Patent · US Expired

Method for cementation evaluation using acoustical coupling and attenuation

US4896303A · kind A · utility

46Cited by
7References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 17, 1988
Grant dateJan 23, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V1/50
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Acoustical coupling is proposed as a means of determining the presence and acoustical impedance of materials behind casing in cementation evaluation. Expressions for computing coupling and attenuation in multi-receiver/transmitter logging systems are analyzed in an exponential model for the spatial decay of elastic wave energy propagating axially along the casing. Amplitude change between transmitter(s) and receiver(s) is separated into a change dependent on coupling into and out of the casing wave, as well as a change related to attenuation along the casing. Coupling which is dependent on geometrical factors such as casing size and thickness, and on distribution and mechanical properties of the material outside the casing, shows principally the mechanical impedance of the material outside. Significantly, the bonding of this material to the casing is not a dominant factor for the coupling. Thus an estimation of cement strength may be made even in the presence of microannulus.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.