Borehole stresses created by downhole seismic sources

Abstract

This paper analyzes the stresses created by downhole acoustic sources used for crosshole or reverse VSP data acquisition. The pressures created by downhole sources may be as large as [Formula: see text] bars which cannot affect intact steel casing. However, such pressures might in principle either (A) crack the cement radially through excessive hoop stress [Formula: see text], or (B) loosen the cement from the casing through an excessive value of shear stress [Formula: see text].