Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool

During logging-while-drilling (LWD) operations, complex drill string movements and the weight of the drill pipe often lead to a measurement tool that is not centralized. Therefore, studies of the response of an off-center acoustic LWD tool are essential to facilitate better interpretation of measure...

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Main Authors: Wang, Hua, Tao, Guo, Fehler, Michael
Other Authors: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Format: Article
Language:en_US
Published: Society of Exploration Geophysicists 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98496
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7081-258X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-5495
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author Wang, Hua
Tao, Guo
Fehler, Michael
author2 Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
author_facet Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Wang, Hua
Tao, Guo
Fehler, Michael
author_sort Wang, Hua
collection MIT
description During logging-while-drilling (LWD) operations, complex drill string movements and the weight of the drill pipe often lead to a measurement tool that is not centralized. Therefore, studies of the response of an off-center acoustic LWD tool are essential to facilitate better interpretation of measurements made in an actual drilling environment. Such studies will be helpful for tool design and data processing. We used a finite-difference method to simulate the response of a noncentralized monopole acoustic LWD tool at high frequency (10 kHz). We analyzed the effects on the waveforms for receivers at different azimuths caused by an off-center tool with differing amounts of offset. We used velocity-time semblance and dispersion analysis methods to help us to understand the modes in the waveforms at different azimuth receivers for different tool offsets. We have found that the waveforms in the direction of the tool offset, that is, where the fluid column is smallest, were affected the most. Waveforms in the orthogonal direction were less affected by tool offset. Collar flexural and collar quadrupole modes appear when the tool is off center. In addition, the formation flexural and quadrupole modes contaminate the Stoneley wave. Waveforms in a fast formation are more strongly affected by the offset of the tool than those in a slow formation. In a fast formation, the new collar modes make it difficult to determine the P-wave velocity in the direction of tool offset whereas it is easier in the orthogonal direction. However, P-waves are less contaminated by new modes in a slow formation. Due to the significant changes in waveforms with azimuth when the tool is off center, the simple addition of all waveforms from an azimuthal distribution of receivers will not result in a clean waveform that is sensitive to only the surrounding formation.
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spelling mit-1721.1/984962022-09-26T09:30:56Z Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool Wang, Hua Tao, Guo Fehler, Michael Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory Wang, Hua Fehler, Michael During logging-while-drilling (LWD) operations, complex drill string movements and the weight of the drill pipe often lead to a measurement tool that is not centralized. Therefore, studies of the response of an off-center acoustic LWD tool are essential to facilitate better interpretation of measurements made in an actual drilling environment. Such studies will be helpful for tool design and data processing. We used a finite-difference method to simulate the response of a noncentralized monopole acoustic LWD tool at high frequency (10 kHz). We analyzed the effects on the waveforms for receivers at different azimuths caused by an off-center tool with differing amounts of offset. We used velocity-time semblance and dispersion analysis methods to help us to understand the modes in the waveforms at different azimuth receivers for different tool offsets. We have found that the waveforms in the direction of the tool offset, that is, where the fluid column is smallest, were affected the most. Waveforms in the orthogonal direction were less affected by tool offset. Collar flexural and collar quadrupole modes appear when the tool is off center. In addition, the formation flexural and quadrupole modes contaminate the Stoneley wave. Waveforms in a fast formation are more strongly affected by the offset of the tool than those in a slow formation. In a fast formation, the new collar modes make it difficult to determine the P-wave velocity in the direction of tool offset whereas it is easier in the orthogonal direction. However, P-waves are less contaminated by new modes in a slow formation. Due to the significant changes in waveforms with azimuth when the tool is off center, the simple addition of all waveforms from an azimuthal distribution of receivers will not result in a clean waveform that is sensitive to only the surrounding formation. National Natural Science Foundation (China) (41174118) National Natural Science Foundation (China) (41404100) S&T Special Project (2011ZX05020-009) China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2013M530106) International Postdoctoral Exchange Fellowship Program 2015-09-15T14:38:42Z 2015-09-15T14:38:42Z 2015-05 2015-01 Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle 0016-8033 1942-2156 http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98496 Wang, Hua, Guo Tao, and Michael C. Fehler. “Investigation of the High-Frequency Wavefield of an off-Center Monopole Acoustic Logging-While-Drilling Tool.” Geophysics 80, no. 4 (July 2015): D329–41. © 2015 Society of Exploration Geophysicists https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7081-258X https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-5495 en_US http://dx.doi.org/10.1190/GEO2014-0426.1 Geophysics Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use. application/pdf Society of Exploration Geophysicists Society of Exploration Geophysicists
spellingShingle Wang, Hua
Tao, Guo
Fehler, Michael
Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool
title Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool
title_full Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool
title_fullStr Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool
title_short Investigation of the high-frequency wavefield of an off-center monopole acoustic logging-while-drilling tool
title_sort investigation of the high frequency wavefield of an off center monopole acoustic logging while drilling tool
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98496
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7081-258X
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8814-5495
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