Drill‐bit reverse vertical seismic profile (RVSP) application in Western China

Abstract

The Drill‐Bit Reverse Vertical Seismic Profile (RVSP) is an emerging technology that uses the drill‐bit impacts as a down‐hole seismic energy source (drill‐bit signal). We present the results of applying the Drill‐Bit RVSP techniques in Western China to look ahead of the drill bit as drilling progresses. This techniques include several pilot sensors used as a pilot signal, lots of geophones planting around the well and geophone groups spreading along one or several lines on the surface while a tricone drill‐bit is used, and a set of on‐site processing software, which can be used to obtain an image of the target zone. And the result is compared with the seismic section from surface seismic survey, which demonstrate that the Drill‐Bit RVSP image section has higher resolution and S/N ration than surface seismic section. The investigation is a good example of successfully imaging the earth's reflectivity section from Drill‐Bit RVSP data and offers a potentially useful method for seismic imaging ahead of the drill‐bit.