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

Abstract

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.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. Houston, TX
  2. Los Alamos, NM
  3. Oakland, CA
  4. Katy, TX
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (San Ramon, CA); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1014731
Patent Number(s):
7,839,718
Application Number:
US Patent Application 12/166,842
Assignee:
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (San Ramon, CA);Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

Vu, Cung Khac, Sinha, Dipen N, Pantea, Cristian, Nihei, Kurt, Schmitt, Denis P, and Skelt, Christopher. Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof. United States: N. p., 2010. Web.
Vu, Cung Khac, Sinha, Dipen N, Pantea, Cristian, Nihei, Kurt, Schmitt, Denis P, & Skelt, Christopher. Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof. United States.
Vu, Cung Khac, Sinha, Dipen N, Pantea, Cristian, Nihei, Kurt, Schmitt, Denis P, and Skelt, Christopher. 2010. "Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1014731.
@article{osti_1014731,
title = {Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof},
author = {Vu, Cung Khac and Sinha, Dipen N and Pantea, Cristian and Nihei, Kurt and Schmitt, Denis P and Skelt, Christopher},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1014731}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2010},
month = {Tue Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2010}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Parametric Acoustic Array
journal, April 1963