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Title: Method and system for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof

Abstract

A compact array of transducers is employed as a downhole instrument for acoustic investigation of the surrounding rock formation. The array is operable to generate simultaneously a first acoustic beam signal at a first frequency and a second acoustic beam signal at a second frequency different than the first frequency. These two signals can be oriented through an azimuthal rotation of the array and an inclination rotation using control of the relative phases of the signals from the transmitter elements or electromechanical linkage. Due to the non-linearity of the formation, the first and the second acoustic beam signal mix into the rock formation where they combine into a collimated third signal that propagates in the formation along the same direction than the first and second signals and has a frequency equal to the difference of the first and the second acoustic signals. The third signal is received either within the same borehole, after reflection, or another borehole, after transmission, and analyzed to determine information about rock formation. Recording of the third signal generated along several azimuthal and inclination directions also provides 3D images of the formation, information about 3D distribution of rock formation and fluid properties and an indication ofmore » the dynamic acoustic non-linearity of the formation.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [4]
+ Show Inventor Affiliations
  1. Santa Fe, NM
  2. Los Alamos, NM
  3. Reno, NV
  4. Houston, TX
  5. Oakland, CA
  6. Katy, TX
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1036710
Patent Number(s):
8116167
Application Number:
12/137,980
Assignee:
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (San Ramon, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
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DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Johnson, Paul A, Ten Cate, James A, Guyer, Robert, Le Bas, Pierre-Yves, Vu, Cung, Nihei, Kurt, Schmitt, Denis P, and Skelt, Christopher. Method and system for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof. United States: N. p., 2012. Web.
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Johnson, Paul A, Ten Cate, James A, Guyer, Robert, Le Bas, Pierre-Yves, Vu, Cung, Nihei, Kurt, Schmitt, Denis P, & Skelt, Christopher. Method and system for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof. United States.
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Johnson, Paul A, Ten Cate, James A, Guyer, Robert, Le Bas, Pierre-Yves, Vu, Cung, Nihei, Kurt, Schmitt, Denis P, and Skelt, Christopher. Tue . "Method and system for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1036710.
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@article{osti_1036710,
title = {Method and system for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof},
author = {Johnson, Paul A and Ten Cate, James A and Guyer, Robert and Le Bas, Pierre-Yves and Vu, Cung and Nihei, Kurt and Schmitt, Denis P and Skelt, Christopher},
abstractNote = {A compact array of transducers is employed as a downhole instrument for acoustic investigation of the surrounding rock formation. The array is operable to generate simultaneously a first acoustic beam signal at a first frequency and a second acoustic beam signal at a second frequency different than the first frequency. These two signals can be oriented through an azimuthal rotation of the array and an inclination rotation using control of the relative phases of the signals from the transmitter elements or electromechanical linkage. Due to the non-linearity of the formation, the first and the second acoustic beam signal mix into the rock formation where they combine into a collimated third signal that propagates in the formation along the same direction than the first and second signals and has a frequency equal to the difference of the first and the second acoustic signals. The third signal is received either within the same borehole, after reflection, or another borehole, after transmission, and analyzed to determine information about rock formation. Recording of the third signal generated along several azimuthal and inclination directions also provides 3D images of the formation, information about 3D distribution of rock formation and fluid properties and an indication of the dynamic acoustic non-linearity of the formation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2012},
month = {Tue Feb 14 00:00:00 EST 2012}
}
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Works referenced in this record:

Nonlinear generation of elastic waves in granite and sandstone: Continuous wave and travel time observations
journal, January 1989

Nonlinear generation of elastic waves in crystalline rock
journal, January 1987

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