Since the early 1990’s, Chevron has maintained the strategy of using acoustics based measurements to characterize formation mechanical properties and in-situ stress magnitude and orientation. The strategy was critical to present-day capability to create Mechanical Earth Models (MEM) that contain elastic moduli information (with static equivalents) and formation strength from seismic data volumes. The capability to create rock mechanical properties from the standard P-wave 3D seismic grid enables well planners to characterize pre-drill location safe drilling mud weight windows and to forecast drill bit performance through the overburden, i.e. rate of penetration and bit life.

      Furthermore, a mature MEM formation property data set focused on the reservoir can be used to predict seismic attributes that correspond to fluid saturation. Chevron now applies this technology within its business units world-wide for bit optimization & performance prediction, wellbore stability, sand prediction, fracture stimulation design, cuttings disposal design and seismic reservoir characterization for by-passed oil.