| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 181102000 | Well logging | 23 |
| 20090101432 | MEASUREMENT OF SOUND SPEED OF DOWNHOLE FLUID BY HELMHOLTZ RESONATOR - A downhole logging tool is equipped with a modified Helmholtz resonator for facilitating acoustic formation evaluation and reservoir characterization. The resonator permits calculation of sound speed and viscosity of the fluid in the resonator cavity. The presence of gas bubbles in the fluid may also be detected. The modified Helmholtz resonator includes at least two openings so that fluid can flow through the resonator cavity. Because fluid can flow through the resonator cavity, local fluid can be measured under local conditions, e.g., downhole temperature, pressure, and gas influx from formations. Further, the modified Helmholtz resonator utilizes an acoustic signal at or near the frequency of interest for at least some acoustic logging tools. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090107757 | Acoustic Isolator - An acoustic isolator for use with downhole subterranean exploration and production operations, where the operations transmit acoustic signals into a subterranean formation. The acoustic isolator comprises a series of threaded fittings and is disposed on a downhole tool between a transmitter and a receiver. The acoustic isolator substantially attenuates the acoustic signal along the body and minimizes its effect on the receiver. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090183941 | ENCLOSURES FOR CONTAINING TRANSDUCERS AND ELECTRONICS ON A DOWNHOLE TOOL - A measurement package for disposal on an apparatus such as a downhole tool or a tool like device. The measurement package including an enclosure, a first acoustic transducer housed within the enclosure, a second acoustic transducer housed within the enclosure and electronics housed within the enclosure that is in communication with the first and second transducers. Further, an acoustic transmitter and receivers can be disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure. The enclosure can contain attenuative material surrounding the transmitter and receivers, and electronics for controlling the transmitter and receivers and communicating with the downhole tool. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090321174 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPLOYING A PLURALITY OF SEISMIC DEVICES INTO A BOREHOLE AND METHOD THEREOF - Deploying systems and methods for deploying a plurality of seismic devices into a borehole comprising a cable including a plurality of inter-connected cable segments and ellipsoid seismic units with at least two rows of offset seismic protrusions to establish at least three points of contact between the seismic units and adjacent cylindrical surface of a borehole casing. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20130313037 | BROADBAND FLEX JOINT ISOLATOR FOR ACOUSTIC TOOLS - An acoustic attenuator assembly for an acoustic tool for performing acoustic investigation of a subterranean formation is disclosed. The acoustic attenuator assembly includes a first end portion ( | 11-28-2013 |
| 20150096827 | COMPRESSIONAL VELOCITY CORRECTION APPARATUS, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS - In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to measure compressional wave velocities in a geological formation surrounding a first well, to provide measured compressional wave velocity data, and to subsequently determine corrected compressional wave velocities for the first well. These corrected compressional wave velocities for the first well may be determined using a combination of the measured compressional wave velocity data and corrected compressional wave velocity data associated with one or more second wells. Predicted pore pressure data for the first well may be subsequently generated, using the corrected compressional wave velocities for the first well. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150136516 | ACOUSTIC RECEIVER ASSEMBLY FOR DOWNHOLE TOOLS - The disclosure addresses acoustic receivers including an acoustic isolator structure, and an acoustic logging tool which incorporates the acoustic receiver. The acoustic receiver isolation structure is configured to minimize acoustic transmissions which could otherwise adversely affect acoustical measurements being made by an acoustic receiver. The described acoustic receiver includes a plurality of longitudinally arranged mass members coupled to a central supporting structure, in a configuration to reduce acoustic transmissions in at least selected frequency ranges. | 05-21-2015 |
| 181103000 | Programmed or timer-controlled | 1 |
| 20080236935 | DETERMINATION OF DOWNHOLE PRESSURE WHILE PUMPING - Tubewaves are used to transmit an indication of the depth at which a condition is detected in a well. In particular, the depth is calculated based on the difference in arrival time at the surface of a first tubewave which propagates directly upward in the borehole and a second tubewave which initially travels downward and is then reflected upward. The tubewaves may be generated by a canister designed to implode at a certain pressure. After being introduced into the flowline at an above ground inlet, the canister is carried downhole by gravity and the fluid being pumped. When the canister reaches a depth at which its pressure tolerance is exceeded, it implodes and generates the tubewaves. An analyzer at the surface detects the tubewaves with a hydrophone array and generates a pressure versus depth profile of the well, i.e., one data point for each implosion. Canisters may be acoustically tagged by controlling volume and orifice size in order to generate tubewaves having particular frequency and amplitude characteristics. Canisters may also be configured to produce multiple implosions, e.g., one implosion at each of a selection of different pressures. Canisters may also be equipped with triggering and arming mechanisms, and may generate tubewaves in response to conditions other than a particular pressure. | 10-02-2008 |
| 181105000 | Bore hole or casing condition | 4 |
| 20090114472 | MEASURING STANDOFF AND BOREHOLE GEOMETRY - Refracted ultrasonic waves are utilized to calculate tool standoff. An ultrasonic transmitter sends a wave toward (and into) the borehole wall at a critical incidence angle for refracted waves. The refracted wave travels along the borehole wall and continuously radiates energy back into the borehole at the critical angle. The refracted wave is detected by a receiver, and the travel time of the refracted acoustic wave from transmitter to receiver is measured and used to calculate standoff. By making repeated measurements at various azimuths (for instance, as the tool rotates), one or more caliper measurements can be made. The caliper measurements can be combined to yield two-dimensional geometry of the borehole. Measurements made at different azimuths and depths yield three-dimensional borehole geometry. Arrays of transmitter-receiver pairs can be used to obviate the need for varying azimuth. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20110284314 | Systems and Methods for Acoustically Measuring Bulk Density - Formation density is calculated from acoustic logging measurements. This technique does not require a radioactive source and in fact it may offer better precision particularly in rugose boreholes. In at least some embodiments, the technique exploits an observed relationship between a transmission coefficient T(p | 11-24-2011 |
| 20140262594 | PASSIVE ACOUSTIC RESONATOR FOR FIBER OPTIC CABLE TUBING - A passive acoustic system and a method of utilizing the passive acoustic system in a subsurface borehole are discussed. The method includes disposing the passive acoustic system in the borehole, the passive acoustic system including at least one passive acoustic resonator, and monitoring a frequency of an acoustic signal at the at least one passive acoustic resonator. The passive acoustic system includes a protective tubing, a fiber optic cable disposed within the protective tubing, a fluid layer between the fiber optic cable and the protective tubing, and at least one passive acoustic resonator, the at least one passive acoustic resonator representing an area within the protective tubing having a known geometry, wherein the fluid layer affects a frequency of an acoustic signal obtained from the at least one passive acoustic resonator. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20160010409 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A MOTORLESS SEISMIC TOOL | 01-14-2016 |
| 181106000 | Seismic wave generation | 11 |
| 20090000859 | Method and Apparatus for Phased Array Acoustic Well Logging - A downhole acoustic logging tool uses a phased-array of transmitters and/or receivers to improve the signal level of compressional waves generated by the transmitters and propagating in the formation. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090159361 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ACOUSTIC ENERGY IN A BOREHOLE - A system, method and device may be used to monitor acoustic energy in a borehole. Electromagnetic energy is used to energize a resonant circuit incorporating a sensor. The sensor modulates the electromagnetic energy in accordance with received acoustic energy and transmits the modulated energy so that it may be received and processed in order to obtain the desired measurements. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090205899 | Acoustic Imaging Away From the Borehole Using a Low-Frequency Quadrupole Excitation - Acoustic measurements made in a borehole using a multipole source are used for imaging a near-borehole geological formation structure and determination of its orientation. The signal to noise ratio (as defined by the ratio of the signal radiated into the formation to the axially propagating signal) depends upon the type of source (force or volume) and its position in the borehole (on the tool, in the fluid or on the borehole wall). | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090242317 | EXPANDABLE DOWNHOLE TOOL - A downhole tool, having a central axis defined, may selectively include a sensor section including one or more arms connected to the tool body with an open/close mechanism. The open/close mechanism is configured to move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the tool body. The tool also includes at least one sensor attached to the arm, and the tool may include at least one transmitter section on the tool. The transmitter is configured to transmit acoustic energy to a formation. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090283355 | SEISMIC WAVE GENERATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CASED WELLS - A vibration source ( | 11-19-2009 |
| 20110079460 | SEISMIC GUN ASSEMBLY FOR SHOOTING INTO A BORE HOLE - A seismic gun assembly comprising a barrel and guide tube assembly for delivering a projectile to the bottom of a bore hole with a non-line-of-sight section. The guide tube being either a large diameter guide tube or a tight fitted guide tube. The large diameter guide tube allowing the projectile to perform shallow angle bounces to reach the bottom of a non-line-of-sight bore hole. The tight fitted guide tube allows the projectile to ride the inner wall of the guide tube to reach the bottom of a non-line-of-sight bore hole. The projectile comprises an outer jacket and a frangible core. The seismic gun barrel assembly additionally comprises a fluid exclusion puck for preventing fluids from entering the guide tube, a suppressing collar for suppressing seismic noise, and a method for modulating recoil. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110079461 | SEISMIC SURVEY METHOD - A method of conducting a seismic survey comprising using at least one seismic source operable to emit an acoustic signal comprises: —providing a first receiver line extending in a first direction across a region of the ground to be surveyed; —locating at least one seismic receiver at a point on the first receiver line, the seismic i receiver(s) being adapted to record reflected acoustic signals emitted by the seismic source(s); —providing a first pre-determined shot line having a plurality of shot points along its length, extending in a second direction and along which the seismic source(s) is movable; —operating the or one of the seismic source(s) to emit an acoustic signal at a first shot point on the pre-determined shot line, the reflection of the acoustic signal being recorded by the or one of the seismic receiver(s); and —operating the or one of the seismic source(s) to emit another acoustic signal at a second shot point on the pre-determined shot line, the reflection of the another acoustic signal being recorded by the or one of the seismic receiver(s); characterised in that at least one of the first receiver line and the first pre-determined shot line passes through or at least partially along a generally horizontal borehole extending through the region of the ground to be surveyed and the first pre-determined shot line transects the first receiver line. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20120006613 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETERMINATION OF GAS-KICK PARAMETRS AND PREVENTION OF WELL EXPLOSION - Acoustics-based methods and devices to characterize a gas kick during drilling an oil, gas, or gas condensate well are described. A pressure wave may be generated by abruptly changing the drilling mud pressure in the well, for example at the well head. The pressure wave is allowed to travel down the well, reflect from the well bottom and reach the well head again. Pressure is monitored during this process and a pressure peak is identified. The gas kick is characterized using the width of the pressure peak and time elapsed from the onset of pressure change and appearance of the peak. Negative pressure wave is preferred and may be generated by opening of a fast-acting valve located in the outlet pathway of the drilling mud fluid. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120145474 | Seismic gun assembly for shooting into a bore hole - A seismic gun system for surveying underground geological topology, the seismic gun system comprising a projectile, a seismic gun body, a barrel, and a guide tube. The projectile includes an outer tubular jacket and a frangible material in its interior. A exterior surface of the tubular jacket is textured to regulate tubular jacket disruption. The barrel includes a breach end and a muzzle end. The breach end is connectable to the seismic gun body for receiving the projectile into said barrel and said muzzle end directing the projectile towards the bottom of a bore hole. The guide tube has an upper end and a terminal end. The upper end of the guide tube is connectable to the muzzle end of the barrel. The guide tube has walls to direct the projectile towards the bottom of the bore hole when aimed therein. | 06-14-2012 |
| 20130277139 | Seismic Energy Sources and Methods of Use - The present disclosure provides embodiments seismic energy sources configured to generate enhanced shear wave energy in order to more accurately determine the distribution and orientation of fractures in subterranean formations. At least one seismic energy source includes an elongate rod having a first end and a second end, a detonator coupled to the first end, and a bull plug coupled to the second end. An explosive is helically-wrapped about the elongate rod continuously from the first end to the second end and configured to detonate such that a time-delayed detonation is achieved which induces increased shear wave energy in the surrounding formations. | 10-24-2013 |
| 20150083518 | ACOUSTIC SOURCE APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to rotate a rotatable driving member having at least one driving lobe, and to periodically contact at least one cam on a unitary driven member with the at least one driving lobe during rotation of the rotatable driving member, to set the driven member in motion. This motion can be used to launch an acoustic wave along an axis substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the driving member, where the driving member disposed completely within the driven member. The signature of the acoustic wave can be at least partially determined by the profile of the cam and the rotation rate of the driving member. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 03-26-2015 |
