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Title: System and method to estimate compressional to shear velocity (VP/VS) ratio in a region remote from a borehole

Abstract

In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed. In some aspects, the method includes arranging a first source in the borehole and generating a steered beam of elastic energy at a first frequency; arranging a second source in the borehole and generating a steerable beam of elastic energy at a second frequency, such that the steerable beam at the first frequency and the steerable beam at the second frequency intercept at a location away from the borehole; receiving at the borehole by a sensor a third elastic wave, created by a three wave mixing process, with a frequency equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies and a direction of propagation towards the borehole; determining a location of a three wave mixing region based on the arrangement of the first and second sources and on properties of the third wave signal; and creating three-dimensional images of the non-linear properties using data recorded by repeating the generating, receiving and determining at a plurality of azimuths, inclinations and longitudinal locations within themore » borehole. The method is additionally used to generate three dimensional images of the ratio of compressional to shear acoustic velocity of the same volume surrounding the borehole.

Inventors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1079425
Patent Number(s):
8289808
Application Number:
12/463,796
Assignee:
Chevron U.S.A., Inc.; Los Alamos National Security
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS

Citation Formats

Vu, Cung, Nihei, Kurt T, Schmitt, Denis P, Skelt, Christopher, Johnson, Paul A, Guyer, Robert, TenCate, James A, and Le Bas, Pierre-Yves. System and method to estimate compressional to shear velocity (VP/VS) ratio in a region remote from a borehole. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
Vu, Cung, Nihei, Kurt T, Schmitt, Denis P, Skelt, Christopher, Johnson, Paul A, Guyer, Robert, TenCate, James A, & Le Bas, Pierre-Yves. System and method to estimate compressional to shear velocity (VP/VS) ratio in a region remote from a borehole. United States.
Vu, Cung, Nihei, Kurt T, Schmitt, Denis P, Skelt, Christopher, Johnson, Paul A, Guyer, Robert, TenCate, James A, and Le Bas, Pierre-Yves. Tue . "System and method to estimate compressional to shear velocity (VP/VS) ratio in a region remote from a borehole". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1079425.
@article{osti_1079425,
title = {System and method to estimate compressional to shear velocity (VP/VS) ratio in a region remote from a borehole},
author = {Vu, Cung and Nihei, Kurt T and Schmitt, Denis P and Skelt, Christopher and Johnson, Paul A and Guyer, Robert and TenCate, James A and Le Bas, Pierre-Yves},
abstractNote = {In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed. In some aspects, the method includes arranging a first source in the borehole and generating a steered beam of elastic energy at a first frequency; arranging a second source in the borehole and generating a steerable beam of elastic energy at a second frequency, such that the steerable beam at the first frequency and the steerable beam at the second frequency intercept at a location away from the borehole; receiving at the borehole by a sensor a third elastic wave, created by a three wave mixing process, with a frequency equal to a difference between the first and second frequencies and a direction of propagation towards the borehole; determining a location of a three wave mixing region based on the arrangement of the first and second sources and on properties of the third wave signal; and creating three-dimensional images of the non-linear properties using data recorded by repeating the generating, receiving and determining at a plurality of azimuths, inclinations and longitudinal locations within the borehole. The method is additionally used to generate three dimensional images of the ratio of compressional to shear acoustic velocity of the same volume surrounding the borehole.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue Oct 16 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}

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