Method for initializing receiver channels in a cement bond logging tool

1. A method for initializing the input of each of m receiver channels of a receiving transducer in a well logging tool disposed downhole comprising the steps of:

selecting a logging tool coupled to a control system and having a multi-element receiving transducer and a non-transitory memory wherein each element of the multi-element receiving transducer operates in an anti-resonant mode below its resonant frequency under control of the tool control system;

setting a jumper in the logging tool to enter an initialization mode;

disabling application of firing signals to a transmitter transducer in the logging tool;

running a predetermined number Q of run cycles in the logging tool to determine an average output signal value K and storing the resulting value K in the memory, for each of the m receiver channels;

determining whether the average value is within an acceptable range; and

repeating the foregoing steps until the averaged reference value is stored for all m receiver channels.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein, the step of disabling comprises the step of:

ensuring that the transmitter receives no firing signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of running comprises the steps of:

storing read and digitized quiescent reference values P for each of the m receiver channels;

deleting the Q/4 lowest values and the Q/4 highest values of P for each of the m receiver channels; and

averaging the remaining values of P, storing the average value K in a mapped memory location for each of the m receiver channels.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of:

setting an acceptable range at +/−16 bits;

repeating the disabling, running, and determining steps a predetermined number of times R if the average value K is not within the acceptable range;

setting the quiescent reference equal to the theoretical zero of the A/D converter if R repetitions of the disabling, running, and determining steps does not produce a value of average value K within the acceptable range; and

completing the method for each remaining channel m.

5. A method for initializing the input of each of m receiver channels of a receiving transducer in a well logging tool disposed downhole comprising the steps of:

selecting a logging tool coupled to a tool control system and having a transmitter transducer and a multi-element receiving transducer and a non-transitory memory wherein each element of the multi-element receiving transducer operates in an anti-resonant mode below its resonant frequency; and

executing a routine in an initialization mode wherein a predetermined number of run cycles are operated after disabling the transmitter transducer and receiver input responses are measured, averaged, and stored in the memory for each of the m channels while transmitter firing signals are disabled.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of executing a routine comprises the steps of:

setting a jumper in the logging tool to enter an initialization mode;

disabling application of firing signals the transmitter transducer in the logging tool;

running a predetermined number Q of run cycles in the logging tool to determine an average output signal value K and storing the resulting value K in the memory, for each of the m receiver channels;

determining whether the average value is within an acceptable range; and

repeating the foregoing steps until a quiescent reference value is stored for all m receiver channels.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein, the step of disabling comprises the step of:

ensuring that the transmitter receives no firing signal.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of running comprises the steps of:

storing read and digitized quiescent reference values P for each of the m receiver channels;

deleting the Q/4 lowest values and the Q/4 highest values of P for each of the m receiver channels; and

averaging the remaining values of P, storing the average value K in a mapped memory location for each of the m receiver channels.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of determining comprises the steps of:

setting an acceptable range at +/−16 bits;

repeating the disabling, running, and determining steps a predetermined number of times R if the average value K is not within the acceptable range;

setting the quiescent reference equal to the theoretical zero of the A/D converter if R repetitions of the disabling, running, and determining steps does not produce a value of average value K within the acceptable range; and

completing the method for each remaining channel m.