Simulating Sonic Scanner responses in an interactive Web-based High Performance Computing environment

Abstract

Sonic Scanner logging tool collects a wealth of data about the geological formation. The drawback of this is that we are now discovering new features on the acoustic logs that have never been observed before; only rigorous modeling can help properly interpret the data. Invariably, it is difficult to learn quickly how to run a modeling code, set the parameters properly, and be able to detect possible errors in the input. In addition, complex modeling requires high power computing resources, which are not always easily accessible the user. To address these problems we developed a multi-tier Web-based log modeling environment where the Sonic Scanner simulator is easily accessible from the common Web browser. The user builds the model in an intuitive AJAX-like interface and submits the simulation to a remote High Performance Cluster. The computed waveforms are played back in the browser using Scalable Vector Graphics in a variety of customizable displays. The Web application is easily available to any user with an Internet access. In addition, a programmatically accessible Web service is available to application developers who desire to build their own interpretation applications using the Sonic Scanner simulator engine.