A Qualitative Cement-bond Evaluation Method 1

ABSTRACT
The limitations of the single-'curve cement bond log
have led to development of variable-density film record-
ing of the acoustic signal a s a n aid for cement-bond
evaluation by the well operator. This type of recording
makes use of all arrivals on the acoustic signal to mini-
mize some of these interpretation limitations.
This type recording has long been used by the seismic
industry and called a "variable-clensity" seismogram.
Since the spacings used in down-hole surveys a r e small
compared to those used in seismic exploration, the
variable-density recording i s called a "Micro-Seisn~o-
gram Log."§
Acoustic coupling a t the pipe-cement interface and
the cement-formation interface a r e indicated by this
log. Where good cement bond esists, information re-
garding formation character may also be observed.
Examples of logs showing cement channeling and
logs made after remedial squeezing a r e shown.

INTRODUCTION which have traveled through the well-bore fluid from

Location of channels in the cement sheath by acoustic t h e transmitter to the pipe and along the pipe t o a
means has focused attention of the industry on primary point adjacent to the receiving transducer a t plate
cementing techniques. Due to the great variety of log- velocity, is measured and related to bonding of the
ging techniques usecl,' interpretation of c e ~ n e n bonding
t cement sheath to the pipe f o r production of the single-
has been largely dependent upon availability of perti- curve "bond log." The distance which separates the
transmitter from the receiver is usually of the order of
nent well data and understanding of the logging tech-
4 ft. However, this distance nlay be varied f o r specific
nique used. Most acoustic bond evaluation instruments
situations.
employ only a portion of the total acoustic signal which
is received after traveling a number of paths from a I n uncemented pipe, the first-arriving pipe-borne por-
transmitting source. Single-curve amplitude measure- tion of the acoustic signal is of high amplitude a s shown
ments made on only a selected portion of this received in Fig. l ( A ) . The amplitude is dependent upon the
acoustic signal, therefore, give only a small portion of degree to which the pipe i s free to vibrate.
the available information. I11 addition, these measure-
ments may be influenced by factors which a r e not (A) UNCEMENTED CASING
related to bonding. Some of these factors are: Forma- CASING WALL
tion paths that a r e faster than casing-path travel, and
lateral movements of the sonde in the casing.
A variable-density film-recording technique for dis-
playing the acoustic wave train signal has been intro-
duced a s a method of bond evaluation. This method
employs the received acoustic signal in its entirety, and
therefore is not subject to many of the interpretation
limitations of the single-curve "bond log." Interpreta-
tion of this record provides qualitative inforination
regarding the condition of the cement sheath surround-
ing the pipe. (B) ACOUSTICALLY CEMENTED CASING
CASING WALL
TRAVEL O F ACOUSTIC ENERGY
I N CASED HOLES
Acoustic energy generated by the transmitter travels
through the well-bore fluid to the casing a s compres-
sional waves. After reaching the fluid-solid boundary,
the acoustic energy is distributed a s described b y G. R.
Pickett.' The amplitude of t h e "first-wave arrivals",

'Halliburton Company, Duncan, Okla.

tWelex, Houston, Texas
$Presented a t the sprlng m e e t ~ n gof the Rocky Mountain District.
API Div~sionof Production, April 1964.
§Halliburton Company Trademark.
1References are a t the end of the paper. Fig. I - Acoustic-energy Travel in Cased Wells
 When there is acoustic bonding of the cement sheath
300 1300
to the pipe, the coupling is such t h a t there is a transfer p sec sec
of energy across the interface. This transfer is the
result of intimate contact between the surfaces of solid
materials having similar acoustic impedances. Under
these conditions, the path of the travel of the acoustic
energy is a s illustrated in Fig. l ( B ) . Thus, in unbondecl
casing, the path traversed by the early-arriving co-
herent signal is through the casing. Conversely, when
the casing is acoustically cemented, the dominant path
of the coherent signal is t h r o ~ g l lthe foimation. Where
cllanneling is present a t the interface of the pipe ancl
cement sheath, the amplitude of the first-arriving por-
tion of the acoustic signal is related to the area of
channeling,' and both the casing and formation paths
nlay be evident.
The velocity of acoustic energy traveling beyond the
PIPE
cement-fo~lnationinterface is dependent upon the veloc- COLLAR
ity of sound in the formation. However, the tinie re-
quired f o r acoustic energy to travel from the transinit-
ting transducer to the receiver, via a path t h a t includes
the formation, is also influenced by the velocity of
sound and the distances traveled in other elements of
the path which includes portions of the well-bore fluid,
the pipe, and the surrounding cement sheath. The ampli-
tude of acoustic waves which reach the receiver after Fig. 3 - Variable-density Recording
traveling through the formation is affected by the a t - Transmitter Receiver Spacing - 6 ft
tenuation characteristics of the fomnlation, cement-
sheath composition and thickness, pipe, and well-bore
fluid a s well a s by the energy losses caused by changes VARIABLE DENSITY RECORDING
in acoustic impedance a t each boundary. In order to present this acoustic information in a
coherent manner, a variable-density recording technique
has been introduced. Fig. 2 sillustrates the manner i n

II, sec U. sec

- -
which this recorclinp: is made. The acoustic s i m ~ a lis
received a s an electrical analogy ancl presented on a n
oscilloscope. This signal is then calibrated and prepared
for variable-density recording, a s shown. Thus the posi-
tive loops appear a s dark line segnlents on a time grlcl
and the intensity of each line is proportional to the
amplitude of the corresponding loop.
INTENSITY
MODULATED When this signal is recorded on uhotographic film a s
RECORD1NG a function of depth of the sonde, a continuous record
of time and proportional amplitude of the received sig-
nal is recorded.

INTENSITY UNBONDED CASING

MODULATED A variable-density record of a section of unboncled
SIGNAL casing is illustrated in Fig. 3. The spacing between the
transmitting and receiling transducers of the logging
instrument used is 6 ft. The first high-intensity vertical
PREPARATION streaks represent the high-amplitude acoustic energy
OF ACOUSTIC
SIGNAL traveling via the casing path. I n this case no other path
traversed by the early-arriving coherent signal is evi-
dent.
ACOUSTIC Pipe collars appear on this recorcling a s a n apparent
SIGNAL increase in travel time f o r the distance the collar is
between transmitter and receiver, which makes the col-
lar appear to be equal in length to the spacing. Also,
Fig. 3 illustrates tlle characteristic llattern i~roclucedb v
Fig. 2 - Recording Technique I a collar.
26 T. 0. ANDERSON,R. H. WINN, AND TERRYWALKER

I
200 1200 the formation is shown by the absence of pipe arrivals
sec I(. sec and the correlation of t h e formation arrivals on t h e
open- and cased-hole logs. This correlation could not
exist if the pipe, cement, and formation were not ade-
quately coupled. This example shows t h a t this log may
be used in acoustically cemented wells f o r many cor-
relation purposes.
Fig. 7 illustrates a coininon condition encountered
where a portion of the well is acoustically ceinented and
adjacent portions show both a casing path and a forma-
tion path f o r energy travel.
This condition can be created where a portion of t h e
periphery of the casing is acoustically coupled to the
formation and the remainder of the periphery is not
coupled. Such a log indicates a "channel" in the cement
sheath. When this channel is a t o r near the interface
of the casing and cement i t is evidenced by a n increase
in amplitude of the first-arrived casing-path signal.
In addition to the formation ancl pipe arrivals, there
is a wave caused by interaction between the inside of
the caslng and fluid. This wave, clesignatecl a s a Stone-
ley wave,3 appears a s a later arrival. Location of pipe
collars a t points T and U in Fig. 8 a r e ev~dencedi n this
wave even tllough "bond7' of the cement sheath i s ade-
Fig. 4 - Inconsistent Centralization quate a t point T ancl not a t U. Application of this
information is useful for referencing pipe collars to
fornlation anomalies.
Vertical streaks representing the pipe signal appear
straight on the record. where logging-instrument cen-
tralization is consistent. Lateral movement of the log-
ging instrument within the casing changes the time of
first-wave arrival because of a change in length of the sec sec

travel path through the fluid, and is apparent on the

resulting variable-density recorcl shown in Fig. 4. This
decentralization of the logging instrutnent is accoin-
panied by evident interference.
Where the pipe signal is coherent on the variable-
density recording ancl pipe collars are clearly evident
on these pipe arrivals, controlled tests have shown that
comniunication may be established from one zone to
?nother a t the pipe-cement interface. Fig. 5 illustrates
a variable-density recording of a n interval cased with
2%-in. tubing over which conlmunications were estab-
lished after perforating with a 1-gram charge' in a
hollow carrier incapable of penetrating the surrounding
cement sheath.

ACOUSTICALLY CEMENTED CASING

When the cement in the annulus is coupled to the
casing and to the formation without fluid boundai-ies,
the casing may be considered "acoustically cemented."
If the formation is of a nature to permit the transinis-
sion of acoustic energy, the acoustically cemented casing
yields a log that shows no casing path ancl has a colier-
ent formation path very similar to that obtained in a n
open hole.
Fig. 6 shows a section of a log made i n the open hole Fig. 5 - Communication Test
and the same section made in the cemented casing i n Communication Established with Water at 240 Psi
the same well. Acoustic-energy transmission through Rate 0.5 GallMin at.430 Psi
CALIPER LOG VARIABLE DENSITY RECORDINGS
OPEN HOLE CASED HOLE
200 1200 200 1200
16" p sec p sec sec p sec

Fig. 6 - Energy-transmission Comparison

28 T. 0. ANDERSON,
R. H. WINN, AND TERRYWALKER

VARIABLE DENSITY BOND LOG

RECORDING
200 1200
sec p sec

Fig. 7 - Acoustic-energy Transmission

 \" '
300 1300
u sec sec
. . .
Fig. 8 - Variable-density Recording
EFFECTS O F SQUEEZE CEMENTING
The effect of squeeze cementing on the coupling a t
both the pipe-cement interface and the cement-forma-
tion intei-face may be noted i n Fig. 9. Prior to the
squeezes a t points A and B, the high-amplitude pipe
signal is clearly evident although the primary cement
traveled 1,400 f t above the interval shown. Vertical
channeling over only a portion of the periphery of t h e
pipe provided a path f o r the squeeze cement. This
cement travelled 65 f t above tlie upper squeeze point.
The coupling provided by the additional cement both
reduced the pipe amplitude and increased the extent of
the formation arrivals.
Another example of squeeze cementing is shown in
Fig. 10. Over interval A the formation is poorly cou-
plkdc-%siilistrated by the weak formation arrivals on
the log
- before squeeze. Also no pipe
- - arrivals a r e evi-
dent over this interval, indicating a good bond a t the
cement-pipe interface. Squeezing of cement a t the point
indicated provided additional coupling of cement to for-
mation to give the higher-amplitude formation arrival.
PRESSURE EFFECTS
I n any discussion of "bonding" i t has been found t h a t
consideration must be given to a n y pressure changes
between the time of cementing ancl logging. A com-
parison of logs run a t various pressures i s shown in
Fig. 11. I t i s evident from this illustration t h a t the
expansion of the pipe by the internal pressure affected
the magnitude of the pipe arrivals. However, the pres-
sure did not alter the coupling sufficiently to eliminate
the signal of the pipe path in the areas of less than
good bond.
An example of pressuring to 3,000 psi ancl releasing
before logging is shown in Fig. 12. Essentially good
coupling of cement to both pipe ancl formation in shales
and sands is indicated on the log run before pressur-
ing. I n the less competent shales the expansion and
subesquent release of pressure decoupled the cement-
pipe intei-face, a s indicated b y the pipe arrivals on the
log. However, over the sand sections in this and other
intervals in the well, tlie fact t h a t the pipe and cement
sheath were fiilnly backed up by competent formation
did not allow expansion. Application of the 3,000-psi
pressure is. sufficient to espand unsupported 5%-in.
casing 0.009 in.
CONCLUSIONS
'The variable-density acoustic log provides the well
operator with a nlethocl of recognizing acoustically per-
fect cement jobs and a qualitative aid f o r evaluation of
the presence o r absence of channels a t either the
cement-casing interface o r tlie cement-formation inter-
face.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to express their appreciation to the
management of the Halliburton Company f o r permission
to prepare ancl publish this paper.
REFERENCES
'Pickett, G. R: Acoustic Character Logs and Their
Applications i n Fornlatioii Evaluation, J. Pctv. Tech.,
15 [61, J u n e (1963).
'Grosmangin, M; Kokesh, F. P ; and Mojani, P: A
Sonic Method of Analyzing the Quality of Cementation
of Borehole Casing, J. P c t ~ Tech.,
. 165, Feb. (1961).
3Boit, M. A:'Propagation of Elastic Waves in a Cyl-
indrical Bore Containing a Fluid, J. App. PI~ysics,
23 [91 (1952).
 BOND LOGS VARIABLE DENSITY RECORDINGS
BEFORE SQUEEZE AFTER SQUEEZE
BEFORE SQUEEZE 300 1300 300 1300
- - - - - - - -AFTER
SQUEEZE sec sec sec sec

. - . - ,.
Fig. 9 --~ffeits.df squee;e Cementing
. , .
 VARIABLE DENSITY RECORDINGS
BEFORE AFTER
SQUEEZE SQUEEZE
CEMENTING CEMENTING
200 1200 200 -1 200
u sec a sec sec sec

-SQUEE
POlN

Fig. 10 - Effects of Squeeze Cementing

 CURING PRESSURE 1 100 PSI 2000 PSI
EXPANSION O INCHES EXPANSION .0009 INCHES EXPANSION ,0016 INCHES

Fig. 11 - Expansion of Pipe Diameter after Cement Curing

BOND LOG VARIABLE DENSITY RECORDINGS

BEFORE PRESSURE BEFORE 3000 PSI INTERNAL PRESSURE
AFTER PRESSURE - - - ----- PRESSURE
---- - APPLIED AND RELEASED
200 u sec 1200 sec 200 u sec 1200 u sec

Fig. 12 - Effect of Pressure Test