Seismic Check Shots
The seismic reference survey (SRS), often called a seismic check shot survey, is designed as a calibration mechanism for reflection seismic data. In such a survey, seismic velocities are measured in the borehole by recording the time required for a seismic pulse generated by a surface energy source to reach a geophone anchored at various levels in the borehole. Conventional surveys use a single geophone enclosed in a pressure housing.

Older check shot (seismic reference survey) data should be used with extreme care. Experience has shown that time breaks and first break times are often difficult to pick and adjusting the log to such data is sometimes worthless. This problem is complicated further in deviated holes. Modern vertical seismic profiles and multi-geophone borehole seismic strings suffer from fewer problems than checkshot surveys because they use digital timing circuits and digital data recording.

Recent advances have made it possible to use a series of geophones spaced equally along a cable. More flexibility in geophone placement and closer spacing between recordings is achieved with this approach. On early versions, recording was analog so only first breaks were picked to obtain travel time and hence velocity to a depth.

Currently, vertical seismic profiles are made, which record the full seismic trace received downhole at each detector. Automatic first break detection provides the time-velocity-depth data, and a properly processed display of traces is a relatively noise free seismic section near the wellbore.

The recorded travel times are used to calibrate the sonic log, which then becomes the basic seismic calibration reference. A time versus depth plot is produced from these data. The calibrated sonic and the density logs are used to construct a synthetic seismogram, which allows identification of reflecting horizons by reference to the seismic response at the wellbore.

Seismic Reference Survey (Checkshots) and computed results

Sonic calibrated to SRS checkshots and reconstructed density log

Time to Depth conversion from SRS checkshots

The tool lowered into the borehole consists of:
   - velocity sensitive geophones
   - amplifier circuits
   - hydraulic anchoring system

At the surface, there will be:
   - air guns
   - air compressor
   - reference hydrophone
   - extra surface hydrophones if required
   - high speed recorder (self developing film)
   - control panel (amplifiers, filters)
   - digital tape recorder

The anchored geophone permits releasing cable tension, thus eliminating transmission of much of the surface generated noise. This allows the use of an air gun as a power source thereby obviating explosives and all the attendant safety hazards and logistical complications.

The entire well shooting operation can be carried out by the same crew that performs the logging operation thus simplifying personnel movements. Surveys can be run in open or cased (single string) hole.

The geometry of an SRS survey is shown below. The calculations take raw arrival times (slant path) and convert them to vertical (straight ray) paths.

Checkshot geometry ==>

For straight hole:
      1: Dhg = Dkbg - Ekb - Dhy
      2: Tv = Ts * COS (ARCTAN (Ho / Dhg))

For deviated hole:
      3: Hhg = Hg^2 + Ho^2 - 2 * Hg * Ho * COS (AZM)
      4: Tv = Ts * COS (ARCTAN (Hhg / Dhg))

In either case:
      5: Dsrd = Dkbg - Ekb
And for any two tock layers:
          6: Vint = 2 * (Dsrd2 - Dsrd1) / (Tv2 - Tv1)

Where:
  AZM = azimuth of hydrophone from surface location of well minus the azimuth of the
geophone from the surface location of the well (degrees)
  Dhg = depth below hydrophone to geophone (ft or m)
  Dhy = depth of hydrophone below seismic reference datum (ft or m)
  Dkbg = depth below kelly bushing to geophone (ft or m)
  Dsrd = depth below seismic reference datum to geophone (ft or m)
  Ekb = elevation of kelly bushing relative to sea level (ft or m)
  Hg = horizontal offset of geophone from surface location of well (ft or m)
  Hhg = horizontal distance from hydrophone to geophone in deviated well (ft or m)
  Ho = horizontal offset of shot location to well location (ft or m)
  Ts = slant path time (sec)
  Tv = vertical time (sec)
  Vint = rock layer interval velocity (ft/sec or m/sec)

These calculations provide one-way times versus depth and interval velocities which can be compared to those derived from sonic logs or seismic data. Similar results are also obtained from VSP data.