Cement bond logs & Variable density logs

Applications:
-Evaluation of cement quality;

-Determination of zone isolation;

-Location of cement top.

Proper cement placement between the well casing and the formation is essential:

 To support the casing (shear bond);

 To prevent fluid from leaking to the surface;

 For isolating producing zones from water-bearing zones (hydraulic bond).

Acoustic logs provide the primary means for evaluating the mechanical integrity
and quality of the cement bond.

Evaluating cement bond: Acoustic logs do not measure cement quality

directly, rather, this value is inferred from the degree of acoustic coupling of the
cement to the casing and to the formation. Properly run and interpreted, cement-
bond logs (CBL) provide highly reliable estimates of well integrity and zone
isolation. Just as filtrate invasion and formation alteration may produce changes
in formation acoustic properties, and thus variation in acoustic logs over time, so
too, cement-bond logs may vary over time as the cement cures and its properties
change.

Modern acoustic cement-evaluation (bond) devices are comprised of

monopole (axisymmetric) transmitters (one or more) and receivers (two or more).
They operate on the principle that acoustic amplitude is rapidly attenuated in
good cement bond but not in partial bond or free pipe. These cased-hole wireline
tools measure:

 Compressional-wave travel time (transit time)

  Amplitude (first pipe arrival)

 Attenuation per unit distance

Conventional CBL tools provide omnidirectional measurements, while the

newer radial cement-evaluation tools provide azimuthally sensitive
measurements for channel evaluation.

When the acoustic wave generated by the transmitter reaches the casing,

 Part is refracted down the casing (amplitude and travel-time

measurement);

 Part travels through the mud (fluid arrival);

 Other parts are refracted into the annulus and the formation and received
back (formation arrival);

Amplitude, measured directly or as an attenuation ratio, is the primary bond

measurement and is used to provide:

 Quantitative estimations of cement compressive strength;

 Bond index;

 Qualitative interpretation of the cement-to-formation interface.

Tool response depends on the acoustic impedance of the cement, which, in turn
is function of density and velocity. On the basis of empirical data, the log can be
calibrated directly in terms of cement compressive strength. However, in foamed
cements or when exotic additives are used, these calibrations can be inaccurate.
In these situations, users are advised to consult with the logging service company
regarding the appropriate calibrations.

A typical cement-log presentation includes:

 A correlation curve (gamma ray), travel time (μsec)

 Amplitude (mV)
  Attenuation (dB/ft) curves

 A full-waveform display (μsec)

Presentation of the full acoustic waveform assists in resolving bond ambiguities

arising from use of an amplitude measurement alone and provides qualitative
information about the cement-to-formation bond. Waveform displays (Fig. 1) may
be in:

 Variable density (VDL) or intensity (also called microseismograms) formats

 Oscilloscope waves (also known as x-y or "signature")

 Both of the above

Fig. 1 – Typical cement-bond log presentation

Variable density is a continuous-depth time display of full-waveform amplitude
presented as shades of black and white. Positive waveform amplitudes are shown
as dark bands and negative amplitudes as gray or white bands; contrast is
proportional to amplitude. On a variable-density log, free pipe and fluid arrivals (if
present) are easily identified as straight dark and light lines (indicating
homogenous acoustic properties) at either side of the display (Fig. 2). The zigzag,
wavy, or chevron pattern between these two arrivals is the formation signal
(indicating varying acoustic transit time).

Fig. 2 – Identification of important features on a variable-density log

The bond index (BI) is a qualitative measure of cement bond based on signal
amplitude. This dimensionless quantity is the ratio of measured attenuation to
maximum attenuation:

A BI value of 1.0 represents a perfect cement bond. A value of less than 1.0
indicates an incomplete bond. This technique requires attenuation measurements
in zones with 100% bond and in free pipe.
Cement Bond Log Interpretation Models:

A) Good Cement:
·Amplitude is low.
·VDL formation signals are strong.
· Good cement. No need for squeeze.

B) No Cement:
· Amplitude is high.
· “VDL” straight. No formation signals. "V" type Chevron patterns are seen at
collars.
· Squeeze cement needed.
C) Partial Cement:
· Amplitude is low and moderate.
· VDL can show both wiggly formation signals and straight casing signals.
· Squeeze can be necessary if the channel is long enough.

D) Micro Annulus (Micro Gap Between Cement And Casing):

· Amplitude is moderate.
· VDL can show both wiggly formation signals and straight casing signals.
·In case of doubt, repeat the log under 1000 psi pressure to the well. The gap will
be closed and log will change to “Good Cement".
· No need for squeeze.
E) Cement Without Bond To Formation:
· Amplitude is low.
· VDL doesn’t show casing and formation signals. Thin mud signals are visible.
· Squeeze needed.
Note: Keep in mind that gas in formation can give the same model

F) Cement Bond In Hard Formations:

· Amplitude changes between low and high.
· Formation signals cover casing signals.
· No need for cement.
 Ultra Sonic Imaging Tool (USIT)
The Ultra Sonic Imager (USI) tool is a wire line tool for cement evaluation and
corrosion detection by ultrasonic principle. A rotating ultrasonic transducer gives
full coverage of the casing at high resolution. The principle is based on making a
small area of the casing resonate in thickness-mode. The transducer excites the
casing resonance by repeatedly emitting short pulses of ultrasound at normal
incidence to the casing, and the same transducer detects the echoes reflected
from the casing. Analysis of the echo gives four measurements: internal radius,
rugosity, casing thickness and cement acoustic impedance. The cement
impedance indicates cement quality, its presence and placement. Good cement
has higher impedance (as it causes a rapid damping of the resonance) than poor
cement or drilling fluids.
USIT enables two measurements:

i. Cement evaluation.

ii. Casing evaluation - corrosion and wear.

Field results show that channeling, contaminated cement, light cement and gas
can be diagnosed and that external hardware such as centralizers can be
detected. The corrosion measurements can detect mechanical wear, corrosion
and deposits.

USIT advantages over CBL-VDL:

A. USIT provides azimuthal image of the cement around the casing. It gives
detailed map of material distribution: solid, liquid, gas and debonded cement. It
detects narrow channels. (1.2") With sonic tools such as in CBL-VDL logs, lack of
azimuthal resolution makes it difficult to distinguish channeling from poor
cement.

B. USIT not only evaluates Cement quality but also Corrosion if run in corrosion
mode.

C. Easier interpretation and less ambiguity than CBLVDL. Some of the cases are:

-CBL does not distinguish between free gas and free liquid present behind the
casing. It reads high for both the cases. USIT clearly distinguish between the two.

-CBL shows poor bond in the presence of liquid micro annulus. USIT
Microdebonding logic clearly distinguishes microdebonded cement from poor
bond.

D. Micro annulus removes the shear coupling and gives a response similar to fluid
behind the casing. Reflections from hard formations or second casing strings and
early arrivals through “fast” formation pose additional problems and often
invalidate the measurements.

E. Casing inspection in the same pass. USIT provides extra information about the
casing geometry for corrosion and damage evaluation.
 REPEAT FORMATION TESTER (RFT)
This operation is carried out in an open hole during wireline logging operations.
The wireline tool is lowered down the uncased hole to the point of interest. It is
then jacked and sealed against the borehole wall. Samples of fluids and
measurements of the fluid pressures are then taken. Note that this form of
logging is not continuous, and is carried out at a few previously defined depths in
the reservoir zone of the well only.

RFT is a tool which is lowered by wireline means; it is designed mainly to

measure formation pressure, and also to obtain fluid samples for further testing
on it. This tool has a flexibility action which that it can be re-set any number of
times; which enables us to record a series of pressure data. Also it permits the
logging engineer to test the formation for permeable formations before
attempting to produce from it. This RFT tool records three different types of
pressure readings:

A. The hydrostatic pressure of the fluids in the well, it produces two readings.

B. The pore pressure of the formation.

C. The pressure transient induced by the withdrawal of 2 small samples.

The tool has two pretest chambers of 10cc volume which can be used to
sample the formation at two differing rates. The advantage for this tool to
produce two readings for the well fluids hydrostatic pressure is that these
readings can be used for quality control for the data. These data can be compared
with each other to ensure that the tool is working efficiently, the difference
between the two readings must be in the range of few (psi). While drilling there
are estimates made to construct a reservoir pressure profile, RFT data are used to
verify these estimates. These data will allow me to know the pressure gradient
and the nature of fluids in the reservoir. The pre-test sample data which are
pressure, flow rate and time can be used to calculate reservoir characteristics,
such as permeability.

A typical recording of a pressure profile is shown in below Figure. The analog

pressure recording provides an excellent means of evaluating the integrity and
general character of the pretest and the producibility of the formation. The
pressure is initially at hydrostatic (mud) condition. When the piston stops, the
pressure build up due to continued comparison of the packer, but suddenly drops
again at the beginning of the pretest. At time t1, the piston in chamber No. 1 is
fully withdrawn and the first pretest is completed. It is immediately followed by
the higher flow rate and hence larger pressure drop of the second pretest. At time
t2, the piston in the second chamber is fully withdrawn and the pressure builds up
to the formation pressure. Beside the valuable information which can be gained,
RFT also save rig time. In the present study the Repeat Formation Tester (RFT)
data is used for interpreting some reservoir characteristics such as the nature of
fluids and permeability for Kareem Formation by using nine wells in Amal Field in
Gulf of Suez of Egypt. In the present study, the permeabilities of Kareem
Formation were evaluated qualitatively by the direct interpretation of the
pressure curve recorded at each test and quantitatively by the analysis of
drawdown pressure data.

Determination Of Density And Nature Of Fluids: The Repeat Formation tester

which can make any number of accurate tests in one run in open hole has
application in the determination of reservoir pressure, fluid density and fluid
contact. Many pressure reading within a single reservoir can be taken. The
different measured formation pressure opposite the reservoir is plotted against
the depth, and from this plot the nature of the flowing fluids (oil, gas or water)
can be identified from their gradients. If this analyzed gradient give the value of
density of water then, the continuous phase is water, while if the measured
densities are that of oil or gas, the continuous phase will be oil or gas. Also, the
depth of free water level can be estimated by studying the abrupt change in
pressure on the pressure gradient.