SETTING UP VSCOPE

FOR A DOWNHOLE TOOL

3-Channel Downhole Tool Setup
VibraScope v2.4.70

Abstract
Setting Up Vscope for a 3-channel Downhole Geophone

Seismic Source
www.SeismicSource.com
 Stacking Shots in Vscope

Table of Contents
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 3

2 Setting Up Vscope Software ...................................................................................... 4

2.1 Start Vscope .................................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 The New Project ............................................................................................................................................ 5
2.3 Set the Options for Vscope ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.3.1 General Tab .............................................................................................................................................................. 7
2.3.2 Auto Save Tab ......................................................................................................................................................... 8
2.3.3 File Export Tab......................................................................................................................................................... 9
2.3.4 Stack Tab ................................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.3.5 Filter Tab ................................................................................................................................................................. 11
2.3.6 Roll Tab ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
2.3.7 Lock Tab.................................................................................................................................................................. 13

3 Setting Up the DAQlink Seismographs .................................................................. 14

3.1 Set the DAQlink Parameters .................................................................................................................. 14
3.1.1 Acquisition Tab .................................................................................................................................................... 15
3.1.2 Trigger Tab ............................................................................................................................................................ 16
3.1.3 Analog Output Tab ............................................................................................................................................ 17
3.1.4 GPS Tab ................................................................................................................................................................... 18
3.1.5 Calibration Tab ..................................................................................................................................................... 19
3.1.6 Advanced Tab ....................................................................................................................................................... 20

3.2 Update all DAQlinks.................................................................................................................................. 21

4 Data Acquisition – Stacking Data ............................................................................ 22

4.1 Setting up Vscope ..................................................................................................................................... 22
4.2 Data Acquisition ......................................................................................................................................... 24
4.2.1 First Pop in Stack ................................................................................................................................................. 24
4.2.2 Next Pop ................................................................................................................................................................. 26
4.2.3 Another Pop .......................................................................................................................................................... 27
4.2.4 Last Pop and Saving Stack .............................................................................................................................. 28
4.2.5 Continuing Acquisition ..................................................................................................................................... 30

4.3 Stacking Options in the Memory Window ....................................................................................... 31

4.3.1 Restarting the Shot Point................................................................................................................................. 31
4.3.2 Save Current Stack.............................................................................................................................................. 32
4.3.3 Voiding Bad Records and Restacking Data .............................................................................................. 33
4.3.4 Reviewing Pops during Acquisition ............................................................................................................. 36
4.3.5 Recalling Data from the Database ............................................................................................................... 37
4.3.6 Deleting Pops from Database ........................................................................................................................ 39
4.3.7 Appending Traces in Time............................................................................................................................... 40

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5 Details ......................................................................................................................... 42

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1 Introduction
This document provides instructions for setting up DAQlink seismographs and Vscope software
for recording data from a three-channel downhole geophone. This includes enabling only the
first three channels in the DAQlink to decrease the amount of data recorded. This saves hard
disk storage space, makes network transfers faster, and also makes data processing easier.

Downhole data is typically recorded at a higher sample rate, so this document shows a ¼
millisecond sample rate as the default setting. It also assumes that a weaker source, i.e. a
sledgehammer, so the highest preamp gain has been selected.

To decrease noise, often multiple hits are recorded for a common level. This document includes
details on stacking multiple hits for a level or a source point.

A DAQlink at Work

 Note the three-channel downhole cable is connected directly to the DAQlink

 Also note the optional Wi-Fi unit, providing the connection to the computer
 The yellow case in the photo is the seismograph’s battery

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2 Setting Up Vscope Software

Start Vscope and create a new project. The new project will contain the parameters and data of
this project.

2.1 Start Vscope

Starting Vscope

 Start Vscope
 Check the network connections to the seismograph

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2.2 The New Project

Opening a New Project

 Use “File”  “New Project…” to create the new project

 Select “Seismic” as the project mode

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2.3 Set the Options for Vscope

Selecting VibraScope’s Parameters

 Use “Options”  “Preferences” to access Vscope’s options

 For example, check the “Auto Save” settings. Check the “Auto Export Single Records to
File”

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2.3.1 General Tab

Setting Vscope’s General Parameters

 All the menus shown in this document have been shown in the “Advanced Mode”.
 Unless otherwise instructed, please use the WinPcap option.

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2.3.2 Auto Save Tab

Setting Vscope’s Auto Save Parameters

 This tab controls which files are saved, the file type saved, and the folder to which those
files are saved.
 For stacking, save records to both “Database” and “File”

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2.3.3 File Export Tab

Setting Vscope’s File Export Parameters

 These options control the name and format of the files saved to the hard disk. Use a
format that is compatible with your processing software.

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2.3.4 Stack Tab

Setting Vscope’s Stack Parameters

 Check the “Auto Stack Records” option

 Save the stacked Data to both “Database” and “Files”
 This example stacks four individual pops
 Check the “Confirm Before Stack” option

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2.3.5 Filter Tab

Setting Vscope’s Filter Parameters

 The filters in this tab are used exclusively for data display, and do not affect the raw data,
or the files saved to disk.

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2.3.6 Roll Tab

Setting Vscope’s Roll Parameters

 When setting geometry values in the traces headers this option assists in updating
source and receiver station numbers during acquisition.

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2.3.7 Lock Tab

Setting Vscope’s Lock Option

 This option help prevent accidental parameter changes during data acquisition.

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3 Setting Up the DAQlink Seismographs

Start Vscope and create a new project. The new project will contain the parameters and data of
this project.

3.1 Set the DAQlink Parameters

Enabling DAQs and selecting unit 1452 for updating

 Use “Auto Detect”

 Enable all the DAQs shown by clicking on their enable boxes
 Highlight one of the units
 Use “DAQ Settings” to double-check its parameters

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3.1.1 Acquisition Tab

Setting a DAQs Acquisition Parameters

 Set the “Gain” levels, use “1” for large, powerful sources, “4” for weaker ones, and “16” for
shallow or distant sources
 Set the sample rate, larger values for lower frequencies and smaller datasets, smaller
values for higher frequencies but larger data files. Dividing 500 by the sample rate (in
milliseconds) provides the Nyquist frequency. The Nyquist must be greater than the
highest frequency recorded
 Low Cut Filter removes low frequency noise, a suggested value is roughly the geophone
frequency divided by five
 Standalone Mode lets DAQlink record without computer connected to it

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3.1.2 Trigger Tab

Setting a DAQs Trigger Parameters

 A trigger type of “TimeBreak” means a contact closure on the trigger port will start the
system
 Pulse Edge determines which end of the pulse starts the DAQlink, “Positive Edge” is the
front of a positive pulse, and “Negative Edge” is the trailing one.
 “Level” controls the point at which the trigger is picked on the pulse. Too large of value
and the seismograph will not detect the pulse.
 Setting the Auto Start option depends on how the crew is planning on operating

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3.1.3 Analog Output Tab

Setting a DAQs Analog Output Parameters

 Do not set any parameters in this menu unless directly instructed by SSC personnel!

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3.1.4 GPS Tab

Setting a DAQs GPS Parameters

 Use the “Get Position” button to check to ensure that the GPS is working
o The latitude and longitude should be displayed
o If the GGA string is not shown, then either the GPS is disconnected or set up with
the wrong baud rate.
o If the GGA string is shown, but without latitude and longitude, then the GPS does
not yet have a satellite lock. Please wait until the GPS acquires its lock, and a full
GGA can be fetched via the “Get Position” button.
 Set the GPS Port Baud Rate to 19,200 so the GPS and seismograph can communicate

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3.1.5 Calibration Tab

Setting a DAQs Calibration Parameters

 Do not set any parameters in this menu unless directly instructed by SSC personnel!

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3.1.6 Advanced Tab

Setting a DAQs Advanced Parameters

 Click on the “Reset DAQ” button to reboot a remote seismograph

 Use the “Reset Memory” option to push the memory point back to the start of memory.
The seismograph will now begin overwriting old data.
 Use the “Erase Memory” option to clear the seismograph memory and reset the
memory pointer. Do this after changing the sample rate to a smaller value / higher
rate.
 Do not reset the oscillator value!

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3.2 Update all DAQlinks

Sending updated parameters to all seismographs

 Click on “Yes” to send the updates to all attached DAQlink seismographs

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4 Data Acquisition – Stacking Data

4.1 Setting up Vscope

Select the Memory Option

 Click on the “Options” tab

 Click on the “Memory” option

Arranging Windows in Vscope

 The Memory widow appears on the screen

 Use the “Vertical Tile” option to arrange the windows for usability

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Vscope ready for Operation

 The Memory widow appears on the left

 The Trace Data (Seismic Plot) window in the center
 The Amplitude Spectra window is on the right
 The Status window is across the bottom of the program

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4.2 Data Acquisition
4.2.1 First Pop in Stack

Before for the first pop

 Click on the “Start” button

 “Waiting for Trigger” appears in the status window
 Take the Shot!

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After the first pop

 “Finished Acquisition” appears in the status window

 A record has been saved to both the database and as file #62
 Data is displayed as both “Seismic Data” and “Amplitude Spectra”

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4.2.2 Next Pop

After the second pop

 Click on the “Start” button

 “Waiting for Trigger” appears in the status window
 Take the Shot!
 The two-pop stack is shown in the data windows

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4.2.3 Another Pop

After the third pop

 Click on the “Start” button

 “Waiting for Trigger” appears in the status window
 Take the Shot!
 The three-pop stack is shown in the data windows

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4.2.4 Last Pop and Saving Stack

After the final pop

 Click on the “Start” button

 “Waiting for Trigger” appears in the status window
 Take the Shot!
 The four-pop stack is shown in the data windows
 The “Save Stack” confirmation appears, click on the “Yes” button with the green
checkmark

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After the final pop

 The data file with the four stacked pops is saved as file #66
 This data can now be viewed and manipulated with the various tools in Vscope

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4.2.5 Continuing Acquisition

Continuing Data Acquisition

 Click on the “Start” button

 Take the Shot!
 This restarted the acquisition and stacking process
 The data from this pop has been saved, both to the database and as SEG-Y file #67

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4.3 Stacking Options in the Memory Window

4.3.1 Restarting the Shot Point

Clear Memory

 Clearing the memory removes all pops for the current shot point, thus restarting data
acquisition for this source station

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4.3.2 Save Current Stack

Saving the Current Stack

 If the current stack is deemed acceptable, and no further pops are required, then the
current stack came be saved as a file
 After saving the current stack, the memory is cleared (see previous option) and
acquisition is restarting at the next source station

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4.3.3 Voiding Bad Records and Restacking Data

The Bad Record

 For this example, the pop with the “Stack ID” of 438 and file number of 78 is a “bad”
record because of noise on the line

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The bad pop is replaced

 The “Select” box for the bad file is unchecked

 The shot is then re-acquired
 Note that even with four pops, the stack count is still at 3

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The Source Location is finished

 The source location is finished as usual

 The stacked data is saved at file #81
 And data acquisition continues at the next shot point

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4.3.4 Reviewing Pops during Acquisition

Reviewing Acquired Data

 This option plots the selected record

 These records can then be unselected or reselected
 And the stack recreated and/or resaved

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4.3.5 Recalling Data from the Database

Reviewing Acquired Data

 This option permanently deletes records from the database

 In this example, the noisy record from the previous section has been deleted
 This is a permanent action and cannot be reversed!

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Reviewing Acquired Data

 This option permanently deletes records from the database

 In this example, the noisy record from the previous section has been deleted
 This is a permanent action and cannot be reversed!

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4.3.6 Deleting Pops from Database

Reviewing Acquired Data

 This option permanently deletes records from the database

 In this example, the noisy record from the previous section has been deleted
 This is a permanent action!

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4.3.7 Appending Traces in Time

Appending Traces

 This option appends traces from several Start ID into single traces
 In this example, three files are being appended into one
 This action happens in time, so the first sample of the appending file becomes the next
sample of the append file
 This the resulting file is stored in the Vscope database
 For use in other software, the data must be exported from the database

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Appended Traces shown in SeiSee

 Here is an appended record as seen in SeiSee

 In this example, all of the records are two seconds long
 The appended traces are six seconds long

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5 Details

DAQlink Seismograph – Stacking in Vscope

©2014 iSeis Co. • All rights reserved

This document may not be reproduced in any form without prior
express written consent from iSeis Co.

iSeis reserves the right to make changes and

improvements to its products without providing notice.

Trademarks
“iSeis”, “VibraScope” and “DAQlink” are trademarks of
the International Seismic Company

“SeiSee”, is the trademark of the

Dalmorneftegeofizika Geophysical Company and no ownership or control is stated or implied

Seismic Source Company

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Ponca City, Oklahoma 74604 USA
Telephone: +1.580.762.8233
Fax: +1.580.762.1785

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Email us at:
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