Multipole seismoelectric logging while drilling (LWD) for acoustic velocity measurements

Abstract

In seismoelectric well logging, an acoustic wave propagates along a borehole and induces electrical signals along the borehole wall. The apparent velocities of these seismoelectric signals are equal to the formation velocities. Laboratory scale-model multipole acoustic and seismoelectric LWD tools are built to conduct measurements in a borehole drilled into a sandstone formation. The tools include either an acoustic receiver array of an electrode receiver array along with four acoustic sources to allow the generation of monopole, dipole, and quadrupole modes. Results show that the standard acoustic measurement of formation velocities are impacted by strong tool wave contamination in most situations. However, because the propagating tool waves do not induce any electrical signals, the seismoelectric measurements can provide a more robust velocity measurement. The multipole seismoelectric logging-while-drilling (LWD) could be used as a new logging method to measure the acoustic velocities of the borehole formations.