Dipole Sonic Imager Tool (DSI-2*)

Description

The Dipole Sonic Imager Tool (DSI-2) combines high-speed telemetry with simultaneous, 12-bit dynamic range digitization of an eight-receiver array. The sonde incorporates both monopole and crossed-dipole transmitters with an eight-station array of electronically configurable hydrophones for monopole and dipole reception. Combining new dipole-based technology with the latest monopole developments into one system provides the best method available today for obtaining

borehole compressional, shear and Stoneley slownesses. (Slowness is the reciprocal of velocity and corresponds to the interval transit time measured by standard sonic tools.) The transmitter section of the DSI-2 contains three transmitter elements: one omnidirectional monopole ceramic transducer and two unidirectional wide-band electrodynamic dipole transducers oriented perpendicular to each other. Wide-band transducers are preferable to a single narrow-band source because they allow examination of the entire frequency spectrum without phase-matching problems at their resonant frequencies and are not subject to reduced output because of aging. A low-frequency pulse drives the monopole transducer for Stoneley wave excitation, and a high-frequency pulse drives it for compressional and shear measurements. A low-frequency pulse drives each dipole transducer for the creation of shear waves. In addition, a new low-frequency source option provides excitation below 1 kHz for extremely large holes and for very slow formations and shear waves. The receiver section contains eight receiver stations spaced 6 in. apart and spanning 3.5 ft. Each station contains two hydrophone pairs: one oriented in line with the upper dipole transmitter and the other in line with the lower dipole transmitter. The outputs from each pair are differenced for dipole reception and summed for monopole reception. Receivers are carefully matched during manufacture and the receiver array provides more spatial samples of the propagating wavefield for full waveform analysis. The arrangement of the transmitters and receivers allows measurement of wave components propagating deeper into the formation. The acquisition cartridge contains the circuitry to perform automatic gain control, digitize eight separate waveforms simultaneously, stack these waveforms from more than one firing and then transmit the signals uphole. Threshold detectors for recording amplitude threshold crossing times for each waveform are also present. These are for compressional first-motion detection and allow derivation of compressional slowness in a manner similar to the analog threshold detection scheme used in conventional sonic tools. Dipole technology allows borehole shear measurements to be made in "soft" rock as well as "hard" rock formations. Limited by borehole physics, monopole tools can detect only shear velocities that are faster than the borehole fluid velocity -- or in hard rocks only. Dipole tools overcome this fluid velocity barrier.

Tool Operation Modes

The DSI-2 tool has several data acquisition operating modes, any of which may be combined to acquire digitized waveforms over each 6-in. logging interval. For waveforms, eight channels are digitized simultaneously with a 12-bit dynamic range.

Upper and lower dipole modes Eight dipole waveforms from firings of either of the dipole transmitters -- sampling every 40 microsec, 512 samples/waveform. Crossed dipole mode Standard acquisition of 32 total waveforms, in-line and cross-line from both transmitters - sampling every 40 microsec, 256 samples/waveform. Stoneley mode Eight monopole waveforms from firings of the monopole transmitter driven with a lowfrequency pulse -- sampling every 40 microsec, 512 samples/waveform. P and S monopole mode Eight monopole waveforms from firings of the monopole transmitter driven with a highfrequency pulse -- sampling every 10 microsec, 512 samples/waveform. First-motion mode Eight sets of monopole threshold-crossing data from firings of the monopole transmitter driven with a high-frequency pulse -- primarily for compressional first-arrival applications.

Features
New fast tool bus and data reduction techniques have allowed double the maximum logging speed in most instances. A switchable power regulator has enabled a one-third reduction in power needs, resulting in broader combinability with other tools. Additional human-interface engineering has improved field acquisition quality and efficiency. A new low-frequency transmitter driver improves signal-to-noise ratio and allows successful logging of extremely slow formations and greatly enlarged holes. Improved waveform processing techniques have greatly improved vertical resolution. New answer products utilize Stoneley slowness to evaluate fractures and indicate permeability. In addition to the new dipole features, acquisition of the Stoneley wave velocity utilizes a low-frequency monopole energy pulse for highest-quality Stoneley measurements. Stoneley-derived permeability is useful for evaluating fractures as well as investigating deeply into the formation.

A new technique for detecting compressional wave arrival--digital first-motion detection (DFMD)--provides measurements that are compatible with previous sonic logs, in addition to a 6-in (15 cm) vertical resolution compressional sonic. Processing with the MAXIS wellsite unit displays a full wave and its component characteristics. Its high-speed array processor uses the slowness-time-coherence (STC) method to determine compressional, shear and Stoneley slowness values. A choice of band-pass filters permits utilization of the optimum frequency range within a mode. The process reliably provides unambiguous transit times even in difficult borehole conditions. The resulting values are useful inputs for mechanical properties, formation evaluation and seismic applications. Details on acoustic wave propagation can be found here.

Depth of Investigation/Eccentering Effects

Depths of investigation for sonic devices depend on the formation type, shear and compressional slowness, the transmitter-to-receiver spacing, wavelength of the wave considered and whether it is a head wave or a guided wave, the source frequency and signal types. Frequency determines the wavelength that drives the depth of investigation of the measurement. Typical sonic wavelengths at different frequencies and slownesses are shown in the "Additional Specifications" table. Low frequency penetrates deeper into the formation and helps read beyond altered zones. Numerical simulations verified by measurements from scale models show that when eccentering is small compared to the borehole radius, there is little change in the character of the dipole waveforms or in the STC-processed slowness values. Large eccentering, on the order of 2 to 4 in (5-10 cm) in a 12-in (31 cm) borehole, increases the flexural wave amplitude relative to the compressional. For the DSI-2 tool, the variation in the shear slowness estimate is 2 percent over the normal slowness range.

Log Presentation
Slowness or velocities can be plotted alongside resistivity, density, or image data. For an example of DSI data, click here.

Tool Specifications
Temperature rating: Pressure rating: Diameter: Length: Weight: Sampling interval: Maximum logging speed One eight-waveform set (single mode): 350 F (175 C) 20 kpsi (13.8 kPa) 3.375 in (8.57 cm) 51 ft (15.5 m) 900 lbs (408.6 Kg) 10 and 40 microsec

3,600 ft/hr (1,097 m/hr) All six modes simultaneously, without 6-in 1,000 ft/hr (305 m/hr) delta t: All six modes simultaneously, with 6-in 900 ft/hr (274 m/hr) delta t: Acoustic bandwidth Dipole and Stoneley: High-frequency Monopole 80 Hz to 5 kHz 8 to 30 kHz

Measurement Specifications
Vertical resolution: Depth of investigation: Accuracy: 3.5 ft (1 m) for 6-in (15.24 cm) sampling rate 9 in (23 cm) 2 microsec/ft (6.6 microsec/m)

Combined Monopole and Dipole Sonic Acquisition

The DSI dipole shear sonic imager combines monopole and dipole sonic acquisition capabilities. The transmitter section contains a piezoelectric monopole transmitter and two electrodynamic dipole transmitters perpendicular to each other. An electric pulse at sonic frequencies is applied to the monopole transmitter to excite compressional- and shear-wave propagation in the formation. For Stoneley wave acquisition a specific low-frequency pulse is used. The dipole transmitters are also driven at low frequency to excite the flexural wave around the borehole. The tool is made up of three sections acquisition cartridge, receiver section, and transmitter section. An isolation joint is placed between the transmitter and receiver sections to prevent direct flexural wave transmission through the tool body. The receiver section has an array of eight receiver stations spaced 6 in [15.24 cm] apart and 9 ft [2.74 m] from the monopole transmitter, 11 ft [3.35 m] from the upper dipole transmitter, and 11.5 ft [3.50 m] from the lower dipole transmitter. Each receiver station consists of two pairs of wide-band piezoelectric hydrophones aligned with the dipole transmitters. Summing the signals recorded by one pair of hydrophones provides the monopole waveform, whereas differentiating them cancels the monopole signal and provides the dipole waveform. When a dipole transmitter is fired, the hydrophone pair diagonally in line with the transmitter is used. Four sets of eight waveforms can be acquired from the four basic operating modes fired in sequence. A special dipole mode enables recording both the inline and crossline (perpendicular) waveforms for each dipole mode. This mode, called both cross receivers (BCR), is used for anisotropy evaluation. The optional S-DSI modification to the DSI tool uses a special slow sleeve to extend the slowness measurement to 1,200 ms/ft [3,937 ms/m] from the standard 700 ms/ft [2,296 ms/m]. As part of ABC analysis behind casing suite of services, the DSI tool can also provide a measurement of slowness behind the casing by using recently developed acquisition strategies and BestDT automated sonic waveform processing.