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Title: Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1107570

In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and transmitting the collimated beam through a diverging acoustic lens to compensate for a refractive effect caused by the curvature of the borehole.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
Assignee:
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (San Ramon, CA); Los Alamos National Security LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
Patent Number(s):
8,547,790
Application Number:
12/793,414
OSTI ID:
1107570
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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