Acoustic process and apparatus for logging by means of quadrupole shear wave
Abstract
In logging the earth formation (30) surrounding a well (28), a quadrupole shear wave is transmitted, with the use of a quadrupole shear wave source(S) in a logging sonde (20), through the earth along the well. The presence of the shear wave successively at two points spaced iongitudinally along the well from each other is determined, using detectors (D1, D2). The time interval between the presence of the shear wave at the two points is measured by a time interval unit (40) for determining the velocity of the shear wave through the earth. …<??>In a modification, the time interval between transmitting the shear wave and detecting it at a single point spaced longitudinally from the transmission point is measured. …<IMAGE>…

Term
No projected expiry on record.
- Priority
- Filed
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- Today
15 claims: 15 independent, 0 dependent
- 1Claims Patentkrav 1. 1. A method of logging the earth surrounding a well, where measurement is made successively of the presence of a shear wave successively at two points spaced apart along the well, of the time passing between the presence of the shear wave at the two points to determine the velocity of the shear wave through the earth, characterized by the transmission of a quadrupole shear wave through the earth along the well. Fremgangsmåte for å logge jorden som omgir en brønn, hvor det foretas måling ut fra bestemmelsen av tilstedeværelsen av en skjærbølge suksessivt ved to punkter med avstand fra hverandre langs brønnen, av tiden som går mellom tilstedeværelsen av skjærbølgen ved de to punktene for å bestemme hastigheten til skjærbølgen gjennom jorden, karakterisert ved sending av en kvadrupolskjærbølge gjennom jorden langs brønnen.
- 22. Fremgangsmåte Ifølge krav 1, karakterisert ved at det som to punkter anvendes punktene for hhv. sending og detekterlng. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the points are used as two points, respectively. transmission and detection.
- 33. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that, as the two points, two detection points are spaced apart from the sending point along the well. Fremgangsmåte Ifølge krav 1, karakterisert ved at det som de to punktene anvendes respektive to detekteringspunkter med avstand fra sendepunktet langs brønnen.
- 44. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 1, 2 eller 3, karakter 1s e t ved at brønnen Inneholder et fluidum og at kvadrupolskjærbølgen sendes inn 1 jorden ved å generere i fluidumet fire trykkbølger, to positive og to negative trykkbølger med en felles komponentbølge, som vil interferere og frembringe en kvadrupolskjærbølge 1 jorden som omgir fluidumet. Method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the well contains a fluid and that the quadrupole shear wave is sent into the earth by generating in the fluid four pressure waves, two positive and two negative pressure waves with a common component wave, which will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave 1 the earth surrounding the fluid.
- 55. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 4, karakterisert ved at de fire trykkbølgene genereres ved fire respektive punkter 1 fluidet, at de fire punktene lokaliseres slik at ved en firkant av hvilke de fire hjørnene er definert av tre av de fire punktene, og den normale projeksjonen av det øvrige fjerde punktet på et plan definert av og Inneholder tre av de fire punktene, hver av de fire viklene til firkanten er mindre enn 180’ og de to punktene hvor de to 5 negative trykkbølgene genereres definerer diagonalt motsatte hjørner av firkanten. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the four pressure waves are generated at four respective points 1 of the fluid, the four points being located such that at a square of which the four corners are defined by three of the four points, and the normal projection of the rest the fourth point on a plane defined by and Contains three of the four points, each of the four coils of the square is less than 180 'and the two points where the two 5 negative pressure waves generated define diagonally opposite corners of the square.
- 66. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 4 eller 5, karakter 110 sert ved at det som frekvensen for felleskomponenten til de fire trykkbølgene anvendes en som er innenfor frekvensområdet 4 kHz til 14 kHz. Method according to claim 4 or 5, character 110 As the frequency of the common component of the four pressure waves is used, one which is in the frequency range of 4 kHz to 14 kHz.
- 77. 15 A method according to claim 4, 5 or 6, characterized by the step of determining the approximate range of the shear wave velocity of the earth surrounding the fluid and that the frequency of the common component of the four pressure waves is one which is within the frequency range of 20 corresponds to the area of the shear wave velocity of the earth surrounding the fluid 1 in accordance with the table below:15 Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 4, 5 eller 6, karakterisert ved trinnet for å bestemme tilnærmet område for skjærbølgehastigheten for jorden som omgir fluidumet og at ) det som frekvensen til felleskomponenten for de fire trykkbølgene anvendes en som er Innenfor frekvensområdet som 20 korresponderer med området for skjærbølgehastigheten for jorden som omgir fluidumet 1 samsvar med tabellen nedenfor: hvor d er borehulldlameteren. where d is the borehole lamp.
- 88. A method according to claim 1 for reducing noise caused by monopole and dipole signals 1 logging the shear wave velocity of an earth formation surrounding a borehole containing a fluid, characterized in that the log record is generated by a quadrupole shear161998 Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 1 for å redusere støy bevirket ved hjelp av monopole og dipole signaler 1 logging av skjærbølgehastigheten til en jordformasjon som omgir et borehull som inneholder et fluidum, karakterisert ved at loggeopptegningen genereres ved hjelp av en kvadrupolskjær161998 29 wave logging means including a quadrupole shear wave source and a quadrupole shear detector which is aligned with and spaced from the source, while the log record is generated by activating the quadrupole shear wave by the fluid to generate a quadrupole shear wave in the fluid. of the quadrupole shear wave, the noise reduction method comprising generating the first log record, rotating the shear wave by substantially 90 ° about a line passing through the source and detector, generating a second log record, rotating the quadrupole shear wave with substantially 90 ° about the line so that the squared wave becomes the from its position during the generation of the first log record, and the generation of a third record, rotating the quadrupole shear wave by substantially 90 ° about the line so that it is rotated substantially 180 'from its position during the generation of the second log record, generating the fourth log record and providing the difference between the sum of the second and fourth log records and the sum of the first and third log records to reduce monopoly and dipole noise. 29 bølgeloggeanordning som Innbefatter en kvadrupolskjærbølgekilde og en kvadrupolskjærbølgedetektor som Innrettes med og anbringes med avstand fra kilden, Idet loggeopptegnlngen genereres ved aktivering av kvadrupolskjærbølgekllden ved fluidumet for å generere en kvadrupolskjærbølge i formasjonen og å detektere ved hjelp av kvadrupoldetektoren i fluidumet, trykkbølgen i fluidumet bevirket ved avbøyning av kvadrupolskjærbølgen, idet fremgangsmåten for støyreduksjon innbefatter generering av første loggeopptegnlng, dreiing av skjærbølgekllden med hovedsakelig 90° om en linje som går gjennom kilden og detektoren, generering av en andre loggeopptegnlng, dreiing av kvadrupolskjærbølgekllden med hovedsakelig 90° om linjen slik at kvadrupolskjærbølgekllden blir hovedsakelig dreiet 180° fra dens posisjon i løpet av generering av første loggeopptegnlng, og generering av en tredje opptegnlng, dreiing av den kvadrupolskjærbølgekllden med hovedsakelig 90° om linjen slik at den blir dreiet hovedsakelig 180’ fra dens posisjon i løpet av genereringen av den andre loggeopptegnlng, generering av den fjerde loggeopptegnlng og tilveiebringelse av forskjellen mellom summen av den andre og fjerde loggeopptegnlngen og summen av den første og den tredje loggeopptegnlngen for å redusere monopol- og dipolstøy.
- 99. Fremgangsmåte Ifølge krav 8, karakterisert ved at det som kvadrupolskjærbølgekllde og kvadrupolskjærbølgedetektor anvendes anordninger som hver Innbefatter fire sektorer til en hul sylinder i det vesentlige koaksialt med loggesonden og som videre innbefatter Innretning for vibrering av fire sektorer og for kilden for å generere fire trykkbølger til en lignende bølgeform 1 fluidumet, idet de positive trykkbølgene genereres av to motsatt anbrakte sektorer og to negative trykkbølger av de øvrige motsatt anbrakte sektorene, og at det som linje om hvilken kilden roteres anvendes aksen til loggesonden. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that devices such as quadrupole shear wave and quadrupole shear wave detectors are used which each include four sectors of a hollow cylinder substantially coaxial with the logging probe and further comprising means for vibrating four sectors and for the source to generate four pressure waves. similar waveform 1 to the fluid, the positive pressure waves being generated by two oppositely placed sectors and two negative pressure waves by the other oppositely placed sectors, and that as the line around which the source is rotated, the axis of the logging probe is used.
- 1010. A method according to claim 1 or 4 or 5 for reducing noise caused by monopoly shear waves by logging shear wave velocity to an earth formation surrounding a borehole containing a fluid, characterized by the generation of log record by means of a quadrupole shear wave logging device comprising (i) four sectors hollow, piezoelectric cylinder mainly coaxial with the log probe, (li) means for supplying electrical pulses to the four sectors;the polarity of the pulses being such that the pulses cause oppositely arranged sectors to vibrate substantially in phase with each other and adjacent sectors to vibrate substantially opposite in phase to each other, and (iii) quadrupole shear wave detecting means disposed in the fluid spaced apart and arranged with the four sectors, the log record being generated by activating the quadrupole shear wave source 1 fluid to generate a quadrupole shear wave in the formation and detection by the quadrupole shear wave detector in the fluid, the pressure wave in the fluid caused by the deflection of the quadrupole shear wave, the generation of the quadrupole shear wave, generating the second log record where the polarity of the electrical pulses supplied by the electric pulse supply devices to the four elements is reversed from those at the generation of the first log, providing the difference between the second log record and the first log record. Fremgangsmåte Ifølge krav 1 eller 4 eller 5 for å redusere støy bevirket ved monopolskjærbølger ved logging av skjærbølgehastighet til en jordformasjon som omgir et borehull som inneholder et fluidum, karakterisert ved en generering av loggeopptegning ved hjelp av en kvadrupolskjærbølgeloggeanordning lnnbefattende (i) fire sektorer av en hul, piezoelektrisk sylinder hovedsakelig koaksial med loggesonden, (li) innretning for å tilføre elektriske pulser til de fire sektorene, idet polariteten til pulsene er slik at pulsene bevirker motsatt anordnede sektorer til å vibrere hovedsakelig i fase med hverandre og tilliggende sektorer til å vibrere hovedsakelig motsatt i fase til hverandre, og (iii) kvadrupolskjærbølgedetekteringsinnretning anordnet 1 fluidumet anordnet i avstand fra og Innrettet med de fire sektorene, idet loggeopptegningen blir generert ved aktivering av kvadrupolskjærbølgekilde 1 fluidumet for å generere en kvadrupolskjærbølge i formasjonen og detektering ved hjelp av kvadrupolskjærbølgedetektoren i fluidumet, trykkbølgen i fluidumet bevirket ved avbøyning av kvadrupolskjærbølgen, generering av den første loggeopptegning, generering av den andre loggeopptegning hvor polariteten til de elektriske pulsene tilført av de elektriske pulstilførselsinnretnlngene til de fire elementene reverseres fra de ved genereringen av den første opptegningen, tilveiebringelse av forskjellen mellom den andre loggeopptegningen og den første loggeopptegningen.
- 1111. Fremgangsmåte Ifølge krav 10, karakterisert ved at det som elektriske pulstilførselsinnretningen anvendes en som innbefatter en elektrisk pulsgenerator forbundet med de fire elementene over en polaritetsbryter slik at polaritetene til de elektriske pulsene tilført de fire elementene blir omsnudd ved frem- og tilbakebevegelse av polaritetsbryteren. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the electrical pulse supply device is used which includes an electric pulse generator connected to the four elements over a polarity switch so that the polarity of the electric pulses supplied to the four elements is reversed by reciprocating the polarity switch.
- 1212. A device well logging device for performing the method of claims 1-11, including a housing for raising and lowering in a well, signal generating means in the housing for transmitting sonic signals into the ground surrounding the well, and signal detecting means in the housing capable of detecting at least a point in the well. longitudinally spaced from the arrival of the signal generating device by the sonic signals sent into the earth surrounding the well by the signal generating means;the point being spaced from the axis of the well, characterized in that the signal generating means can generate a quadrupole shear wave in the earth surrounding the well. Eastlghetsbrønnloggeanordning for utførelse av fremgangsmåten ifølge krav 1-11, innbefattende et hus for heving og senking i en brønn, signalgenereringsinnretning i huset for å sende soniske signaler inn i jorden som omgir brønnen, og signaldetekteringsinnretnlng i huset som kan detektere i det minste et punkt i lengderetningen med avstand fra signalgenererlngsinnretningens ankomst av soniske signalene sendt inn 1 jorden som omgir brønnen ved hjelp av signalgenereringsinnretnlngen, idet punktet er anbrakt med avstand fra brønnens akse, karakterisert ved at signalgenereringsinnretningen kan generere en kvadrupolskjærbølge 1 jorden som omgir brønnen.
- 1313. Anordning ifølge krav 12, karakterisert ved at brønnen Inneholder et fluidum, at signalgenerlngslnnretningen innbefatter fire elementer og innretning for å vibrere de fire elementene slik at vibreringen av de to av de fire elementene genererer to positive trykkbølger i fluidumet og vibreringen av de øvrige to elementene genererer to negative trykkbølger, og at de fire trykkbølgene generert på denne måten har en overlappende frekvens og en trykkbølge med felles komponent med frekvenser i det seg overlappende frekvensområdet. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the well contains a fluid, the signal generating means including four elements and means for vibrating the four elements so that the vibration of the two of the four elements generates two positive pressure waves in the fluid and the vibration of the other two elements two negative pressure waves, and that the four pressure waves generated in this way have an overlapping frequency and a common wave pressure component with frequencies in the overlapping frequency range.
- 1414. Anordning ifølge krav 12, karakterisert ved at de fire elementene er lokalisert i forhold til hverandre, slik at ved en firkant, ved hvilken fire hjørner er definert av de geometriske tyngdepunktene til de fire elementene og normalprojeksjonen til det geometriske tyngdepunktet for det fjerde elementet på planet definert av og Inneholdt 1 tyngdepunktene til de tre av de fire elementene, de fire vinklene til firkanten er mindre enn 180’ og at de to elementene, vibrasjonen av hvilke genererer to negative trykkbølger med tyngdepunktene ved digitalt motsatte hjørner til firkanten, slik at de fire trykkbølgene vil interferere for å frembringe en kvadrupolskjærbølge i jordformasjonen som omgir brønnen. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the four elements are located relative to each other, such that at a square, at which four vertices are defined by the geometric centers of gravity of the four elements and the normal projection of the geometric center of gravity of the fourth element on the plane. defined by and Containing 1 the centers of gravity of the three of the four elements, the four angles of the square are less than 180 'and that the two elements, the vibration of which generates two negative pressure waves with the centers of gravity at digitally opposite corners of the square, so that the four pressure waves will interfere to produce a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation surrounding the well.
- 1515. at hver av de fire elementene er fremstilt av piezoelektrisk materiale og er polarisert og at vlbrerlngsinnretningene innbefatter en elektrisk pulstilførselsinnretning som tilfører elektriske pulser over fire elementer for å generere trykkbølger i fluidumet. that each of the four elements is made of piezoelectric material and is polarized and that the sensing means includes an electrical pulse supply device which supplies electrical pulses across four elements to generate pressure waves in the fluid. 17. 17. Anordning ifølge krav 16,karakterisert ved at hver av de fire elementene innbefatter en sektor av en polarisert, hul, piezoelektrisk sylinder og at de elektriske pulsene fra den elektriske pulstilførselslnnretnlngen bevirker at hver av de fire sektorene vekselvis ekspanderer og trekker sammen radialt i forhold til dens akse som derved genererer trykkbølger 1 fluidumet. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the four elements comprises a sector of a polarized, hollow, piezoelectric cylinder and the electric pulses from the electric pulse supply device cause each of the four sectors to alternately expand and contract radially relative to its axis thereby generating pressure waves in the fluid. 18. 18. Anordning Ifølge krav 16,karakterisert ved at hver av de fire elementene innbefatter et sammensatt plateelement som hver Innbefatter to plater med polarisering 1 hovedsakelig motsatt 1 forhold til hverandre og hovedsakelig perpendikulær på de flate overflatene til de sammensatte plateelementene og at elektriske pulser fra den elektriske pulstilførselsinnretningen vil bevirke at de fire sammensatte plateelementene bøyes og vibrerer, som derved genererer trykkbølger 1 fluidumet. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the four elements comprises a composite plate element, each comprising two plates with polarization 1 substantially opposite to each other and substantially perpendicular to the flat surfaces of the composite plate elements and that electrical pulses from the electric pulse supply device will cause the four composite plate elements to bend and vibrate, thereby generating pressure waves in the fluid.
Independent claims15
104 paragraphs, as filed
(74) Agent
Siv.ing. Arthur Øvrebø, Bryns Patentkontor A / S, Oslo.
(30) Priority Requested 19.05.82, US No. 379684.
(54) DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR LOGGING THE EARTH AROUND A WELL.
(57) Summary
Quadrupole cutting wave logging device including a logging probe (20), device (22) for generating a quadrupole cutting wave in the earth formation surrounding a borehole (28) containing fluid (26) and device (25,26) for detecting in the fluid (26) deflection to the quadrupole shear wave. The generating means (22) may comprise four equal sectors of a hollow, piezoelectric cylinder.
The four cylinders are radially polarized. The four sectors are so connected to the probe (20) that they are in front of a split cylinder coaxially with the probe axis. Electric pulses of the same waveform are applied across the inner and cylindrical surfaces of each sector to vibrate the four sectors. The electrical pulses are of such polarity that during the start of the vibration movement two opposite sectors are caused to move upwards and the other two opposite sectors to move inwards, and this substantially simultaneously. Thus, the opposite sectors will vibrate in phase, while adjacent sectors will vibrate in the opposite phase. The vibration of the four sectors generates the four pressure waves: two positive pressure waves and two negative pressure waves. The four generated pressure waves will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave in the formation. The pressure wave in the fluid caused by the deflection of such a quadrupole shear wave is detected by the detecting device (25, 26) which includes two detectors in the fluid spaced longitudinally apart and from the generating device (22). The shear wave velocity of the formation can be determined from the time interval between detecting the deflection of the quadrupole shear wave by means of the two detectors (25, 26).
(56) Published publications United States (US) Patent No. 3593255.
<img file="NO161998B_D0001.tif" />
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for logging the earth surrounding a well of the kind set forth in the preamble of claim 1 and a speed well logging device for carrying out the method of the preamble of claim 12.
In acute well logging, it is common to measure the compression or pressure wave velocity of the soil formations surrounding the boreholes. A conventional pressure wave velocity logging system includes a cylindrical log probe suitable for being suspended in the borehole fluid, a source associated with the probe to generate pressure waves in the borehole fluid, and one or more detectors connected to the probe in a spacer positioned away from the pressure source. borehole fluid. A pressure wave in the borehole fluid generated by the source is deflected into the soil formation surrounding the borehole. It propagates through a portion of the formation and bends back into the borehole fluid at a point adjacent to the detector and is then detected by the detector. The distance relationship between the source and the detector and the time between generation and detection of the pressure wave gives the pressure wave velocity of the formation. The distance between the source and the detector is usually fixed and known so that the measurement of the time between the pressure wave generation and the detection is sufficient to determine the pressure wave velocity. For better accuracy, such a distance is usually much larger than the dimensions of the source or detector. Important information for the production of oil and gas from underground earth formations can be derived from the pressure wave velocities of such formations.
When a pressure wave generated by a pressure wave source in the borehole fluid reaches the borehole wall, it produces a deflected pressure wave in the surrounding soil formation as described above. In addition, it also produces a deflected shear wave in the surrounding earth formation and conductive waves propagating in the borehole fluid and part of the formation adjacent to the borehole. The portion of such shear wave is bent back into the borehole fluid in the form of a pressure wave and reaches the detector in the logic probe. The waveguides are also detected by such detectors. Any wave which is one of the three types of waves detected by the detector can be an arrival: the pressure waves in the borehole fluid caused by the deflection of the pressure waves 5 in the formation of the pressure wave arrival, those caused by the bending of shear waves in the formation of the shear wave arrival, they caused by led waves the led wave arrivals. The signal detected by the detector is thus a composite signal which includes the pressure wave arrival, the shear wave arrival and the guided wave arrival. In earth formations, pressure waves propagate faster than shear waves and shear waves in the formation usually propagate faster than conductive waves. Therefore, at the composite signal detected by the detector, the pressure wave arrival is the first arrival, the shear wave arrival the second arrival and the guided wave arrival the last arrival. In measuring the pressure wave velocity of the formation, the time interval between the generation of pressure waves and the detection of the first arrival detected by the detector approximates the propagation time of the deflected pressure wave in the formation. The subsequent shear wave and guided wave arrival, therefore, do not affect the measurement of the pressure wave velocity of the formation.
In addition to the propagation over a vertical distance in the formation approximately equal to the distance between the source and the detector, the pressure wave also propagates over short distances in the fluid. The extra time needed to propagate such short distances includes speed log errors. To reduce such errors, conventional logging devices employ at least two detectors spaced vertically apart along the borehole. The time interval between the detection of the two detectors is measured instead of the time interval between the transmission and the detection. The ratio of the distance between the two detectors 35 to such time intervals gives the pressure wave velocity. Since the pressure wave propagates over approximately equal distances in the borehole fluid before reaching the two detectors, the time interval between the detection of the two detectors is more accurately measured for the actual propagation time in the formation. The use of two detectors and the measurement of the time between the detection of the two detectors therefore gives a more accurate pressure wave velocity. Other false effects such as borehole size changes and probe tilting can be mitigated by conventional devices. Such a device is described in Log Interpretation, vol. 1 - Principles, Sclumberger Limited, New York, NY 10017, 1972, pp. 37-38.
It is well known that shear-wave velocity logging can also provide information important for the production of oil and gas from underground earth formations. The relationship between the shear wave velocity and the pressure wave velocity may reveal the rock lithology of underground earth formations. The shear-wave velocity log can also enable seismic shear-wave sections to be converted into depth sections. The shear wave log is also useful in determining other important characteristics of the soil formations such as porosity, fluid saturation and the presence of fractures.
The conventional pressure wave log source and the pressure waves it generates are symmetric about the log probe axis. When such pressure waves are deflected into the surrounding earth formation, the relative amplitudes of deflected shear and pressure waves are such that it is difficult to separate the later shear wave arrival from the previous pressure wave arrival and from the borehole bias caused by the deflection of the pressure wave in the formation. Therefore, it is difficult to use a conventional symmetric pressure wave source for logging the shear wave velocity. Correlation techniques have been used to derive the shear wave arrival from the fully recorded acoustic wave train. However, such techniques typically require processing of data by using a computer so that the shear wave speed is not logged in line. It can also be difficult to derive the shear wave arrival if it is close to the pressure wave arrival in time.
Asymmetric pressure wave sources have been developed to log shear wave velocity. Using such sources, the amplitude of the shear wave arrival can be significantly higher than that of the pressure wave arrival. By adjusting the trigger level 5 of the detection and recording system to discriminate in relation to the pressure wave arrival, the shear wave arrival is detected as the first arrival. Thus, it is possible to determine the propagation time of the shear wave in the formation and therefore the shear wave velocity. At such asymmetric wedges where the source generates the borehole fluid a positive pressure wave in one direction and a simultaneous negative pressure wave in the opposite direction. The interference between the two pressure waves can cause the amplitude of the deflected shear wave in the formation to be significantly greater than that of the deflected pressure wave 15 in the formation. This type of asymmetric source is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 31989, U.S. Patent No. 3,593,255 and U.S. Patent No. 4,207,961.
The European patent application discloses a bend20 type source which includes two piezoelectric plates bonded together and attached to a logging probe. When a voltage is applied across the two piezoelectric plates, the plates will bend. The bending of the transducer plates creates a positive pressure wave in one direction and a simultaneous negative pressure wave in the opposite direction. U.S. Pat. 3,593,255 discloses a pressure wave source which includes two piezoelectric segments each in the form of a half hollow cylinder. The two segments are joined together to form a split cylinder. The two segments have opposite polarization and electric voltage is applied to each segment which causes one segment to expand radially and at the same time causes the other segment to radially contract, thereby providing a positive pressure wave in one direction and at the same time a negative pressure wave in the opposite direction. U.S. Pat. 4,207,961 discloses a coil mounted on a coil core unit arranged in the magnetic field in a permanent magnet and current is passed through the coils to drive the coil unit. Movements
61998 of the coil unit supports a volume of water in a direction which simultaneously sucks an equal volume of water in the opposite direction thereby generating a positive pressure wave in one direction and at the same time a negative pressure wave in the opposite direction.
Another type of shear wave log source instead of coupling the source of the borehole wall through the borehole fluid medium is the source either directly connected to the borehole wall or through mechanical means such as a mounting pad. Such shear-wave log sources are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,354,983 and 3,949,352.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, and a speed log device of the type mentioned in the preamble whose characteristic feature is set forth in the characteristic of claim 12.
Further features of the method and apparatus for carrying out the method are apparent from the other dependent claims.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which:
Fig. 1A shows a schematic view of an acute logging system.
Fig. 1B shows a simplified perspective view of the quadrupole shear wave log source showing the preferred embodiment of this invention. 2 and 3 show in more detail the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows a simplified partial perspective and partly schematic view of how the preferred embodiment of the invention can be used to log cutting wave speed.
Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of the radiation pattern of the quadrupole wave and monopoly and dipole wave noise, showing a method for reducing such noise.
<img file="NO161998B_D0002.tif" />
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a quadrupole shear wave log device showing a method of reducing noise by monopoly and dipole shear waves.
Figures 7 and 8 show a cross-section of two different quadrupole shear wave sources showing two alternative embodiments of the invention.
Figs. 9, 10, 11A and 11B show cross-sections of quadrupole shear wave log sources, showing further alternative embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a quadrupole shear wave source showing yet another alternative embodiment of the invention.
The method and apparatus according to the invention is for logging shear wave velocity to an earth formation surrounding a well or a borehole. The method of the invention includes transmitting a quadrupole shear wave through the earth along the well, detecting the arrival of the shear wave at a point spaced longitudinally along the well from the point of transmission, and measuring the time taken between the transmission and the detection to determine the speed of the shear. the wave through the earth formation. The device of the invention includes a housing for raising and lowering in a well, signal generating device in the housing for transmitting a quadrupole shear wave to the ground formation surrounding the well, and signal detecting device in the housing spaced longitudinally along the well of the signal generating device for detecting such quadrature.
In the preferred embodiment, a quadrupole shear wave is sent into the earth surrounding a well containing fluid by generating in the fluid essentially simultaneously four pressure waves: a first and second positive pressure waves, a first and second negative pressure waves. The first and second negative pressure waves are generated at a first and second points in a fluid, respectively, and the first and second positive waves at a third and fourth points in respective fluids. The first, second, third and fourth points are arranged such that at a square, the four corners defined by the first, second and third points and the normal projection of the fourth point on a plane defined by and containing the first, second and the third point is the four angles of the square each less than 180 °.
The first and second points define opposite corners of the square. The frequency range of each of the four pressure waves contains an overlapping portion of the frequency defined as a frequency range common to the frequency range of the four pressure waves. Each of the four pressure waves contains component waves common to all four pressure waves, the component wave having frequencies in the overlapping portion. The four pressure waves generated in this way will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation surrounding the borehole.
Where a quadrupole type detector is used to detect the wave caused by the quadrupole shear wave source, it is possible to reduce the noise caused by monopoly and dipole signals. The quadrupole detector is arranged with and spaced apart from the quadrupole shear wave source. The source and detector are used to generate the first log record as described above. The source is rotated substantially 90 ° about a line passing through the source and detector.
The second log record is generated. The source is rotated substantially 90 ° further so that it is substantially rotated 180 ° from its position during the generation of the first log record. A third log record is generated. The source is rotated substantially 90 ° so that it is rotated substantially 180 ° from its position during the generation of the second log record. A fourth log record is generated. Monopoly dipole shear wave noise is reduced by subtracting the sum of the second and removing the log record from the sum of the first and third log records.
Fig. 1A shows a schematic view of an acute logging system according to the invention. A logging probe 20 is provided for raising and lowering in a well. The probe contains a quadrupole shear wave source 22 and two detectors 24, 25. To begin logging, the probe 20 is suspended in a fluid 26 which is in a borehole 28 surrounded by an earth formation 30. The detectors
24, 25 are connected to the probe 20 in that they are spaced longitudinally along the borehole 28 from each other and from the source 22. The source 22 is connected to a firing and recording controller 32, although the firing and control recording unit is shown in FIG. 1 as a separate unit, separate from the logging probe, the portion of the power supply unit, the quadrupole shear wave source, for convenience, may be located in the logging probe. The signal recorded by the detectors 24, 25 is applied to a bandpass filter 36, an amplifier 38 and a time interval unit 40.
In a manner explained below, the firing and recording unit is used to fire the source 22 which produces a quadrupole shear wave in the formation 30. The quadrupole shear wave arrival is detected by the detectors 24 and
25. The axis of the well is a pressure wave node for quadrupole radiation. Therefore, for the quadrupole shear wave arrival to be detected, the detectors 24, 25 should not be on a well axis. Probe 20 also contains a preamplifier (Fig. 1A) that amplifies the quadrupole shear wave arrival detected by detectors 24, 25. The amplified signals are then filtered by filter 36 and amplified again by amplifier 38. The time interval between the detection of the arrival of the detector 24 and the detection of the detector 25 is then measured by the time interval unit 40. Such time interval can be stored or displayed as desired.
Fig. 1B shows a simplified perspective view of a quadrupole iron-wave log source showing preferred embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1B, the quadrupole 35 log source 58 includes a log probe 60 and four elements 61, 62, and 64. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the logging probe 60 is a hollow cylinder having an axis 66 and each of the four elements is a sector of a hollow cylinder made of a piezoelectric material.
The four elements are so connected to the probe 60 that they are substantially coaxial with the probe and surround the probe axis 66 in cyclic order 61, 63,62 and 64. The four elements are polarized in selected directions. In the preferred embodiment, the four elements are polarized in radial directions, although the element polarized in the circumferential directions can be used as described later.
Electric pulses are applied across the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of each of the four elements, causing each element to expand or contract radially. Electric square pulses have been accepted. If all four elements are radially outwardly polarized as shown in FIG. 1B and electrical pulses are applied to the elements 61, 62 such that the inner cylindrical surfaces of the elements 61 and 62 are at higher electrical potential than the outer cylindrical surfaces, the elements 61 and 62 initially contracted radially. The contraction direction is shown by the arrows in FIG. IB. Electric pulses are then applied to the elements 63 and 64 such that the outer cylindrical surfaces of such elements are at higher electrical potential than the inner cylindrical surfaces. The elements 63 and 64 will then begin to expand radially in directions as shown in FIG. IB. If electrical pulses are applied substantially simultaneously to the four elements, the four elements will generate four pressure waves substantially simultaneously: expansion of the elements 63 and 64 will generate positive pressure waves and the contraction of the elements 61 and 62 will generate negative pressure waves. If electric pulses supplied to the four elements have overlapping frequencies over a common component with the frequencies at their overlapping frequencies, the four generated pressure waves will interfere and penetrate the earth formation 30 surrounding the quadrupole source 58 and produce a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation. The electrical pulses supplied to the four elements are preferably of substantially similar waveform. The logging probe 60 has four windows adjacent to the four elements which allow the pressure wave generated by the four elements to propagate radially below the windows into the borehole fluid.
The quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation 30 produced by the quadrupole source 58 can be detected at a longitudinally spaced location along the borehole from the source 58 in a manner to be described below with reference to Fig. 4.
As previously described, the quadrupole shear wave source 58 can be used to generate four pressure waves in the borehole fluid and deflection of the resulting combined pressure wave in the earth formation will produce a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation. Deflection of such a resulting combined pressure wave will also produce a deflected pressure wave in the earth formation, but the amplitude of such deflected pressure wave is significantly less than that of the deflected quadrupole shear wave. Thus, when adjusting the trigger level of the detection and recording system, the quadrupole shear wave arrival will be the first arrival detected by a detector.
The common points of the two generated negative pressure waves are preferably substantially in phase and preferably substantially opposite in phase with the common components of the two generated positive pressure waves. 'This will improve the efficiency of the quadrupole source. Conventional pressure wave25 logging uses pressure waves in the form of wave pulses. While four pressure waves described with reference to FIG. 1B can be pressure wave pulses, long wave trains can be used.
Four pressure waves are preferably pressure wave pulses of substantially the same waveform. With such a waveform, the method according to the invention is more efficient since the interference between only the common components of the four pressure wave components with each other contributes to the generation of quadrupole shear wave in the formation.
The common components with overlapping frequencies for four pressure waves generated by the quadrupole shear wave source preferably have frequencies within certain ranges. Such preferred frequency ranges vary with the type of soil formation at different shear wave rates. If it approximated
Thus, the 161,998 range of the shear wave velocity is known, a preferred frequency range can be selected. For a 25.4 cm diameter well, preferred frequency ranges for overlapping frequencies are different ranges of shear wave velocities shown in the table below:
Approximate shear-wave velocity range
Preferred frequency ranges for overlapping frequencies
<td> 127-152</td><td>m / s</td><td> 3 -14</td><td>kHz</td>
<td> 152-177</td><td>m / s</td><td> 3,5-18</td><td>kHz</td>
<td> 177-203</td><td>m / s</td><td> 3,7-21</td><td>kHz</td>
<td> 203-228</td><td>m / s</td><td> 4 -25</td><td>kHz</td>
If the frequency range of overlapping frequencies for the four pressure waves is from 4 kHz to 14 kHz, the quadrupole shear wave source operates in the preferred frequency range for the entire range of shear wave velocities from 127 m / s to 228 m / s. The approximate range of the shear wave velocities of a formation can be calculated by a conventional method, such as measuring the pressure wave velocity of the formation. The shear wave velocity is approximately one-half the pressure wave velocity. From the measured pressure wave velocity, the approximate shear wave velocity range can be calculated.
The preferred frequencies may be inverse with the diameter of the well. Thus, for a well diameter in place of 25.4 cm, the preferred frequency range given by those mentioned above in the table is multiplied by a factor of 10 / d.
The frequencies at which the quadrupole shear wave source can be driven are much higher than the operating frequencies of the other more known logging devices. High frequencies at which the quadrupole shear wave source can be driven enable more accurate measurement of the shear wave velocity of the earth formations.
In the preferred embodiment, the four elements are four sectors of a hollow cylinder and substantially coaxial with an equal distance from the probe axis. The sectors of the different cylinders of different radii can also be used. It should be noted that four such sectors can be used although they are not coaxial with the probe axis provided that their axes are substantially parallel to the probe axis and that they are oriented so that the probe axis is on the concave side of each sector. Such an assembly can be provided by moving the four elements 61 to 64 of FIG.
1B radially away from axis 60 by different distances. The cyclic order 61, 63, 62, 64 of the four elements of FIG. IB defines the relative positions of the four elements. Since the sequence is cyclic, one of the following cyclic sequences can be used to arrive at the same relative positions; 63, 62, 64, 61;
62, 64, 61, 63 and 64, 61, 63, 62. While four elements are preferably substantially evenly spaced about axis 66> as shown in FIG. IB, it should be noted that assemblies in which the four elements are not evenly spaced about axis 66 can be used and are within the scope of the invention. Replacement of the elements 20o opposite disposed, such as 61, 62 or 63, 64 will also not affect the operation.<sup>1</sup> of the source of FIG. IB.
The four elements 61, 62, 63 and 64 may not necessarily be sectors for a hollow cylinder as shown in FIG. 1B, but 25 can be bodies of any shape or size as long as their geometrical centers of gravity are arranged relative to each other in a manner as described below and that generate pressure waves in a manner similar to that of the sector of FIG. 1B described earlier. The geometric center of gravity defined in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 1978, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts, as the center of mass of an object having a constant (i.e., uniform) density. If the object has a varying density, the geometric center of gravity of such an object can be defined as the point which will be the geometric center of gravity of such an object if such an object were of constant density. The geometric center of gravity of the element 62 is shown as 62a in FIG. 1B.
The four elements (first, second, third and fourth elements) of any shape or size are thus connected to a housing that at a square whose four corners are defined by the geometric centers of gravity of the first, second and third elements and the normal projection thereof geometric midpoint of the fourth element of the plane defined by and containing the geometric midpoints of the first, second and third elements, the four angles of the square are each less than 180 °. The four elements are vibrated by means of a vibration device such that the elements with geometric centers of gravity at two diagonally opposite corners generate positive pressure waves and the other two elements negative pressure waves where four pressure waves have a common component wave. The four pressure waves generated in this way will then interfere to produce a quadrupole shear wave in each earth formation. The geometric centers of the four elements are preferably coplanar and in the form of four corners of a square. The plane containing the geometric midpoints is preferably perpendicular to the borehole axis. If the four elements are small so that they become essentially point pressure wave sources, then the four pressure waves are generated mainly at four points spaced in the same way as the geometric centers of gravity of the four elements.
The polarization of the four elements may be radially inward, as opposed to those shown in FIG. IB. In such a case, the elements 61, 62 will move outward and the elements 73, 74 inward. If the polarity of the pulses applied to the four elements is reversed, the same reversal of the direction of the four elements will be the result. If the elements 61, 62 are polarized radially outward, but the elements 63, 64 are radially polarized inward and electrical pulses are applied so that the inner surface of the four elements is initially at a higher electrical potential than the outer surfaces, the elements will 61, 62 initially contract radially and elements 63, 64 will initially expand radially. All such constructions can be used for source 58 to produce quadrupole shear waves. Preferably, the four elements are essentially
<img file="NO161998B_D0003.tif" />
identical in size and distributed symmetrically around axis 66 and at the same depth in the borehole and axis 66 coinciding with the borehole axis. In such form, the size distribution of the quadrupole shear wave source 58 operates more efficiently.
2 and 3 show a more detailed embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the quadrupole shear wave source of FIG. 1B along a plane containing the log probe axis 66. FIG. 3 is a view along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 as: shows a cross section of the quadrupole source on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the logging probe.
The four piezoelectric elements 61, 62, 63 and 64 may be connected to the logging probe 60 shown in FIG. 2. The pistons 68 and 70 have a diameter such that they fit tightly in the log probe 60. The pistons 68 and 70 have threaded notches 72 and 74 respectively, and the two pistons may be connected by the piston rod 76, the two ends of which are threaded and are of such size that they can be inserted into the cutouts 72 and 74 of the pistons 68 and 70. To assemble the source 58, the piston rod 76 is inserted into an annular body of casing material 78 and four members 61 to 64 are arranged on the outer cylindrical surface of the body 78 so that they are substantially coaxial with the piston rod 76. Two rings of sealing material 80 and 82 fit snugly over the four elements of the body 78 to hold the elements in place. The piston rod 76 and the pistons 68 and 70 are then assembled as described previously and the entire unit is inserted into the laying probe 60. The logging probe 60 has four windows distributed around its circumference and is tightly enclosed by four rubber membranes 84, 86<sup>;</sup>"88 · and 9Ό '..
The four rubber membranes seal: they<sup>1</sup> four windows by being attached to the logging probe by conventional means, such as mechanical clips. The spaces between the four rubber membranes and the four piezoelectric elements are filled with oil 92. The O-rings 94 and 96 seal the contact surfaces between pistons 68 and 70 and the logging probe 60 to prevent leakage of the oil in the two.
To provide passage for electrical connections, piston 68 and piston rod 76 have holes 102, 104 through their respective centers. The two holes communicate with each other. The piston rod 76 further has a passage 106 which is perpendicular to its axis and communicates with hole 104. The piston 68 also has four passages 108 in communication at one end with the hole 102 and the other end extends the outer cylindrical surfaces of the four elements. An electrical pulse generator 110 is connected to the four elements by two wiring groups: the group 112 includes four wires 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d, and the group 114 includes wires 114a, 114b, 114c and 114d. Group 112 with its wires is connected to the positive node of the generator and group 114 its wires are connected to the negative node. Conduits 112c and 112d are threaded through holes 102 and then through passageways 108 and are connected to the outer cylindrical surface of members 63 and 64. Conduits 112a and 112b are threaded through holes 102 to piston 68 and hole 104 to piston rod 76 and are then connected. via the hole 106 and the body with the inner surfaces of the elements 61 and 62 respectively. Similarly, conduits 114a and 114b are passed through hole 102, passage 108 and are connected to the outer cylindrical surfaces of members 61 and 62, respectively. Conduits 114c and 114d are also passed through holes 102, 104 and 106 and connected to the inner cylindrical surfaces of the elements 63 and 64, respectively. Thus, when the electrical pulse generator 110 supplies an electrical pulse across the two groups of wires, the pulse is applied across each pair of wires connected to one of the four elements. Such a pulse causes the inner cylindrical surfaces of the elements 61 and 62 to be at a higher electrical potential than their outer cylindrical surfaces. If the elements 61 and 62 are polarized radially outward, as is known, such electrical potentials will cause the elements 61 and 62 to be radially contracted initially. The pulses supplied by generator 110 will cause the outer cylindrical surfaces of the elements 63 and 64 to be 5 at a higher electrical potential than the inner cylindrical surfaces. Elements 63 and 64 are polarized radially outward and such electrical potential will cause the two elements to expand radially initially.
Therefore, connected in the above manner, substantially the same electrical pulse supplied by the generator 110 substantially simultaneously to the four elements causes the four elements to move substantially simultaneously: the elements 61 and 62 'are contracted and moved inwardly to begin with and the elements' 63 and 64 expanding and moving outward to begin with. It is well known that after a piezoelectric material is caused to expand or contract initially to an electrical pulse, it will alternately expand and contract even though no electrical pulse has been applied after the trigger trigger pulse. Thus, after the electrical pulses have been supplied to the four elements causing the elements 61 and 62 to contract and the elements 63 and 64 expand, the elements 61 and 62 will alternately expand and contract, and the elements 63 and 64 will alternate. contract and expand. During their alternate expansion and contraction, the four elements will lose energy and their situation may be suppressed, but during their expansion and contraction, the four elements will generate four pressure wave trains. Since the four electrical pulses supplied to generator 110 to the four elements are substantially the same except for the polarity, the four pressure wave trains have essentially the same waveform. The wave trains generated by the elements 61 and 62 are mainly in phase.
The wave trains generated by the elements 63 and 64 are mainly in phase with each other, but have opposite phase to the wave networks generated by the elements 61 and 62. Such pressure waves are transmitted through the oil 92, the rubber membranes, then into the borehole fluid 26 and possibly into the earth formation. The four pressure waves thus generated will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation 30. Such shear wave propagation through the earth formation is bent back into the borehole fluid 26 and is detected at a distance from the log source 58 which will be explained below. The body 78 is preferably made of a coating material of good cushioning quality to dampen the reflection of the four elements so that the four pressure wave trains generated by the four elements are of short duration.
The four piezoelectric elements 61 to 64 can easily be made from commercially available piezoelectric crystals. Piezoelectric crystals of the type manufactured by Vernitron Company of Bedford, Ohio have been satisfactory. A type of commercially available piezoelectric crystal in the form of a hollow cylinder radially outwardly polarized. The inner and outer cylindrical walls of such crystals are each coated with a layer of conductive material, such as silver. Since the electrical pulse of generator 110 is applied to adjacent elements of the four elements of opposite polarity, the inner cylindrical surfaces of adjacent elements as well as their outer cylindrical surfaces must be electrically insulated. Such isolation can be provided by cutting out four closely spaced longitudinal sections to give the four sectors 61 to 64. Alternatively, instead of cutting such dense longitudinal sections, the conductive layer on both the inner and outer surfaces of such sections may be removed.
Fig. 4 shows a simplified, partly perspective and partly schematic view of how the embodiment of the invention can be used to log shear wave velocity. As shown in FIG. 4, the logging probe 140 includes the quadrupole shear wave log source 58 and two detectors 142 and 144. The two detectors are closer to the surface of the earth than the source 58 to simplify electrical connections in the probe 140. The two detectors are preferably quadrupole detectors which will be described later with reference to FIG. 6.
When the quadrupole shear wave log source 58 is activated by an electrical pulse, it generates a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation 30 as described above. Part of such a quadrupole shear wave propagates upward. It is partially bent back into the borehole fluid 26 adjacent to the detector 142 and is detected by the detector 142. However, part of such a quadrupole shear wave also propagates upwardly and is deflected into the borehole fluid 28 adjacent the detector 144 and is detected by the detector 144. The time interval between the detection of the deflection the propagation time of the quadrupole shear wave needed to propagate the distance between the two detectors. It should be noted that although the use of two detectors is preferred, the use of a detector is adequate. Where only one detector is used, the propagation time of the quadrupole shear wave between the source and the detector is given by the time interval between the generation of the four pressure waves by the source 58 and the detection of the quadrupole shear wave arrival by the detector.
The four pressure waves generated by the source 58 described above will interfere to produce not only a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation 30 but also a dipole and a monopoly shear wave. The monopoly and dipole shear waves are much smaller in amplitude compared to the quadrupole shear wave and emerge as the noise of the detector signal. Such noise can be reduced in a manner as explained as follows.
Fig. 5 shows the radiation pattern of a quadrupole wave with dipole and monopoly waves as noise. The two perpendicular straight lines in FIG. 5 are symmetric axes for the quadrupole161998 wave. One line has directions 146, 150 opposite to each other and the other line has directions 148, 152 opposite to each other. The radiation pattern of the quadrupole waves is shown in FIG. 5 as 154. The radiation patterns of the dipole and monopoly noise are shown in FIG. 5 with dotted lines such as 156 and 158. If four elements of the source 58 are four identical sectors to a cylinder and are symmetrically distributed around the axis 66 as shown in FIG. 6, one of the symmetric axes passes through the centers of two opposite elements and the other axis passes through the centers of the other two elements as shown in FIG. 6. Monopoly noise whose radiation pattern is shown at 158 in FIG. 5 is symmetrical and has the size M. Dipole noise, the radiation pattern of which is shown as 156 in FIG. 5, can have any orientation relative to the symmetric axes of the quadrupole wave. As shown in FIG. 5, the dipole noise has components D1, D2, -D1 and -D2 in the directions 146, 148, 150 and 152, respectively. The quadrupole wave 154 has components Q, "Q, Q, and -Q in the directions 146, 148, 150 and 152, respectively.
If four elements of the detector are arranged with four elements at the source 58 as shown in FIG. 6 and the radiation pattern of the quadrupole wave and the monopoly and dipole noise generated by the source 58 are as shown in FIG. 5, the signal is detected by the detector M + D1 + Q and such signal is recorded as the first log record. Source 58 is rotated at approximately 90 ° relative to the detector about the common axis of the source and detector and the second log record is performed. The signal record will be M + D2 - Q, the source 58 is rotated a further 90 ° after the second record, so that it is now rotated 180 ° from its position during the first record. A third recording is performed and the recorded signal will be M -D1 + Q. Source 58 is rotated a further 90 ° so that it is rotated 180 ° from its position during the second record. A fourth record is made and the signal drawn up will be M -D2 -Q. Subtracting the sum of the second and removing the record from the sum of the first and third records will substantially reduce the noise caused by the monopoly and dipole shear waves generated by the source 58 in the formation.
While the noise reduction method described above is shown by quadrupole shear wave source and detector, each including four substantially identical transducers symmetrically distributed around the logging probe axis, it should be noted that the same method should be used using other quadrupole shear wave sources and detectors. Where the source and detector are not coaxial, or where the source and detector have no axis instead of rotating the source about the common axis of the source and detector as in the method described above, the source is rotated along a line passing through both the source and the detector. .
In situations where it is not advantageous to physically rotate the quadrupole shear wave source relative to the detector, some of the monopole shear wave noise can be reduced by reversing the polarity of the pulse signal applied across the two groups of lines 112 and 114 between two log records. Subtracting one record from another will reduce the noise caused by monopoly shear waves. It should be noted that if the polarity of the pulse signal is reversed, the generated quadrupole shear wave will reverse in polarity as if the quadrupole shear wave source has been rotated by 90 °. Part of the monopoly shear wave noise will not reverse in the polarities between the two records. Subtracting one log record to another will reduce this portion of the monopoly jaw wave noise. The polarity of the pulse signal applied over two groups of wires 112 and 114 can be easily reversed by means of a polarity switch 168 coupled between the source
58 and pulse generator 110 as shown in FIG. 6.
The conventional detector is symmetrical and cannot be used to detect changes caused by rotation of the source 58. To detect such changes, the detectors 142 and 144 are preferably quadrupole detectors which may be similar to the source 58 except that connected to a pulse generator, the two detectors are similarly connected to a waveform record 166 as shown in FIG. 6 (only one detector and its connection to the recorder 166 are shown in FIG. 6). The four elements of each of the two detectors are preferably arranged azimuthally with four elements at the source 58 for reference with the probe axis 66 as shown in FIG. 6. Since the borehole axis is a pressure wave node for quadrupole radiation, none of the four elements of the borehole axis is preferably. For best results, the four elements are coaxial with the borehole.
Referring to FIG. 4, the two detectors 142 and 144 are preferably quadrupole detectors. Preferably, the four elements of each of the two detectors are aligned with the four elements of the source 58 as shown in FIG. 6. Other detector types may also be used. A conventional, piezoelectric, hollow, cylindrical detector type may be used if one, two or three of the four windows shown in FIG. 3 as sealed by membranes 84, 86, 88 and 99, this is of a material to substantially reduce acoustic wave penetration through such windows. If two of such windows are to be covered, they should be opposite, such as two windows sealed with membranes 84, 86 or two of membranes 88 and 90.
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and 3, the four elements are radially polarized. Alternatively, the four elements can be polarized on the perimeter so that the elements are in a so-called hoop mode. Fig.
and 8 are cross-sectional views of the plane perpendicular to the log probe axis showing alternative embodiments using piezoelectric crystals in the ring mode.
As shown in FIG. 7, the four elements 171, 172, 173 and 174 are circumferentially polarized. With the exception of the direction of polarization and electrical connections is the construction
<img file="NO161998B_D0004.tif" />
<img file="NO161998B_D0005.tif" />
of the alternative embodiment the same as that of the preferred embodiment.
Electric pulses are applied across each element such that the resulting electric field with such element is substantially parallel to its polarization. The electrical pulse will cause such an element to expand or contract radially depending on the polarity of the pulse. The four elements can be provided by a hollow cylindrical piezoelectric cylinder by cutting out four narrow longitudinal sectors. The exposed side surfaces of the elements are mainly rectangular in shape and are coated with a conductive layer, such as silver. An electrical pulse is then applied over two conductive layers to each element. The conductive layers for the elements 171 are the layers 184 and 186 as shown in FIG. 7. The conductive layers of adjacent elements are separated so that different potentials can be applied to adjacent edges of the elements. The electric pulses are supplied such that the resulting electric field in each element is substantially parallel to its polarization line. If the polarization of the elements 171, 172 and the electric field therein is perpendicular to the clockwise direction, as in FIG. 7, the two elements expand radially. If the polarization of the elements 173, 174 is perpendicular to the clockwise direction, but the electric field therein is perpendicular to the clockwise direction as in FIG. 7, the two elements will contract radially. Such counterclockwise or clockwise direction is by all references seen from the same end of the probe axis. If electrical pulses of the type used in the preferred embodiment are applied substantially simultaneously to the four elements, the pressure wave generated by the four elements will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave in the surrounding earth formation in a manner similar to that of the preferred embodiment. As in the preferred embodiment, the four elements of FIG. 7 do not coaxial with the log probe as long as their axes are substantially parallel to the probe axis and the probe axis is spaced apart from and on the concave side of each element.
Fig. 8 shows a simplified cross-section of another alternative embodiment of a shear-wave log source using the ring mode. The four elements 201, 202, 203 and 204 are four of eight longitudinal sectors of a piezoelectric hollow cylinder, each of the eight sections having been polarized circumferentially. Adjacent elements have opposite peripheral polarization. In this alternative embodiment, the four elements are only sectors of the hollow cylinder that will expand and contract and are all polarized perimeter in a clockwise direction. The connecting edge of any of two adjacent sectors among eight sectors is covered by a leading layer. The electric pulses are supplied such that the resulting electric field at each element is substantially parallel to its polarization line. With the polarization of the four elements and the polarity of the electrical pulses, the four elements as shown in FIG. 8, the elements 201 and 202 will expand radially while the elements 203 and 204 will contract radially. The other four sectors do not expand or contract since no electrical potential difference is applied across such elements.
Figs. 9, 10 are cross-sectional views of a quadrupole shear wave log source showing a further alternative embodiment of the invention. Instead of using cylindrical sections of a hollow piezoelectric cylinder, the four elements each include two layers, or a pair of piezoelectric plates attached together by their flat surfaces. With the exception of the four elements, the construction of this alternative embodiment is the same as that of the preferred embodiment. Each layer or plate at each element of the alternative embodiment
<img file="NO161998B_D0006.tif" />
998
<img file="NO161998B_D0007.tif" />
is polarized mainly perpendicular to its flat surface and the polarization of the two layers or plates is substantially in the opposite direction. It is well known that if an electrical pulse is applied across two flat surfaces to an element which includes a pair of oppositely polarized plates, it will cause the element to bend. The commercially available piezoelectric composite plates which can be used for the generation of acute waves are usually sold in the form of two piezoelectric plates connected over a conductive layer layered between two piezoelectric plates. The polarization of the two plates may be substantially opposite in direction as described above or they may have substantially the same direction. If the polarization is of the same direction, then the electrical pulse is applied to each plate so that the electric fields in the two plates have substantially opposite polarity. This conductive layer will allow the electrical pulse applied to each of the two plates to generate a more uniform electric field at such plates and will improve the efficiency of the log source.
FIG. 11A is a view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9 which shows a partial cross-section of the quadrupole shear wave log source of FIG. 9 wherein two opposite sides of the element 211 are attached to the pistons 68 and 70 and are fixed. An electrical pulse applied across the flat surfaces of the element 211 will cause its center portion to bend and vibrate. The extreme positions of the elements of the vibration are shown by dotted lines 211a and 211b. FIG. 11B is a view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 9 showing a partial cross-section of the quadrupole shear wave log source of FIG. 9 wherein only one side of the element 211 is fixed in position with the plunger 70. An electrical pulse applied across the flat surface of the element 211 will cause the portion of the element 211 away from the attached side to bend and vibrate at extreme positions as shown by using dotted line positions indicated as 211c and 211d. Electrical pulses of opposite polarity are applied to adjacent elements in FIG. 9 so that when an element is bent inward, two adjacent elements are bent outward.
If the polarity of the applied electrical pulses to the four elements is as shown in FIG. 9 and both ends of each of the four elements are secured as in FIG. 11A, the center portion of the elements 211 and 212 will move outward, while the middle portion of the elements 213 and 214 will move inward, thereby producing four pressure pulses which will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave upon surrounding soil formation. If only one end of each of the four elements is attached to the logging probe as in FIG. 11B, the non-attached ends of the elements 211 and 212 will move inward and those of the elements 213 and 214 will move outward, thereby producing two positive pressure waves and two negative pressure waves to produce a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation.
The four elements shown in FIG. 9 and 10 are preferably too bonded with the probe so that the elements 211 and 212 form a pair of substantially opposite sides of a cube and thus the elements 213 and 214 are formed. It should be noted that plates opposite arranged such as the plates 213, 214 must not be parallel to each other and adjacent plates must not be perpendicular to each other. Also, the plates must not be rectangular in shape. Compositions in which the four elements essentially form four parallelograms of a four-sided prism can be used and are part of this invention.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a quadrupole shear wave log source showing a further embodiment of the invention. Four conventional symmetric sources have been used, but are driven by phases similar to previous embodiments. Thus four radially polarized hollow piezoelectric cylinders 231, 232, 233 and 234 are the four elements. If the four elements are radially outwardly polarized and the polarity of the supplied pulses is as shown in FIG.
12, the elements 231, 232 will contract to generate two negative pressure waves and the elements 233, 234 will expand to generate two positive pressure waves. The four waves interfere as before to produce a quadrupole shear wave at the formation.
While it is more efficient and thus preferable that the four elements of FIG. 12 is arranged symmetrically so that their axes then define parallel edges of a dice, the invention also includes other devices.
It should be noted that the invention also includes devices where the axis of elements is substantially parallel to the probe axis and the elements surround the probe axis in the following order: first element 231, third element 233, second element 232 and fourth element 234, and where the expansions and contractions of the four elements are as described with reference to FIG. 12.
The above-described method and construction used are by way of illustration only and various changes in shape, size, material or other details of the method and construction may be made within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
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Priority claims4
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37968482 | United States of America | A | |
| 37968482 | United States of America | A | |
| 379684 | – | – | – |
| US19820379684 | – | – | – |
Members35
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DK222483D0 | Denmark | D0 | |
| PT76720A | Portugal | A | |
| GB8313117D0 | United Kingdom | D0 | |
| DK222483A | Denmark | A | |
| NO831690L | Norway | L | |
| AU1465683A | Australia | A | |
| AU1465683A | Australia | A | |
| JPS58210585A | Japan | A | |
| DE3316850A1 | Germany | A1 | |
| NL8301455A | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | A | |
| ZA832678B | South Africa | B | |
| MA19801A1 | Morocco | A1 | |
| GB2122351A | United Kingdom | A | |
| FR2532060A1 | France | A1 | |
| JPS59187282A | Japan | A | |
| OA07431A | African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) | A | |
| GR81342B | Greece | B | |
| AU547959B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| GB2122351B | United Kingdom | B | |
| PT76720B | Portugal | B | |
| CA1201524A | Canada | A | |
| FR2532060B1 | France | B1 | |
| MY8600599A | Malaysia | A | |
| NZ203919A | New Zealand | A | |
| IT1167410B | Italy | B | |
| IT8348332A0 | Italy | A0 | |
| IN159677B | India | B | |
| NO161998BThis record | Norway | B | |
| NO161998C | Norway | C | |
| US4932003A | United States of America | A | |
| US5027331A | United States of America | A | |
| DE3316850C2 | Germany | C2 | |
| JPH0551875B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| NL191217B | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | B | |
| NL191217C | Netherlands (Kingdom of the) | C |
Numbers
- Publication, DOCDB
- 161998
- Publication, EPODOC
- NO161998B
- Application
- 831690
- Application, DOCDB
- 831690
- Application, EPODOC
- NO19830001690
Titles2
- Norwegian
- FREMGANGSMAATE OG ANORDNING FOR AA LOGGE JORDEN OMKRING EN BROENN.
- English
- PROCEDURE AND DEVICE FOR AA LOGGING THE EARTH AROUND A BROWN.
Classification
- CPC, 2
- G01H1/04
- G01V1/46
- IPC, 3
- G01H1 04
- G01V1 40
- G01V1 46