SUSPENSION P-S VELOCITY

LOGGING METHOD
Overview
Suspension P-S velocity logging is a relatively new method of measuring seismic wave velocity profiles.
Developed in the mid-1970s to answer the need for a technique that could measure seismic shear-wave velocities
in deep, uncased boreholes, it was originally used by researchers at the OYO Corporation of Japan. The method
gained acceptance in Japan in the mid-1980s and was used with other velocity measurement methods to
characterize earthquake site response. Since the early 1990s it has gained acceptance in the U.S., especially
among earthquake engineering researchers. GEOVision personnel have logged over 300 boreholes using this
technique since 1991.

Procedure 7-Conductor cable

OYO PS-160
The OYO P-S Logging System uses a 7-meter probe, containing a Cable Head
Logger/Recorder

source and two receivers spaced 1 meter apart, suspended by a Diskette

Head Reducer with Data
cable. The armored 4- or 7-conductor cable serves both to support Winch
the probe and to convey data to and from a recording/control
device on the surface. The probe is lowered into the borehole to a
specified depth (a rotary encoder on the winch measures probe Upper Geophone

depth), where the source generates a pressure wave in the

borehole fluid. The pressure wave is converted to seismic waves (P
Lower Geophone
and S) at the borehole wall. Along the wall at each receiver
location, the P and S waves are converted back to pressure waves
in the fluid and received by the geophones, which send the data to
the recorder on the surface. Filter Tube

The elapsed time between arrivals of the waves at the receivers is Source
used to determine the average velocity of a 1-meter-high column of
soil around the borehole. Source to receiver analysis is also Source Driver

performed for quality assurance. Weight

Overall Length ~ 25 ft

Oyo PS Suspension Logger Setup

Waveform Data for a Single Measurement

Oyo PS Suspension Logging System

“a bold new vision in geophysical services”

Applications
Typical applications of suspension P- and S-wave velocity
logging include:

• Dam safety investigations

• Seismic site response studies for bridge abutments,
dams, buildings, etc.
• Foundation studies
• Measurement of soil/rock properties (i.e. shear modulus,
bulk modulus, compressibility, and Poisson’s ratio)
• Characterization of strong motion sites
• Velocity control for seismic reflection surveys

Key Benefits
Suspension P- and S-wave velocity profiling using the OYO
Suspension Logger has become the method of choice for
obtaining high resolution borehole velocity measurements. The
reasons are many:

• Only method that obtains both P- and S-wave velocity data Depth Sequential Waveform Arrivals
reliably in a single hole at depths greater than 200 ft.
• Can be used in either uncased or cased (PVC) boreholes,
although results are always better in uncased holes. TREASURE ISLAND BOREHOLE USN-1 SUSPENSION LOGGING

• Can be used in boreholes drilled from barges. P- AND S-WAVE VELOCITIES; DATA COLLECTED OCTOBER 13, 1994

• Offers very high resolution (typically 1 meter) for resolving thin 0

layers that can have a dramatic effect on surface response. R1-R2 S-WAVE
R1-R2 P-WAVE

• Requires only 1 hole, as opposed to crosshole methods that 50

require at least 2.
• Has been used to depths of 2,000 ft. 100

150
GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE HOLE B6 SUSPENSION LOGGING
P and S Wave Velocities; Data collected December 14-15, 1991
0
1800 4800
S-Wave 200
DEPTH, FEET

2800 7200
P-Wave
Suggested layer
velocities
3400 9300

250
5800 12400
100

300
6600 12000

200 350
7400 13000
Depth, ft

6300 11000 400

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000
VELOCITY, FEET/SEC
300

8200 15000
• Specifically adapted to soils, whereas tools developed
400
for oil exploration are optimized for rock.
• Permits measurement of soil and rock properties such
as shear modulus, bulk modulus, compressibility, and
500
0 5000 10000 15000 20000
Poisson’s ratio.
Velocity, ft/sec
• Not hindered by fast layers and lack of depth penetration
like surface methods such as downhole.

1151 Pomona Road, Unit P, Corona, California 92882, ph. 909-549-1234, fx. 909-549-1236, www.geovision.com