IP Library Granted Patent US 12,282,130
Granted Patent B2
US 12,282,130 · App. 18/215,229 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Systems and methods for isolation detection using a symmetry invariant log

Inventors: Geoff Steel (Aberdeen, GB); Mark Walsh (Aberdeen, GB); Stephen John Mayo (Aberdeen, GB)
Assignees: PIPELINES 2 DATA (P2D) LIMITED; ConocoPhillips
G01V1/50G01V1/52G01V2001/526G01V2210/43G01V2210/6226
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,282,130
App. No.
18/215,229
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to analyzing subterranean cylindrical structures using acoustic sensing. On example includes: sending first acoustic waves in the wellbore via a radial acoustic sensor; receiving first reflection waves associated with the first acoustic waves via the radial acoustic sensor; sending second acoustic waves in the wellbore via the radial acoustic sensor; receiving second reflection waves associated with the second acoustic waves via the radial acoustic sensor; processing recorded data associated with the first acoustic waves, the first reflection waves, the second acoustic waves, and the second reflection waves, wherein the first acoustic waves are associated with a first radial direction, and wherein the second acoustic waves are associated with a second radial direction, the second radial direction being opposite the first radial direction; and generating a plot for identification of one or more isolation regions in the wellbore based on the processing.

Claims (48)

1. A method for isolation detection in a wellbore, comprising:

sending first acoustic waves in the wellbore via a radial acoustic sensor;

receiving first reflection waves associated with the first acoustic waves via the radial acoustic sensor;

sending second acoustic waves in the wellbore via the radial acoustic sensor;

receiving second reflection waves associated with the second acoustic waves via the radial acoustic sensor;

processing recorded data associated with the first acoustic waves, the first reflection waves, the second acoustic waves, and the second reflection waves, wherein the first acoustic waves are associated with a first radial direction, and wherein the second acoustic waves are associated with a second radial direction, the second radial direction being opposite to the first radial direction;

determining a first ratio between a parameter associated with the first reflection waves and a parameter associated with the first acoustic waves;

determining a second ratio between a parameter associated with the second acoustic waves and a parameter associated with the second reflection waves; and

generating a plot for identification of one or more isolation regions in the wellbore based on the processing, wherein the one or more isolation regions are identified based on the first ratio and the second ratio.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more isolation regions are determined by dividing the first ratio and the second ratio to generate the plot.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a symmetry invariant parameter is calculated by dividing the first ratio and the second ratio for each of the first and second acoustic waves in the wellbore, and wherein the one or more isolation regions are identified based on an amount of variation associated with the symmetry invariant parameter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the first acoustic waves, the parameter of the first reflection waves, the parameter of the second acoustic waves, and the parameter of the second reflection waves comprise amplitude parameters.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter of the first acoustic waves, the parameter of the first reflection waves, the parameter of the second acoustic waves, and the parameter of second reflection waves comprise phase parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more isolation regions corresponds to an area of bonded cement free from anomalies and adapted for plug and abandon of the wellbore.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first radial direction is clockwise and the second radial direction is counterclockwise.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recorded data is converted from a time domain to a frequency domain, and wherein the one or more isolation regions are identified based on the recorded data in the frequency domain.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more isolation regions is identified based on one of a plurality of wavenumbers associated with the recorded data.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the first acoustic waves comprises:

sending a first wave via a first one of a plurality of staves arranged about a circumference of the radial acoustic sensor; and

sending a second wave via a second one of the plurality of staves that is adjacent to the first one of the plurality of staves.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein sending the second acoustic waves comprises:

sending a third wave via the first one of the plurality of staves; and

sending a fourth wave via a third one of the plurality of staves that is adjacent to the first one of the plurality of staves.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first acoustic waves are sent by a plurality of staves, and wherein each of the first reflection waves is received by the plurality of staves at a time between two of the first acoustic waves being sent.

13. One or more tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for performing a computer process on a computing system, the computer process including:

causing a radial acoustic sensor to send first acoustic waves in a wellbore;

causing the radial acoustic sensor to receive first reflection waves associated with the first acoustic waves;

causing the radial acoustic sensor to send second acoustic waves in the wellbore;

causing the radial acoustic sensor to receive second reflection waves associated with the second acoustic waves;

processing recorded data associated with the first acoustic waves, the first reflection waves, the second acoustic waves, and the second reflection waves, wherein the first acoustic waves are associated with a first radial direction, and wherein the second acoustic waves are associated with a second radial direction, the second radial direction being opposite to the first radial direction;

determining a first ratio between a parameter associated with the first reflection waves and a parameter associated with the first acoustic waves;

determining a second ratio between a parameter associated with the second acoustic waves and a parameter associated with the second reflection waves; and

generating a plot for identification of one or more isolation regions in the wellbore based on the processing, wherein the one or more isolation regions are identified based on the first ratio and the second ratio.

14. A system for isolation detection in a wellbore, comprising:

a radial acoustic sensor configured to:

send first acoustic waves in the wellbore;

receive first reflection waves associated with the first acoustic waves;

send second acoustic waves in the wellbore; and

receive second reflection waves associated with the second acoustic waves; and

one or more computer systems configured to:

process recorded data associated with the first acoustic waves, the first reflection waves, the second acoustic waves, and the second reflection waves, wherein the first acoustic waves are associated with a first radial direction, and wherein the second acoustic waves are associated with a second radial direction, the second radial direction being opposite to the first radial direction;

determine a first ratio between a parameter associated with the first reflection waves and a parameter associated with the first acoustic waves;

determine a second ratio between a parameter associated with the second acoustic waves and a parameter associated with the second reflection waves; and

generate a plot for identification of one or more isolation regions in the wellbore based on the processing, wherein the one or more isolation regions are identified based on the first ratio and the second ratio.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of staves disposed about an axis of the radial acoustic sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of staves spaced from each other by an angle.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first acoustic waves are transmitted and received via the plurality of staves.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more isolation regions are determined by dividing the first ratio and the second ratio to generate the plot.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2026
From: PIPELINES 2 DATA (P2D) LIMITED
To: CASE360 LIMITED
Reel/Frame 074362/0808 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2023
From: STEEL, GEOFF; WALSH, MARK; MAYO, STEPHEN JOHN
To: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY; PIPELINES 2 DATA (P2D) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064235/0819 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63356339 · Jun 28, 2022
Related Publication 20230417942A1 · Dec 28, 2023
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