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COMPRESSIONAL SLOWNESS
DETERMINATION BEHIND POORLYCEMENTED CASING (CASE HISTORY)
CONFERENCE PAPER MARCH 2003
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2570.9608

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COMPRESSIONAL SLOWNESS DETERMINATION BEHIND POORLYCEMENTED CASING (CASE HISTORY)

F. Pampuri, M. Borghi, S. Deias, ENI-AGIP, M. Giorgioni, Enterprise Oil Italiana
SpA, F. Brambilla, X. Tang, D. Patterson, BAKER ATLAS

Copyright OMC 2003

This paper was presented at the Offshore Mediterranean Conference and Exhibition in Ravenna, Italy, March 26-28, 2003. It
was selected for presentation by the OMC 2003 Programme Committee following review of information contained in the abstract
submitted by the authors. The Paper as presented at OMC 2003 has not been reviewed by the Programme Committee.

ABSTRACT
This paper presents an important application of cased-hole acoustic dipole waveform logging
to determine the formation compressional-wave slowness (DTC) profile in the presence of
poor cement bonding (e.g., unbounded casing, free pipe).
In Southern Italy, the formations above the reservoir are often characterized by strong
borehole instability and the drilled interval is usually cased immediately after drilling to avoid
collapse. For this reason, open log data are often unavailable over this interval even though
an acoustic-slowness log (i.e., the DTC profile) is desired for seismic correlation purposes.
Conventional monopole acoustic logging can determine DTC through casing, if casing and
formation are well bonded. However, the evaluation of the cementation around the liner over
this interval indicates that most of the logged interval consists of free pipe. This situation
allows the casing to ring and this strong casing-signal and resulting poor acoustic coupling to
the formation does not permit the standard DTC determination.
In this field example, a decision was made to obtain dipole and monopole waveform data
over a 900-meter section inside the liner. The goal was to obtain a reliable DTC by
combining the results from processing both the monopole and dipole waveforms.
The processing has been carried out following these steps:
1. Detailed evaluation of the cementation and broad subdivision of the interval into three
zones: free pipe, poor to medium cementation and good cement bond.
2. Dipole and monopole waveform component analysis in terms of slowness coherence
quality determination by processing using selected frequency bands.
3. Final DTC determination using optimized procedures and parameters by combining DTC
computed from monopole acquisition (good cement bond zone) with the DTC from the
dipole acquisition when passing through a poor cemented interval.
The main result of this processing is a reliable DTC curve over the entire well including
intervals with poor cement bond by combining results of the processing of both monopole
and dipole waves. The important result is the demonstration of the ability to obtain an
accurate compressional slowness even through poorly bonded casing.

INTRODUCTION
The well, discussed below, was cased immediately after drilling, due to borehole stability
problems. For this reason no open logs were recorded and available for comparison. An
acoustic log is mandatory for seismic correlation purposes and shale overpressure analysis,
and this meant an alternate approach was required.
The evaluation of the cementation around the liner on this interval indicates that most of the
interval was in free pipe condition. This situation does not permit the standard monopole
logging of the compressional waves through casing. Baker Atlas proposed to run a full dipole
and monopole acquisition of the XMAC inside the casing so it could be processed in the
GeoScience Centre to obtain a reliable DTC combining the results from processing of
Monopole and Dipole waveforms. This proposal was made because analyst had observed, in
previous logs, that a part of the flexural energy produced by the dipole transmitter is
converted to compressional waves which are readily apparent when passing through a
poorly cemented intervals. This feature permits the use of waves recorded with the dipole
receivers, for the computation of the compressional slowness.

BOREHOLE STATUS AND LOGGING OPERATIONS

TD: 3XXX m (MD)
Bit size: 8.5 in.
Borehole fluid: FW-K2-GL, density 1.6 g/cc.
Casing:
7 in liner (29 lb/ft T95) from 2XXX m to 3XXX m.
9.625 in casing (53.5 lb/ft T95) from 0 m to 2XXX m
Deviation max: 54.7 deg. The logged interval is quite straight having the inclination near to
53-54 deg.
LOG RECORDED:
SBT-GR:
1XXX m - 3XXX m.
XMAC-GR: 2XXX m - 3XXX m.
STRATIGRAPHY:
The logged interval includes the Unita' Apule and the Unita' Irpine characterised by borehole
stability problems.

DATA ANALYSIS PROCEDURE

The processing has been carried out following these steps
1. Detailed evaluation of the cementation
2. Dipole and Monopole waveform components analysis in terms of slowness determination
working on selected frequency bands
3. Final DTC determination using optimised procedures and parameters

CEMENTATION EVALUATION
The SBT log permits a detailed analysis of the cement to casing bond across six sectors
providing a full 360 degree azimuthal evaluation of the cementation. The combined
observation of the cement map and the ATAV and ATMN curves, i.e. the average and
minimum value of attenuations recorded over the six radial sectors of casing as investigated
by the SBT (fig. 1) permit the recognition of three zones, that have been named:
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a) Free pipe
b) Medium quality cementation
c) Good cementation

Figure 1: Interval zonation on cementation basis

The six radial measurements of casing-signal attenuation provide a way to determine an
index of the degree of casing to cement bonding which allows for evaluating the absence of
cement which could create channels in the cement sheath. The Cementation Homogeneity
Index (CHI) measurement that monitors this is given by the following equation:
CHI = [(ATMN-ATAV)/ATAV]+1
This curve is plotted in track 4 of figure 1, over the cementation map; for its understanding
we should consider that the values range between 1 and 0, where 1 indicates perfect
homogeneity. This radial analysis has been carried out in order to observe any possible
relation within goodness of processing and cementation quality.
Two crossplots were also made between cementation parameters and GR in order to
discover possible correlation existing between the lithology and the goodness of the
cementation job. (Figs. 2 & 3)

Figure 2: Cross-plot Cementation Homegeneity index vs GR

Figure 3: Cross-plot Average Cementation vs GR

As readily apparent, there is no relationship between lithology and cementation quality.

DIPOLE AND MONOPOLE WAVEFORM COMPONENTS ANALYSIS

Over each waveform mode recorded, a frequency analysis has been carried out and for each
mode three frequency bands (low, medium and high) have been selected to be processed for
utilization in the slowness coherence analysis.
The six resulting correlograms allow for selecting of the best filter and the processing
parameters to produce consistent slowness among the six different computed correlograms,
for the finalised processing.
The parameters of the correlation windows used have been selected in order to explore wide
ranges of potential slowness in order to recognize the presence of compressional and
shear/flexural arrival over a wide portion of the recorded waveforms.
The filter values and the parameters selected are presented on table 1 below.
Table 1: Waveforms correlations parameters
Monopole Processing parameters
FIR
Hz
Correlation Parameters
Window
400
length
Correl start
500
Dtmin
35
Filter

Low
200 - 4000

Medium
4000 - 12000

High
12000 - 20000

step

200

us

Corr end
Dtmax

3500
240

us
us/ft

15
3000

# of windows

us length

Dipole Processing parameters

FIR
Hz
Correlation Parameters
Window
500
length
Correl start
750
Dtmin
40
Filter

Low
200 - 1600

Medium
1600 - 4000

High
4000 - 15000

step

250

us

Corr end
Dtmax

5000
440

us
us/ft

17
4250

# of windows

us length

Furthermore, two slownesses per correlogram, have been determined where possible:
The first slowness was determined in order to derive the DTC (i.e. the compressional
curve) curve.
The second slowness (named DTZ or DT far) has been computed where the
correlograms indicate the presence of consistent correlation suggesting the occurrence of
another wave having slower speed than the compressional. This DTZ curve can be related
to either the shear waves or to the casing flexural waves. The DTZ curve has been computed
mainly to observe the capability to acquire reliable shear slownesses in this demanding
logging environment.

LEARNING POINTS AND FINAL DTC COMPUTATION

The main results from these analyses are:
a) Determination of DTC from monopole wave: it has been possible only over the intervals
having medium to good cement bond. However, the DTC determination can be made only on
the correlogram resulting from the processing using the medium filter (4 - 12 KHz) and the
correlogram is often discontinuous, as it is very sensitive to the cementation quality.
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b) Determination of DTC from dipole wave: the best determination is done over the
correlogram from the medium filter (1.6 - 4 KHz). Correlograms from both low and high filters
often display some reliable DTC. The indication is that the formation signals span a large
frequency band. No compressional formation signal can be retrieved over the well-cemented
zone. It is evident that the acoustic mechanism for generating compressional signal from the
casing works only when the casing if free to ring reacting to the flexural signal.
c) Combining the best of the results from a) and b) it is possible to produce a reliable DTC
curve over any quality of casing cementation.
d) Determination of DTS from monopole wave it is possible over the good to medium quality
cemented intervals.
e) Determination of DTS from dipole wave: in the well-cemented interval the dipole provides
a good DTS curve. The DTZ curves computed over the poor and medium cemented zone
could be indicative of shear slowness but when logging a formation not having a previous
well known DTS value it is not possible to judge how close the DTZ computed slowness is to
the true DTS.
On the basis of this analysis the final processing parameters were selected in order to
provide a continuous DTC curve as was required. (Table 2).
Table 2: Ultimate correlations parameters

Finalised Waveform Processing Parameters

Monopole
Filter
Correlation
Window
length
Correl start
Dtmin

FIR

4800

13000

Hz

400 step

200

us

500 Corr end

35 Dtmax

2500
190

us
us/ft

1800

7400

Hz

500

step

250

us

750
40

Corr end
Dtmax

3000
240

us
us/ft

10 # of windows
2000 us length

Dipole
Filter
Correlation
Window
length
Correl start
Dtmin

FIR

9 # of windows
2250 us length

The following figures will better illustrate the results of this acoustic analysis:
Figure 4 presents the processing result in a poorly cemented zone: The continuous
compressive signal on the dipole correlogram and the corresponding the formation arrival on
its frequency spectrum are clearly visible. The correlogram from the monopole indicates a
discontinuous compressional-wave signal. The casing signal is clear over the whole interval
and its frequency spectrum is dominated by the casing components.
Figure 5 presents the processing result in a medium to medium-good cemented zone: it is
evident that the continuous compressional signal on the dipole correlogram changes to
flexural signal when it is over the medium-good cemented zone and coincides with the
disappearance of the formation arrival on its frequency spectrum over this zone. The
correlogram from monopole indicate a nearly continuous compressional signal, some faint
shear signals are present over the levels with the best cementation.
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Figure 6 shows the agreement of the slownesses computed over the intervals with good
cementation.

Figure 4: Finalised result for compressional slowness and correlograms in free pipe zone

Figure 5: Finalised result for compressional slowness and correlograms in transition

from free pipe to medium quality cementation zone. Oval indicates where the DT, on
dipole jumps to the compressional arrival
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Figure 6: Finalised result for compressional slowness and correlograms in

good quality cementation zone

ACOUSTIC THEORY
In the free pipe situation, the transversely polarised dipole-wave motion can effectively
penetrate through casing and the fluid annulus behind, producing additional wave
phenomena that are different from those of a well-cemented casing situation. The decoupling
of the casing and formation by the fluid annulus permits the generation of a formation
compressional wave and a casing bending (or flexural) wave.
The full waveform recorded at the dipole receiver is thus composed of the following
components: formation compressional signal, flexural (close to the shear) signal and ringing
casing waves. The waveform correlation analysis, of this compressional component of the
full waveform recorded provides a way to obtain a reliable DTC.
The two simplified above models on figure 7 demonstrates the feasibility, of the cased-hole
dipole logging. The synthetic full waveforms are computed for two monochromatic acoustic
sources having excitation frequencies of 6 kHz and 3 kHz respectively. A log inside a free
bonded casing with a theoretical formation around was simulated.

Figure 7: Cased-hole, Dipole Logging modelling on free pipe condition

The higher frequency case clearly shows a prominent P-wave arrival and a flexural wave
arrival, respectively travelling at the formation P- and S-wave velocity. This proves that a
transversely polarised wave can see through casing/cement, even in the free pipe situation.
In addition, the seismogram also shows an emergent event trailing the formation waves. This
wave is the casing flexural wave.
When the casing is not bonded with the formation, the casing will flex when it is excited by a
dipole source. At a lower excitation frequency (3 kHz), the P-wave arrival almost disappears,
the resulting waveform is composed mainly by the formation flexural wave and the casing
flexural wave. This 'casing wave' is characterised by strong amplitude.
In the actual acoustic logging environment, the optimum frequency band to produce
compressional waves, in the free pipe condition, may not be the same as that of the above
synthetic example, as this frequency band depends on the casing size, casing weight, drilling
fluids type, borehole and tool size, and formation slowness.
Acoustic logging instruments, such as XMAC Elite, generate dipole waves with a relatively
broad frequency spectrum and their receivers are able to record waveforms composed of a
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wide spectrum of frequencies. These features permit the logging of compressional waves
under common well conditions.
This acquisition indicates, as already suggested, that the cemented casing cannot produce
energetic ringing waves and for this reason the dipole source does not induce compressional
signals which can be recorded by the dipole sensor of the acoustic logging instrument.
However, this is an ideal situation where the compressional wave is derived directly from the
monopole mode.

CONCLUSIONS
This study has shown that a reliable Dt compressional can be calculated over intervals with
poorly cemented casing by combining the results of the processing of both monopole and
dipole acoustic waveforms.
This conclusion is important because previously, without this
technique, a reliable Dt compressional could not be determined for such intervals.
In order to achieve this result, a digital acoustic service with a suited acquisition mode (full
monopole and dipole waveform) is necessary. In addition the understanding of the cement
quality is valuable to help with the evaluation of the waveform data.
A processing procedure has been set up for this special analysis following these steps:
1. General well QC: Detailed evaluation of the cementation and broad subdivision of the
interval into three zones: free pipe, poor to medium cementation and good cement bond.
2. Dipole and Monopole waveform components analysis in terms of slowness coherence
quality determination by processing on selected frequency bands.
3. Final DTC determination using optimised procedures and parameters, combining DTC
computed from monopole acquisition (good cement bond zone) and DTC from the dipole
acquisition using converted flexural to compressional wave when passing through a poor
cemented interval.

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