Numerical simulation of an acoustic field generated by a phased arc array in a fluid-filled cased borehole

Transducers that are widely applied in cement bond evaluation tools, such as cement bond logs and variable density logs, cannot radiate acoustic energy directionally because of the characteristics of monopole sources. A phased arc array transmitter, which is a novel transducer that differs from monopole and dipole transducers, is presented in this study. To simulate the acoustic field generated by a phased arc array in a fluid-filled cased borehole with different channelings, a 3D finite-difference time-domain method is adopted. The acoustic field generated by a traditional monopole source is also simulated and compared with the field generated by the phased arc array transmitter. Numerical simulation results show that the phased arc array radiates energy directionally in a narrow angular range in the borehole, thereby compressing the acoustic energy into a narrow range in the casing pipe, the cement, and the formation. We present the analyses of first-arrival waveforms and the amplitudes of casing waves at different azimuthal angles for the two different sources. The results indicate that employing a directional source facilitates azimuthal identification and analysis of possible channeling behind the casing pipe.

The effects of bonding conditions on the propagation of acoustic waves along a cased borehole

Based on the wave equations in cylindrically layered structures and boundary conditions, the frequency equation for axisymmetric guided waves and the expression for sound fields in a cased borehole excited by a monopole or multipole source have been derived. The synthetic full waveforms excited by the monopole and dipole source are simulated using a real axis integration and FFT method. According to the axisymmetric guided wave modes, the synthetic full waveforms and the effects of the interface conditions on the sound field in a cased borehole have been analyzed and studied respectively. Numerical results indicate that it may be difficult to distinguish well bonded, poorly bonded or unbonded intermediate layer between the steel pipe and formation if only using a monopole source or dipole source. To properly estimate the case boundary conditions, a combination of monopole source logging with dipole source logging is suggested.

Experimental studies of linear phased-array transmitter acoustic logging in cased wells with scaled borehole models

Laboratory cased-hole acoustic logging simulations are developed with the linear phased-array transmitter in scaled cased well models for evaluating the feasibility of extracting formation acoustic parameters through casing.The full waveforms are measured with different cement bonding models.By analyzing the measured wavetrains and the time-slowness correlation graphs,it is showed that when the generation conditions of the refracted compressional wave and the refracted shear wave are reached successively by regulating the direction of acoustic beam radiated from the linear phased-array transmitter,steered angle of the main radiation lobe with both good bonding interfaces.The refracted compressional wave and the refracted shear wave can be stimulated obviously and the casing wave can be suppressed effectively,even when the casing and cement（or the cement and formation） is not bonded.Based on these observations, it is worthwhile to apply the linear phased-array transmitter to determine formation velocities,particularly in poorly bonded cased well.The works establish the experimental and theoretical foundation for new generation cased-hole acoustic logging tool development.