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

Patent · Tue Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2010

OSTI ID:1014731

Vu, Cung Khac ^[1]; Sinha, Dipen N ^[2]; Pantea, Cristian ^[2]; Nihei, Kurt ^[3]; Schmitt, Denis P ^[4]; Skelt, Christopher ^[1]

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1. Houston, TX
2. Los Alamos, NM
3. Oakland, CA
4. Katy, TX

In some aspects of the invention, a device, positioned within a well bore, configured to generate and direct an acoustic beam into a rock formation around a borehole is disclosed. The device comprises a source configured to generate a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency; a transducer configured to receive the generated first and the second signals and produce acoustic waves at the first frequency and the second frequency; and a non-linear material, coupled to the transducer, configured to generate a collimated beam with a frequency equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency by a non-linear mixing process, wherein the non-linear material includes one or more of a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.

• Research Organization: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (San Ramon, CA); 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): 7,839,718
• Application Number: US Patent Application 12/166,842
• OSTI ID: 1014731
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English