A computer-based system for processing geophysical data obtained from boreholes

A diverse set of computer programs has been developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)to process geophysical data obtained from boreholes. These programs support such services as digitizing analog records, reading and processing raw data, cataloging and storing processed data, retrieving selected data for analysis, and generating data plots on several different devices. A variety of geophysical data types are accommodated, including both wireline logs and laboratory analyses of downhole samples. Many processing tasks are handled by means of a single, flexible, general-purpose, data-manipulation program. Separate programs are available for processing data from density, gravity, velocity, and epithermal neutron logs. The computer-based storage and retrieval system, which has been in operation since 1973, currently contains over 4400 data files. Most of this data was obtained from the Nevada Test Site (NTS)in conjunction with the nuclear test program. Each data file contains a single geophysical parameter as a function of depth. Automatic storage and retrieval are facilitated by the assignment of unique file names that define the storage location of each data file. Files of interest to the user may be located and retrieved by means of a search program that examines the catalog. A convention recognized by all programs in the system is that of a zero ordinate denoting a gap in an otherwise continuous data trace. This convention provides a simple mechanism for editing and displaying data files in an automated and consistent manner.