ULTRASONIC CASING AND CEMENT EVALUATION METHOD USING A RAY TRACING MODEL

Systems, methods, and software for determining a thickness of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the thickness of the well casing is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and model waveforms. The measured waveform and model waveforms are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing. 1. A method comprising:accessing a measured waveform associated with an acoustic signal returned via a well casing based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing;comparing the measured waveform to a model waveform, wherein the model waveform corresponds to an estimated impedance of a medium surrounding an exterior portion of the well casing, and the model waveform corresponds to a ray tracing of the acoustic signal that accounts for a radiation pattern of the acoustic transmitter and a curvature of the well casing; anddetermining, by operation of data processing apparatus, an impedance of the medium surrounding the exterior portion of the well casing based on results of comparing the measured waveform to the model waveform.2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:decomposing the acoustic signal emitted from the acoustic transmitter into a plurality of rays;calculating characteristics of each of the plurality of rays based on the radiation pattern of the acoustic transmitter and the curvature of the well casing;determining a subset of the plurality of rays that are returned via the well casing and detected by the acoustic receiver; andcombining the characteristics of the subset of the plurality of rays to generate the model waveform.3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:comparing the measured waveform to the model waveform comprises comparing differences between the measured waveform and the model waveform; anddetermining the impedance of the medium comprises determining optimal fitting values for the impedance ...

DETERMINING CEMENT IMPEDANCE FROM A FORMATION BOUNDARY

Systems, methods, and software for determining properties of a medium surrounding an exterior portion of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the properties of the medium are determined based on measurements of detected acoustic energy and distances between one or more acoustic transmitters and two or more acoustic receivers. The measurements are obtained based on operating the transmitters and the receivers within a wellbore that includes the well casing. 1. A system comprising: one or more acoustic transmitters to transmit acoustic energy through the well casing to a medium surrounding the exterior portion of the well casing, and', 'two or more acoustic receivers to detect acoustic energy returning through the well casing; and, 'a sensor array to be disposed within a wellbore comprising a well casing, the sensor array comprising receive measurements of the detected acoustic energy based on operating the sensor array within the interior portion of the well casing, and', 'determine one or more properties of the medium surrounding the exterior portion of the well casing based on the measurements and based on distances between the one or more acoustic transmitters and the two or more acoustic receivers., 'a computing system coupled with the sensor array, the computing system is configured to2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor array comprises two or more acoustic transmitters.3. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more acoustic transmitters and the two or more acoustic receivers is disposed at an end of a support member that radially extends from a tool body.4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more acoustic transmitters and the two or more acoustic receivers are distributed axially along a tool body.5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more acoustic transmitters and the two or more acoustic receivers are distributed azimuthally about a tool body.6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:another sensor array ...

CASING THICKNESS MEASUREMENT USING ACOUSTIC WAVE CORRELATION

Systems, methods, and software for determining a thickness of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the thickness of the well casing is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and model waveforms. The measured waveform and model waveforms are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing. 1. A method comprising:accessing a measured waveform associated with an acoustic signal returned via a well casing based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing;comparing the measured waveform to a plurality of model waveforms, wherein each of the plurality of model waveforms corresponds to a different thickness of the well casing; anddetermining, by operation of data processing apparatus, a thickness of the well casing based on results of comparing the measured waveform and the plurality of model waveforms.2. The method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the measured waveform to the plurality of model waveforms comprises determining correlations between at least a portion of the measured waveform and at least a portion of each of the plurality of model waveforms.3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least a portion of the measured waveform corresponds to a reverberation window of the measured waveform.4. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the correlations between the at least a portion of the measured waveform and the at least a portion of each of the plurality of model waveforms comprises determining cross-correlations between the at least a portion of the measured waveform and the at least a portion of each of the plurality of model waveforms.5. The method of claim 2 , wherein:determining the correlations between the at least a portion of the measured waveform and the at least a portion of each of the plurality of model waveforms comprises determining differences between the at least a portion of the ...

Validation of Cased-Hole Acoustic Tools

In some implementations, a method for validating an acoustic bond-log tool includes having a test fixture including a wellbore casing emulating tubing. An outer tubing emulates a well formation and forms a perimeter of an annulus surrounding the wellbore casing emulating tubing. The wellbore casing tubing is configured with a stepped outer surface emulating different wellbore casing sidewall thicknesses. A dividing structure is coupled in the axial direction to the outer surface of the wellbore casing emulating tubing and to the inner surface of the outer tubing to radially subdivide the annulus into a plurality of hermetically sealable sample sections. Each sample section contains a sample of a material having a known acoustic impedance. The acoustic bond-log tool is validated by comparing a bond-log tool measurement of the acoustic impedance of each sample in a particular sample section to the known acoustic impedance of the sample.

Ultrasonic casing and cement evaluation method using a ray tracing model

Systems, methods, and software for determining impedance of a casing-cement bond are described. In some aspects, the bond impedance is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and a model waveform. The model waveform corresponds to an estimated impedance of the bond and corresponds to a ray tracing of an acoustic signal that accounts for a radiation pattern of the acoustic transmitter and a curvature of the well casing. The measured waveform and the model waveform are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.

MEMS-BASED TRANSDUCERS ON A DOWNHOLE TOOL

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for taking acoustic/ultrasonic wave measurements of a wellbore using a downhole tool equipped with microelectromechanical (MEM) transducers are provided. The MEM transducers may include a plurality of MEM transmitters (e.g., MEM speakers) and a plurality of separate MEM receivers (e.g., MEM microphones). These MEM transducers may be disposed in arrays proximate an outer surface of the downhole tool to collect acoustic/ultrasonic wave measurements of the full circumference of a wellbore. Due to their small size, large numbers of MEM transducers may be distributed radially around the downhole tool. Such an arrangement of sensors may enable the downhole tool to perform measurements of the entire wellbore without the downhole tool needing to be rotated, leading to an increased signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements. 1. A system , comprising:a downhole tool;a plurality of microelectromechanical (MEM) transmitters disposed proximate an outer surface of the downhole tool for outputting one or more acoustic or ultrasonic signals toward a wellbore; anda plurality of MEM receivers disposed proximate the outer surface of the downhole tool for receiving a portion of the one or more acoustic or ultrasonic signals reflected back from the wellbore.2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of MEM transmitters claim 1 , the plurality of MEM receivers claim 1 , or both are coupled directly to the outer surface of the downhole tool.3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of MEM transmitters claim 1 , the plurality of MEM receivers claim 1 , or both are mounted on mechanical arms that are selectively extendable away from the outer surface of the downhole tool.4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of MEM transmitters are disposed on a first circumferential band around the downhole tool claim 1 , the plurality of MEM receivers are disposed on a second circumferential band around ...

Ultrasonic casing and cement evaluation method using a ray tracing model

MEMS-based transducers on a downhole tool

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for taking acoustic/ultrasonic wave measurements of a wellbore using a downhole tool equipped with microelectromechanical (MEM) transducers are provided. The MEM transducers may include a plurality of MEM transmitters (e.g., MEM speakers) and a plurality of separate MEM receivers (e.g., MEM microphones). These MEM transducers may be disposed in arrays proximate an outer surface of the downhole tool to collect acoustic/ultrasonic wave measurements of the full circumference of a wellbore. Due to their small size, large numbers of MEM transducers may be distributed radially around the downhole tool. Such an arrangement of sensors may enable the downhole tool to perform measurements of the entire wellbore without the downhole tool needing to be rotated, leading to an increased signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements.

Determining cement impedance from a formation boundary

Systems, methods, and software for determining properties of a medium surrounding an exterior portion of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the properties of the medium are determined based on measurements of detected acoustic energy and distances between one or more acoustic transmitters and two or more acoustic receivers. The measurements are obtained based on operating the transmitters and the receivers within a wellbore that includes the well casing.

Ultrasonic casing and cement evaluation method using a ray tracing model

Systems, methods, and software for determining impedance of a casing-cement bond are described. In some aspects, the bond impedance is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and a model waveform. The model waveform corresponds to an estimated impedance of the bond and corresponds to a ray tracing of an acoustic signal that accounts for a radiation pattern of the acoustic transmitter and a curvature of the well casing. The measured waveform and the model waveform are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.

microelectromechanical system and method (mem) to detect wellbore properties

de acordo com modalidades da presente invenção, são fornecidos sistemas e métodos para tomar medições de ondas acústicas/ultrassônicas de um furo de poço usando uma ferramenta de fundo de poço equipada com transdutores microeletromecânicos (mem). os transdutores mem podem incluir uma pluralidade de transmissores mem (por exemplo, alto-falantes mem) e uma pluralidade de receptores mem separados (por exemplo, microfones mem). estes transdutores mem podem ser dispostos em matrizes próximas de uma superfície externa da ferramenta de fundo de poço para coletar medições de onda acústica/ultrassônica de toda a circunferência de um furo de poço. devido ao seu pequeno tamanho, grandes números de transdutores mem podem ser distribuídos radialmente em torno da ferramenta de fundo de poço. tal arranjo de sensores pode permitir que a ferramenta de fundo de poço realize medições de todo o furo de poço sem que a ferramenta de fundo de poço precise ser girada, levando a uma elevada razão sinal para ruído das medições. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for taking acoustic / ultrasonic wave measurements from a borehole using a borehole tool equipped with microelectromechanical (mem) transducers. mem transducers may include a plurality of mem transmitters (e.g. mem speakers) and a plurality of separate mem receivers (e.g. mem microphones). These mem transducers may be arranged in arrays near an outer surface of the wellbore tool to collect acoustic / ultrasonic wave measurements of the entire circumference of a wellbore. Due to their small size, large numbers of mem transducers can be distributed radially around the downhole tool. Such a sensor array may allow the downhole tool to perform measurements of the entire downhole without the downhole tool having to be rotated, leading to a high signal to noise ratio of measurements.

Validation of cased-hole acoustic tools

In some implementations, a method for validating an acoustic bond-log tool includes having a test fixture including a wellbore casing emulating tubing. An outer tubing emulates a well formation and forms a perimeter of an annulus surrounding the wellbore casing emulating tubing. The wellbore casing tubing is configured with a stepped outer surface emulating different wellbore casing sidewall thicknesses. A dividing structure is coupled in the axial direction to the outer surface of the wellbore casing emulating tubing and to the inner surface of the outer tubing to radially subdivide the annulus into a plurality of hermetically sealable sample sections. Each sample section contains a sample of a material having a known acoustic impedance. The acoustic bond-log tool is validated by comparing a bond-log tool measurement of the acoustic impedance of each sample in a particular sample section to the known acoustic impedance of the sample.

Determining cement impedance from a formation boundary

Systems, methods, and software for determining properties of a medium surrounding an exterior portion of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the properties of the medium are determined based on measurements of detected acoustic energy and distances between one or more acoustic transmitters and two or more acoustic receivers. The measurements are obtained based on operating the transmitters and the receivers within a wellbore that includes the well casing.