picking through crosscorrelation, which enhances the relative accuracy of the relocated events and reveals that more than 99% of the seismic activity lies spatially in three distinct clusters. The spatial distribution of events and wave-form similarities reveal two faultlike structures that match well with north-northwest–south-southeast-trending fault planes interpreted from 3D surface seismic data. Most waveform differences between multiplet groups located on these faults can be attributed to S-wave phase content and polarity or P-to-S amplitude ratio. The range in P-to-S amplitude ratios observed on the faults is explained best in terms of varying source mechanisms. We also find a correlation between multiplet groups and temporal variations in seismic anisotropy, as revealed by S-wave splitting analysis. We explain these findings in the context of a cyclic recharge and dissipation of cap-rock stresses in response to production-driven compaction of the underlying oil reservoir. The cyclic nature of this mechanism drives the short-term variations in seismic anisotropy and the reactivation of microseismic source mechanisms over time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (2) ◽  
pp. 1447-1462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre P Plourde ◽  
Michael G Bostock

SUMMARY We introduce a new relative moment tensor (MT) inversion method for clusters of nearby earthquakes. The method extends previous work by introducing constraints from S-waves that do not require modal decomposition and by employing principal component analysis to produce robust estimates of excitation. At each receiver, P and S waves from each event are independently aligned and decomposed into principal components. P-wave constraints on MTs are obtained from a ratio of coefficients corresponding to the first principal component, equivalent to a relative amplitude. For S waves we produce constraints on MTs involving three events, where one event is described as a linear combination of the other two, and coefficients are derived from the first two principal components. Nonlinear optimization is applied to efficiently find best-fitting tensile-earthquake and double-couple solutions for relative MT systems. Using synthetic data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the P and S constraints both individually and in combination. We then apply the relative MT inversion to a set of 16 earthquakes from southern Alaska, at ∼125 km depth within the subducted Yakutat terrane. Most events are compatible with a stress tensor dominated by downdip tension, however, we observe several pairs of earthquakes with nearly antiparallel slip implying that the stress regime is heterogeneous and/or faults are extremely weak. The location of these events near the abrupt downdip termination of seismicity and the low-velocity zone suggest that they are caused by weakening via grain-size and volume reduction associated with eclogitization of the lower crustal gabbro layer.


Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. T79-T87 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Oelke ◽  
D. Alexandrov ◽  
I. Abakumov ◽  
S. Glubokovskikh ◽  
R. Shigapov ◽  
...  

We have analyzed the angle-dependent reflectivity of microseismic wavefields at a hydraulic fracture, which we modeled as an ideal thin fluid layer embedded in an elastic, isotropic solid rock. We derived full analytical solutions for the reflections of an incident P-wave, the P-P and P-S reflection coefficients, as well as for an incident S-wave, and the S-S and S-P reflection coefficients. The rather complex analytical solutions were then approximated and we found that these zero-thickness limit approximations are in good agreement with the linear slip model, representing a fracture at slip contact. We compared the analytical solutions for the P-P reflections with synthetic data that were derived using finite-difference modeling and found that the modeling confirmed our theoretical results. For typical parameters of microseismic monitoring by hydraulic fracturing, e.g., a layer thickness of [Formula: see text] and frequencies of [Formula: see text], the reflection coefficients depend on the Poisson’s ratio. Furthermore, the reflection coefficients of an incident S-wave are remarkably high. Theoretical results suggested that it is feasible to image hydraulic fractures using microseismic events as a source and to solve the inverse problem, that is, to interpret reflection coefficients extracted from microseismic data in terms of reservoir properties.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 911-918
Author(s):  
Biplab Kumar Mukherjee ◽  
G. Karthikeyan ◽  
Karanpal Rawat ◽  
Hari Srivastava

Abstract Shale is the primary rock type in the shallow marine section of the Mahanadi Basin, East Coast of India. Shale, being intrinsically anisotropic, always affects the seismic data. Anisotropy derived from seismic and VSP has lower resolution and mostly based on P wave. The workflow discussed here uses Gardner equation to derive vertical velocity and uses a nonlinear fitting to extract the Thomsen’s parameters using both the P wave and S wave data. These parameters are used to correct the sonic log of a deviated well as well as anisotropic AVO response of the reservoir. The presence of negative delta was observed, which is believed to be affected by the presence of chloride and illite in the rock matrix. This correction can be used to update the velocity model for time–depth conversion and pore pressure modelling.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document