3D spectral element method simulation of sonic logging in anisotropic viscoelastic media

Abstract

We present an efficient and accurate numerical algorithm for the simulation of sonic logging experiments. The basis of the approach is a heterogeneous spectral element method implemented on multi‐GPU applied to acoustic‐elastic wave equation. The approach was designed to simulate wave propagation in 3D arbitrary anisotropic elastic media with attenuation for a constant Q via standard linear solid using the τ method. Due to the use of an unstructured grid, the spectral element algorithm enables handling tools in a fluid‐filled borehole with surrounding geological models of big complexity. We compare results with analytical solutions and discuss results and computational efforts of simulation for arbitrary anisotropic inhomogeneous models.