Device and method for generating a beam of acoustic energy from a borehole, and applications thereof
US8547790B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2010 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/46
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and transmitting the collimated beam through a diverging acoustic lens to compensate for a refractive effect caused by the curvature of the borehole.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.