Sonic or acoustic logs

John K. Warren
 The sonic log
n Sonic log records a formation’s
interval transit time designated as
Δt (delta-t) the reciprocal of sonic
velocity


n Geologically this capacity varies with

lithology and with rock texture, most
notably with porosity


n Is one of the suite of logs known as

the porosity logs
What is it?
n It measures the formations ability to transmit sound waves and so
varies with lithology and texture, notably porosity
n Quantitatively it can be used to evaluate porosity in liquid-filled holes
n It can be used to construct interval velocities and velocity profiles, both
aids to improve seismic interpretation
n When crossmultiplied with rock density it is used to produce the
acoustic impedance log, the first step in constructing a synthetic
seismic trace
n Qualitatively a geologist uses it to indicate lithology, to help identify
source rocks, overpressure and to some extent fractures
 Scales and units
n Sonic log values are given in microseconds (µs) per foot. 1
microsecond = 1 x 10-6 seconds.
n Value is called the interval transit time (Δt)
n Velocity is the reciprocal of the sonic transit time, 

i.e. Δt µs/ft = 106/V where V is velocity in ft/sec
n Even on logs with a metric depth scale the transit time is typically in
µs/ft and must be converted.

e.g. Δt = 40 µs/ft from the sonic log



1
Velocity = −6 = 25,000ft / sec = 7620m / sec
40x10
 Principles of Measurement

n Sonic tool simply measures the time it takes for a sound pulse (P wave) to
travel from the emitter at one end of the logging tool to receivers at the other
end of the tool
n Sound emitted has frequency between 20-40 kHz (kilohertz) or 20,000 to
40,000 cycles per second.
n Tool measures about 5 complete measurements per second which at a
typical logging speed of 1500m/h (5000 ft/h) produces a reading every 8 cm
(3 in) of hole - does not apply to long spacing sonic tools
Principal uses
Discipline Used for Knowing

Quantitative Petrophysics Porosity Matrix velocity

Fluid velocity

Seismic Interval velocity Integrated travel time

Seismic markers
Seismic calibration Check shots
Acoustic Impedance Direct use of sonic log

Qualitative & Geology Lithology Matrix and mineral

semi-qualitative velocities
Correlation
Texture
Fracture identification Density log porosities
Compaction & Normal compaction trends
overpressuring

Geochemistry Source rock evaluation Resistivity log values

 Tools
Name Symbol Company

Borehole compensated sonic BHC Schlumberger

Long spacing sonic LSS Schlumberger

Borehole compensated Acoustilog BHC Acoustilog Dresser Atlas
Long-spaced BHC Acoustilog Long spacing Acoustilog Dresser Atlas

Acoustic velocity log — Welex

Borehole compensated Sonic BCS Gearhart

n Modern tools are made up of a double array of sonic pulse emitters

(transducers) and receivers. Each array consists of one emitter and two
receivers
n With conventional BHC arrangement the emitter-receiver arrays are
inverted while in the newer long-spaced arrangement the arrays are
parallel but pulsed sequentially
n Tools are usually run as hole-centred
 Log characteristics
n Path of sonic wave is typically along the borehole wall with little
penetration. Theoretical depth of penetration is between 12 cm and 1
metre and seems to depend on wavelength of the sensed waves
n Vertical resolution of the sonic log is the span between the receivers ≈
60 cm (2 ft). Beds thinner than this will register but a true velocity is
not recorded
n Unwanted effects are usually caused by poor holes, either rugose or
caved.
n Sonic logs collected soon after cessation of drilling are most reliable.
Prolonged exposure to drilling muds causes deterioration, especially in
shales
 Sonic to calculate porosity
n In an “in-gauge” wells it is an inferior porosity log
to a neutron or density logs and measures matrix
porosity (not isolated vugs, fractures, etc.)
n Assumes that the transit time measured by the
tool is the sum of the time spent in the solid
matrix and the time in the fluid. This is expressed
by the Wylie time average equation

1 ø 1− ø
= +
V VL Vma

Δt = øΔt L + (1− ø)Δt ma

 Wylie Equation
Ø = (∆tlog - ∆tma)/(∆tf - ∆tma)

n ∆tlog is the interval transit time recorded on the log


∆tma is the transit time of the rock at Ø = 0

∆tf is the transit time of the pore fluid; usually approximated using
equivalents to 1.0 gm/cc for fresh muds and 1.1 gm/cc for salty drilling
muds
n Of the three porosity logs (sonic, density and neutron) the sonic is the
least accurate porosity measure as it is the most effected by lithology.
n Wyllie's time averaged formula works best in consolidated and
compacted sandstones and in carbonates with only intergranular porosity.
 Interval transit time versus
porosity 20

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densities between 2.84 and 15 ✴✴ ✴✴
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Core porosity (%)

✴✴
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n Interval transit time shows a ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴✴
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linear relationship to porosity
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n Is actually a function of ✴ ✴✴✴✴✴✴
✴✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
✴✴✴ ✴✴✴✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴ ✴
matrix velocity and volume ✴ ✴✴✴
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0
40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80
Delta t (µsec/ft)
 Factors that effect rock velocity
n There are other
variables beside V V V
matrix and porosity
that influence interval
transit time porosity density temperature
n Most significant are
compaction (external V
V V
pressure) and the
presence of gas
grain size gas saturation frequency
n Service companies
provide correction
curves for use with
unconsolidated V V V
sediments
external pressure pore pressure pressure
Typical mineral velocities
Dt (µs/ft) Velocity (m/s) Velocity (ft/sec)

Halite 66.7 – 67 4,550 15,000

Anhydrite 50 6,100 20,000

Gypsum 52-53 5,860 19,000

Polyhalite 57.5 – 58.0 5,240 17,200

Sylvite 74 4.115 13,500
Anthracite 90 – 120 3,050 ≈ 10,000

Lignite 140 – 180 2,000 ≈ 6,500

Casing (steel) 57.8 5,270 17,300

Water (20% NaCl) 189 – 200 1,610 – 1,525 5,290 – 5,000

Water (fresh) 218 1,400 4,590

Oil (40° API) 238 1,280 4,200

Gas (methane) 625 490 1,600

 Average velocities
Interval transit time (µ/ft Δt)
200 150 100 80 70 60 50 40
n Velocities of the Velocity (kilofeet/sec)
commonplace 6 10 15 20 25 30
sedimentary rocks are oil igneous

rarely diagnostic water metamorphic

n High velocities often oceanic basalts

associated with coals

carbonates anhydrite
salt
n Middle velocities with dolomite
sands and shales (chalks) limestones
n Low velocities with sandstones

shales and coals shales

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Velocity (km/sec)
 Gas Effects
n When gas replaces liquid in the
pores the linear time average
relationship no longer applies
n If gas is present in the shallow
invaded zone near the well bore its
effect can be recognised on the
sonic log and a gas water contact
can sometimes be recognised
n Sonic velocity in this porous
sandstone is lowered by 8%
n To estimate real porosity in
presence of gas the raw log should
be multiplied by ≈0.7
 Sonic as textural 

indicator
n The ability sonic log to indicate
texture is inherent in its ability to
indicate porosity
n Wylie et al., 1956 concluded that,
apart from porosity, the way sound
travels through a rock is intimately
associated with matrix, matrix
materials, grain size distribution and
shape, and cementation. These
features are the texture of a rock
n This is true in lithologies ranging for
sandstones to limestones to dolomites
 Compaction in 

shales
n As a sediment compacts its velocity
increases. Effect is most obvious on reduced
scale sonic logs through shale.
n In homogenous strata with transit time on a
log scale and depth on a arithmetic scale this
typically gives a linear relationship.
n Quantitatively this gives a shale porosity
equation of:



shale Ø = 0.466Δt - 31.7


n Compaction trends should only be

constructed using one lithology
 Compaction & 

unconformities
Conductivity (mmho/m)
n Using a general compaction curve 0
0 2000 4000
0
makes it possible to estimate the
amount of erosion associated with
“jumps”
n It is constructed by plotting Δt 5000 5000
against shale porosity on a semi log Top of
scale where they show a linear BB
B
B
H
H H
H
overpressure
BB B HH

relationship BB
B B
B
BB
BB
H
H HH
H
H

B B H
H
B B
n The origin is taken at 200µs, the sonic 10000 BB
BB
B
B
B
B BB
BBBB
HH
HH
H
10000
BB BB
velocity of water with a shale porosity
H
BBB HH
BBBB B H
B BB H
BB BBBBB
B H
H

≈ 62% back-plotting the present B B

BB H
B
BBB
BBB
B B

surface values to 200µs gives the

BBBB
B BBB
BB B

amount of erosion 15000 15000

10 14 18 22
Porosity (%)
 Fracture recognition comparing
density and sonic logs
n Density tool measures bulk density and
includes both intergranular and fracture
porosity
n Sonic tool tends to measures fastest
passage from emitter to receiver, so
tends to measure matrix porosity not
fracture porosity
n When density-derived porosity is more
than sonic porosity, the difference is the
fracture porosity
n For comparison logs are normalised to
define fractured intervals
 But does it always work?
100

✫ ✫
✫ ✫✫ ✫ ✫
n Grove Formation, Kansas ✫ ✫✫
✫
✫
Non fractured
✫ ✫✫
shows the reverse relationship 90 ✫
✫
✫ ✫
✫
✫ ✢
n For a given density the ✢ ✢ ✫
✫
✫
✢ ✫
fractured interval has a higher ✢
✢
✢
✫
velocity than the non-fractured 80 ✢ ✢✫
✢ ✢ ✢

Acoustic (µ/ft)
interval ✢
✢✫ ✢ ✢
✢✢
✫
✫
✢ ✢
n This may reflect a lithological ✢ ✢
✢ ✫ ✢
70 ✢
contrast with one lithology Fractured
✢
✢
✢
✢

having a greater propensity for ✢ ✫

✢
brittle fracture or may reflect
60
differences in fracture filling ✢
✢

cement versus matrix

mineralogy.
50
2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3
Density (gm/cc)
 Source Rock Content
200
B J
n Sonic log by itself B JJ Source rock shale
cannot indicate J J
CoalÑ
source potential B
B
BJ J
J
J
J Ñ
J
J

Sonic transit time (µsec/ft)

J J JJ JÑ Ñ JÑ
B B JJJ J J J
BBBBBJJJ J J J
n The presence of BBB B
B B
BBB B
BJ B
B J
J
J J JJ J
BB BJ B
organic matter 100
B
B
B BBB
BBBBB
BB
BB J JJ
B BB JB BB B
especially in shales BBB B BB BB
B BB B
B
B B
B JJ
J J
B
BBB JJ J
lowers the sonic B B
BBBBBBJ
BJ
B J
Source rock ls
B
velocities in direct B F

relationship to Non source rock shale

H
H
H
F
F

abundance Non source rock ls. H

H
50
n Crossplots calibrated 0.5 1 10 100 1000 10000

to core can identify R 75°F (ohm m)

organic-rich intervals
 Overpressure
n Overpressure can be calculated from the deviation from the normal
compaction trend or an equivalent depth method



P=(δw x De) + δr(D - De)



P = formation fluid pressure at depth D (psi)

δw = formation-water gradient (psi/ft)

δr = lithostatic gradient (psi/ft)

D = depth of calculation point (ft)

De = equivalent depth (ft) with same sonic transit time


n Sonic log in wireline mode can only identify after the event (already
drilled into, probably too late!)
 Frequency content
0
velocity log seismic trace
n Frequency of the sound pulse in sonic log
is 20-40 kHz


 50
Frequency of the sound pulse in seismic
work is 5-50 Hz

100
n Sonic log can resolve beds down to 50cm



150
Seismic wave can typically resolve beds to
around 10 m in shallow section and 50 m in
deeper section

200

n Sonic log data must be scaled up to

compare with seismic 250
 Sonic velocity scale match
Time/depth curve scale
one-way time (seconds)
n To find interval velocities the sonic 0 0.25 0.55 0.75 1.00 1.25

velocity is averaged over important x seafloor

stratigraphic intervals x

Time/depth
n Interval velocity is calculated from 1000 x
curve

sonic log by dividing time versus depth

in interval of interest x

n The time depth curve is then made by 2000

Interval velocity
curve seismic marker
accumulating the interval velocities horizons
x
n Average time to any particular depth interval velocity
can then be read and used to convert 3000
= 5000 m/s

seismic time map to depth map

basement x

0 2 4 6 8 10
Interval velocity scale
(m/s x 103)
 “Check shots” are used to
calibrate log
n Geophone is lowered into well and shots are fired at the surface for
various depths of interest that correspond to strategic stratigraphic
levels (usually just above a major seismic reflector)
n Time taken from time of shot to reach that depth is recorded
n Time depth curve is constructed that is independent of sonic log
n Alternatively check shots are related to sonic log with scale of sonic
stretched or squeezed so that it average velocities between check
shots corresponds to average velocities on sonic log.
n Sonic log may now be replotted with a linear time scale instead of a
depth scale
n Allows a direct calculation of depth from seismic data
Reflection coefficient
n When both a sonic and a density log are run in a well, the acoustic
impedances of layers can be calculated
n When replotted as an acoustic impedance log it represents the logged
section as it would be sensed by the seismic pulse

acoustic impedance below - acoustic impedance above

R =
acoustic impedance below + acoustic impedance above

D 2V2 − D1V1
D 2V2 + D1V1
 Constructing synthetic seismic
Sonic Sonic or Reflection Reflection Synthetic
velocity acoustic coefficient coeff. with seismogram
n Recalculates sonic log impedance transmission
losses
data in the form of a low Δt P/Δt - + - + - +
frequency seismic trace
n Reflections depend on
contrasts in acoustic
impedances (i.e. velocity
x density) of adjacent
layers
n Synthetic seismic is
invaluable for tying well
data to seismic and for
demonstrating effective time
resolution on the log
time
n See Darling, 2005; depth time
Chapter 6