Acoustic Waveform Processing

System requirements
x64 better because wells can be ~4GB
Memory: overhead is about 250MB per core
CPU: more physical cores = faster, currently tops out at using 8 physical cores (Intel’s Hyperthreading doesn’t count as extra cores)
Matlab 2015a: you’re prompted to install it if it is not there.
Patience because processing is time consuming

Introducing the data
This module processes sound waves: examining the ‘types’ of waves their speed through the rock
The speed of sound in rock can tell us about the type of rock, fluid content and what stresses the rock is under
A typical Acoustic tool is pictured
Some standard-looking raw-data is show bottom

Designed-for Workflows
Most often, our clients are looking to verify the work of others with this module (so our results should generally agree)
We see a few different uses of the module:
Re-working other’s processed data to correct their errors
Re-processing the raw data to verify someone else’s interpretation
Re-processing the raw data to derive new information
Very often the outputs of this module are inputs to other modules (from PhiSw to Geomechanics)

General Workflow: Slowness
Slowness curves
STC (VDLs)
AWP
Raw Waves
Vendor STCs
AWP: Picking tool
From DLIS
AWP output
Key:
User inputs: Processing parameters
Selecting Rectangles
Results assessment and re-processing
*Slowness is the inverse of Speed, so is seconds-per-metre rather than metres-per-second

General Workflow: Anisotropy
Dispersion Outputs
Anisotropy Map
AWP
Raw Waves
From DLIS
AWP output
Key:
User inputs: Anisotropy parameters
Slowness curves: DTXX and DTYY
Fast Waves
Slow Waves
STC (VDLs)
User inputs: Processing parameters

WORKFLOW 1: RE-PICKING
Slowness from other people’s processing
Slowness curves
STC (VDLs)
AWP
Raw Waves
Vendor STCs
AWP: Picking tool
User inputs: Processing parameters
Selecting Rectangles
Data Assessment and personal interpretations

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Re-working other’s processed data to correct their errors
The most trivial use of the module
Vendors have already created a processed product, we are using that to pick new answers
Our steps:
Select tool & output set
Present the VDLs using AWP
Drag a rectangle
Enter basic data if needed
Pick until happy

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Unfortunately Fossetmaker has no data to perform this task
Select tool & output set
‘Tool’ specifies output curve names
Output set is where the outputs go…

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Unfortunately Fossetmaker has no data to perform this task
Select tool & output set
‘Tool’ specifies output curve names
Output set is where the outputs go…
Launch the ‘Vendor’ plot

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Unfortunately Fossetmaker has no data to perform this task
Select tool & output set
‘Tool’ specifies output curve names
Output set is where the outputs go…
Launch the ‘Vendor’ plot
Hit the Drop-down for the curve you want to make

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Unfortunately Fossetmaker has no data to perform this task
Select tool & output set
‘Tool’ specifies output curve names
Output set is where the outputs go…
Launch the ‘Vendor’ plot
Hit the Drop-down for the curve you want to make
Drag a rectangle by click-and-drag on the STC (red is good on this rainbow, so draw a rectangle there…blue is bad)

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Unfortunately Fossetmaker has no data to perform this task
Select tool & output set
‘Tool’ specifies output curve names
Output set is where the outputs go…
Launch the ‘Vendor’ plot
Hit the Drop-down for the curve you want to make
Drag a rectangle by click-and-drag on the STC (red is good on this rainbow, so draw a rectangle there…blue is bad)
On first rectangle, you should be asked “What are the scales”, also note the !’s on the scales… this is IP telling you that it does not know the scales of the data

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Unfortunately Fossetmaker has no data to perform this task
Select tool & output set
‘Tool’ specifies output curve names
Output set is where the outputs go…
Launch the ‘Vendor’ plot
Hit the Drop-down for the curve you want to make
Drag a rectangle by click-and-drag on the STC (red is good on this rainbow, so draw a rectangle there…blue is bad)
On first rectangle, you should be asked “What are the scales”, also note the !’s on the scales… this is IP telling you that it does not know the scales of the data
Rectangle picking can continue, picking whatever…

Workflow 1: “Re-picking”
Notes on Rectangle picking:
Selections are made from one VDL at a time
Default scales are 0..1 some vendors use 0..100!
3 curves are made: the curve name you picked from the dropdown (step 3 above), a smoothed version and a _psv “peak semblance value” curve, representing the height of the VDL colour map and is a quality indicator

WORKFLOW 2: PROCESSING RAW
Slowness from my own processing
Slowness curves
STC (VDLs)
AWP
Raw Waves
Vendor STCs
AWP: Picking tool
User inputs: Processing parameters
Selecting Rectangles
Data Assessment and personal interpretations

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
The picking part of this workflow is the same
Bulk of the processing work here
Our steps:
Select tool, input & output sets
Deactivate the modes you don’t want to process now
View Diagnostic pane
Set up parameters in Diag. or manual
Process or Preview
Return to step 4, refining parameters or processing interval

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
Select tool, input & output set
‘Tool’ specifies the ‘modes’ (Short_MP, MP, ST etc..) and output curve names
Output set in Output Curve tabs is where some outputs go
Output set in Configure Tool is where most Array outputs go
Input Waveform Set is where to pick up the raw waves from (shown in Configure Tool)
You should inspect both Output Curves

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
Pick the Modes you want:
Un-check the “Calculate ??” to turn off ??
Today we want to process MP but not any others
Grey tab = no process
Red tab = no waves, can’t process
Green tab = have waves will process

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
Start Diagnostic Pane
Here we view and modify processing parameters visually
All tabs that can be green are shown (because it’s very convenient to compare)
Interactive lines… yay!
Copy from Diag

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
Process whole well
Using Diagnostic we’d pick general parameters that work most places and process the whole well
Hit the Process button
Processing can take a while (about a minute for MP on this well)
Output is an STC_MP, which we can use in the picking process outlined in Workflow 1
Launch a ‘Basic’ Log plot, then pick DTC etc. like in Workflow 1

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
Process whole well
After seeing the whole well, we may choose to reprocess all or part-sections
Ordinarily this is driven by inspecting problem sections with Diagnostic window, re-adjusting parameters and processing the bad parts again
Once happy with the STC outcome, can re-pick DTC etc. again

Workflow 2: Processing Raw Waves
Notes on processing:
Like everything else in IP, there’s no ‘right’ answer
Changing parameters can make yours look very different: don’t get too hung up
There are many different ways to process and interpret (NthRoot, Common Rx, VDL Max/Sum and lots of parameters…) so expect variation
But! Same settings should make the same answer in the same well

WORKFLOW 3: ANISOTROPY
Azimuthally changing slowess
Dispersion Outputs
Anisotropy Map
AWP
Raw Waves
User inputs: Anisotropy parameters
Slowness curves: DTXX and DTYY
Fast Waves
Slow Waves
STC (VDLs)
User inputs: Processing parameters

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
The most time consuming and tedious
Fairly simple to run… kind-of
Our steps:
Select tool, input & output sets
Process XX & YY for DTXX and DTYY as shown in Workflow 2
View Anisotropy Diagnostic pane & parameter outcomes
Process or Preview
Return to step 3, refining parameters or processing interval
Process FastWaves and SlowWaves as in Workflow 2, with additional outputs

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
Select tool, input & output set
‘Tool’ specifies the ‘modes’ (Short_MP, MP, ST etc..) and output curve names
Output set in Output Curve tabs is where some outputs go
Output set in Configure Tool is where most Array outputs go
Input Waveform Set is where to pick up the raw waves from (shown in Configure Tool)
You should inspect both Output Curves

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
Process XX & YY for DTXX and DTYY
Using Workflow 2 you need to create a DTXX and DTYY; invalid DTXX or invalid DTYY prevent anisotropy being calculated at that depth

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
Inspect the Diagnostic Window for Anisotropy
This shows all the waveforms used, how semblance looks for each mode (XX YY XY and YX) and the Anisotropy outputs
There is no interactivity on the plots in this window
All processing parameters are inherited from the XX tab, therefore it’s useful to alter XX parameters in the other diagnostic window then review

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
Process for Anisotropy
This takes a long time!
A very long time!
For sanity, work on 100ft sections unless you are departing for lunch

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
Refine parameters
Parameters used for Anisotropy come from the XX tab
Use the XX tab to control time & filtering

Workflow 3: Anisotropy Processing
Process FastWaves and SlowWaves
Switch the Input Waveform Set to pick up FastShearWaves & SlowShearWaves
Process these waves like Workflow 2, but with ‘Frequency VDL’ and ‘Freq. Semb. VDL’ checked
Comparison of FVDL2’s can be made