Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and methods for steering a rotary drilling tool used in subterranean drilling operations. The methods of the present disclosure may be suitable for steering a drilling tool comprising rotating a drill string coupled to a drill bit about its axis to form a wellbore; controlling a rotary motor disposed within the drill string to selectively open and close one or more of a plurality of gate valves to hydraulically actuate a corresponding one or more plurality of steering pads by, in an open position, allowing pressurized fluid to contact corresponding interior surfaces of the corresponding one or more plurality of steering pads to push the one or more plurality of steering pads into contact with a portion of the wellbore to deflect the drill bit away from the portion of the wellbore. The movable steering pads may be selectively extended so as to contact the portion of the wellbore at the same relative rotational position as the tool rotates.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining a thickness of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the thickness of the well casing is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and model waveforms. The measured waveform and model waveforms are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.

Abstract: In some aspects, the present disclosure includes systems and methods for steering a rotary drilling tool used in subterranean drilling operations. In one embodiment, the methods of the present disclosure may be suitable for steering a drilling tool comprising rotating a drill string coupled to a drill bit about its axis to form a wellbore; controlling a rotary motor disposed within the drill string to selectively open and close one or more of a plurality of gate valves to hydraulically actuate a corresponding one or more plurality of steering pads by, in an open position, allowing pressurized fluid to contact corresponding interior surfaces of the corresponding one or more plurality of steering pads to push the one or more plurality of steering pads into contact with a portion of the wellbore to deflect the drill bit away from the portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining impedance of a casing-cement bond are described. In some aspects, the bond impedance is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and a model waveform. The model waveform corresponds to an estimated impedance of the bond and corresponds to a ray tracing of an acoustic signal that accounts for a radiation pattern of the acoustic transmitter and a curvature of the well casing. The measured waveform and the model waveform are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method for validating an acoustic bond-log tool includes having a test fixture including a wellbore casing emulating tubing. An outer tubing emulates a well formation and forms a perimeter of an annulus surrounding the wellbore casing emulating tubing. The wellbore casing tubing is configured with a stepped outer surface emulating different wellbore casing sidewall thicknesses. A dividing structure is coupled in the axial direction to the outer surface of the wellbore casing emulating tubing and to the inner surface of the outer tubing to radially subdivide the annulus into a plurality of hermetically sealable sample sections. Each sample section contains a sample of a material having a known acoustic impedance. The acoustic bond-log tool is validated by comparing a bond-log tool measurement of the acoustic impedance of each sample in a particular sample section to the known acoustic impedance of the sample.

Abstract: Downhole electronics assemblies including a modular carrier including a top rail and a bottom rail, the top and bottom rails each including a pair of longitudinally extending sides and the top rail providing one or more ribs that extend between the longitudinally extending sides of the top rail. A circuit board is positionable between the top and bottom rails and has a top side and a bottom side and one or more electronic components mounted on at least one of the top and bottom sides. One or more damping pads interpose the circuit board and a host downhole tool such that contact between the circuit board and the host downhole tool is prevented.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining properties of a medium surrounding an exterior portion of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the properties of the medium are determined based on measurements of detected acoustic energy and distances between one or more acoustic transmitters and two or more acoustic receivers. The measurements are obtained based on operating the transmitters and the receivers within a wellbore that includes the well casing.

Abstract: Downhole electronics assemblies including a modular carrier including a top rail and a bottom rail, the top and bottom rails each including a pair of longitudinally extending sides and the top rail providing one or more ribs that extend between the longitudinally extending sides of the top rail. A circuit board is positionable between the top and bottom rails and has a top side and a bottom side and one or more electronic components mounted on at least one of the top and bottom sides. One or more damping pads interpose the circuit board and a host downhole tool such that contact between the circuit board and the host downhole tool is prevented.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining impedance of a casing-cement bond are described. In some aspects, the bond impedance is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and a model waveform. The model waveform corresponds to an estimated impedance of the bond and corresponds to a ray tracing of an acoustic signal that accounts for a radiation pattern of the acoustic transmitter and a curvature of the well casing. The measured waveform and the model waveform are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.

Abstract: In some implementations, a method for validating an acoustic bond-log tool includes having a test fixture including a wellbore casing emulating tubing. An outer tubing emulates a well formation and forms a perimeter of an annulus surrounding the wellbore casing emulating tubing. The wellbore casing tubing is configured with a stepped outer surface emulating different wellbore casing sidewall thicknesses. A dividing structure is coupled in the axial direction to the outer surface of the wellbore casing emulating tubing and to the inner surface of the outer tubing to radially subdivide the annulus into a plurality of hermetically sealable sample sections. Each sample section contains a sample of a material having a known acoustic impedance. The acoustic bond-log tool is validated by comparing a bond-log tool measurement of the acoustic impedance of each sample in a particular sample section to the known acoustic impedance of the sample.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining a thickness of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the thickness of the well casing is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and model waveforms. The measured waveform and model waveforms are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining properties of a medium surrounding an exterior portion of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the properties of the medium are determined based on measurements of detected acoustic energy and distances between one or more acoustic transmitters and two or more acoustic receivers. The measurements are obtained based on operating the transmitters and the receivers within a wellbore that includes the well casing.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and software for determining a thickness of a well casing are described. In some aspects, the thickness of the well casing is determined based on results of comparing a measured waveform and model waveforms. The measured waveform and model waveforms are generated based on operating an acoustic transmitter and an acoustic receiver within a wellbore comprising the well casing.