Study on the simulation of acoustic logging measurements in horizontal and deviated wells

The conventional acoustic logging interpretation method, which is based on vertical wells that penetrate isotropic formations, is not suitable for horizontal and deviated wells penetrating anisotropic formations. This unsuitability is because during horizontal and deviated well drilling, cuttings will splash on the well wall or fall into the borehole bottom and form a thin bed of cuttings. In addition, the high velocity layers at different depths and intrinsic anisotropy may affect acoustic logging measurements. In this study, we examine how these factors affect the acoustic wave slowness measured in horizontal and deviated wells that are surrounded by an anisotropic medium using numerical simulation. We use the staggered-grid finite difference method in time domain （FDTD） combined with hybrid-PML. First, we acquire the acoustic slowness using a simulated array logging system, and then, we analyze how various factors affect acoustic slowness measurements and the differences between the effects of these factors. The factors considered are high-velocity layers, thin beds of cuttings, dipping angle, formation thickness, and anisotropy. The simulation results show that these factors affect acoustic wave slowness measurements differently. We observe that when the wavelength is much smaller than the distance between the borehole wall and high velocity layer, the true slowness of the formation could be acquired. When the wavelengths are of the same order （i.e., in the near-field scenarios）, the geometrical acoustics theory is no longer applicable. Furthermore, when a thin bed of cuttings exists at the bottom of the borehole, Fermat＇s principle is still applicable, and true slowness can be acquired. In anisotropic formations, the measured slowness changes with increments in the dipping angle. Finally, for a measurement system with specific spacing, the slowness of a thin target layer can be acquired when the distance covered by the logging tool is sufficiently long. Based on systematical simulations with different dipping angles and anisotropy in homogenous TI media, slowness estimation charts are established to quantitatively determine the slowness at any dipping angle and for any value of the anisotropic ratio. Synthetic examples with different acoustic logging tools and different elastic parameters demonstrate that the acoustic slowness estimation method can be conveniently applied to horizontal and deviated wells in TI formations with high accuracy.

Matrix porosity calculation in volcanic and dolomite reservoirs and its application

Matrix porosity calculations of fractured and vuggy reservoirs, such as volcanics and weathered dolomite, are one of the problems urgently needed to solve in well-log evaluation. In this paper, we first compare the an empirical formula for porosity calculation from full diameter rhyolite core experiments with the matrix porosity formulas commonly used. We discuss the applicability of the empirical formula in fractured and vuggy reservoirs, such as intermediate-basic volcanics and weathered dolomite. Based on core analysis data, the error distribution of the calculated porosity of our empirical formula and the other porosity formulas in these reservoirs are given. The statistical error analysis indicates that the our empirical formula provides a higher precision than the other porosity formulas. When the porosity is between 1.5% and 15%, the acoustic experiment formula can be used not only for acidic volcanics but also in other fractured and vuggy reservoirs, such as intermediate-basic volcanics and weathered dolomite. Moreover, the formula can reduce the effects of borehole enlargement and rock alteration on porosity computation.