Segmented Bond Tool (SBT)

Cement Evaluation Service

Seb. Kamgang
Discipline Lead Cement Evaluation

June 1, 2023
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Objectives

• Objectives of primary cementing, types of cements and factors impacting cement bonding.

• Cement additives, UCA reports, job execution and typical failures.

• Principles of measurement applied to cement evaluation.

• Cement evaluation concept, basic acoustic principles and wave propagation.

• SBT tool features and specifications.

• Attenuations calculation and chart.

• Deliverables and log responses.

• Sample log interpretation

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Objectives Of Primary Cementing

• Mechanical support and protect the casing

• Provides hydraulic isolation between zones

• Prevents fluids migration to surface

• Preventing/delaying casing corrosion

• Prevents casing collapse

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Typical Types Of Cements

• Portland based slurries (A, B, C, G, H)

• Resin slurries

• Foam cements

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Factors Impacting Cement Bonding

• Temperature (static and circulating)

• Wellbore conditions (caliper)

• Turbulent flow regime

• Pipe centralization

• Removal of wall cake (scratchers)

• Pre-flush fluid (ahead of cement)

• Pipe movement

• Cleaning or coating the pipe

• Cement sheet thickness

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Common Cement Additives

• Accelerators: Speed up early stages of hydration (develop compressive

strength faster)

• Retarders: Slow down cement setting time

• Extenders: Reduce cement density. Water extenders allow addition of water

to slurry while ensuring the suspension of solids (Bentonite)

• Dispersants: Controls rheology to induce turbulence at low flow rates

• Lost circulation and fluid loss

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UCA Report: 16.4 lb./gal Class H

• Neat slurry

• Contaminated slurry

(20% spacer contaminated)

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Cement and UCA Report: HAL 9.4 lb./gal WellLock Resin

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Cement Job Execution

• Float collar acts as check valve to keep cement from flowing

back into casing (flow collar and flow shoe used for
redundancy and capture contaminated cement)

• Bottom plug released, followed by cement slurry

• Bottom plug “bumps” the float collar (increase in pressure

ruptures rubber membrane allowing cement to pass)

• Upper plug bumps bottom plug, shutting off cement flow

(drastic increase in pressure at surface)

• Casing pressure bleed off and WOC to cure

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Typical Cement Failures

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 Deep Water Horizon
Cementing proceeded

a) without flushing the annulus around the shoe track at sufficiently high rate and
duration to ensure full circumferential removal of compressed sediment and good
distribution of cement

b) without converting the float collar to activate its two check valves to prevent
cement backflow.

c) Cement quality and strength may have been reduced by contamination on its way
down the casing, or by mixing with lower density mud in the rathole.

d) There was no cementing evaluation log at Macondo, which may have shown it to
be inadequate.

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Deep Water Horizon

The 2011 U.S. government's report pointed to defective cement on the well
Cost- 11 deaths and $62B

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 Principles Of Measurement Applied To Cement Evaluation

Similar to a ringing bell

• When fluid is behind casing, pipe is free to vibrate

(loud sound, high amplitude at the receiver)

• When the casing is bonded to hard cement, casing vibrations are attenuated
proportionally to bonded surface (muffled sound, low amplitude at the receiver)

June 1, 2023 13
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Cement Evaluation Concept

Current Industry Solutions

Transducers On The Acoustic Waves Are Waves Undergo Energy Based On The Amount
Tool Generate Sound Transmitted To The Loss From Cement Of Energy Loss The CSG
Waves CSG Through Fluid Coupled To Casing Bond Is Calculated

Energy Creation Energy Transmission Energy Modification Calibrated Bond

June 1, 2023 14
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Cement Evaluation Concept

Wellbore limitations Additional waves Pad design

attenuations if:

Acoustic Waves Are • Solids contents in mud Eliminates wellbore fluid

Transmitted To The influence
CSG Through Fluid • Gas-cut mud

Energy Transmission • Heavy density muds

June 1, 2023 15
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Basic Acoustic Principles

Sound travels through a medium under the influence of sound pressure.

Because molecules or atoms of a medium are bounded elastically to one another, the
application of excess sound pressure results in a mechanical wave propagating through the
medium.

A sound wave is generally characterized by its properties:

• Frequency

• Wavelength

• Amplitude

• Velocity or speed

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Basic Acoustic Principles

Acoustic is the branch of physics which studies sound, namely the behavior and propagation
principles of mechanical waves through gases, liquids and solids.

Each material has specific acoustic characteristics, velocity (speed) for example.

These characteristics can be used to recognize this material and differentiate it from other
materials, rock type for example (lithology).

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Basic Acoustic Principles

Acoustic properties are used in different applications. Formation evaluation, seismic,

geomechanics, cement bond, etc..

In the context of cement evaluation, the two most used acoustic properties are wave amplitude
and velocity (speed)

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Basic Acoustic Principles

The amplitude of a wave refers to the maximum amount of displacement of a particle on the
medium from its rest position. It is the distance from rest to crest or rest to trough.

The greater the amplitude of a wave, the more energy the wave is carrying

A wave with a specific starting amplitude level loses energy over time with increasingly
reduction of amplitude.

The rate of energy loss is primarily a function of the environment in which the wave is
propagating

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Basic Acoustic Principles

Speed or velocity is a distance over a unit of time. For example km/h or m/sec

- If we know the Distance & Time we can calculate the Velocity

- If we know the Velocity & Time we can calculate the Distance

- If we know the Velocity & Distance we can calculate Time

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 Basic Acoustic Principles
Example: We need to travel 200km on the highway with a speed of 100 km/h. How long will the
journey take?

Answer - 2 hours

For the same distance, the speed can be expressed in function of time

i.e. 2 hours to travel 200km is fast

4 hours to travel 200km is slower

6 hours to travel 200km is very slow

This concept is used in acoustic and it is called slowness (or Delta-T). It is expressed as:

How much time (in microseconds) it takes to travel 1 foot or 1 meter

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 Basic Acoustic Principles
With velocity (speed)

- Fast values are big. 200km/h

- Slow values are small. 1km/h

With slowness, things are opposite

- Fast values are small (short time) 43 μs/ft. (dolomite)

- Slow values are big 67 μs/ft. (salt)

For the above example, sound travels faster in dolomite than in salt

Slowness (Delta-T) is the inverse of velocity (speed)

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 Wave Propagation
• Compressional wave:
Velocity is related to the density of the medium and its module of elasticity. Fastest waves.
Direction of propagation same as direction of particles displacement
Can travel through liquids and solids

• Shear wave:
Velocity is related to the density and shear modulus of the medium.
Direction of propagation perpendicular to direction of particles displacement
Can travel through solids only

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Wave Propagation

Compressional Wave

Shear Wave

Stoneley Wave

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SBT Tool Features

• Sectored independently articulated 6 pads design

• Multiple casing sizes in a single pass

• Multiples azimuthal measurements

• Compensated measurements

• Centralized

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SBT Tool Specifications
• Max. logging speed: 35 ft./min

• Casing thickness: ~1.1” thick

• Max tool OD (pad section): 3.375”
• Makeup length (EA+MA): 33 ft......

• Make-up weight: 400 lbs.

• Min. casing size : 4.5” OD (4.0” ID)

• Max. casing size: 16.0” (15.5” ID) to 22” OD

• Max. operating temperature: 350 degF for 6 hours

• Max. operating pressure: 20,000 psi

• Vertical resolution: 3”

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SBT Helical Pads Pattern

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SBT Helical Pads Pattern
• Use six pad mounted COMPRESSIONAL acoustic transducers

• Measures 24 amplitudes (12 subcycles w/ Near & Far)

• Calculates Attenuation using amplitudes

• Produces six segment compressional attenuation curves

• Calculated Cement map produced

Calibrated Cement Map in pct.

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 Attenuations Calculations

20 Log A12
Att 1 =
D A13

20 Log A43
Att 2 =
D A42

10 Log A12 A43

Segment Att = D The two measurements are combined to form a compensated result which does
A13 A42 not depend on receivers sensitivity (×) or transmitter output power (÷)

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Attenuations To Compressive Strength (PSI)

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Standard Deliverables

1 2 3 4 5 6

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Standard Deliverables

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Log Responses
1 This is the correlation track which shows the gamma ray (GR), wellbore deviation (Dev), differential tension
(Ten) and the minimum and maximum slowness (Dtmin; Dtmax)

• (GR) - Generally, the cement sheath quality tend to be best across shales formations, fair to good across sands and
poor across salt formations.

• (DEV) - The higher the deviation, the higher the likelihood of tool decentralization which will negatively impact the
results of the analysis. Highly deviated wellbore also tend to have residual mud lying on the low side, further
contaminating the cement slurry.

• (DTmin, DTmax) – These are the compressional travel times from the transmitter to the receiver. For a properly
centralized tool, the angular distance between pads will be the same, thus the min, max and average travel times
will be the same. As tool decentralization increases, the min and max will separate. A separation of less than 2
charts divisions is usually acceptable. Internal casing surface condition, collars and cleanliness can affect the
slowness.

• (TEN) - Sudden tension pulls will generally degrade data quality. For a good data set, the differential tension should
be low and consistent without any spikes.

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Log Responses
2 This is the depth track. Also plotted on this track is the casing collar locator response (CCL) and the cycle
quality indicator(CYQ).

• (Depth) – Measured depth, in feet or meters

• (CCL) – The CCL detects the collars due to the change in metal thickness. Increased collars OD reduces the space
between the collar and the sand face. This can affect the effectiveness of mud removal around the collars resulting
in contaminated cement. This is sometimes visible as lighter spots on around the collars on the cement map.

• (CYQ) – This is a quality control curve indicating the number of sub-cycles recorded at each sample interval. the
number of sub-cycles should be 12. excessive logging speed can affect the recorded cycles (less sub-cycles
recorded).

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Log Responses
3 This is the track with all 6 sectors attenuations. As acoustic waves travel circumferentially on the casing
surface, they lose energy (attenuates) and the amount of energy loss is proportional to the amount of solids and their
level of bonding to the casing. The more cement bonded to the casing, the more energy loss thus the higher the
attenuation.

• The higher the attenuation in any of the sectors, the better the cement bonding behind the casing across the
respective sector.

• The lower the attenuation in any of the sectors, the poorer the cement bonding behind the casing across the
respective sector or possibly free pipe (lowest attenuation levels).

• Differences in attenuation levels by sectors are expected since the cement condition behind the casing is often not
expected to be uniform.

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Log Responses
4 This is the track with the average attenuation of all 6 sectors. The minimum and maximum attenuation curves
can also be plotted on this track.

• (RB) – On this track or on the previous, the relative bearing curve (rb) can also be plotted. The rb curve gives the
relative position of the tool reference with respect to the low side of the wellbore (rb=0). The rb curve is considered
invalid in vertical wellbores (deviation < 5 degrees). Excessive tool rotation if present can be visible on the rb curve
and will degrade the data quality.

• (AMAV) – The average amplitude of all 6 sectors can also be plotted (amav) and used as a pseudo CBL curve. The
lower the amplitude the better the cement bonding. the higher the amplitude, the poorer the cement quality behind
the casing.

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Log Responses
5 This track is reserved for the cement map. There are 3 different versions of cement maps and each can be
presented depending on the situation.

• (cemr) – Raw cement map. The six attenuation values are evenly spaced over a 361 samples matrix and
interpolation between the values is performed to complete the raw array, cemr. For this map, the field engineer
needs to manually adjust the scales.

• (cemc) – Calibrated cement map. Cutoffs of 20 and 80% are applied to the raw cement map to compute a calibrated
map, cemc. This map is not orientated and presented in vertical wellbores with deviation < 5 degrees (invalid rb
curve).

• (cemo) – Calibrated and orientated cement map. The rb curve is applied to the calibrated map cemc and an oriented
map is generated. The first value of the array will represent an orientation of 0 degree and is the low side of the hole
(far left and far right of the map). The middle of the map represents the high side of the wellbore.

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Cutoffs calculations
• 5.5” casing @ 17ppf Sectored independently articulated 6
pads design = 0.304” wall thickness

• Cement compressive strength = 1500 psi

• From chart, FP = 0.7 dB/ft and fully bonded = 10.7 dB/ft.

• Attenuation span = 10.7-0.7=10 dB/ft.

• 20% of attenuation span = 2 dB/ft.

• Low cutoff (20%) = FP+2 = 0.7+2=2.7 dB/ft.

• High cutoff (80%) = 10.7-2=8.7 dB/ft.

- If an attenuation curve is greater than high cutoff, the

map will be dark on that sector

- If an attenuation is lower than low cutoff, the map will be

clear on that sector

- The remaining shadings in between the low and high cuts

are linearly related to the attenuation of that sector.

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Log Responses
• 6 The 5 ft. variable density log (VDL) is presented on this track. This is an independent measurement to the
SBT pad section, but both sections are connected and logged simultaneously. The addition of a VDL is of great
benefit and will aid in the overall interpretation of the results.

• From the VDL, different arrivals or lack thereof will aid to determine free pipe, micro-annulus, casing to cement
bond as well as indication of cement to formation bond, suggestive of hydraulic isolation.

The main benefits of the VDL are:

• Give some indication of the degree of cement to formation bonding

• Depict pipe arrivals

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VDL Interpretation
Qualitative VDL interpretation
Condition Transit Time Attenuation VDL Response
Free pipe Normal – Predicted Pipe Low Constant casing arrivals, no
Travel Time (PPT) or little formation arrivals
Good bond to casing and Normal to high (>PPT) High Formation arrivals
formation No casing arrivals
Good bond to casing not Normal to high (>PPT) High No casing arrivals
to formation No formation arrivals
Poor bond to casing Normal (PPT) Low to medium No formation arrivals
Strong casing arrivals
Micro-annulus Normal (PPT) Low to medium Formation arrivals
casing arrivals
Channeling Normal (PPT) Low to medium Formation arrivals
casing arrivals

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Sample Log Interpretation

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review header information:

• Operating company and location

• Other services (possible sources of additional details and information. Could help explain something on the log)

• Accuracy of log header

• Note important details: Type of fluid in hole, density, fluid top, wellhead pressure, deviation, logging speed, borehole
size, casing size and weight.

• Equipment data (particularly tool position). Compare equipment details with tool diagram.

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review calibrations:

• Gamma ray: Calibration within tolerances of the tool type

• SBT pad calibration:

- Noise level: with the tool opened (no acoustic coupling between pads), the calibrated noise level on each pad
should be ≤ 10.

• Pad sensitivity: The tool body is used as acoustic coupling between the transmitters and receivers for each pad.
Indicative of the transmitter and receiver efficiency and of the acoustic path in each pad. The calibrated results
should be ≥ 50

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review SBT processing (Log header):

• Casing OD, casing WT and cement compressive strength are entered by the engineer.

• Verify low and hi cutoffs (will affect the map)

• Spacing: distance between near and far receiver (computed by the system based on inputs)

• Spreading factor. Used by the system to compute spreading losses. With increasing distance from transmitter to
receiver 1 and 2, the intensity of the energy decreases and the receivers perceives a loss due to energy spreading.
This loss is not related to the attenuation due to casing to cement bond and must be accounted for.

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review SBT normalization results (Log header):

• Theoretically the SBT should not need calibration because the attenuation is completely compensated. However, to
account for differences in directional sensitivity of transducers and different sector spacing due to mechanical
tolerances, we compute six normalization factors, each of which represents the amount that each attenuation
curve needs to be shifted to match the average of all the attenuation curves over an interval (400 ft.)

• The interval selected for normalization can be free or bonded, free is preferred because it presents the most
homogenous medium behind casing.

• Normalization factors should be in the magnitude of ±1dB. Values ≥ 2 dB are indicatives of an issue (excessive
decentralization, channeling, tool malfunction, etc.)

• The sum of all factors should be equal to 0

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review the log:

• Logging speed: Optimum logging speed is 30 fpm and max logging speed is 35 fpm.

• Repeatability: not expected to repeat on a segment by segment basis on consecutives passes unless the well is
perfectly cemented or perfectly free (random tool position in the hole). The average attenuation however (atav)
should repeat within 1 dB or 10% of the log value.

• Centralization: not critical due to the pad design of the tool unless severe with loss of pad contact. DTMN and DTMX
curves are the primary log quality indicators. They record the minimum and maximum travel time between the near
and far receivers divided by the receivers spacing. Under normal circumstances both curves should be nearly equal
to 57 μs/ft.

DTMN and DTMX will show different values when:

- Across casing collars

- Tool is decentralized

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review the log:

DTMN and DTMX will show different values when:

- Across casing collars

- Tool is decentralized

- Residual cement or scale is inside the casing

- Across perforations

- Erroneous near and far delay gates set by engineer

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Sample Log Interpretation
Review the log:

• Review the sectored attenuations

• Review the map. The image should match the general behavior of the sectored attenuations (low attenuation =
clear map, high attenuations = darker map)

• VDL arrivals should match the cement map

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