Borehole Compensated Sonic Tool (BHC*)

Description
Sonic tools are designed to
measure the elastic
compressional-wave velocity of
the formation surrounding the
borehole. In essence, the sonic
tool can be thought of as a
miniature seismic refraction
experiment carried out within
the cylindrical borehole. The tool
is centered in the hole by means
of centralizers, and contains one
or more sources and receivers.
A source fires acoustic energy,
which is transmitted into the
borehole fluid. When the
wavefront impinges on the
borehole wall, a refracted
compressional wave is
generated. If formation shear
velocity is higher than the
acoustic velocity of the fluid, a
refracted shear wave will also
be generated. The refracted
waves travel along the borehole wall, re-radiating energy into the
fluid. Energy arrives at receivers on the logging tool at a time that is
linearly proportional to their offset from the source. Thus, formation
elastic-wave velocities can be determined by measuring the arrival
times at two receivers a known difference apart.
The BHC sonde measured the time required for a compressional sound
wave to travel through one foot of formation. The BHC consisted of an
upper and lower transmitter arranged symmetrically on either side of
two pair of receivers. The spacings T1-R2 and T1-R4 were 3 and 5 feet
apart, as well as the spacings T2-R3 and T2-R1. The transmitters were
pulsed alternately and the transit time of the compressional wave in
the formation, measured in microseconds per foot, was given by:
Δt=1/2 (T1R4-T1R2+T2R1-T2R3)
The BHC was used during the Deep Sea Drilling Project from 1975-
1982 and the Ocean Drilling Program from 1987-1998. It was also
deployed during IODP-ESO Expedition 302, on the Lomonosov Ridge.

Applications
Porosity and "pseudodensity"
The sonic transit time can be used to compute porosity by using the
appropriate transform, and to estimate fracture porosity in carbonatic
rocks. In addition, it can be used to compute a "pseudodensity" log
 over sections where this log has not been recorded or the response
was not satisfactory.

Seismic impedence
The product of compressional velocity and density is useful in
computing synthetic seismograms for time-depth ties of seismic
reflectors.

Sonic waveform analysis

If a refracted shear arrival is present, its velocity can be computed
from the full waveforms, and the frequency content and energy of
both compressional and shear arrivals can also be determined.

Environmental Effects
One common problem is cycle skipping: a low signal level, such as
that occurring in large holes and soft formations, can cause the far
detectors to trigger on the second or later arrivals, causing the
recorded Δt to be too high. This problem can also be related to the
presence of fractures.
Transit time stretching appears when the detection at the further
detector occurs later because of a weak signal. Finally, noise peaks
are caused by triggering of detectors by mechanically induced noise,
which causes the Δt to be too low.

Log Presentation
Delay times (µsec/ft) were usually displayed along with gamma ray
and resistivity data.

Tool Specifications
Diameter: 3.625 in (9.21 cm)

Major Outputs

DT: Delay time (µsec/ft)

TT1: Transit time 1 (5 ft) (µsec/ft)
TT2: Transit time 2 (3 ft) (µsec/ft)
TT3: Transit time 3 (5 ft) (µsec/ft)
TT4: Transit time 4 (3 ft) (µsec/ft)

Deployment Notes
The BHC could be run alone or in combination with resistivity and
gamma ray tools.