Borehole Cement Log Merging for Accurate Integrity Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaluating cement integrity and zonal isolation in wellbore environments are limited by the assumption of coaxial and homogeneous cement distribution, leading to inaccuracies and false positives due to deviations in real-life geometries, and lack an automated method to integrate ultrasound, x-ray, and neutron porosity data for comprehensive analysis.
Innovation Solution
A method for combining ultrasound, x-ray, and neutron porosity data using modality matching to provide an automated interpretation, assigning interpretive values to each data type, and merging them to produce a combined log that accurately identifies cement integrity issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ultrasonic tools are used to evaluate cement integrity, then the assessment is relatively inexpensive and widely available, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to dependence on casing quality, bond quality, and mechanical properties of annular material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ultrasonic data with x-ray density data and neutron porosity data to create a composite assessment of cement integrity. By merging multiple data modalities, the system overcomes the limitations of ultrasonic tools that depend on casing quality and bond conditions, as x-ray and neutron measurements provide independent verification of cement properties without being affected by mechanical bond issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces x-ray density logs and neutron porosity logs as intermediary measurements that mediate between the ultrasonic measurements and the final cement integrity assessment. These intermediary data types provide additional information about cement density and porosity that can correct or validate ultrasonic interpretations, reducing false positives and improving overall measurement accuracy.
2Device complexity
If ultrasonic tools treat the annular material as a single isotropic and homogenous volume, then the data processing is simplified, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates due to actual deviations from this ideal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the annular material assessment into multiple independent measurements: ultrasonic data for bond quality, x-ray density data for cement density distribution, and neutron porosity data for pore structure. By segmenting the assessment into these distinct components, the system can identify specific anomalies (such as channeling or voids) without requiring the entire annulus to conform to an idealized homogeneous model, thereby improving measurement accuracy while maintaining manageable data processing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple data types (ultrasound, x-ray, neutron porosity) are integrated for comprehensive analysis, then the assessment accuracy is improved, but the device complexity and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional data processing system that handles three different data modalities (ultrasonic, x-ray density, neutron porosity) through a unified interpretation framework. The system uses universal processing algorithms that can accommodate the unique characteristics of each data type while maintaining a consistent assessment methodology, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The combined log provides a more accurate assessment of cement integrity and zonal isolation by integrating multiple data types, overcoming limitations of individual data interpretations and enhancing the detection of cement anomalies.
Implementation Method 1
A three-dimensional x-ray-based data... x-ray density data... three-dimensional density data
Implementation Method 2
neutron porosity data... three-dimensional x-ray and neutron porosity together
Implementation Method 3
ultrasonic tools... ultrasonic data... acoustic amplitude curve... acoustic waveforms
Implementation Method 4
The CBL uses conventional sonic log principals of refraction to render measurements. In particular, sound travels from the transmitter, through the mud, refracts along the casing-mud interface, and then refracts back to the receivers.
Data Source
AI summary
A combining mechanism for borehole logging tool data that employs modality merging to combine the output data of various borehole logging tools to provide a combined result and automated interpretation is provided, said mechanism comprising: at least one mechanism for assigning interpretive values to individual processed data types; at least one mechanism for combining the interpretive value data sets; and, at least one mechanism for providing an interpretation. A method of combining borehole logging tool data that employs modality merging to combine the output data of various borehole logging tools to provide a combined result and automated interpretation is also provided, said method comprising: assigning interpretive values to individual processed data types; combining the interpretive value data sets; and, providing an interpretation.