QUADRUPOLE ACOUSTIC SHEAR WAVE LOGGING

The quadrupole shear wave logging device of this invention includes a logging sonde, means for generating a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation surrounding a borehole containing fluid, and means for detecting in the fluid the refraction of the quadrupole shear wave. In the preferred embodiment, the generating means comprises four similar sectors of a hollow piezoelectric cylinder. The four cylinders are polarized radially. The four sectors are so connected to the sonde that they are in the form of a split cylinder coaxial with the sonde axis. Electrical pulses of similar waveforms are applied across the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of each sector to vibrate the four sectors. The electrical pulses are of such polarities that, during their initial motions of vibration, two oppositely situated sectors are caused to move outward and the remaining two oppositely situated sectors to move inward substantially simultaneously. Thus, the oppositely situated sectors will vibrate in phase whereas adjacent sectors will vibrate substantially opposite in phase. The vibrations of the four sectors generate four pressure waves: two positive pressure waves and two negative pressure waves. The four pressure waves generated will interfere and produce a quadrupole shear wave in the formation. The pressure wave in the fluid caused by refraction of such quadrupole shear wave is detected by the detecting means comprising two detectors in the fluid spaced apart longitudinally from each other and from the generating means. Shear velocity of the formation may be determined from the time interval between the detections of the refraction of the quadrupole shear wave by the two detectors.