Title: Time-reversed nonlinear acoustics for wellbore integrity characterization

Abstract

A pulsed sinusoidal acoustic signal transmitted through a subsurface volume of a wellbore may be detected. A time-reversed acoustic signal of the pulsed sinusoidal acoustic signal may be transmitted through the subsurface volume of the wellbore. Transmission of the time-reversed acoustic signal through the subsurface volume of the wellbore may result in generation of focused acoustic signal in the subsurface volume of the wellbore. The focused acoustic signal in the subsurface volume of the wellbore may be detected, and the integrity of the wellbore may be determined based on the focused acoustic signal in the subsurface volume of the wellbore.

Inventors:

Ulrich, II, Timothy James; Goodman, Harvey Edwin

Issue Date:

2021-08-10

Research Org.:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1840337

Patent Number(s):

11086040

Application Number:

17/031,211

Assignee:

Triad National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM); CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. (San Ramon, CA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS

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E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING

E21B47/00 - Survey of boreholes or wells
E21B49/00 - Testing the nature of borehole walls

G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS

G01V1/46 - Data acquisition
G01V1/50 - Analysing data
G01V2210/1299 - Subsurface, e.g. in borehole or below weathering layer or mud line
G01V2210/1429 - Subsurface, e.g. in borehole or below weathering layer or mud line
G01V2210/642 - Faults

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DOE Contract Number:  

89233218CAN000001

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 09/24/2020

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English