Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for the generation of acoustic waves for acoustic stimulation, as well as for analysis of subterranean formations, using downhole tools and associated equipment that are not conventionally designed to do so. For example, in certain embodiments, formation testing tools, formation, measurement tools, inflatable packers, and so forth, may be controlled by control systems to, for example, create pressure pulses that generate the acoustic waves. In addition, in certain embodiments, a tool conveyance system that conveys a formation testing or measurement tool into a wellbore may include acoustic receivers that may detect the acoustic waves after they reflect from subterranean features of the formation.

Abstract: A method, article and system are provided for processing and interpreting acoustic data. The method and system includes providing a number of acoustic processing elements, each element being associated with an acoustic mode of a number of acoustic modes of a sonic measurement tool adapted to acquire data representing acoustic measurements in a borehole. In addition the method and system includes providing a user interface to organize a processing chain of the number of acoustic processing elements such that the acoustic processing elements process the acquired data according to a predefined workflow.

Abstract: A method, article and system are provided for processing and interpreting acoustic data. The method and system includes providing a number of acoustic processing elements, each element being associated with an acoustic mode of a number of acoustic modes of a sonic measurement tool adapted to acquire data representing acoustic measurements in a borehole. In addition the method and system includes providing a user interface to organize a processing chain of the number of acoustic processing elements such that the acoustic processing elements process the acquired data according to a predefined workflow.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method comprising: receiving a resource model associated with a resource site and receiving one or more objective parameters, such that a first objective parameter comprised in the one or more objective parameters is a function of one or more parameter values of the resource model. The method comprises executing simulations to generate a first uncertainty value based on at least one of a first parameter value and a first uncertainty value of a first parameter of the resource model. The simulations may be executed to generate a first forecast uncertainty value for each scenario comprised in a plurality of scenarios. The method also identifies one service that minimizes an uncertainty value of the objective parameter based on the forecast uncertainty value. The method further includes generating a first visualization comprising the one identified service for viewing by a user via a user interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system that is operable to receive an execution plan and execute a control operation on one or more equipment based operations within the execution plan. The one or more operations may include a data capturing operation associated with a resource site. In one embodiment, the system may be operable to execute at least a first operation in response to a success variable of the data capturing operation indicating a successful execution of the data capturing operation. The first operation may include a quality control operation that is executed by comparing at least one characteristic of the captured data to an expected characteristic to generate quality state data. The quality state data may have one of an acceptable status and an undesirable status. In response to the quality state data indicating an acceptable status for the quality control operation, executing at least a second operation.

Abstract: A downhole acoustic tool and method of use are provided. The acoustic tool includes an acoustic tool body. In addition, a transmitter section located along the acoustic tool body, including four or more transmitters to be driven so as to excite multi-mode waveforms. The acoustic tool further includes an array receiver section located along the acoustic tool body, containing a receiver sub-section comprising four or more receivers axially aligned with the four or more transmitters and spaced axially apart from the transmitter section. The acoustic tool also includes a processor configured to drive the transmitter section to excite multi-mode waveforms and to extract the multi-mode waveforms detected by the receiver section for interpretation of formation properties. A method for measuring a formation using the described acoustic tool is also provided.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus pertaining to determining shape and size of a borehole at a depth within a subterranean formation using ultrasonic measurements obtained by a downhole tool at four different azimuthal locations corresponding to four mutually orthogonal directions extending radially from a central axis of the downhole tool. The measurements are indicative of a distance between a wall of the borehole and the downhole tool at each azimuthal location. The borehole shape and size are determined by estimating an ellipse approximating the borehole shape and size using the ultrasonic measurements.

Abstract: Methods and systems of measuring acoustic signals via a borehole wall are disclosed. One or more non-contact magneto-dynamic sensors are configured or designed for deployment at at least one depth in a borehole. The magneto-dynamic sensor comprises a coil excited by an electric current and a circuitry for outputting a signal corresponding to a time-varying impedance of the coil. A processor is configured to perform signal processing for deriving at least one of a magnitude or a frequency of vibration of the borehole wall based on the output signal from the circuitry.

Abstract: A technique facilitates use of acoustic measurements to enable geo-steering during a well operation. A steerable well string is provided with acoustic systems used to collect data which is then processed to determine geo-steering inputs. In some applications, the well string may comprise a coiled tubing drilling tool. The coiled tubing drilling tool or other well string tool is combined with an azimuthally distributed pitch-catch micro-sonic sensor system and an azimuthally distributed ultrasonic pulse-echo transducer system. Data from these two systems is provided to a processing system which processes the data to determine, for example, real-time, geo-steering inputs. These inputs may then be used to more effectively steer the coiled tubing drilling tool or other well string tool.

Abstract: A method of model-based acoustic measurements for a wellbore comprises creating an interpretation chart of acoustic measurements by a downhole tool in a wellbore using a numerical modeling and performing an evaluation with respect to the wellbore based on the interpretation chart.

Abstract: A method for processing sonic data measured with a downhole tool is provided. The method comprises acquiring dipole wave data measured by a dipole acquisition in multiple firing, and estimating at least one of formation anisotropy properties based on the multiple firing dipole data. The at least one of formation anisotropy properties may be derived by Alford rotation processing. The method may further comprise processing with inversion of an orthogonality error angle of the firing data in two dipole firings and/or providing a quality control with the estimating result based on sonic measurements in a pump-off period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus pertaining to determining shape and size of a borehole at a depth within a subterranean formation using ultrasonic measurements obtained by a downhole tool at four different azimuthal locations corresponding to four mutually orthogonal directions extending radially from a central axis of the downhole tool. The measurements are indicative of a distance between a wall of the borehole and the downhole tool at each azimuthal location. The borehole shape and size are determined by estimating an ellipse approximating the borehole shape and size using the ultrasonic measurements.

Abstract: A downhole monitoring system and method that includes a sensor system with a sensor array with a number of sensors and a hub. Data measured by the sensors is processed by the hub and wirelessly communicated to a smart node. The sensor system may be mounted in the annulus formed between a borehole wall and an exterior surface of a well casing. The sensors may be configured to monitor the formation for microseismic events generated during hydraulic fracturing. The fracture growth and propagation may be monitored using the data obtained by the sensors. The data may facilitate real time control of the hydraulic fracturing operation.

Abstract: An example method for estimating a time of flight (“TOF”) for an acoustic wave generated by an acoustic source for each of a plurality of acoustic receivers in an array can include recording data corresponding to the acoustic wave received at each of the acoustic receivers, estimating a respective TOF for the acoustic wave for each of the acoustic receivers, and discarding one or more of the respective estimated TOFs. Each of the discarded TOFs can be a statistical outlier. The method can also include calculating a plurality of time delays for the acoustic wave using a plurality of non-discarded estimated TOFs, and updating the respective estimated TOFs for the acoustic wave for each of the acoustic receivers using the calculated time delays. Each of the time delays can be a difference between respective estimated TOFs for the acoustic wave for at least two of the acoustic receivers.

Abstract: A method for estimating formation slowness is provided. The method comprises forward modeling to compute formation slownesses based on a first method for orthorhombic media using stress magnitudes and third-order elastic constants as inputs, and forward modeling to determine formation slownesses analytically based on a second method using stress magnitudes, stress azimuth and third-order elastic constants as inputs. The first method may be based on Tsvankin method and the second method may be based on Christoffel method. The forward modeling may further use well configuration and reference moduli as inputs, and the results from the forward modeling may include formation slownesses, and at least one of vertical slownesses, anisotropic parameters, anellipticity indicators and fast shear azimuth. The method may further comprise assessing quality of the forward modeling based on results output from the forward modeling.

Abstract: A technique facilitates monitoring of acoustic signals to measure a velocity vector of a borehole. Acoustic sensors are arranged in a desired acoustic sensor array and positioned along a body of a tool, e.g. a sonic logging tool. The acoustic sensor array is then positioned in fluid along a wall of a borehole formed in a subterranean formation. The acoustic sensors are used to collect acoustic signal data while the acoustic sensors are maintained in a non-contact position with respect to the wall of the borehole. The data may be processed to determine the desired velocity vector.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to process measurements associated with drilling operations are described. An example method of modifying processing results during a subterranean formation drilling operation includes identifying a plurality of parameters and processing measurements associated with the subterranean formation obtained while drilling and the plurality of parameters to generate first results. Additionally, the example method includes processing measurements associated with the subterranean formation obtained while drilling is temporarily suspended and the plurality of parameters to generate second results and comparing the first and second results. Further, the example method includes, in response to the comparison of the first and second results, modifying the first results based on the second results to improve a quality of the first results.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for waveform processing are disclosed. An example method includes determining shrinkage estimators in a Discrete Radon transform domain based on semblance of waveform data and de-noising the waveform data using a processor and the shrinkage estimators to enable the identification of weak signals in the waveform data.

Abstract: A method, article and system are provided for processing and interpreting acoustic data. The method and system includes providing a number of acoustic processing elements, each element being associated with an acoustic mode of a number of acoustic modes of a sonic measurement tool adapted to acquire data representing acoustic measurements in a borehole. In addition the method and system includes providing a user interface to organize a processing chain of the number of acoustic processing elements such that the acoustic processing elements process the acquired data according to a predefined workflow.

Abstract: A technique facilitates the accumulation and analysis of data related to a subterranean formation. An arrangement of different types of sensors is mounted on a collar utilized in accumulating data on the subterranean formation. The sensors are operable in combination to improve the image quality of data obtained with respect to the subterranean formation. Certain applications utilize an arrangement of sensors comprising at least one of each of an electromagnetic sensor and an ultrasonic pulse-echo transducer. A stabilizer or stabilizers may be used to precisely orient and position the sensors within a wellbore.