Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a well inspection method and system is disclosed. The method includes transmitting an acoustic signal from a well inspection tool into a casing structure, receiving return signals from the casing structure to the well inspection tool, performing, using at least one processor associated with the well inspection tool, a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on a plurality of frequencies of the return signals to generate spectrogram data, determining entropy spectra from the spectrogram data, and determining casing loadings associated with the casing structure based at least in part on the entropy spectra.

Abstract: A method and system to be used in well inspection. An acoustic signal is transmitted from a well inspection tool into a well structure and one or more return signals is detected using at least one receiver. At least one processor is used to generate variable density log (VDL) data that includes multiple waveforms in a time domain from the one or more return signals. A number of independent components to be used based on variances in the VDL data is determined and the multiple waveforms are decomposed into multiple components associated with one or more local structure variances of the well structure using independent component analysis (ICA) and the number of independent components. Characteristics of the well structure is determined based in part on patterns or features associated with one or more independent components from the multiple components.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes a base and a piezoelectric powder depositor to traverse the base and deposit a plurality of layers of piezoelectric powder on the base. The apparatus also includes an electrode disposed at an end of a boom of which is moveable to a selected location with respect to the base and a voltage source to apply a voltage to the electrode to establish an electric field between the electrode and base with sufficient strength to sinter and pole each layer of piezoelectric material and a controller having instructions to deposit the plurality of layers of the piezoelectric powder on the base and to control a position of the electrode and actuate the voltage source to the electrode to sinter and pole the layer of piezoelectric material at defined locations after each layer is deposited to form the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a well having nested multi-tubular structure, includes: an acoustic transducer conveyed in an inner-most tubular in the structure and configured to receive a return acoustic signal having a plurality of resonances due to the structure; an acoustic impedance matching material disposed on a sensing face of the acoustic transducer; a signal generator that generates a signal having a plurality of frequencies to drive the acoustic transducer; a signal shaper that modifies the signal to provide a drive signal to the acoustic transducer; and a processor configured to determine an annulus distance of any tubular in the structure with respect to an adjacent tubular using a time of flight of a transmitted acoustic signal, an acoustic speed in a component in the nested multi-tubular structure using the annulus distance and the plurality of resonances, and a characteristic of the component that corresponds with the acoustic speed.

Abstract: A method and system to be used in well inspection. An acoustic signal is transmitted from a well inspection tool into a well structure and one or more return signals is detected using at least one receiver. At least one processor is used to generate variable density log (VDL) data that includes multiple waveforms in a time domain from the one or more return signals. A number of independent components to be used based on variances in the VDL data is determined and the multiple waveforms are decomposed into multiple components associated with one or more local structure variances of the well structure using independent component analysis (ICA) and the number of independent components. Characteristics of the well structure is determined based in part on patterns or features associated with one or more independent components from the multiple components.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a bond between a first tubular disposed in a borehole and a structure outside of the tubular, the method includes transmitting a signal into and through the first tubular using a signal transmitter conveyed through the borehole and detecting a return signal using a return signal receiver conveyed through the borehole to provide return signal information in a time domain. The method also includes transforming the return signal information in the time domain to return signal information in a frequency domain using a transform and determining a difference between the return signal information in the frequency domain and reference frequency domain return signal information. The method further includes characterizing the bond of the first tubular to the structure outside of the first tubular using the difference to provide a characterization of the bond.

Abstract: Acoustic impedance matching devices and related methods are disclosed. An acoustic impedance matching device includes a first face for facing an acoustic transducer, a second face opposite the first face, and a lattice structure between the first face and the second face. The second is face curved to at least substantially conformally engage an inner surface of a tubing. An effective acoustic impedance of the lattice structure substantially matches a transducer acoustic impedance of the acoustic transducer to a tubing acoustic impedance of the tubing. A material acoustic impedance of a material of the lattice structure is greater than the effective acoustic impedance.

Abstract: A method and system to be used in well inspection. An acoustic signal is transmitted from a well inspection tool into a well structure and one or more return signals is detected using at least one receiver. At least one processor is used to generate variable density log (VDL) data that includes multiple waveforms in a time domain from the one or more return signals. A number of independent components to be used based on variances in the VDL data is determined and the multiple waveforms are decomposed into multiple components associated with one or more local structure variances of the well structure using independent component analysis (ICA) and the number of independent components. Characteristics of the well structure is determined based in part on patterns or features associated with one or more independent components from the multiple components.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes depositing a layer of a piezoelectric material on a base using a depositor and applying an electric field to the layer of deposited piezoelectric material in defined locations using an electrode to sinter and pole the deposited piezoelectric material at those defined locations to form a layer of the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape and with a selected dipole direction.

Abstract: An acoustic logging system includes a first transducer in contact with or in close proximity to a sound barrier configured to emit a beam of acoustic energy according to a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation. The system also includes one or more second transducers in contact with or in close proximity to the sound barrier, positioned axially away from the first transducer, configured to receive acoustic energy from a wellbore environment responsive to the beam. The first mode of operation is a transmit-receive mode of operation where the beam is steerable to interact with one or more wellbore components at a first angle and the second mode of operation is a pulse echo mode of operation where the beam interacts with the one or more wellbore components at a second angle different from the first angle.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes depositing a layer of a piezoelectric material on a base using a depositor and applying an electric field to the layer of deposited piezoelectric material in defined locations using an electrode to sinter and pole the deposited piezoelectric material at those defined locations to form a layer of the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape and with a selected dipole direction.

Abstract: A method and system to be used in well inspection. An acoustic signal is transmitted from a well inspection tool into a well structure and one or more return signals is detected using at least one receiver. At least one processor is used to generate variable density log (VDL) data that includes multiple waveforms in a time domain from the one or more return signals. A number of independent components to be used based on variances in the VDL data is determined and the multiple waveforms are decomposed into multiple components associated with one or more local structure variances of the well structure using independent component analysis (ICA) and the number of independent components. Characteristics of the well structure is determined based in part on patterns or features associated with one or more independent components from the multiple components.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer includes depositing a layer of a piezoelectric material on a base using a depositor and applying an electric field to the layer of deposited piezoelectric material in defined locations using an electrode to sinter and pole the deposited piezoelectric material at those defined locations to form a layer of the piezoelectric transducer in a selected shape and with a selected dipole direction.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a bond between a first tubular disposed in a borehole and a structure outside of the tubular, the method includes transmitting a signal into and through the first tubular using a signal transmitter conveyed through the borehole and detecting a return signal using a return signal receiver conveyed through the borehole to provide return signal information in a time domain. The method also includes transforming the return signal information in the time domain to return signal information in a frequency domain using a transform and determining a difference between the return signal information in the frequency domain and reference frequency domain return signal information. The method further includes characterizing the bond of the first tubular to the structure outside of the first tubular using the difference to provide a characterization of the bond.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting a well having nested multi-tubular structure, includes: an acoustic transducer conveyed in an inner-most tubular in the structure and configured to receive a return acoustic signal having a plurality of resonances due to the structure; an acoustic impedance matching material disposed on a sensing face of the acoustic transducer; a signal generator that generates a signal having a plurality of frequencies to drive the acoustic transducer; a signal shaper that modifies the signal to provide a drive signal to the acoustic transducer; and a processor configured to determine an annulus distance of any tubular in the structure with respect to an adjacent tubular using a time of flight of a transmitted acoustic signal, an acoustic speed in a component in the nested multi-tubular structure using the annulus distance and the plurality of resonances, and a characteristic of the component that corresponds with the acoustic speed.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program configured to provide an electronic method for seismic time-lapse characterization of an underground formation are provided. The method includes decomposing, with microprocessor executing a predefined set of instructions stored in a memory, baseline and monitor seismic survey data of a formation into a four dimensional Clifford Algebraic form; extracting, via the microprocessor, time delays from a matrix of decomposed sensor measurement vectors generated based on the four dimensional Clifford Algebra form; and determining, via the processor, time strains for the underground formation from differences in the extracted time delays from the matrix before displaying the determined time strains for the underground formation to a user via a monitor or a hard copy printed document. A procedure is also provided to calibrate and refine the static and dynamic models of an underground formation using the results from the seismic time-lapse characterization.

Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed for developing an N-phasic finite element model for performing fully coupled analyses of multi-phase compositional fluid flow and heat flow in nonlinearly deforming porous solid media with time-dependent failure. The method can include formulating a finite element model of the behavior of a coupled solid-fluid formation, having complex geometry and behavior, and applying the model to derive the response of the formation in the form of one or more displacement fields for the solid phases and one or more pressure fields for the fluid phases in a zone of interest in a formation. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is disclosed for estimating the uncertainties in the derived displacement and pressure field solutions for the response of the fully coupled solid-fluid phases.