Acoustic phased array system and method for determining well integrity in multi-string configurations

An acoustic logging system utilizing a method for transmitting and receiving sound energy through a sound barrier in a wellbore environment so that enough energy is available for making measurements of objects behind the sound barrier, comprising:

• a first transducer configured to emit a beam of acoustic energy according to a first mode of operation or a second mode of operation;
• and
• one or more second transducers, positioned axially away from the first transducer, configured to receive acoustic energy from the wellbore environment responsive to the beam;
• wherein the first mode of operation is a transmit-receive mode of operation where the beam is steerable, when emitted from the first transducer, 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, when emitted from the first transducer, interacts with the one or more wellbore components at a second angle different from the first angle.