SPE Back to Basics Bond Log Theory and Interpretation

April 16th, 2013 Ian Cameron, P.Eng. formerly

Topics:
Quick basics of purposes of cement & scenarios bond logs run in How traditional acoustic bond logs work and what is measured and presented Amplitude Travel Time Variable Density Log (VDL) Examples of good cement bond and free pipe and what things to look for Channeling why run a radial investigation log Amplitude and cement compressive strength build up over time Surface Casing Vent Flow Gas Migration considerations Micro-annulus Light Weight Cement Cyclic Steam Stimulation example showing cap rock cement bond Media coverage and the oil industry under the microscope

Purpose of Cement
Cement is used for:
structural support to the casing to reduce the risk of a casing failure providing hydraulic & gas isolation preventing production of unwanted formation fluids isolating intervals to ground water (ERCB) providing structural strength and isolation during fracturing

Reasons for Bond Log

Bond logs are run to determine: Cement to casing relationship Cement to formation relationship Evaluate cement conditions:
Channeling Compromised cement (i.e. gas cut, dehydrated, etc.) Cement stages Cement top Microannulus

Scenarios to keep in mind for bond log evaluation:

Channeled cement Poor bond to pipe but good bond to formation? Good bond to pipe and poor bond to formation Poor bond to both pipe and formation Compromised cement (i.e. gas cut cement)

Traditional Acoustic Bond Tool Example

Bow Spring Centralizer

Collar Locator Gamma Ray Acoustic Transmitter 3ft Receiver 5ft Receiver
Cement Bond Log (CBL)

Collar Locator (CCL) Gamma Ray & Telemetry

8 5

1 4

Transmitter
2 3

Radial Bond Log (RBL)

2ft Radial Receivers 3ft Receiver 5ft Receiver

Radial Receivers 2ft spacing Usually 8 radials

Bow Spring Centralizer

What is Measured on Bond Logs

Recorded on ALL sensors:
Amplitude (strength of the first arrival) Travel Time (time it takes for the signal to go from transmitter to receiver) VDL Variable Density Log (entire waveform from 1st arrival and reverberations up to 1200 sfrom one pulse)
Transmitter Isolator Radial Receivers 3 ft Receiver 5 ft Receiver

What is Measured & Presented on Radial Bond Logs

Presented on the log:
Natural Gamma Ray Casing Collar Locator Amplitude from the 3ft Amplitude x 5 Travel Time from the 3ft VDL from the 5ft Amplitudes from the eight / six radials (if RBL) Min, Max and Average of the Radials (if RBL)
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Theory of Measurement Amplitude and Travel Time

Require a volunteer **** Strike an unsupported casing: It rings with a high amplitude (lack of cement) 1st peak = E1 Strike a supported casing it thuds with a low amplitude (good evidence of cement) The loss / attenuation of signal is related to the quality of cement and is how Bond is measured.
E1

Amplitude Signals vs. Pipe Size of free pipe

* immersed in water

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3 ft Amp (mV)

72 61

40 114.3 139.7 177.8 339.7

Challenge is as casing sizes get larger, the range of measurement from no cement to fully cemented gets smaller.

 How much cement do I have for the amplitude in question?

Challenges are that:

Non-linear relationship. As the amount of cement increases, the corresponding amplitude drops very little hence the x5 scaling for low amplitudes. Larger casing sizes mean less amplitude range to measure from.
Amplitude vs % Cement Bond
Amplitude in milli-Volts 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 10 20 30

Note: 1900 kg/m Slurry (typical class G)

114.3mm 139.7mm 177.8mm

40

50

60

70

80

90 100

% of cement present

VDL Variable Density Log

After the transmitter fires, the waveform arrives at the sensors via different paths:
Casing Formation Mud Distance traveled Slowness of medium (~density)
Casing Arrivals

Time

Formation Arrivals

Arrival times are a function of:

Mud Arrivals

The waveform recorded at each sensor is a combination of all arrivals present

Combined Arrivals - VDL

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VDL Variable Density Log

VDL displays multiple slices of data side by side
200 1200 s for 3 VDL

200 sec Formation Mud

1200 s

Casing

Arrival patterns start to become apparent

To make a 2D picture of the 3D image:
Positive peaks are shaded black Negative peaks are shaded white

Casing arrivals should be consistent but formation arrivals should change with lithology

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Amplitude, Travel Time & VDL Example Extremes

Good Bond to Pipe and Formation Free Pipe with no cement

Very low 3ft amplitude No Pipe Ring

High amplitude at Free Pipe values

Late (left) and inconsistent travel time

Travel time is straight at expected pipe arrival time

VDL shows strong formation arrivals little to no pipe arrivals

VDL shows strong pipe arrivals (train tracks) and no formation arrivals

Note: L to R: standard Amplitude scaled 0-100 mV; standard Travel Time scaled 650-150 sec, VDL scaled 200 1200 sec

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VDL Example Summary

Good bond to both pipe and formation

Free Pipe

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VDL Example Summary

Transmitter Isolator Radial Receivers 3 ft Receiver 5 ft Receiver

Good bond to pipe but poor bond to formation

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Channeling
CBL outputs show overall good cement Radial outputs show inconsistency of several of the radial receivers Image mapping of 8 x 2 amplitudes shows channel of lower compressive cement Single CBL 3 amplitude can not identify channeling VDL is also inconclusive

Amplitude changes caused by Compressive Strength vs. Time

Green cement
Low compressive strength hence higher than normal amplitudes Rule of thumb is to not run bond logs up to 48 hours after cementing (cement types such as thermal cements may vary)

Chart shows the reduction in amplitude with time after cementing

4 hours 18 hours 28 hours 33 hours

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Cement Compressive Strength Chart Examples

Compressive Strength, MPa 0 1 0 class G T 40 thermal cement

Time, Hours
Plot courtesy of SanJel

Gel Strength vs. Time

When cement is partially setup it starts to become self-supportive & looses its ability to hold back gas As a result worm hole channels can form during the critical phase

Between 100 lb/100 ft and 500 lb/100 ft, the slurry is susceptible to gas migration (critical interval)

39 minutes

Plot courtesy of Sanjel

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Bond log considerations of SCVF/GM

Poor Primary Cementing/Hole conditioning

Mud Contaminated cement Gas Cut Cement Channeled cement

Decentralized casing string

Vertical Slant Horizontal

Video demonstrating SCV surging through cement

Micro-annulus Micro-separation (yellow) between pipe and cement (< 1 mm) caused by a drop in temperature or pressure Identified by doing a pressure pass to a nonpressure pass comparison.

Cement

Casing

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Do I need a Pressure Pass?

Micro-annulus Example
Non-pressure pass looks like mostly free pipe Pressure pass indicates strong micro-annulus due to decreased amplitudes as seen on radial map as well as reduced casing arrivals in VDL.

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Well Conditions That Affect Bond Logs Light Weight Cement

Pipe is allowed to carry some pipe arrivals even under perfect bonded conditions 3ft amplitudes may range between 5-10 mV (depending on density) Formation arrivals, if present, may have a faded appearance Collars DO NOT chevron but may exhibit a straight line response Cementing information from the well is critical for interpretation:
Stages, Cement Density, Volumes

1550 kg/m3 cement

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CSS & SAGD WELLS

22 Drills Terminated In Clearwater in 1987 (+/- 440m TVD) Target Grand Rapids Production Casing: 177.8mm L-80 34.2 kg/m Cement: Standard Thermal G + 40% Silica All Cemented to Surface No SCVF/GM Issues Ground Water Isolation 1 3 Cyclic Steam Stimulations Cum Oil: 16,758 m3 Cum Steam Injected: 218,173 m3 Operating Conditions: 8.5 - 9.0 MPa 300 - 305 C No History of Isolation Issues

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Cap Rock

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Media Coverage from March 2013 National Geographic:

A recent U.S. Geological Survey study of decades-old wells in eastern Montana found plumes of salt water migrating into aquifers and private wells, rendering the water from them unfit for drinking. And catastrophic casing failures can happen at any time. The EPA is now investigating a 2011 blowout during fracking in a well near Killdeer that pierced the aquifer the town relies on.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/03/bakken-shale-oil/dobb-text

Thank you for attending the SPE Back to Basics Bond Log Theory and Interpretation
Ian Cameron, P.Eng. FMC Technologies (formerly Pure Energy)

ian.cameron@fmcti.com
Honorable mention: Jude Reid for assistance in helping to build this presentation

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I dont want to do a pressure pass in case I create a micro-annulus

Bond log Sept shows areas of lower quality cement prior to a cement squeeze intervention on a SCVF repair.

Bond log January done after cement squeeze showing placed cement (312.5-320m). The comparison of 3 amplitudes indicate the previous cement did degrade from before squeeze to after in other areas of the well. This was likely caused by the increase in pressure from cementing damaging the already compromised cement (320-327m).

Note how 300-305m or 327-

331m did not change however.

Increasing Amplitude

Wellbore preparation and result of mud mixing with cement and potential impact on a bond log

All of the above samples appear to be solid, however compressive strengths hence amplitudes on a bond log are significantly different

Samples courtesy of Gary Batcheller GWB Consultants

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Interactive participation quiz using Turning Points electronic response cards. One @ each table.
CBC: How do you feel about Jarome Iginla being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins?
1) The Flames waited too long to trade him. 2) It is going to help rebuild the team. 3) It's too bad for the Flames but he deserves a shot at the Cup. 4) It doesn't matter to me.

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