Implosion type energy source for seismic exploration

Patent · Tue Sep 29 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:6055060

Howlett, D L

An acoustic energy source is described for use in an aqueous environment to create implosion triggered seismic impulses in a body of water which comprises a casing having a wall defining at least two spaced apart elongated implosion chambers and a power chamber therebetween, means forming an implosion port in a wall of at least two implosion chambers communicating each of the latter with the surrounding body of water, a piston rod assembly including a head 27 slidably received in the power chamber. The first and second piston heads 30 and 34 are reciprocally positioned in the first and second implosion chambers for sequentially displacing water respective first and second chambers when a piston head is moved forward the implosion port to evacuate water from the implosion chamber. They also permit rapid entry of water into the evacuated implosion chamber when the piston head has traversed the implosion port in the implosion chamber whereby to create a hydraulic shock, and fluid power means communicated with the power chamber for sequentially impacting against the piston rod assembly to impart the reciprocatory movement thereto in a direction axially of the elongated implosion chambers during successive water displacing and water entry stages of the latter's operation.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4697255
• OSTI ID: 6055060
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020200* -- Petroleum-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
03 NATURAL GAS
030200 -- Natural Gas-- Reserves
Geology
& Exploration
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
DESIGN
DISPERSIONS
EXPLORATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
GROUND WATER
HYDRAULICS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IMPLOSIONS
LIQUID FLOW
MECHANICS
MINERAL RESOURCES
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
OPERATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PISTONS
RESOURCES
SEISMIC SOURCES
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SEISMIC WAVES
SOLUTIONS
SURVEYS
WATER