Applications of Physics in the Oilfield

We begin with a short historical introduction into this industrial field - including aspects of Schlumberger's history. Following an overview over oilfield measurement techniques associated with oil- and gas reservoir exploration and production, we will take a closer look at two particular experimental techniques in the field of non-destructive evaluation of production wells: Electromagnetic (EM) corrosion monitoring and acoustic cement evaluation. EM corrosion monitoring is performed during the production phase of a reservoir after steel tubes (casings) are installed in the borehole to guarantee the well integrity and production control. We describe the technique of remote-field eddy current (RFEC) testing which is used for in-situ measurements of tube wall thickness and corrosion. Finally, we discuss ultrasonic techniques to evaluate the quality of cement sheaths in the annulus between the production steel tubes and the rock formation. The foremost goal of this cement sheath is the ‘zonal isolation’ between hydrocarbon layers and the rest of the well. These areas of ‘well-integrity’ are of particular interest in the wake of the deadly BP Deepwater Horizon rig disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 which could have been prevented in part by the use of existing cement evaluation services.