A method for identifying zones in an annulus with poor cementing that may include deploying a fiber optic cable within the wellbore, creating a temperature gradient in the wellbore, and collecting temperature data over a period of time as the wellbore returns to a thermal equilibrium. The method may also include comparing the temperature data collected by the fiber optic cable at one or more locations to predicted temperature data over the period of time at the one or more locations to identify locations where the measured temperature data deviates from the predicted temperature data for identifying locations or zones of the annulus that have poor cementing.

Certain aspects and features relate to a system that includes a well tool configured to transmit an acoustic signal, detect a reflection signal, and transmit data representing the reflection signal. A processor analyzes the data to identify a pulse portion of the reflection signal, which is distinct from a reverberation portion. The processor determines a value for an attribute of the reflection signal, and executes a model to generate a first set of synthetic values for the attribute of the reflection signal and a second set of synthetic values for an impedance of a cement casing. The processor can then generate a lookup table that correlates the first set of synthetic values to the second set of synthetic values. By referencing the lookup table, processor can determine the impedance of the cement casing and alter a drilling plan or a completion plan based on the impedance of the cement casing.

Certain aspects and features relate to a system that includes a well tool configured to transmit an acoustic signal, detect a reflection signal, and transmit data representing the reflection signal. A processor analyzes the data to identify a pulse portion of the reflection signal, which is distinct from a reverberation portion. The processor determines a value for an attribute of the reflection signal, and executes a model to generate a first set of synthetic values for the attribute of the reflection signal and a second set of synthetic values for an impedance of a cement casing. The processor can then generate a lookup table that correlates the first set of synthetic values to the second set of synthetic values. By referencing the lookup table, processor can determine the impedance of the cement casing and alter a drilling plan or a completion plan based on the impedance of the cement casing.

In some embodiments, a method includes conveying a downhole tool in a tubing, positioned in a casing which forms an annulus between the casing and a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, the downhole tool having a rotatable transmitter and a receiver array. The method includes performing the following until an acoustic transmission has been emitted for each of a number of defined azimuthal positions: rotating the rotatable transmitter to one of the number of defined azimuthal positions, emitting the acoustic transmission, and detecting, by the receiver array and without rotation of the downhole tool beyond a rotation threshold, an acoustic response of a number of acoustic responses that is derived from the acoustic transmission. The method further includes computationally rotating, by a processor and after detecting, data of each of the number of acoustic responses in a pre-determined direction to generate a computationally rotated multipole response.

In some embodiments, a method includes conveying a downhole tool in a tubing, positioned in a casing which forms an annulus between the casing and a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation, the downhole tool having a rotatable transmitter and a receiver array. The method includes performing the following until an acoustic transmission has been emitted for each of a number of defined azimuthal positions: rotating the rotatable transmitter to one of the number of defined azimuthal positions, emitting the acoustic transmission, and detecting, by the receiver array and without rotation of the downhole tool beyond a rotation threshold, an acoustic response of a number of acoustic responses that is derived from the acoustic transmission. The method further includes computationally rotating, by a processor and after detecting, data of each of the number of acoustic responses in a pre-determined direction to generate a computationally rotated multipole response.

This invention relates to the method of assessing the integrity of primary and secondary barriers in the interval where a cement plug is to be installed in the well proposed for abandonment. The technical result of the invention is to enhance the accuracy of wellbore barrier integrity assessment. The method of well integrity assessment below production packer, including inner and outer casings, tubing string and production packer installed inside the casing, and cement sheath and adjacent rocks, comprising the following phases: Identification of the target zone for cement plug installation; installation of a temporary cement plug below the target zone; pressure testing and assessment of tubing and below-packer zone integrity based on steady pressure data or pressure variation in time; creation of a perforation zone in casing and cement below production packer in the target zone; conducting a logging survey including noise, temperature, defectoscopy, and production logging in the target zone during a repeat pressure test; issuance of a findings report on casing and cement integrity and subsequent installation of a cement plug for well abandonment, including rigless operations or remedial cementing at designated locations where integrity failures have been identified on the basis of logging data.

This invention relates to the method of assessing the integrity of primary and secondary barriers in the interval where a cement plug is to be installed in the well proposed for abandonment. The technical result of the invention is to enhance the accuracy of wellbore barrier integrity assessment. The method of well integrity assessment below production packer, including inner and outer casings, tubing string and production packer installed inside the casing, and cement sheath and adjacent rocks, comprising the following phases: Identification of the target zone for cement plug installation; installation of a temporary cement plug below the target zone; pressure testing and assessment of tubing and below-packer zone integrity based on steady pressure data or pressure variation in time; creation of a perforation zone in casing and cement below production packer in the target zone; conducting a logging survey including noise, temperature, defectoscopy, and production logging in the target zone during a repeat pressure test; issuance of a findings report on casing and cement integrity and subsequent installation of a cement plug for well abandonment, including rigless operations or remedial cementing at designated locations where integrity failures have been identified on the basis of logging data.

In at least one embodiment, a well inspection method and system enables transmission of an acoustic signal from a well inspection tool into a well structure and reception of return signals from the well structure at an array of receivers on the well inspection tool. The method and system enable performing of Short-Term Fourier Transform (STFT) on the return signals to generate spectrogram data that is used to determine short-term power spectra of the return signals. Time-dependent frequency response and location-dependent waveform propagation patterns are identified from the short-term power spectra. Cement bonding conditions is determined based on pattern matching using the time-dependent frequency response patterns and using the location-dependent waveform propagation patterns.

In at least one embodiment, a well inspection method and system enables transmission of an acoustic signal from a well inspection tool into a well structure and reception of return signals from the well structure at an array of receivers on the well inspection tool. The method and system enable performing of Short-Term Fourier Transform (STFT) on the return signals to generate spectrogram data that is used to determine short-term power spectra of the return signals. Time-dependent frequency response and location-dependent waveform propagation patterns are identified from the short-term power spectra. Cement bonding conditions is determined based on pattern matching using the time-dependent frequency response patterns and using the location-dependent waveform propagation patterns.

An x-ray-based cement evaluation tool for determining whether a cement bond exists between the casing and cement of a cemented borehole is provided, the tool including at least: an internal length comprising a sonde section, wherein said sonde section further comprises an x-ray source; a radiation shield for radiation measuring detectors; arrayed pixelated detectors; sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs. A method of using an x-ray-based cement evaluation tool for measuring a cement bond between a casing and the cement of a cemented borehole is also provided, the method including: producing x-ray in a conical beam to illuminate a well casing; measurement of the returning photons as a function of radial and axial offset; remapping the intensity of returning photons to a geometric response within the casing and cement; and determining whether an annulus is present between the casing and cement.