Resistivity Measurement Through Metal Casing Using Magnetic Field and Magnetoacoustic Phenomena

Abstract

Measurements of acoustic velocities are made through a case borehole in the absence and presence of an applied magnetic field. A formation resistivity parameter may be estimated from differences in the acoustic velocities.

1 . An apparatus for determining a resistivity parameter of an earth formation adjacent to a borehole having a casing therein, the apparatus including:
 (a) at least one acoustic transducer configured to excite a first acoustic wave in the earth formation and a second acoustic wave in the earth formation;   (b) at least one acoustic receiver configured to produce a first signal indicative of a first velocity of propagation of the first acoustic wave in the earth formation in the absence of an applied magnetic field;   (c) a magnetic field generator capable of applying the applied magnetic field to the earth formation through the casing, wherein the at least one acoustic receiver is further configured to produce a second signal indicative of a second velocity of propagation of the second acoustic wave in the earth formation in the presence of the applied magnetic field; and   (d) at least one processor configured to:
 (A) estimate a value of the resistivity parameter of the earth formation from the first signal and the second signal; and 
 (B) record the estimated value on a suitable medium. 
   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first acoustic wave includes at least one of: (i) a compressional wave, and (ii) a shear wave. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one acoustic receiver is responsive to at least one of: (i) a compressional wave, and (ii) a shear wave. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator includes at least one of at least one permanent magnet and at least one electromagnet. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator is configured to apply the applied magnetic field to the earth formation through the casing in a first direction substantially perpendicular to a second direction of propagation of the second acoustic wave. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a difference between the first velocity of propagation and the second velocity of propagation. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a conveyance device which conveys the at least one acoustic transducer into the borehole, the conveyance device selected from: (i) a wireline, (ii) a slickline, and (iii) a tubular. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one acoustic transducer is at least one of: (i) a monopole transducer, (ii) a dipole transducer, and (iii) a quadrupole transducer. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to use the determined resistivity parameter for at least one of: (i) locating bypassed hydrocarbons, (ii) performing reservoir evaluation, (iii) monitoring a waterflood operation, (iv) measuring a fluid saturation, (v) performing cement evaluation, and (vi) performing permeability evaluation. 
   
   
       10 . A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when read by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 determining a first velocity of propagation of a first acoustic wave generated by at least one acoustic transmitter in an earth formation in absence of a magnetic field;   determining a second velocity of propagation of a second acoustic wave generated by the at least one acoustic transmitter in the earth formation in presence of a magnetic field produced in the earth formation through casing by a magnetic field generator; and   determining from the first and second velocity a resistivity parameter of the earth formation.   
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the computer-readable medium further includes at least one of: (i) a read-only memory (ROM), (ii) a programmable read-only memory (PROM), (iii) an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), (iv) an electrically alterable read-only memory (EAROM), (v) an electrically erasable and programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), (vi) a flash memory, (vii) an optical disk, (viii) a hard drive, (ix) an iPod®, and (x) a non-volatile read-write memory (NOVRAM).