Reversible rigid coupling apparatus and method for borehole seismic transducers
Abstract
An apparatus and method of high resolution reverse vertical seismic profile (VSP) measurements is shown. By encapsulating the seismic detector and heaters in a meltable substance (such as wax), the seismic detector can be removably secured in a borehole in a manner capable of measuring high resolution signals in the 100 to 1000 hertz range and higher. The meltable substance is selected to match the overall density of the detector package with the underground formation, yet still have relatively low melting point and rigid enough to transmit vibrations to accelerometers in the seismic detector. To minimize voids in the meltable substance upon solidification, the meltable substance is selected for minimum shrinkage, yet still having the other desirable characteristics. Heaters are arranged in the meltable substance in such a manner to allow the lowermost portion of the meltable substance to cool and solidify first. Solidification continues upwards from bottom-to-top until the top of the meltable substance is solidified and the seismic detector is ready for use. To remove, the heaters melt the meltable substance and the detector package is pulled from the borehole.
- Inventors:
-
- Helotes, TX
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, TX (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 868125
- Patent Number(s):
- 5080190
- Assignee:
- Southwest Research Institute (San Antonio, TX)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-89BC14473
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- reversible; rigid; coupling; apparatus; method; borehole; seismic; transducers; resolution; reverse; vertical; profile; vsp; measurements; shown; encapsulating; detector; heaters; meltable; substance; wax; removably; secured; manner; capable; measuring; signals; 100; 1000; hertz; range; selected; match; overall; density; package; underground; formation; relatively; melting; transmit; vibrations; accelerometers; minimize; voids; solidification; minimum; shrinkage; desirable; characteristics; arranged; allow; lowermost; portion; cool; solidify; continues; upwards; bottom-to-top; top; solidified; remove; melt; pulled; coupling apparatus; seismic detector; underground formation; borehole seismic; desirable characteristics; /181/367/
Citation Formats
Owen, Thomas E, and Parra, Jorge O. Reversible rigid coupling apparatus and method for borehole seismic transducers. United States: N. p., 1992.
Web.
Owen, Thomas E, & Parra, Jorge O. Reversible rigid coupling apparatus and method for borehole seismic transducers. United States.
Owen, Thomas E, and Parra, Jorge O. Wed .
"Reversible rigid coupling apparatus and method for borehole seismic transducers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/868125.
@article{osti_868125,
title = {Reversible rigid coupling apparatus and method for borehole seismic transducers},
author = {Owen, Thomas E and Parra, Jorge O},
abstractNote = {An apparatus and method of high resolution reverse vertical seismic profile (VSP) measurements is shown. By encapsulating the seismic detector and heaters in a meltable substance (such as wax), the seismic detector can be removably secured in a borehole in a manner capable of measuring high resolution signals in the 100 to 1000 hertz range and higher. The meltable substance is selected to match the overall density of the detector package with the underground formation, yet still have relatively low melting point and rigid enough to transmit vibrations to accelerometers in the seismic detector. To minimize voids in the meltable substance upon solidification, the meltable substance is selected for minimum shrinkage, yet still having the other desirable characteristics. Heaters are arranged in the meltable substance in such a manner to allow the lowermost portion of the meltable substance to cool and solidify first. Solidification continues upwards from bottom-to-top until the top of the meltable substance is solidified and the seismic detector is ready for use. To remove, the heaters melt the meltable substance and the detector package is pulled from the borehole.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}