Using a sonic technique to estimate in-situ stresses

Conference · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6166793

Mao, N H; Costantino, M S; Hanson, J M; Sweeney, J J

This paper presents the results of a three-year research effort to develop a technique for estimating in situ stresses by measuring stress-induced velocity anisotropy around a borehole. Relevant parameters required to make the estimate were identified and measured in the laboratory on a 35.6 cm (14.0 in) cube of Nugget sandstone with a 10.2 cm (4.0 in) diameter hole, under biaxial loading. Two pairs each of radially and tangentially polarized transducers were placed inside the hole with displacement directions either parallel or perpendicular to the principal stress directions. With this configuration, relative travel times were measured by both a pulsed phase-locked loop technique and a cross correlation of digitized waveforms. The biaxial velocity data were used to back-calculate the applied stress. The standard deviation of the differences between the calculated and applied stresses is 0.62 MPa (90 psi) for a stress level up to 8.63 MPa (1250 psi).

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• OSTI ID: 6166793
• Report Number(s): CONF-8405120-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Soc. Pet. Eng. AIME, Pap.; (United States) Journal Volume: SPE/DOE/GRI 12850
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
ANISOTROPY
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CORRELATIONS
LOADING
MATERIALS HANDLING
MEDIUM PRESSURE
PHASE VELOCITY
POLARIZATION
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ROCKS
SANDSTONES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SONIC LOGGING
STRESS ANALYSIS
STRESS INTENSITY FACTORS
TRANSDUCERS
VELOCITY
WAVE FORMS
WELL LOGGING