01/04/2017

Koya University
College of Engineering
School of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineering Department
https://sites.google.com/a/koyauniversity.or
g/farhad-abdulrahman/teaching/well-

Well Log Analysis

logging-analysis/tutorial-handouts

Porosity Logs
(Sonic Log)
Farhad Abdulrahman
MSc Petroleum and Gas Engineering (Salford University – Manchester, UK)
BSc Petroleum Engineering (Koya University – Koya, S. Kurdistan)

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 1

Lecture Outlines
1. Sonic Log Definition
2. Principal Operation of SL
3. Porosity Derived from Sonic Log
4. Factors Affecting Sonic Log; Primary and
Secondary Effects.
5. Tutorial

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 2

Well Logging Analysis 1

 01/04/2017

1. Sonic Log (contd.)

• The sonic log is a porosity log that measures interval transit
time (∆𝑇) of a compressional sound wave travelling through
the formation along the axis of the borehole.

• The sonic device consists of one or more ultrasonic

transmitters and two or more receivers. This is to reduce the
errors due to the tilt of the tool with respect of the borehole
size.

• The correction is done, by averaging signals from different

transmitter-receiver combination over the same length of the
borehole.

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 3

Sonic Operation Principal

• The sonic tools create an acoustic signal and
measure how long it takes to pass through a
rock.

• By simply measuring this time we get an

indication of the formation properties.

• The amplitude of the signal will also give

information about the formation.

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 4

Well Logging Analysis 2

 01/04/2017

Sonic Log Diagram

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 5

Sonic Log (contd.)

• Interval transit time (∆𝑡) is in microseconds per foot,
𝜇𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝜇𝑠𝑒𝑐Τ
ൗ𝑓𝑡 ( or microseconds per meter, 𝑚).

• Interval transit time (DT) is usually displayed in tracks 2

and 3 of a log. Track 1 usually consists of a Caliper
(CALI), and a gamma ray (GR) or an SP log.

• The interval transit time (DT) is dependant upon both

lithology and porosity. From which a sonic porosity can
be derived by knowing formation’s matrix interval transit
time, as shown in table 1.0

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 6

Well Logging Analysis 3

 01/04/2017

Table 1.0 – Sonic velocities and interval

transit time for different matrixes

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 7

Sonic Log (contd.)

• Once the formation’s matrix interval transit time is known, the
sonic derived porosity can be known by using chart 1.0 or the
below equations:

∆𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑔 − ∆𝑡𝑚𝑎
∅𝑆 = 𝑊𝑦𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑒 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
∆𝑡𝑓𝑙 − ∆𝑡𝑚𝑎

5 ∆𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑔 − ∆𝑡𝑚𝑎
∅𝑆 = × (𝑅𝑎𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑟 − 𝐻𝑢𝑛𝑡 − 𝐺𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑟 ′𝑅𝐻𝐺 ′ )
8 ∆𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑔
• Where:
– ∅𝑆 is the sonic-derived porosity
– ∆𝑡𝑚𝑎 is the interval transit time in the matrix (Table 1.0)
– ∆𝑡𝑙𝑜𝑔 is the interval transit time in the formation.
– ∆𝑡𝑓𝑙 is the interval transit time in the fluid inside the formation ( fresh
water = 189 𝜇𝑠𝑒𝑐ൗ𝑓𝑡 ; 𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑡 − 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑢𝑑 = 185 𝜇𝑠𝑒𝑐ൗ𝑓𝑡)
4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 8

Well Logging Analysis 4

 01/04/2017

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 9

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 10

Well Logging Analysis 5

 01/04/2017

Hydrocarbon Effect
• The interval transit time (∆𝑡) of a formation increases as the
present of hydrocarbons rises.

• If the effect f hydrocarbons is not corrected, the sonic-derived

porosity will be too high.

• Hilchie suggests the following empirical correlations for

hydrocarbon effect:

∅ = ∅𝑆 × 0.7 𝑔𝑎𝑠

∅ = ∅𝑆 × 0.9 (𝑜𝑖𝑙)

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 11

Secondary Effect
• Borehole Environmental effects:
– Enlarged borehole, formation fractures, gas in the
borehole or formation, or improper centralization
can produce signal attenuation resulting in ”cycle
skipping” or DT spikes to higher values

– Improper centralization, lack of standoff, or

excessive logging speed can result in ”road
noise”, or DT spikes to either higher or lower
values

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 12

Well Logging Analysis 6

 01/04/2017

Secondary Effect (contd.)

Interpretation effects:
1. Lithology: porosity calculated from sonic depends on the
choice of matrix transit time, which varies with lithology.

2. Porosity calculations for uncompacted formations may yield

porosity values higher than the actual values when using
the Wyllie equation. Use instead the Raymer-Hunt-Gardner
equation or correct for decompaction.

3. Porosity calculated in gas bearing zones will be slightly

higher than the actual values because the travel time in gas
is higher than in water

4/1/2017 Prosity Logs 13

End

Tutorial
(Sonic Log Tutorial handouts)

Well Logging Analysis 7