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U.S. Department of Energy
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(In-situ permeability determination and fracture characterization using elastic waves)

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7180476· OSTI ID:7180476

Fractures or permeable structures in reservoirs are of great importance in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons. Heterogeneous layers in the formation are also of major significance. A very good example of such heterogeneous and permeable structures is the sand-shale sequence found in sedimentary formations. Full waveform acoustic logging offers an effective tool for characterizing these structures. The current technique most commonly used for modeling borehole acoustic wave propagation with heterogeneous formation structures is the finite difference method (Bhashvanija, 1983; Stephen et al., 1985). This technique can handle heterogeneity quite easily. However, the implementation of the method to a permeable porous formation is still a topic of research. Although wavenumber integration technique can be used to calculate wave propagation in homogeneous porous formations (Rosenbaum, 1974; Schmitt et al., 1988), it is very difficult, if not impossible, to apply such a technique to treat problems involving porous layer structures. In this study, the investigators show that if only the low-frequency Stoneley wave is used, the interaction of acoustic waves with borehole permeable structures can be much simplified. The objective of this study is to develop a theoretical model that can be used to calculate borehole Stoneley wave propagation across heterogeneous and permeable structures. As a result, the properties of such structures can be characterized by means of Stoneley wave measurements.

Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Earth Resources Lab.
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-86ER13636
OSTI ID:
7180476
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13636-T2; ON: DE92040159
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English