Revolutionizing Complex Casing Integrity Analysis in the Middle East Using High-Resolution Acoustic Imaging

Abstract High-resolution acoustic imaging was deployed for the first time in the Middle East to assess cased hole well integrity and completion performance in several different wells. These integrity-based inspections represent the first time this novel technology was ran in for the purpose of investigating well integrity risks. This paper introduces this new technology, showcases and validates its core applications in well integrity assessments, and highlights the findings from the three wells logged in 2023. This solid-state acoustic imaging technology utilizes up to 512 independent sensors that encompass the sensors head. Each of these sensors captures amplitude or acoustic intensity signals and time of flight measurements which are then processed into 3D renderings, conventional 2D logs, and submillimetric measurements of all defects using proprietary surface detection and defect localization algorithms. The sensor array is controlled entirely electronically via software to focus the acoustic energy at the casing wall, this focal distance can be adjusted on the fly enabling multiple casing or tubing strings of varying diameters to be assessed in a single run. This technology inspects cased wells for inner and outer diameter corrosion and pitting, casing deformation, connection defects such as over-torquing, breaches, and perforated/engineered punches, resulting in more efficient and valuable cased hole integrity inspections. This paper showcases the results of laboratory validation of well integrity defects imaged using this technology. In addition, the paper presents example of a well inspected throughout 2023. Several unique findings were observed and the novel images from some of the most impactful findings are presented in this paper.