"Knowledge of what

amplitude Is being
measured, how It
Is being measured,
and how the tool Is
calibrated Is essential
for proper Interpretation
of any CBL."
132
Cement Evaluation-
Past, Present, and Future
Paul E. Pilkington, SPE, Conoco Inc.
Introduction
Cement evaluation began with the calcula-
tion oL cement tops. 1 This calculation
assumed gauge holes lind no channeling of
the cement through the mud. Calipers were
not available at that time. In the mid-1930's,
the use (If temperature surveys to determine
the top of cement (TOC) was documented
in technical journals. 1-3 Properly run tem-
perature surveys can identify the TOC, but
distribution of cement-e.g., vertical isola-
tion through zones of interest-is difficult
to ascertain. Radioactive tracer surveys were
run in the late 1930's to determine cement
tops. Carnotite was mixed in the lead slurry
and cement tops were determined with a
gamma ray log. Tracer surveys had the same
limitations as temperature logs but were not
time-sensitive. Ref. 1 includes an excellent
bibliography.
The acoustic cement bond log (CBL) ap-
peared in the early 1960's4 and is still
being run. The major limitation of the CBL
is the difficulty in identifying small chan-
nels.
4
-
6
More recent developments in the
field include attenuation-rate
6
,7 and pulse-
echo tools.
6
,8-1O A newer tool that is be-
coming more available in the field is the Seg-
mented Bond Tool (SBT).l1 This tool
evaluates circumferential bond over the full
360 circumference in 60 segments.
Another tool, the Micro CBL , that would
evaluate circumferential bond in eight 50
segments 12 was under development, but
has been discontinued because of the suc-
cess of the SBT. Another new cement eval-
uation tool, the Ultrasonic Imager , is in
the field-testing stage. Examples of these
acoustic circumferential cement bond tools
are presented later. Future developments
may include more sophisticated tools, such
as the cement volumetric scan tool. 13 Each
logging technique currently in use has limi-
tations.
Temperature Logs
Temperature logs have been used to detect
the TOC for many years. 2,3 The most crit-
ical factor in the evaluation technique is the
Copyright 1992 Society of Petroleum Engineers
timing of the survey. Heat from the exother-
mic reaction as cement sets dissipates rapid-
ly. Laboratory tests indicate a return to near
normal temperatures in 24 hours.6 Early
surveys also showed the effects oftime, bot-
tornhole temperature, circulating time, and
thermal conductivity of the surrounding for-
mations on the temperature profile. 2,3 The
temperature log remains an economical and
effective way to determine the TOC and in-
tervals oflarger cement accumulation. It is
not a direct measure of vertical isolation
across hydrocarbon-bearing zones; how-
ever, if a four-arm caliper is available, it is
possible to infer good cement displacement
if the TOC agrees closely with the calculated
top (and full returns were present during
pumping and displacement of cement).
Fig. IA shows a TOC temperature log.
The local temperature profIle must be known
to avoid mistaking a change in the thermal
conductivity of the formation for a cement
top. Fig. IB is a survey run to determine
the TOC in a deepwater well. The base sur-
vey run at the end of the openhole log runs
made interpretation possible. Fig. Ie is
from a foam cement job. The temperature
peaks marked "A" indicate fracture zbnes
filled with cement. Note the hole enlarge-
ment indicated on the caliper curve in pos-
sible fracture intervals.
Temperature logs, followed by a CBL are
recommended on all foam cement evalua-
tions. Data in the literature
6
indicate that
the optimum time to run the temperature log
may precede the optimum time for the CBL
by several hours or more. Compressive
strength development lags behind the exo-
thermic reaction as cement sets. It should
be possible to record a temperature log and
the CBL on tape and play the temperature
and amplitude curves back with an openhole
caliper curve on a compressed depth scale.
This procedure facilitates cement evaluation
in foam cement jobs and in conventional ce-
ment jobs in fractured formation areas.
The temperature log is still useful in ce-
ment evaluation, particularly in foam cement
evaluation and in combination with other
tools. The tool cannot accurately delineate
vertical isolation when run alone. Other
tools were developed to fulfill this need.
February 1992 JPT
,
400
"
\

800
'"
-----;:-:->
'"
1200 -:
"
-')
1600 ....,--
,
-'
(
2000 '-,
2400

2800 i

" i
3200
60 70 80
OF
Fig. 1A-Temperature survey showing
TOC.
Radioactive Tracers
Radioactive tracers were first used in the late
1930's to locate the TOC for detection with
a gamma ray logging tool. 1 A base gamma
ray log is normally run with the openhole
logs to aid in evaluation of the postcement-
ing gamma ray log. Carnotite was one of
the first materials used as a tracer. It was
blended with the first 25 (or more) sacks of
cement pumped. Tracers have seldom been
used in cement since the acceptance of
acoustic CBL's for cement evaluation.
CBL Tool
The first tool attempting to quantify verti-
cal isolation was the acoustic cement bond
tool. 6,14-17 The tool relates bond to the
casing to the attenuation of a casing arrival,
and different companies used various gating
schemes involving different arrivals. Fig. 2
illustrates-some of the different gate posi-
tions that have been used. Most tools meas-
ure peak amplitude and a few measure the
area under the curve. Amplitude has gener-
ally been measured by a fixed gate set to
open and to close at a fixed time. Gate width
and position are generally set on site by the
logging engineer. Amplitude can also be
measured with a "sliding" gate that opens
when transit time is triggered. This option
has a few applications but is not needed on
most logs. One company has a software pro-
gram with discriminators that let the com-
puter select gate position and width. Various
JPT February 1992
0
,-,---------
500
.:/--....
1000
/,'--
f/
1500
J: 2000
-..., ...-..
Ii:
"
2500
"
"
20"
,-..
3000

"
3500
BASE lOG)\
4000
\
4500
60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 '00 '05
OF
Fig. 1 B-Deepwater temperature survey
for TOC.
"bond index" equations are used to relate
amplitude (or area) of a casing arrival to the
relative degree of cement bond to the casing.
Logs from several companies have been run
in the same well for Conoco Inc. on vari-
ous occasions with sometimes startling re-
sults.
17
,18 Measured amplitudes on these
comparisons have ranged from 0 to 35 m V
in intermediate bond intervals, depending on
such tool parameters as transducer diameter,
transmitter-to-receiver spacing, frequency,
arrival being measured, and type of meas-
urement (peak or area). Knowledge of what
amplitude is being measured, how it is being
measured, and how the tool is calibrated is
essential for proper interpretation of any
CBL.
Transit time is a measurement of the time
it takes the acoustic pulse to travel from the
transmitter through the wellbore fluid, down
the casing, and back through the wellbore
fluid to the receiver. When the tool is cen-
tered properly, transit time will be constant
except for threaded and coupled casing col-
lars. Fig. 3 is a section from a log run with
a properly centered tool.
The CBL is run under pressure to elimi-
nate the microannulus effect. 19 Fitzgerald
et al. 20 note the presence of a microannulus
in more than 90% of the wells reviewed.
The thermal microannulus is normally elim-
inated by a pressure of 1,000 psi, while pro-
duced, induced, and squeezed microannuli
may require higher pressures. 21 Logging in
sPEDistinguished
Author SERIES
133/8" 1120
95/8" 2972"
0
CL.C
LEAD
1000
FOAM
CEMENT
2000
3000 ---"-----!90
OF
Fig. 1 C-Temperature log on foam ce-
ment job. (Cl = class.)
time drive while slowly pressuring up with
the tool stopped in a suspected microannu-
Ius zone can determine the least pressure re-
quired to minimize the produced, induced,
and squeezed microannuli.
21
The lowest
pressure required should always be used in
these cases to eliminate the microannulus ef-
fect and to minimize damage that may be
caused by internal casing stress. 4, 17,21,22
CBL Limitations. The CBL must be run
under pressure to eliminate the microannu-
Ius. The tool also must be properly
centered 17,20 to obtain a valid log. These
factors could be viewed as limitations of the
CBL, but they are simply requirements that
must be met to obtain a valid log.
Detecting small channels has long been
recognized as a real limitation of the
CBL. 4,6 A 10% channel results in 90% at-
tenuation of the free-pipe signal.
4
,6 A prop-
erly calibrated, gated, and centered CBL
tool still detected all but one 8.3% channel
in a recent CBL tool evaluation. 22
Another limitation of the CBL is the thin
cement sheath. A cement thickness of < *
in. will not provide complete attenuation of
the 'casing signal. 23 The thin cement sheath
is occurring more often because improved
drilling-mud technology often results in
gauge holes. An 8 'h-in. wellbore with cen-
tered 7-in. casing will have a *-in. cement
sheath except where mud cake is present on
permeable pay zones. If the interpreter rec-
133
'EO t'
f.


1"::;::
E, WID GATE J-.--+1
El NARROW GATE H
2 NARROW GATE H
2 WIDE GATE f--- ------..J
E3 WIDE GATE f+--- - - - +-j

rl



":,

V t
Fig. 2-Amplitude gates used by various
companies.
ognizes the thin cement sheath, it is not a
problem.
Fig. 4 is an example of a CBL in 7-in.
casing in an 8V2-in. wellbore. The openhole
caliper from the density log is shown in
Track I. Note how the amplitude increases
where mud cake is present. The log can be
interpreted conveniently by relating it to the
percent attenuation for various cement thick-
nesses by use of Fitzgerald et al. ' s2D cross-
plot technique.
When the mud cake is 1,4 in. thick, cement
thickness is reduced to 112 in. and attenua-
tion rate is only 70% of that with a perfect
bond, as shown in Fig. 20 of Ref. 23. The
lowest stable amplitude reading is 2 m V, and
free pipe is 62 mV on the log in Fig. 4.
These points are connected on a plot of am-
plitude vs. percent bond (Fig. 5) to form
Line A-B.
Mud cake present on the caliper (Fig. 4)
from xx250 and xx375 will reduce cement
thickness to 112 in. Perfect bond will now re-
sult in an attenuation rate that is 70 % of that
obtained with a *-in.-thick cement sheath.
The chart in Fig. 5 can be entered at 70%
bond to obtain the amplitude for perfect
bond with the V2-in. cement sheath (Point
C). This value is shifted horizontally to
100% bond (Point D) . Line B-D is used to
interpret bond condition.
Good bond is now indicated by either the
60% (for soft rock) value or the 80% (for
hard rock) value. Note that acceptable bond
is now indicated by 10 + m V in the soft rock
interpretation. This value is above the am-
plitude indicated on the CBL over this in-
terval in Fig. 4, so no remedial action is
necessary. The 60% and 80% bond index
values have been generally successful as
rules of thumb.
The amount of footage of a particular
bond index required for vertical isolation is
defined by empirically derived charts avail-
able in most service company handbooks.
These values generally range from 5 ft of
80% bond index for 5-in.-OD casing to 15
ft of 80% bond index for 9S-in.-DD casing.
The values for a 60% bond index are slightly
higher. Conoco's experience with these ver-
tical isolation criteria has been good. Fitz-
gerald et al.
2D
and McNeely24 reported
134
- -- ---_._---- --_ .. _------- _.
TRANSIT TIME (_c)
AMPLITUDE (MV )
---- ---- - -
._-_._--->-- -_ .. ... _.,._- _._----
380.00 280.00
GR (GAPI)
0.0 50.000
Z.AXIS v.-:)
------,--_._.
200.00 1200.0
...

I -) .- ,-\-..
' - ..
.... - ....
)-
f .
, -_ ..
"".-

i:'!
I ...
r
--. " .
1:-
7000
f-
:\= .-:
I-
.. ..
f---
I.

1-
:::.::..
..
i ,.,:-
I' . '
,
:--: . --- F
I'"
......
-.:
,,-
: .: f::'
i'

I
I ..

::: "".: ....... ..... I.::.:.
1"'- .. ...
I'
I "
.. ...
1" ::-
:.:.:
1- :c;:=-
, ....
,:,,"
III
I.
......
.:. -- c .. .... . ...

:::
t :
I'"
::
I-
i .. ..
.
f- .
..
. ,"',
I c..
........
I
.. .....

c
-\


:'.
c--
,
-.

-
I,,'
:.!I -I-

....

_ ..
c:' I
,I"
'-'
l
: .
I ...... ..
.

...

I
..
"
I
-_.
'
) I
H
, .. - ..
'I

\:

. .... .i
..
. ,
, -
7100
.. ir
I
.....
I
.. .. . ..
1+ ' (
"-
_ I ... .
t
.;
' -i l: .. I
::
I
.... ..,
......
I': . .. I ::
.
c
. ........
.. .. c ....
"'-I>
1---
.
.f
i "
-t
.. .. . ..
i--
. .. . - ...
;
I:.::'
' .
... ...
. .. . .. .
,-
I ':: ,
'1

--
f- -
I
. :
I
'.::' ..
i '
f
c"' -!;r
11
t
i .. f
..... .
[,i' . '

i :::
t_ ., .' . ...
.
1
7200
Fig. 3-Properly centered tool showing stable transit time In partial bond.
success rates of90% on CBL interpretation.
Wellbore fluid also will affect the CBL.
Most service company manuals have values
for travel time and amplitude listed for var-
ious casing sizes. These values are gener-
ally based on freshwater mud in the casing.
Travel time varies widely for various fluids;
Le., a saturated calcium chloride brine is
acoustically "faster." 25 This will cause
free-pipe transit time to be less than and am-
plitude to be greater than the charts indicate.
The opposite is true when oil-based mud is
in the casing; Le., it is acoustically "slow-
er" and free-pipe transit time will be great-
er than and amplitude less than indicated by
the charts. This is no problem in wells where
free pipe is present because interpretation
can be done quickly with a Fitzgerald et
a/.
2D
crossplot. Fig. 6 is a hypothetical ex-
ample showing the effect of three wellbore
fluids with the same pipe-to-cement bond
conditions. One company offered a " fluid-
compensated" CBL26 that corrected ampli-
tudes for various fluids back to the value for
water in the casing that seemed to work well.
A word of caution: gate position will differ
from published values when well bore fluids
differ from the fluid used to determine gating
time. Fig. 7 shows computed free-pipe trav-
el time for one tool with specific dimensions.
It can be seen from Fig. 7 that the gate po-
sition will be different for CBL's run in
fluids other than the fluid used to derive the
published charts. This should not present a
problem when the log is run because gate
position must always be verified on the os-
cilloscope as the log is run.
One 'Other limitation of the CBL is in dual
casing strings.
27

28
The gate for the inner
string should be narrow and set to close on
the "backside" E l> intercept, as shown in
Fig. SA. The outer-string signal will not in-
February 1992 JPT
f
T - - - - - - - - - - - . - ~
XX400 1+---f;;......-+-----1t:;
Fig. 4-Example of CBl In 7-ln. casing In an 8V2-in. wellbore. (MTEM = measured tem-
perature and CCl=caslng collar locator.)
terfere (in good bond) as long as cement
travel time is 30JLsec. Cement transit time
varies widely. 29 The thickness of the ce-
ment sheath required to prevent interference
by the outer casing signal will vary with ce-
ment travel time. Interference from the outer
casing string will occur with 5- and 7-in.
JPT February 1992
casing (Fig. 8B) . This assumes that the in-
ner string is centered properly. If the inner
string is not properly centered, interference
from the outer string will occur because ce-
ment thickness on the narrow side will
change continuously and may drop to zero.
When it is necessary to evaluate concentric
30
> 20
~
W
0
~
5
1
2
~ 8
~ 7
6
5
0
4
3
2
A
1 0 20 40 60 80 100
% BOND
Fig. 5-lnterpretatlon of thin cement
sheath on a CBL.
casing strings, both fixed and floating am-
plitude curves should be recorded (if possi-
ble) and an x-y plot of the wave train should
be recorded. Jutten
27
also recommends a
20-JLsec-wide gate for logging in concentric
casing strings. Gate width is not critical as
long as the gate is set to close 20JLsec after
free-pipe transit time.
Quality Control for the CBL. The major
problems with the CBL have been associat-
ed with tool centering, gating, and the
microannulus effect. A good-quality log is
a prerequisite to proper interpretation. The
log must be run with sufficient pressure to
eliminate the microannulus with a properly
centered tool. The CBL must be properly
gated and travel time run with a low bias
level. The log has to be documented com-
pletely, including method of tool centraliz-
ing used, runs with and without pressure,
gating, wellbore fluid, etc. Complete
documentation is needed for all types of ce-
ment evaluation logs (and openhole logs) .
Instructions and check lists used on location
have proved to be a valuable tool for obtain-
ing good-quality logs with complete docu-
mentation. Any properly trained CBL
interpreter can do a good job with a correctly
run and completely documented log.
Attenuation-Rate Tools
Attenuation-rate tools
5
,7 have an advantage
over conventional CBL tools in that they are
not affected by fluid travel time. These tools
measure amplitude at two receivers that are
1 ft apart and calculate a compensated at-
tenuation rate. The only thing that is record-
ed is the effect on the acoustic signal as it
travels down the 1 ft of casing. Attenuation-
135
"The temperature log
remains an economical
and effective way to
determine the TOe and
intervals of larger
cement accumulation."
rate tools have a short-spaced receiver
(transmitter-to-receiver distance :::;1 ft),
which permits a computed attenuation rate
to be recorded in casing before interference
from fast formation arrivals. 19 Fast forma-
tions have an interval transit time less than
that of the casing.
Attenuation-rate tools are less sensitive to
tool eccentricity as long as the sonde is uni-
formly off center and not tilted, but still re-
quire proper centering of the tool.
Fig. 9 is a section from an attenuation-
rate log. The interpretation of the attenua-
tion-rate curve is straightforward. Attenu-
ation rate is a function of acoustic impedance
and is not related accurately to compressive
strength.
6
High attenuation rates generally
reflect a good pipe-to-cement bond.
The attenuation-rate logs will be affected
by small channels and concentric casing
strings. These are limitations for attenuation-
rate as well as CBL tools. The microannu-
Ius effect must be eliminated, tool centering
7"
SIGNAL
>
:;20
W
c
::>
I-

..: S
7
6
5
4
3

% SONO
Fig. 6-Hypothetical example showing
the effect of three wellbore fluids under
the same pipeto-cement bond conditions.
must be adequate, and the tool must be gat-
ed properly.
PulseEcho Tools
Pulse-echo tools were developed with chan-
nel detection as a primary objective. 8 Fig.
10 is an example of a channel on a pulse-
echo tool. The pulse-echo tools survey ap-
proximately 8 in. of the circumference; each
of the eight transducers covers an area about
1 in. (or less) in diameter. Tests in wells
with simulated channels
22
have shown that
small channels will still be difficult to de-
tect with these tools in larger-diameter
casing.
Gravel Pack Log
Conoco has used the short-spaced density
tool to evaluate a synthetic cement job
qualitatively. The log was significantly af-
fected by variations in casing-wall thickness.
However, special processing of the short-
spaced density log and casing-inspection log
/'
\
I \ 9 5/8" SIGNAL
\
\
\
\
/
'/
Fig. SA-Signal with 7 x 9%-in. casing and cement; transit time
410
390
370
II 350
..
or
E
;:: 330


290
270
S 10 12 14 16
eSG 1.0.
Fig. 7 -Arrival time at 3-ft receiver for var-
ious fluids.
data enabled a good qualitative evaluation
to be made. These data have not been
released for publication.
Newer Tools
New tools on the horizon include the
SBT, I I the Micro CBL, 12 and the Ultra-
sonic Imager.
30
These tools survey the
complete circumference of the casing and
have the capability to detect smaller
channels.
The SBT is a six-arm pad contact tool with
two transmitters and two receivers on each
arm. The transmitters fire sequentially, and
attenuation rate is computed in a manner
similar to the attenuation-rate tools. Tool
centering is important with this tool because
movement off center will change the length
of the acoustic signal path between receivers
around the casing. The tool also has a con-
ventional 5-ft receiver for wave train presen-
tation to evaluate bond to the formation. A
10 channel between the pipe and cement
5"
SIGNAL
\ 7" SIGNAL
\
\
/
\ ./
is 30 p.sec. Fig. SB-Signal with 5 x 7-ln. casing and cement.
136 February 1992 JPT
20 1200
GAMMA RAY
100
,0
API
330 ' TRANSIT TIME
230

.-Ift
- 40
CASING COLLAR
MV
ttl i
;
:1 I

; t i
1
t
J:
--i-
fer
ef!
',.I;
1 i <"- -'FJI=-i='Ii!'I
I
--;--. "
: :1- 1-
I
I
i

l. ? :

Fig. 9-Attenuation rate.
DBFT

MV
will affect one-sixth of one 60 segment of
the log. Small channels are qualitatively de-
tectable by this tool.
Fig. llA is a section of an SBT log show-
ing an indication of a channel (low attenua-
tion rate and white area on the cement map) .
Fig. liB is the z-axis presentation from the
5-ft receiver showing the channellmicroan-
nulus/low-compressive-strength signature
over the same interval. The log was run with
sufficient surface pressure to eliminate the
thermal microannulus. so the z-axis log is
confirming the SBL. It is apparent that the
circumferential bond tool is a significant ad-
vance in cement evaluation.
The Micro CBL is a focused attenuation-
rate tool with eight transmitter/receiver sets
JPT February 1992
X200
Fig. 1 O-Channels on pulse-echo log. (CCLU = casing collar lo-
cator, ECCE = eccentricity, CSG = casi ng, RB = relative bearing,
WWM = window/window mean, CSMX = maximum compressive
strength, CSMN = minimum compressive strength, and CALU =
average casing diameter.)
located circumferentially on the tool. 12 The
development of this tool was discontinued
in July 1991.
The Ultrasonic Imager is another type of
circumferential bond tool undergoing field
testing. * This tool has a single pulse-echo
transducer that rotates 7.5 times per second
and normally pulses 18 times per revolu-
tion.30 A new method for analyzing the
wave train is used to derive internal radius,
rugosity, casing thickness, and acoustic im-
pedance.
30
,31 This log has been run on one
Conoco well in the U.S. gulf coast area. Fig.
12 is a section from the bottom of the log
with the color coding for the various tracks.
Personal communication with representatives of Schlum-
berger.
This log sections shows tool eccentricity.
good casing condition (ID and wall thick-
ness), and fluid-filled channels in the cement
(acoustic impedance, Z cern, and cement
map). The internal radius (IRI-ave) and wall
thickness (Thk-ave) presentations show a
characteristic pattern related to the manu-
facturing of a particular batch of casing. Ex-
perimental data show that channels 30 mm
wide can be quantified in all sizes of casing
from 4.5 to 13.375 in. in diameter. Chan-
nels as small as 20 mm have been detected,
but these smaller channels did not show the
same response as the wide channels. 30 Ec-
centricity of the tool can cause errors. Cen-
tralizers for the tool are reported capable of
maintaining the tool centered within 2 %/in.
137
Fig. 11 B-VOl over same interval showing channel signature.
Fig. 11 A-SBl showing channel. (ATe = attenuation channel.) (ATMN = minimum attenuation and ATAV = average attenuation.)
of casing diameter. 30 Formation reflections
in hard formations can cause contamination
when neat-cement thickness is less than
twice the casing-wall thickness.
30
The
microannulus can affect the Ultrasonic Im-
ager even though the tool can still differ-
entiate between fluid and cement with a
100-mm microannulus. 30 Low-density (and
gas-cut) cements can have acoustic im-
pedances approaching that of mud, so a CBL
or attenuation-rate log may be required for
qualitative interpretation.
30
The Ultrason-
ic Imager log looks like a good circumferen-
tial bond device but still requires a
conventional wave-train log to evaluate bond
to the formation.
Future Developments
The sonic volumetric scan log 13 may some
day become the standard cement evaluation
tool. The tool operates like a borehole
televiewer and uses special processing to
create an image of the cement in the annu-
lus. This would seem to approach the opti-
mum for cement evaluation. This tool may
eventually become commercially available
as technology continues to advance.
Results and Reliability
The reliability of CBL results has long been
a matter of personal opinion. However, sys-
tematic studies have evaluated the effect of
cementing variables
26
,32 and the reliability
of CBL20,24 It is possible to be correct
more than 90% of the time on the basis of
the CBL alone.
20
This accuracy requires
correct interpretation of a valid log. My per-
sonal experience is that the bulk of problems
attributed to the CBL are the result of either
improper interpretation of a valid log or the
use of invalid logs. A properly run and in-
138
terpreted CBL is a very useful log. CBL
tools are circumferential averaging tools and
will be only slightly affected by small chan-
nels. Fast formations present interpretation
problems. Acoustic coupling to the fast for-
mations, which have an interval transit time
less than that of casing, will result in inter-
ference with (even masking of) casing ar-
rivals in cases of partial bond. This makes
it virtually impossible to detect smaller chan-
nels with a CBL tool. An attenuation-rate
tool capable of computing attenuation rate
at the short-spaced receiver is a better
option.
The pulse-echo tools are designed to
detect channels but will have problems de-
tecting small channels, particularly in larger-
diameter casing. 19 The newer circumferen-
tial bond tools, such as the SBT, are in the
early stages of field use, but have the poten-
tial to replace the conventional CBL and to
minimize the possibility of missing small
channels. Economics will dictate the tool of
choice; i.e., can a tool proved to be relia-
ble more than 90% of the time be replaced
by a tool that will be more expensive to run?
The same question must be answered for
attenuation-rate tools.
Review
The CBL tool has frequently been maligned
but is a good tool for cement evaluation that
studies have shown to be correct more than
90% of the time. The major limitations is
small channels, although some people con-
sider fast formations and fluid variations to
be limitations. Attenuation-rate and pulse-
echo tools have improved technology and
are less sensitive to the microannulus effect.
They have specific. applications in wells
where pressure cannot be applied. Fast for-
mations can also affect these tools. The
short-spaced receiver on the attenuation-rate
tools can be used to improve interpretation
in fast formations.
The new circumferential bond tools have
the potential to detect small channels and
may prove worth the additional cost if they
boost interpretation reliability to 100%. The
sonic volumetric scan logs ultimately may
prove to be the best tool for cement evalua-
tion if commercially developed and capable
of being run in reasonable time at reasona-
ble cost.
The CBL should be a standard tool for ce-
ment evaulation for some time to come. A
tool that is correct more than 90% of the
time (properly run and interpreted) is cer-
tainly not going to disappear overnight. As
environmental concerns continue to become
more dominant, the use of more sophisti-
cated cement evaluation tools will increase.
Acknowledgments
I thank Conoco Inc. for permission to pub-
lish this paper and the many people who
have contributed to my knowledge of cement
evaluation, in particular S.F. Stine. Many
fine articles have been written about cement
evaluation and I wish to recognize the con-
tributions of numerous authors who were not
included in the References.
Nomenclature
d H = caliper diameter
E
1
,E
2
,E
3
= half cycles
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February 1992 JPT
A\I
RSAV 6
RAD
MOTV SOO
CC
~ ~ DI&&
I\I1P /!'lax .Ul 1RI-ave Th.k-&ve Zcebli Cament. H .. p
AZEC
-0. 4
O. 076 O. 076
3. 0
10. 5
O. 0 ... 6 O. 0 ... 3
-0 . 6
0.0"'0 O. 060
7. 5
9.S
-1. 2 O. 052 O. 052
7 . 0
6. 5 -1.6
O. 044 O. 044 ... . S
-2.0
0. 036 O. 036
6 . 0
7.5
0. 026 O. 02&
-2 . 4
S. S
0. 020 O. 020
6. S
5 . 0
-2. & 0.012 O. 012
S. S 0. 004 O. 004
4 . S
-3.2
- 0. 004 -0. 004 4. 0
4. S
-3. &
- 0 . 012 -0. 012
3. S
-4. 0 -0. 020 - 0. 020
- 3. S 3. 0
- 4 . 4
-0. on -0. on
-0. Ol6 -0. Ol6
: ~ ~
2. S
2. S
-4. &
- 0. 044 -0. 044 2. 0
1.5 -5. 2
-0. 052 -0. 052 1.5
-5 . ... -0. 060 -0. 060
1.0
0.7
-0. 06& -0. 06&
-6. 0
O. 5
O. 5
- 0 . 076 -0. 076
- 999. 0
-"' . 000 -999 . 000 -"9. 0
Fig. 12-Ultrasonic Imager log section from a U.S. gulf coast well. (AZEC=eccentralizatlon azimuth.)
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JPT February 1992
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SI Metric Conversion Factors
ft x 3.048'
in. x 2.54'
psi x 6.894 757
'Conversion factor is exact.
E-OI = m
E+OO = em
E+OO = kPa
This paper is SPE 20314. Distinguished Author Series ar-
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February 1992 JPT