Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof
US7839718B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 2, 2008 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 2, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/46
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In some aspects of the invention, a device, positioned within a well bore, configured to generate and direct an acoustic beam into a rock formation around a borehole is disclosed. The device comprises a source configured to generate a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency; a transducer configured to receive the generated first and the second signals and produce acoustic waves at the first frequency and the second frequency; and a non-linear material, coupled to the transducer, configured to generate a collimated beam with a frequency equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency by a non-linear mixing process, wherein the non-linear material includes one or more of a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.