Method and apparatus for nondestructive testing of cement
AssigneeHalliburton Company
InventorsPrabhakar P. Rao, David L. Sutton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for the nondestructive testing of cement slurry samples as a function of time are disclosed. A sample placed in a temperature and pressure controlled autoclave is coupled to transducer means under computer control. Ultrasonic energy is propagated through the sample and the transit time is measured. A predetermined relationship relating transit time to compressive strength is employed and enables the determination of compressive strength. The measurements are repetitively performed on up to eight samples simultaneously and the time history of the development of compressive strength is recorded.
Claims25
A system for non-destructively measuring the compressive strength of a cement slurry sample comprising:
- means for housing a cement slurry sample and for controlling the pressure and temperature of the sample;
- means for generating an ultrasonic signal coupled to said sample;
- means for measuring the transit time of said ultrasonic signal through the sample and for generating a measurement signal representative thereof;
- means, responsive to said measurement signal, for generating according to a predetermined relationship relating transit time to compressive strength, a signal representative of the compressive strength of the sample;
- and
- means for recording said compressive strength signal.
A method for non-destructively measuring the compressive strength of a cement slurry sample, comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a cement slurry sample at controlled temperature and pressure;
- transmitting an ultrasonic signal through the sample;
- detecting said ultrasonic signal subsequent to its transiting the sample and measuring the time required for said signal to transit the sample;
- determining, according to a predetermined relationship relating transit time to compressive strength, the compressive strength of the sample;
- and
- recording the compressive strength of the sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.