Methods and apparatus to image subsurface formation features

An apparatus to image one or more subsurface formation features, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more transmitters to generate acoustic waves;
• one or more receivers to sense the acoustic waves and acoustic data contained therein;
• a filter to extract one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data from the acoustic data;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• estimate a dip of the one or more subsurface formation features,
• migrate the one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data with the estimated dip;
• map the migrated one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data;
• and
• identify one or more permeable subsurface formation features based on the map of the migrated one or more S-S, P-S or S-S reflected waveform data and the resistivity image map.

A method for imaging subsurface formation features, the method comprising:

• receiving acoustic waves at one or more depths of a borehole traversing a subsurface formation, the formation having a strike and a dip;
• recording waveform data based on the acoustic waves;
• extracting one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform from the recorded waveform data;
• processing the one or more S-S, S-P or P-S reflected waveform data to determine one or more an S-S, P-S or S-P reflection point for a feature of interest;
• and
• imaging the subsurface formation features using the one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflection point,
• wherein the processing includes:
• providing a coordinate system having a first axis along the borehole, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and the strike, and a relative dip angle between the borehole and the dip;
• and
• performing a migration of the one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waves by using at least one of a narrow dip aperture around the relative dip angle or a common depth point transform for the relative dip angle.