Patent · US Expired

Directional acoustic telemetry receiver

US7158446B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
19References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 23, 2004
Grant dateJan 2, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 23, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V11/002
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Acoustic telemetry devices and methods that provide directional detection. In one embodiment, a disclosed acoustic telemetry device comprises at least two acoustic sensors and an electronics module. A first of the acoustic sensors detects a communication signal that propagates along a tubing string in a first direction. A second of the acoustic sensors is configured to detect the communication signal before the first acoustic sensor. The electronics module combines the detection signals from the acoustic sensors to obtain a combined signal that substantially excludes signals propagating in a direction opposite to the communication signal. Such signal suppression may significantly enhance the communication signal's signal-to-noise ratio, thereby increasing channel capacity. The acoustic telemetry device may be configured to support logging while drilling and/or full-duplex communication.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.