Application of Enhanced Ultrasonic Measurements for Cement and Casing
Evaluation

Morris, C. S.; Sabbagh, L. David; Wydrinski, Ray; Hupp, Jeffrey; Kuijk, Robert van; Froelich, B.

doi:10.2523/105648-ms

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

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“…In the last decade, a pitch-catch method was introduced for the cement bonding evaluation (e.g., van Kuijk et al, 2005;Herold et al, 2006;Morris et al, 2007;Froelich, 2008). The tool in the field application, combining the pulse-echo and ultrasonic flexural techniques, provides the echo from the casing and the reflections from third acoustic interface (interface between filled material and rock in a single casing model).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding acoustic methods for cement bond logging

Wang¹,

Guo²,

Shang³

2016

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

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Well cementation is important for oil/gas production, underground gas storage, and CO2 storage, since it isolates the reservoir layers from aquifers to increase well integrity and reduce environmental footprint. This paper analyzes wave modes of different sonic/ultrasonic methods for cement bonding evaluation. A Two dimensional finite difference method is then used to simulate the wavefield for the ultrasonic methods in the cased-hole models. Waveforms of pulse–echo method from different interfaces in a good bonded well are analyzed. Wavefield of the pitch–catch method for free casing, partial or full bonded models with ultra-low density cement are studied. Based on the studies, the modes in different methods are considered as follows: the zero-order symmetric Leaky–Lamb mode (S0) for sonic method, the first-order symmetric Leaky–Lamb mode (S1) for the pulse–echo method, and the zero-order anti-symmetric Leaky–Lamb mode (A0) for the pitch–catch method. For the sonic method, a directional transmitter in both the azimuth and axial directions can generate energy with a large incidence angle and azimuth resolution, which can effectively generate S0 and break out the azimuth limitation of the conventional sonic method. Although combination of pulse–echo and pitch–catch methods can determine the bonding condition of the third interface for the ultra-low density cement case, the pitch–catch cannot tell the fluid annulus thickness behind casing for the partial bonded cased-hole.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding acoustic methods for cement bond logging

Wang¹,

Guo²,

Shang³

2016

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America

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show abstract

Imaging of annulus-formation interface using reverse time migration based on ultrasonic pitch-catch measurements: Case studies from an experimental well and a field well

Li,

Wang,

Fang

et al. 2024

Ultrasonics

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Cementing Optimization through an Enhanced Ultrasonic Imaging Tool

Zheng

et al. 2015

SPE/IATMI Asia Pacific Oil &Amp; Gas Conference and Exhibition

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This paper demonstrates a successful practice on how to optimize centralizer placement through analyzing the measured casing standoff by an enhanced ultrasonic imaging tool in one underground gas storage (UGS) project in west China. In the initial phase of the project, it was found that the cementing bonding in the dual casing section was commonly unsatisfactory in the production liner cementing. Factors that affect cementing quality, including fluid density/rheology hierarchy, pumped fluid volume, and pumping rate, were verified and excluded from consideration as possible causes for the bad bonding. With the measured casing standoff from one ultrasonic imaging tool, acentric casing resulting in bad mud removal was identified as the root cause. Centralizer placement was optimized with a specialized software simulation and, as a result, the subsequent drilled wells were cemented with excellent quality. The imaging tool combines conventional ultrasonic pulse-echo techniques and flexural waveform attenuation measurement. Real casing standoff can be computed based on third-interface echo measurement. With the measured standoff, engineers can re-evaluate the original centralizer design and analyze whether there is a relationship between unsatisfied standoff and poor cement bonding, on basis of which engineers can improve centralizer placement for the following jobs to achieve better cementing quality. Previously, engineers did not have a way to realistically evaluate their centralizer designs as the standoff results could only be simulated virtually. By adopting this new imaging tool, a new approach in the cementing design, execution, and evaluation cycle is established, which is proven to be an effective method to enhance cementing quality in the UGS project.

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Application of Enhanced Ultrasonic Measurements for Cement and Casing Evaluation

Cited by 6 publications

References 3 publications

Understanding acoustic methods for cement bond logging

Understanding acoustic methods for cement bond logging

Imaging of annulus-formation interface using reverse time migration based on ultrasonic pitch-catch measurements: Case studies from an experimental well and a field well

Cementing Optimization through an Enhanced Ultrasonic Imaging Tool

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