Dipole Resonance Cement Evaluation Without Mechanical Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for evaluating cement bonding conditions in wellbores, such as through-tubing cement evaluation (TTCE), face challenges including the need to physically rotate transmitters and receivers, which is difficult, and the impact of eccentricity on measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The use of a dipole resonance mode with a cross-dipole transmitter and an azimuthal receiver array, or a rotatable transmitter, allows for accurate cement evaluation without removing the production tubing, effectively overcoming the limitations of conventional TTCE methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical rotation of transmitter and receiver is used to measure dipole response at specific directions, then measurement capability is improved, but operation difficulty and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotation system with an acoustic field-based solution. Instead of physically rotating the transmitter and receiver to measure dipole response at different directions, the invention uses a monopole acoustic source to generate pressure waves that interact with the formation. The dipole response is obtained through acoustic coupling and signal processing rather than mechanical orientation changes, eliminating the operational complexity of physical rotation while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an acoustic intermediary mechanism. A monopole acoustic source serves as an intermediary that couples acoustic energy into the formation, which then interacts with the dipole transmitter and receiver system. This acoustic intermediary allows the system to obtain dipole response measurements without requiring the transducers to be physically oriented in specific directions, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and ease of operation
2Measurement precision
If dipole transmitter and receiver are fired at specific directions to get dipole response, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and operational challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for mechanical rotation mechanisms by substituting them with an acoustic field-based measurement approach. The monopole acoustic source and formation interaction provide the necessary directional information through acoustic coupling, removing the complex mechanical rotation system while maintaining or improving measurement accuracy through the acoustic intermediary mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The monopole acoustic source serves multiple functions: it acts as the primary acoustic excitation source, provides directional information through its interaction with the formation, and enables dipole response measurement without requiring separate transmitters or receivers to be mechanically oriented. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement capabilities
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
This approach enables more accurate and efficient evaluation of cement bonding conditions, reducing the impact of eccentricity and eliminating the need for physical rotation of tools, thereby saving time and resources.
Implementation Method 1
determine a dipole wellbore resonance based on the first acoustic response and the second acoustic response
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: conveying a downhole tool in a tubing that is positioned in a casing that is positioned to form an annulus between the casing and a wall of a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, wherein a cement with unknown bonding condition exists in the annulus, wherein the downhole tool includes at least one transmitter and a receiver array physically positioned in different azimuthal directions; emitting, from the at least one transmitter, a first and second acoustic transmissions in a first and second azimuthal directions; detecting, by the receiver array, a first acoustic response and a second acoustic response that is derived from the first and second acoustic transmissions, wherein the second azimuthal direction is orthogonal to the first azimuthal direction; determining a dipole wellbore resonance based on the first and acoustic responses; and evaluating a property of the cement based on the dipole wellbore resonance.