Azimuthal cement evaluation with an acoustic phased-arc array transmitter: numerical simulations and field tests
Che Xiao-Hua1,2, Qiao Wen-Xiao1,2, Ju Xiao-Dong1,2, and Wang Rui-Jia1,2
1. State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources and Prospecting, China University of Petroleum, Beijing 102249, China.
2. Key Laboratory of Earth Prospecting and Information Technology, Beijing 102249, China.
Abstract We developed a novel cement evaluation logging tool, named the azimuthally acoustic bond tool (AABT), which uses a phased-arc array transmitter with azimuthal detection capability. We combined numerical simulations and field tests to verify the AABT tool. The numerical simulation results showed that the radiation direction of the subarray corresponding to the maximum amplitude of the first arrival matches the azimuth of the channeling when it is behind the casing. With larger channeling size in the circumferential direction, the amplitude difference of the casing wave at different azimuths becomes more evident. The test results showed that the AABT can accurately locate the casing collars and evaluate the cement bond quality with azimuthal resolution at the casing–cement interface, and can visualize the size, depth, and azimuth of channeling. In the case of good casing–cement bonding, the AABT can further evaluate the cement bond quality at the cement–formation interface with azimuthal resolution by using the amplitude map and the velocity of the formation wave.
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11204380, 11374371, 61102102, and 11134011), National Science and Technology Major Project (No. 2011ZX05020-009), China National Petroleum Corporation (Nos. 2014B-4011, 2014D-4105, and 2014A-3912) and PetroChina Innovation Foundation (No. 2014D-5006-0307).
Cite this article:
CHE Xiao-Hua,QIAO Wen-Xiao,JU Xiao-Dong et al. Azimuthal cement evaluation with an acoustic phased-arc array transmitter: numerical simulations and field tests[J]. APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, 2016, 13(1): 194-202.
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2016, Vol. 13 
