System and method for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation with acoustic sources generating conical broadcast signals

US9110178B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC · US
• CHEVRON U.S.A. INC. · US

Inventors

• Cung Vu · Houston, US
• Christopher Skelt · Houston, US
• Kurt Nihei · Oakland, US
• Paul A. Johnson · Santa Fe, US
• Robert Guyer · Reno, US
• James A. Ten Cate · Los Alamos, US
• Pierre-Yves Le Bas · Los Alamos, US
• Carène S. Larmat · Los Alamos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 9, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 18, 2015
• Expiry date: May 2, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G10K15/02
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of interrogating a formation includes generating a conical acoustic signal, at a first frequency—a second conical acoustic signal at a second frequency each in the between approximately 500 Hz and 500 kHz such that the signals intersect in a desired intersection volume outside the borehole. The method further includes receiving, a difference signal returning to the borehole resulting from a non-linear mixing of the signals in a mixing zone within the intersection volume.