Sonic Scanner Basics - Client Guide for Sonic Scanner Products

Version 1.0

Field Deliverables
A las/dlis file from the field should have the following curves
DTCO1: Upper Near Monopole Transmitter
DTCO2: Lower Near Monopole Transmitter
DTCO3: Far Monopole Transmitter
DTSH4: Upper dipole transmitter (XD)
DTSH5: Lower dipole transmitter (YD)

For very simple first-pass calculations (PR, VP/VS) we suggest you use DTCO3
(compressional) and DTSH4 (shear). Please note these are curves from the field and
should be considered very preliminary. For accuracy, the curves require relabeling and
often reprocessing by the data center.

P&S (Compressional and Shear)

-Deliverables: Advisor Report, PDS, Las File with the following curves:
(1)PR_FAST, (2)VPVS_FAST, (3)MINXEXE_OVERALL,
(4)MAXXEXE_OVERALL, (5)DTCO, (6)DTSM, (7)CHRP, (8) TICO, (9)CHR_FAST

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Track 1
- PR_FAST: Poissons Ratio computed from the fast shear slowness and the
compressional slowness.
1 DTCO 2
PR _ FAST =
2 2 * ( DTSM _ FAST 2 DTCO 2 )

1
The fast shear slowness is used for Poissons ratio, rather than the slow shear slowness,
because it is affected primarily by intrinsic rock properties and less by fractures and
stress.
-VPVS_FAST: Ratio of the compressional velocity to the fast shear velocity.
Significance:
-In general, higher PR_FAST values are associated with less stiff rocks such as shales
and lower values are associated with stiffer rocks like sands. Similarly, higher VPVS
ratio values are associated with shales and lower values are associated with sands.
Another measure of stiffness is Youngs Modulus which is a function of DTCO,
DTSM_FAST and RHOB (density).
This track also shows Gamma Ray, hole diameter and bit size.

Track 2
-MINXENE_OVERALL: Overall estimate of minimum cross energy obtained from
Alford Rotation
-MAXXENE_OVERALL: Overall estimate of maximum cross energy obtained from
Alford Rotation
Significance: The green shading between the minimum and maximum energies is
generally an indication of anisotropy. The green shading indicates the energy in one
(fast) direction is different than the energy in a perpendicular (slow) direction.
Tool tension is also presented in this track

Track 3-5
Significance: These tracks show Platform Express or equivalent tool curves including
resistivity, lithology and porosity logs.

Track 6
-DTCO: Delta-T Compressional. This is from the far monopole source.
-DTSM_FAST: Slowness of fast shear waves: If there is anisotropy shear waves split.
This is the fast shear slowness.
Significance: These are the final DTCO and DTSM_FAST values that have been depth
matched. These can be used to determine elastic properties and can be compared to
seismic or core data.

Track 7
CHRP: Peak coherence of the receiver array for the compressional waveform
Significance: This is a quality control channel. The red shading indicates that the labeled
DTCO is not going through the peak coherence. So when CHRP=1 there is more
confidence in a good compressional slowness because the DTCO is going through the
peak coherence.

Track 8
Significance: The ST-Projection track is a 2D array showing the slowness time
coherency peak of the compressional wave. The DTCO curve should follow the
strongest coherency (red color).

2
Track 9
TICO: Compressional Integrated Transit Time Channel
Significance: The TICO curve is the compressional arrival time for one of the receivers
(usually the 7th receiver). The SWF7 Mono Far is a 2D array showing the waveforms at
the 7th receiver. For quality control the dashed red line should line up at the first arrival
of the VDL.

Track 10
CHR_FAST: Peak coherence of the receiver array for the fast shear waveform
Significance: This is a quality control channel. The blue shading indicates that the
labeled DTSM_FAST is not going through the peak coherence. So when CHRP=1 there
is more confidence in a good shear slowness because the DTSM_FAST is going through
the peak coherence.

Track 11
Significance: The ST-Projection track is a 2D array showing the slowness time
coherency of the fast shear flexural wave. The DTSM_FAST curve should follow the
strongest coherency (center of red shading).

Track 12
Significance: In addition to the ST-Projection from track 11 this is another quality
control for the DTSM_FAST curve. The SFA is the slowness frequency analysis where
slownesses are plotted versus frequency and then projected onto a depth track. The
DTSM_FAST curve should line up on the left edge of the SFA. This indicates that the
fast shear slowness was measured at the lowest possible frequency, which is
characteristic of the far field, away from wellbore damage.

3
BOREHOLE ANISOTROPY ANALYSIS
-Deliverables: PDS, Las File with the following curves:
(1)MINEXE_OVERALL, (2) MAXEXE_OVERALL, (3)P1AZ, (4) HAZI (5)SDEV,
(6)FSH_AZIM_OVERALL, (7) FSH_AZIM_ERR, (8) DTSM_FAST,
(9)DTSM_SLOW, (10)SLOANI), (11)TIMANI

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Track 1
-MINXENE_OVERALL: This is the overall estimate of minimum cross energy obtained
from Alford Rotation
-MAXXENE_OVERALL: This is the overall estimate of maximum cross energy
obtained from Alford Rotation
Significance: The green shading between the minimum and maximum energies is
generally indicates anisotropy. The green shading indicates the energy in one (fast)
direction is different than the energy in a perpendicular (slow) direction.
Track 2
-P1AZ: Pad 1 Azimuth
-HAZI: Hole Azimuth
-SDEV: Sonde Deviation
Significance: The purpose of this track is to show hole conditions and tool orientation.
Hole enlargements are shaded in grey, which is bit size hole diameter. The P1AZ
shows the azimuth of one of the pads on the tool. It is usually used as an indication of
tool rotation. The hole azimuth and deviation are measures of wellbore trajectory from
the Sonic Scanner.

Track 3
-FSH_AZIM_OVERALL: Overall estimate of fast shear azimuth. This is the direction
of anisotropy obtained after the 4-Component Alford Rotation.
-FSH_AZIM_ERR: Fast shear azimuth error. Uncertainty in the fast shear azimuth.

4
Significance: Some conditions (stress, fractures) in the earth will cause shear waves to
split. The fast shear azimuth is the direction in which the fast shear wave travels. If
there is energy anisotropy, time anisotropy and slowness anisotropy, then the fast shear
azimuth will align in the direction of maximum horizontal stress or the direction of
natural fractures. The source of anisotropy (stress or fractures) can be determined by
dispersion curves shown at the bottom of the pds print. If the shear flexural waves (red
and blue) cross each other than the anisotropy is caused by stress and if the curves are
parallel the anisotropy is intrinsic (fractures/bedding/etc). Dispersion plots are crossplots
of slowness as a function of frequency, which describe the dispersive nature of the shear
and Stoneley waveforms. Note: A more complete analysis of the source of anisotropy is
performed with the Fracture Anisotropy Modeling when the Sonic Scanner is combined
with the FMI or an image log.

Track 4
DTSM_FAST: Shear slowness of fast shear waves
DTSM_SLOW: Shear slowness of slow shear waves
SLOANI: Slowness based anisotropy
TIMANI: Time based anisotropy
Significance: What do all these anisotropy measurements mean?

-Energy Anisotropy (or the green shading in Track 1) represents any difference in
propagation for the two shear waves. Differences can represent inhomogeneity in the
formation or eccentering of the tool. It is a measure of both slowness and amplitude
differences of the fast and slow shear waves.

-Slowness anisotropy (SLOANI) describes the difference between the fast and slow shear
slowness on the rotated waveforms. It can be compared directly with seismic or core
measurements of slowness anisotropy. The vertical resolution is ~2.5ft.
DTSM _ SLOW DTSM _ FAST
SLOANI =
AVERAGE( DTSM _ FAST + DTSM _ SLOW )

- Traveltime anisotropy (TIMANI) is the arrival time difference between the fast and
shear slow shear waves at the receivers. The vertical resolution is ~13feet.
DTSM _ SLOW DTSM _ FAST
TIMANI =
DTSM _ FAST
To accurately characterize the earth we recommend using all three anisotropy
measurements. However, slowness anisotropy will usually be the best indicator for
anisotropic earth conditions. Energy and traveltime anisotropy are affected more by poor
borehole conditions and tool eccentering.
Track 5
Significance: This track shows the actual fast and slow shear waveforms in red and blue
respectively. The yellow band is the processing window. To quality control we check
that the fast (red) shear wave arrives before the slow (blue) shear wave.

5
Track6
Significance: This is a quality control for the fast shear. The black line labeled
DTSM_FAST represents the fast shear wave slowness. It should line up on the left edge
of the SFA.

Track7
Significance: This is another quality control for the fast shear. The black line labeled
DTSM_FAST represents the fast shear wave slowness. It should line up in the peak
coherency or red portion of the STC.
Track8
Significance: This is a quality control for the slow shear slowness. The black line
labeled DTSM_SLOW represents the slow shear wave. It should line up on the left edge
of the SFA.
Track9
Significance: This is another quality control for the slow shear slowness. The black line
labeled DTSM_SLOW represents the slow shear wave. It should line up in the peak
coherency or red portion of the SPR.

6
STONELEY
-Deliverables: PDS, Las File with the following curves:
(1)MINEXE_OVERALL, (2) MAXEXE_OVERALL, (3)DTST, (4) FWID_DF,
(5)FPERM_DF
-The Stoneley wave is a guided mode that travels up the borehole wall in a piston-like
motion. The Stoneley wave causes fluid to be displaced in and out of permeable
formations. It is sensitive to natural fractures, as well as borehole irregularities and sharp
lithologic boundaries.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Track 1
-MINXENE_OVERALL: This is the overall estimate of minimum cross energy obtained
from Alford Rotation
-MAXXENE_OVERALL: This is the overall estimate of maximum cross energy
obtained from Alford Rotation
Significance: The green shading between the minimum and maximum energies is
generally indicates anisotropy. The green shading indicates the energy in one (fast)
direction is different than the energy in a perpendicular (slow) direction.

7
Track 2
DTST: Delta-T Stoneley. This is the Stoneley slowness from the monopole source.
Significance: We measure the Stoneley slowness and we also model the Stoneley
slowness taking into account the borehole conditions and lithologic variations. The
model Stoneley curve is then compared with the measured Stoneley curve. The pink
shading in this track indicates that the model Stoneley slowness is slower than the
measured Stoneley slowness. This is an indication of VTI anisotropy. VTI or transverse
anisotropy (same property in one plane but different property perpendicular to that plane)
is usually a result of fine bedding or layering. The yellow shading indicates that the
model Stoneley slowness is faster than the measured slowness. This is usually caused by
permeability.

Track 3
Significance: This track is used to quality control the borehole conditions and tool
motion. The STTC stands for the Stoneley Transmission Coefficient, which is the
amplitude ratio of incoming vs. the direct transmitted wave. Each STTC array mode is
shown: receiver array (STTC@REC), transmitter array (STTC@TRA), borehole
compensated array (STTC@BHC) and model array (STTC@MOD). If all four overlay
and are have a value of 1 where you cant see them, than the tool is considered to be
centralized and have constant tool motion. A deviation from 1 usually indicates
eccentering or irregular tool motion. The purple shading is an indication of borehole
effects on the model Stoneley.

Track 4
Significance: STRC stands for the Stoneley reflection coefficient, which is the amplitude
ratio of incoming vs. the reflected wave. This track shows a comparison between the
measured (STRC@UP) and modeled (STRC.Mod) Stoneley upgoing reflection
coefficient. When the measured STRC is greater than 1, the Stoneley wave has reflected
off a discontinuity in the borehole. This creates a chevron pattern in track 8. The
brown shading indicates a modeled discontinuity, which will create a chevron pattern in
track 9.

Track 5
Significance: STRC stands for the Stoneley reflection coefficient, which is the amplitude
ratio of incoming vs. the reflected wave. This track shows a comparison between the
measured (STRC@DN) and modeled (STRC.Mod) Stoneley downgoing reflection
coefficient. When the measured STRC is greater than 1, the Stoneley wave has reflected
off a discontinuity in the borehole. This creates a chevron pattern in track 8. The
brown shading indicates a modeled discontinuity, which will create a chevron pattern in
track 9.

Track 6
FWID_DF: Fracture Width
Significance: This is the computed fracture width from the dipping model with borehole
correction. The fracture width is determined from an inversion of transmission and
reflection coefficients. The fracture width is given in inches. Fracture width and fracture

8
permeability are the primary curves that should be used for interpretation from this
product. Modeled and measured Stoneley slowness are also useful.

Track 7
FPEFM_DF Fracture Permeability.
Significance: This is the computed fracture permeability from the dipping fracture model
with borehole correction. The fracture permeability accounts for fracture dip angle and
fracture density. Average fracture permeability is computed every 6 inches. Fracture
width and fracture permeability are the primary curves that should be used for
interpretation from this product.

Track 8
Significance: This is the measured Stoneley VDL or variable density log. Fractures
intersecting a borehole cause part of the Stoneley wave to be reflected back along the
borehole wall. When the sonic tool crosses a fracture, down-going and up-going
reflections are created. These show up as chevron patterns on the VDL. Sharp
lithologic contrasts and borehole irregularities also produce reflections at the borehole
wall. These are filtered out based on the modeled results discussed in track 9.

Track 9
Significance: This is the modeled Stoneley VDL or variable density log. In addition to
fractures, other conditions can affect the Stoneley wave. These include borehole
washouts, breakouts and sharp lithological boundaries. A TEZUKA model is used to
generate synthetic waveforms. These waveforms are used to generate reflection and
transmission coefficients based solely on the borehole and lithologic boundaries.
Therefore the final fracture results represent measured waves that are filtered based on
the modeled results to account for borehole effects and bed boundaries.

9
FRACTURE ANISOTROPY MODELING
-Deliverables: PDS, Las File with the following curves:
(1) MINXENE_OVERALL, (2)MAXXENE_OVERALL, (3)XEN_DIFF, (4)
FSH_AZIM_OVERALL, (5)FSA_FED, (6)DTCO, (7)DTSM_FAST, (8)DTSM_SLOW,
(9) DTCO_PHASE_PRED, (10) DTSM_FAST_PHASE_PRED, (11)
DTSM_SLOW_PHASE_PRED, (12) FSA_DIFF, (13) DIFF_DIFF_SONIC_DATA, (14)
DTSM_DIFF_PHASE_PRED, (15) COUNT_DTRB_NF, (16) COUNT_DTRB_DI, (17)
COUNT_DTRB_BD, (18) FSA_PRED_NF, (19) FSA_PRED_DI, (20) ZONE1_FA,
(21)ZONE2_FA, (22)ZONE3_FA, (23)ZONE4_FA, (24)ZONE5_FA,
-Using a forward model approach we developed a methodology to model and interpret
borehole dipole sonic anisotropy related to the effect of geologic fractures.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Track 1
-MINXENE_OVERALL: This is the overall estimate of minimum cross energy
-MAXXENE_OVERALL: This is the overall estimate of maximum cross energy
-XEN_DIFF: The difference between minimum and maximum energy
Significance: The green shading between the minimum and maximum energies is
generally indicates anisotropy. The green shading indicates the energy in one (fast)
direction is different than the energy in a perpendicular (slow) direction.

Track 2
Significance: This track shows the true dip sets picked from the FMI interpretation. All
dip notations are consistent with FMI products.

Track 3
Significance: Lithology from the Platform Express

Track 4
-FSH_AZIM_OVERALL: Overall estimate of fast shear azimuth from the Sonic
Scanner.
-FSH_AZIM_ERR: Fast shear azimuth error. Uncertainty in the fast shear azimuth from
the Sonic Scanner.

10
-FSA_FED: Predicted Fracture Azimuth with all fractures from the Fracture Anisotropy
Modeling
Significance: This track shows the computed fast shear azimuth from the Sonic Scanner
in red. The predicted fast shear azimuth from the forward model is shown as yellow dots.
The yellow and orange shading are a function of energy anisotropy. Any shading
indicates the measured medium is close to an isotropic medium.

Track 5
-DTCO: Delta-T Compressional slowness. This is from the monopole source.
-DTSM_FAST: Shear slowness of fast shear waves
-DTSM_SLOW: Shear slowness of slow shear waves
-DTCO_PHASE_PRED: Predicted DTCO phase from the Fracture Anisotropy
Modeling
-DTSM_FAST_PHASE_PRED: Predicted DTSM_FAST phase from the Fracture
Anisotropy Modeling
-DTSM_SLOW_PHASE_PRED: Predicted DTSM_SLOW phase from the Fracture
Anisotropy Modeling
Significance: The solid curves in green (dtco), red (dtsm_fast) and blue (dtsm_slow)
represent the slowness from the Sonic Scanner. The corresponding triangles represent
the predicted slowness from the forward model.

Track 6
FSA_DIFF: The difference between the measured Sonic Scanner fast shear azimuth and
the phase predicted fast shear azimuth from the model
DIFF_DIFF_SONIC_DATA: The difference from DTSM_FAST to DTSM_SLOW
measured by the Sonic Scanner.
DTSM_DIFF_PHASE_PRED: The difference from DTSM_FAST to DTSM_SLOW
from the phase predicted model.
Significance: The FSA_DIFF shows how accurately the predicted fast shear azimuth
matches the actual fast shear azimuth, which is a function of the compliance of the
fractures. The closer this value is to zero the better the prediction. The differences in
shear wave splitting are also compared between the modeled and measured. The better
these two values overly the better the prediction matches the forward model.

Track 7
COUNT_DTRB_NF: Count contribution of natural fractures represented by red
histogram
COUNT_DTRB_DI: Count contribution of drilling induced fractures represented by
green histogram
COUNT_DTRB_BD: Count contribution of bedding structure
Significance: This track shows the number of drilling induced and natural fractures
within a moving window at each depth.

11
Track 8
-FSH_AZIM_OVERALL: Overall estimate of fast shear azimuth.
FSA_PRED_NF: Fast shear azimuth from phase prediction of natural fractures, shown in
red
FSA_PRED_DI: Fast shear azimuth from phase prediction of drilling induced fractures,
shown in green
Significance: This track is very similar to track number four because it shows the
computed fast shear azimuth from the Sonic Scanner and the predicted fast shear azimuth
from the forward model. However, all of the yellow dots (representing the fast shear
azimuth in track 4) are now divided into green or red dots to indicate what is causing the
anisotropy at that depth (fractures, stress or a combination of both).

Track 9
ZONE1_FA: Red Flag indicating that the anisotropy is driven by natural fractures
ZONE2_FA: Green Flag indicating that the anisotropy is driven by stress
ZONE3_FA: Yellow Flag indicating that the anisotropy is driven by both natural
fractures and stress
ZONE4_FA: Grey Flag indicating complex fractures. This means fractures are present
but the sonic anisotropy mechanism is not understood.
ZONE5_FA: White Flag indicating undefined zone. This means there are no drilling
induced or natural fractures.
Significance: All the flags in this track indicate what is causing anisotropy at each depth.

12