Dual-frequency tags to detect cement curing in wellbore applications

摘要

Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (“MEMS”) tags having high and low resonant frequencies are used to detect the cured or uncured state of wellbore cement. The MEMS tags may be added to wellbore cement, and pumped downhole. An interrogation tool emits a signal at one or both of the resonant frequencies which, in turn, interacts with the MEMS tags to produce a response signal. Since uncured cement has a high attenuation, only the lower resonant frequency response signal is sensed by an interrogation device, thus indicating the cement remains uncured. When the cement cures, its conductivity drops and the attenuation of the higher resonant frequency response signal drops also, thus allowing that signal to be detected by the interrogation device and indicating the cement has cured.