# US 11,112,526 B2 · Waveform processing utilizing an amplitude adaptive data mask > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,112,526 B2 - Document ID: US11112526B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/731,655 - Filed: 2019-12-31 - Published: 2020-08-27 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-31 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Ruijia Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112526B2 ## CPC - G01V 1/48: Processing data - G01V 3/34: Transmitting data to recording or processing apparatus; Recording data - E21B 47/00: Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) - G01V 3/12: operating with electromagnetic waves {(operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005)} - G01V 3/30: operating with electromagnetic waves - G01V 3/38: Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The disclosure is directed to waveform processing methods for collected sonic logging data. The data can be collected from various types of well systems. The methods utilize an amplitude analysis, utilizing the collected data, to build an adaptive data mask. The adaptive data mask can then be applied to a semblance analysis of the collected data to suppress or partially suppress alias data elements. A threshold parameter can be utilized to eliminate intensity values that do not satisfy the threshold criteria. The adaptive data mask can utilize amplitude or instantaneous amplitude analysis. Also, disclosed is a computer program product capable of executing the methods and algorithms described herein. A waveform processing system is disclosed that can perform the methods and algorithms as described herein. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of processing sonic logging data detected by a sonic tool in a well system to minimize an influence of alias data, comprising: transforming to a first data set the sonic logging data, wherein the sonic logging data includes multiple modes and the transforming targets a time slowness domain for the multiple modes; generating an adaptive data mask, wherein the adaptive data mask utilizes an amplitude analysis of the multiple modes of the first data set; and computing a second data set utilizing the adaptive data mask, wherein the second data set represents a semblance analysis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplitude analysis is generated utilizing beamforming. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the amplitude analysis is generated utilizing instantaneous amplitude correlation between receivers. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the adaptive data mask is automatically adjusted to subterranean formation conditions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the computing the second data set utilizes a threshold parameter and data values from the first data set that fail to satisfy the threshold parameter are suppressed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the threshold parameter is determined as a fractional proportion of a peak intensity value within the first data set. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein a time interval is utilized in the generating the adaptive data mask. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the second data set includes the same multiple modes as the first data set. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising balancing waveform data of the first data set utilizing an auto-gain control. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: using the sonic tool in the well system, prior to the transforming; and transmitting the second data set to at least one of a system, operator, printer, and display, wherein the computing the second data set identifies the multiple modes and subterranean formation characteristics, and the multiple modes and the subterranean formation characteristics are included in the second data set. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein more than one adaptive data mask can be generated, and one or more of the adaptive data masks can be utilized in combination for the computing the second data set. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the generating the adaptive data mask further comprises: applying a band-pass filter to the first data set; performing semblance processing on the first data set; generating an amplitude-semblance analysis utilizing the first data set; generating the adaptive data mask utilizing the first data set and the amplitude-semblance analysis; and generating a phase-semblance analysis from semblance processing of the first data set, wherein the utilizing the adaptive data mask utilizes the phase-semblance analysis. ### Claim 13 A computer program product having a series of operating instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that directs a data processing apparatus when executed thereby to perform operations to process sonic logging data detected from a well system, having operations comprising: transforming the sonic logging data to a first data set, wherein the sonic logging data includes multiple modes and the transforming targets a time slowness domain for the multiple modes; generating an adaptive data mask, wherein the adaptive data mask utilizes an amplitude analysis of the multiple modes of the first data set; and computing a second data set utilizing the adaptive data mask, wherein the second data set represents a semblance analysis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the amplitude analysis is generated utilizing instantaneous amplitude correlation between receivers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the computing the second data set utilizes a threshold parameter, wherein data values from the first data set that fail to satisfy the threshold parameter are suppressed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the second data set includes the same multiple modes as the first data set. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein more than one adaptive data mask can be generated, and one or more of the adaptive data masks can be utilized in combination for the computing the second data set. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The computer program product as recited in claim 13, wherein the generating the adaptive data mask further comprises: applying a band-pass filter to the first data set; performing semblance processing on the first data set; generating an amplitude-semblance analysis utilizing the first data set; generating the adaptive data mask utilizing the first data set and the amplitude-semblance analysis; and generating a phase-semblance analysis from semblance processing of the first data set, wherein the utilizing the adaptive data mask utilizes the phase-semblance analysis. ### Claim 19 A waveform processing system for sonic logging data for a well system comprising: a data source, configured to store the sonic logging data; and a processor configured to transform the sonic logging data to a first data set that targets a time slowness domain, automatically generate an adaptive data mask utilizing an amplitude analysis of the first data set, and compute a second data set utilizing the adaptive data mask, wherein the second data set represents a semblance analysis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The waveform processing system as recited in claim 19, further comprising a sonic tool capable of generating the sonic logging data.