Simulation of DC dual-laterolog measurements in complex formations: A Fourier-series approach with nonorthogonal coordinates and self-adapting finite elements

Dual laterolog (DLL) makes use of a galvanic conduction principle to focus electrical currents into rock formations, thereby minimizing shoulder and borehole effects in the measurement of formation resistivity. The tool includes two separate focusing systems: deep-sensing (LLd) and shallow-sensing modes (LLs). Laterolog current-focusing systems were designed for operation primarily in vertical boreholes penetrating horizontal layers; only recently their design has been revised for operation in deviated wells in the presence of electrical anisotropy. We simulated three-dimensional (3D) DLL measurements in dipping, invaded, and electrically anisotropic formations and appraised the corresponding effects on apparent resistivity logs. Simulations were performed by combining the use of a Fourier-series expansion in a nonorthogonal system of coordinates with an existing 2D goal-oriented, higher-order, and self-adaptive finite-element method. This numerical algorithm yields accurate solutions in limited CPU time because only a few Fourier modes are needed to simulate practical applications. For the calculation of focused currents, we introduced an embedded postprocessing method that incorporates a synthetic focusing principle to compute current intensities at each iterative step of optimal mesh refinements. Our numerical method accurately simulates 3D DLL measurements in rock formations that exhibit extreme contrasts of electrical resistivity. Simulations indicate that LLs resistivity logs are more sensitive to both invaded and anisotropic layers than LLd resistivity logs. In deviated wells, shoulder-bed effects on apparent resistivity logs increase with an increase of dip angle, and are emphasized across thin conductive layers. Electrical anisotropy effects on apparent resistivity logs increase substantially with dip angle. © 2009 Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved

Simulation of marine controlled source electromagnetic measurements using a parallel fourier hp-finite element method

We introduce a new numerical method to simulate geophysical marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) measurements for the case of 2D structures and finite 3D sources of electromagnetic (EM) excitation. The method of solution is based on a spatial discretization that combines a 1D Fourier transform with a 2D self-adaptive, goal-oriented, hp-Finite element method. It enables fast and accurate simulations for a variety of important, challenging and practical cases of marine CSEM acquisition. Numerical results confirm the high accuracy of the method as well as some of the main physical properties of marine CSEM measurements such as high measurement sensitivity to oil-bearing layers in the subsurface. In our model, numerical results indicate that measurements could be affected by the finite oil-bearing layer by as much as 104% (relative difference). While the emphasis of this paper is on EM simulations, the method can be used to simulate different physical phenomena such as seismic measurements

Development of a novel fcc structure for an amorphous-nanocrystalline Ti-33Nb-4Mn (at.%) ternary alloy

[EN] In this work, a novel amorphous-nanocrystalline titanium-niobium-manganese solid solution ternary alloy with a Ti-33Nb-4Mn (at.%) nominal composition was developed by a High-Energy Mechanical Alloying. Nb and Mn were added to the elemental Ti as a beta-phase (bcc) stabilizer and an amorphization promoter, respectively. The system evolved from the elemental Ti, Nb and Mn raw materials to a body centred cubic (bcc) TiNbMn alloy and, finally, to the formation of an original and stable face centred cubic (fcc) nanocrystalline TiNbMn alloy, not reported until now, at short milling time (20 h). This alloy remains invariant until 120 h. In turn, the partial amorphization of the system occurs and increases until at intermediate milling time (80 h). The production of both original fcc and the amorphous TiNbMn alloy may be beneficial for reducing the Young's modulus and improving the mechanical strength pursued for the Ti alloy. The optimal milling time respect to the amorphization, nanocrystalline size and Fe mount from milling media was 60 h and 80 h (TiNbMn60h and TiNbMn80h), with > 50 wt% of an amorphous phase and a crystalline domain size of approximately 5 nm.This work was supported under postdoctoral grant no. 3150060, which is financed by the FONDECYT fund (Government of Chile).Chicardi, E.; García-Garrido, C.; Sayagués, M.; Torres, Y.; Amigó, V.; Aguilar, C. (2018). Development of a novel fcc structure for an amorphous-nanocrystalline Ti-33Nb-4Mn (at.%) ternary alloy. Materials Characterization. 135:46-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchar.2017.11.021S465613