Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Los Alamos National Security, LLC

Triad National Security, LLC

James A Ten Cate

Robert A Guyer

Paul Allan Johnson

Cung Khac Vu

Pierre-Yves Le Bas

Kurt Nihei

Carène S Larmat

Christopher Hugh Skelt

Denis P Schmitt

Harvey Edwin Goodman

Marcel Remillieux

Timothy James Ulrich, Ii

James E Coons

Rodney F Deschamps

Marcie Alberta Stuber Geesey

Daniel M Kalb

Luke Berny Beardslee

Kurt T Nihei

Eric Y Raby

Caréne S Larmat

C Skelt

Cung Vu

Paul A Johnson

Robert Guyer

Christopher Skelt

A system for detecting cracks in an underwater structure can include an acoustic signal transmitter configured to be disposed proximate to, but without physically contacting, the underwater structure, where the acoustic signal transmitter is configured to emit acoustic signals. The system can also include an acoustic field receiver configured to be disposed proximate to, but without physically contacting, the underwater structure, where the acoustic field receiver is configured to receive resulting acoustic fields. The system can further include a controller that is configured to receive the resulting acoustic fields from the acoustic field receiver. The controller can also be configured to analyze the resulting acoustic fields signal. The controller can further be configured to detect, based on analyzing the resulting acoustic fields, a crack in the underwater structure.

Detecting surface cracks using acoustic signals

Strain information may define strain of a material to stress. The strain of the material may be decomposed into classical strain, hysteretic strain, and residual strain. The classical strain, the hysteretic strain, and the residual strain may be used to facilitate modeling of the material. For example, the classical strain, the hysteretic strain, and the residual strain of a rock may be used to facilitate modeling of a subsurface region that includes the rock such as a reservoir simulation to predict hydrocarbon recovery.

Strain decomposition method

An acoustic resonator device includes a fluid chamber with a carrier surface and a reflector surface. The fluid chamber is filled with a volume of a fluid that includes a phase-separate material such as algae. The carrier surface is coupled to a transducer, which may be a lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducer. The transducer, when supplied with electricity, emits an acoustic wave-based output of an output frequency (e.g., ultrasound). A sensor may be used to track one or more eigenfrequencies of the volume of fluid, the acoustic resonator device, or some combination thereof. A controller may receive tracking data from the sensor and control the voltage source, the transducer, or some combination thereof to ensure that the output frequency matches one of the tracked eigenfrequencies, thereby maximizing excitation of the fluid to improve efficiency of mixing, stimulation, and separation of materials from fluid (e.g., for algal biocrude production).

Acoustic manipulation of fluids based on eigenfrequency

A system and method for investigating rock formations outside a borehole are provided. The method includes generating a first compressional acoustic wave at a first frequency by a first acoustic source; and generating a second compressional acoustic wave at a second frequency by a second acoustic source. The first and the second acoustic sources are arranged within a localized area of the borehole. The first and the second acoustic waves intersect in an intersection volume outside the borehole. The method further includes receiving a third shear acoustic wave at a third frequency, the third shear acoustic wave returning to the borehole due to a non-linear mixing process in a non-linear mixing zone within the intersection volume at a receiver arranged in the borehole. The third frequency is equal to a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency.

System and method for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation using compressional acoustic sources

A system and method of characterizing properties of a medium from a non-linear interaction are include generating, by first and second acoustic sources disposed on a surface of the medium on a first line, first and second acoustic waves. The first and second acoustic sources are controllable such that trajectories of the first and second acoustic waves intersect in a mixing zone within the medium. The method further includes receiving, by a receiver positioned in a plane containing the first and second acoustic sources, a third acoustic wave generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first and second acoustic waves in the mixing zone; and creating a first two-dimensional image of non-linear properties or a first ratio of compressional velocity and shear velocity, or both, of the medium in a first plane generally perpendicular to the surface and containing the first line, based on the received third acoustic wave.

System and method for generating 3D images of non-linear properties of rock formation using surface seismic or surface to borehole seismic or both

A method and system includes generating a first coded acoustic signal including pulses each having a modulated signal at a central frequency; and a second coded acoustic signal each pulse of which includes a modulated signal a central frequency of which is a fraction d of the central frequency of the modulated signal for the corresponding pulse in the first plurality of pulses. A receiver detects a third signal generated by a non-linear mixing process in the mixing zone and the signal is processed to extract the third signal to obtain an emulated micro-seismic event signal occurring at the mixing zone; and to characterize properties of the medium or creating a 3D image of the properties of the medium, or both, based on the emulated micro-seismic event signal.

System and method for generating micro-seismic events and characterizing properties of a medium with non-linear acoustic interactions

A system for investigating non-linear properties of a rock formation around a borehole is provided. The system includes a first sub-system configured to perform data acquisition, control and recording of data; a second subsystem in communication with the first sub-system and configured to perform non-linearity and velocity preliminary imaging; a third subsystem in communication with the first subsystem and configured to emit controlled acoustic broadcasts and receive acoustic energy; a fourth subsystem in communication with the first subsystem and the third subsystem and configured to generate a source signal directed towards the rock formation; and a fifth subsystem in communication with the third subsystem and the fourth subsystem and configured to perform detection of signals representative of the non-linear properties of the rock formation.

Integrated system for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation

A method of interrogating a formation includes generating a conical acoustic signal, at a first frequency&#x2014;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.

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

A system and a method for generating a three-dimensional image of a rock formation, compressional velocity VP, shear velocity VS and velocity ratio VP/VS of a rock formation are provided. A first acoustic signal includes a first plurality of pulses. A second acoustic signal from a second source includes a second plurality of pulses. A detected signal returning to the borehole includes a signal generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first and second acoustic signals in a non-linear mixing zone within an intersection volume. The received signal is processed to extract the signal over noise and/or signals resulting from linear interaction and the three dimensional image of is generated.

System and method for investigating sub-surface features and 3D imaging of non-linear property, compressional velocity VP, shear velocity VS and velocity ratio VP/VS of a rock formation

A system and a method includes generating a first signal at a first frequency; and a second signal at a second frequency. Respective sources are positioned within the borehole and controllable such that the signals intersect in an intersection volume outside the borehole. A receiver detects a difference signal returning to the borehole generated by a non-linear mixing process within the intersection volume, and records the detected signal and stores the detected signal in a storage device and records measurement parameters including a position of the first acoustic source, a position of the second acoustic source, a position of the receiver, elevation angle and azimuth angle of the first acoustic signal and elevation angle and azimuth angle of the second acoustic signal.

Data acquisition and processing system and method for investigating sub-surface features of a rock formation

A system and a method for investigating rock formations includes generating, by a first acoustic source, a first acoustic signal comprising a first plurality of pulses, each pulse including a first modulated signal at a central frequency; and generating, by a second acoustic source, a second acoustic signal comprising a second plurality of pulses. A receiver arranged within the borehole receives a detected signal including a signal being generated by a non-linear mixing process from the first-and-second acoustic signal in a non-linear mixing zone within the intersection volume. The method also includes-processing the received signal to extract the signal generated by the non-linear mixing process over noise or over signals generated by a linear interaction process, or both.

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

A compact array of transducers is employed as a downhole instrument for acoustic investigation of the surrounding rock formation. The array is operable to generate simultaneously a first acoustic beam signal at a first frequency and a second acoustic beam signal at a second frequency different than the first frequency. These two signals can be oriented through an azimuthal rotation of the array and an inclination rotation using control of the relative phases of the signals from the transmitter elements or electromechanical linkage. Due to the non-linearity of the formation, the first and the second acoustic beam signal mix into the rock formation where they combine into a collimated third signal that propagates in the formation along the same direction than the first and second signals and has a frequency equal to the difference of the first and the second acoustic signals. The third signal is received either within the same borehole, after reflection, or another borehole, after transmission, and analyzed to determine information about rock formation. Recording of the third signal generated along several azimuthal and inclination directions also provides 3D images of the formation, information about 3D distribution of rock formation and fluid properties and an indication of the dynamic acoustic non-linearity of the formation.

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Los Alamos, NM, United States of America

James A Ten Cate