SUSPENSION P-S VELOCITY

LOGGING METHOD
Overview
Suspension P-S velocity logging is a relatively new method of measuring seismic wave velocity profiles.
Developed in the mid-1970s to answer the need for a technique that could measure seismic shear-wave velocities
in deep, uncased boreholes, it was originally used by researchers at the OYO Corporation of Japan. The method
gained acceptance in Japan in the mid-1980s and was used with other velocity measurement methods to
characterize earthquake site response. Since the early 1990s it has gained acceptance in the U.S., especially
among earthquake engineering researchers. GEOVision personnel have logged over 1500 boreholes using this
technique since 1991.

Procedure

7-Conductor cable

The OYO P-S Logging System uses a 7-meter probe, containing a

source and two receivers spaced 1 meter apart, suspended by a
cable. The armored 4- or 7-conductor cable serves both to support
the probe and to convey data to and from a recording/control
device on the surface. The probe is lowered into the borehole to a
specified depth (a rotary encoder on the winch measures probe
depth), where the source generates a pressure wave in the
borehole fluid. The pressure wave is converted to seismic waves (P
and S) at the borehole wall. Along the wall at each receiver
location, the P and S waves are converted back to pressure waves
in the fluid and received by the geophones, which send the data to
the recorder on the surface.

OYO PS-160
Logger/Recorder

Cable Head

Diskette
with Data

Head Reducer
Winch

Upper Geophone

Lower Geophone

Filter Tube

The elapsed time between arrivals of the waves at the receivers is

used to determine the average velocity of a 1-meter-high column of
soil around the borehole. Source to receiver analysis is also
performed for quality assurance.

Source

Source Driver

Weight
Overall Length ~ 25 ft

Oyo PS Suspension Logger Setup

Waveform Data for a Single Measurement

Oyo PS Suspension Logging System

1124 Olympic Dr., Corona, California 92881, ph. 951-549-1234, fx. 951-549-1236
www.geovision.com

Applications
Typical applications of suspension P- and S-wave velocity
logging include:

Dam safety investigations

Seismic site response studies for bridge abutments,
dams, buildings, etc.
Foundation studies
Measurement of soil/rock properties (i.e. shear modulus,
bulk modulus, compressibility, and Poissons ratio)
Characterization of strong motion sites
Velocity control for seismic reflection surveys

Key Benefits
Suspension P- and S-wave velocity profiling using the OYO
Suspension Logger has become the method of choice for
obtaining high resolution borehole velocity measurements. The
reasons are many:

Depth Sequential Waveform Arrivals

TREASURE ISLAND BOREHOLE USN-1 SUSPENSION LOGGING

P- AND S-WAVE VELOCITIES; DATA COLLECTED OCTOBER 13, 1994
0

R1-R2 S-WAVE
R1-R2 P-WAVE

50

100

150

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE HOLE B6 SUSPENSION LOGGING

P and S Wave Velocities; Data collected December 14-15, 1991

0
1800

4800
2800

S-Wave
P-Wave
Suggested layer
velocities

7200

3400

9300

5800

DEPTH, FEET

Only method that obtains both P- and S-wave velocity data

reliably in a single hole at depths greater than 200 ft.
Can be used in either uncased or cased (PVC) boreholes,
although results are always better in uncased holes.
Can be used in boreholes drilled from barges.
Offers very high resolution (typically 1 meter) for resolving thin
layers that can have a dramatic effect on surface response.
Requires only 1 hole, as opposed to crosshole methods that
require at least 2.
Has been used to depths of 2,000 ft.

200

250

12400

100

300
6600

12000

350

200
7400

Depth, ft

13000

6300

11000

400
0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

VELOCITY, FEET/SEC

300

8200

15000

400

500
0

5000

10000

Velocity, ft/sec

15000

20000

Specifically adapted to soils, whereas tools developed

for oil exploration are optimized for rock.
Permits measurement of soil and rock properties such
as shear modulus, bulk modulus, compressibility, and
Poissons ratio.
Not hindered by fast layers and lack of depth penetration
like surface methods such as downhole.

1124 Olympic Dr., Corona, California 92881, ph. 951-549-1234, fx. 951-549-1236
www.geovision.com