Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Baker Hughes Corporation

Western Atlas International, Inc.

Paul G Junghans

Michael Linley Fripp

Chung Lung Chang

Batakrishna Mandal

Robert A Lester

Borislav J Tchakarov

Gary Wayne Kainer

Mathew G Schmidt

James C Hunziker

Chen Li

Abbas Arian

Arthur Cheng

John F Priest

Farhat Shaikh

Muralidhar Seshadri

Randall Bennett Jones

James E Brewer

Gregory J Wilkinson

Jean G Saint Germain

Jose Rene Casarsa

Donald J Hilliker

Ron Parsley

A bender bar transducer having stacked encapsulated actuators provides improved acoustic power over a wider frequency range, low applied voltage requirements and consistent part-to-part performance.

Bender bar transducer having stacked encapsulated actuators

An acoustic transducer, such as a bender bar, having ferroelectric actuation elements that are designed to optimize a predetermined deflection mode shape. The acoustic transducers may include one or more rounded modally shaped actuation elements or weighted actuation elements. Modal shaping of the actuation elements allows for specific targeting of modes which most efficiently radiate acoustic energy.

Bender bar modal shaping

An acoustic tool for evaluating a geologic formation includes a housing member disposed between transmitter and receiver sections of the acoustic tool. The housing member defines a change in direction in an acoustic path extending therethrough such that acoustic signals traveling through the housing member are delayed and disrupted. The delay and disruption may isolate the acoustic signals traveling through the housing member from acoustic signals traveling through the geologic formation. Thus, the acoustic tool may facilitate identification and evaluation of acoustic signals traveling through the geologic formation.

Structural element for sonic tools and acoustic isolators

The disclosure addresses multiple embodiments of an acoustic isolator, and an acoustic logging tool which incorporates the acoustic isolator. The acoustic isolator is configured to minimize acoustic transmissions which could otherwise adversely affect acoustical measurements being made by an acoustic receiver. The described acoustic isolators include 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.

Acoustic isolator for downhole tools

Roller standoff assemblies and devices facilitate disposal of an interior tubular member within an exterior tubular member. Roller standoff devices include a roller cage and at least one roller supported by the roller cage to contact and roll upon the exterior tubular member.

Roller standoff assemblies

An apparatus and method for protecting temperature sensitive components from the extreme temperatures a hydrocarbon producing wellbore. The apparatus comprises an inner housing encompassed by an exterior housing, where a plenum is formed between the two housings. A vacuum is formed within the plenum. The temperature sensitive components are stored within the inner housing. An aerogel composition is placed on the outer surface of the inner housing thereby providing added insulation for protecting the temperature sensitive component. Optionally the aerogel composition can be added to the inner surface of the outer housing. Yet further optionally, a reflective foil may be disposed over the aerogel composition of the inner housing.

Vacuum insulated dewar flask

A universal joint between adjacent, electrically connected instrument housings for downhole well operations allow the connected housings to bend longitudinally as required to traverse an arced section of a well bore but does not permit relative elongation or twisting about the longitudinal axis of the housings. In one embodiment, a fluid impermeable open passage space at atmospheric pressure surrounds electrical signal carriers linking the instrument circuitry within the two housings. The passage is constructed as a high-pressure flexible bellows or as a braided or spiral wound high-pressure fluid hose. In another embodiment, a fluid impermeable sheath surrounds the signal carriers and encapsulates the signal carriers by a resilient solid. The articulation structure comprises a Cardan-type of universal joint wherein two fingers project longitudinally from the end of each of the housings. The fingers are meshed and pivotally joined to respective spindles projecting radially from the open center of a ring spyder. The protective bellows, hose or resilient compound filled sheath is secured at opposite ends to bore plugs in the respective instrument housings. Between the instrument housings, the hose, bellows or filled sheath passes through the open center of the spyder ring.

Flexible joint for well logging instruments

A dipole acoustic well logging instrument including an acoustic transmitter. Receiver sections are disposed at axially spaced apart locations from the acoustic transmitter. Each receiver section includes an outer shoulder at each end adapted to be placed in acoustically isolated contact with an internal shoulder of a connector coupling when the instrument is in tension. The outer shoulders have an acoustically isolating material disposed on their surfaces. The receiver sections include an inner shoulder at each end adapted to be placed in direct contact with an external shoulder of the connector coupling when the instrument is in compression. The instrument includes one connector couplings disposed at each end of each receiver section to couple the receiver sections to each other and to the remainder of the instrument. At least one receiver element is disposed in a passage formed into each of the receiver sections. In one embodiment of the invention, the receiver element can be a bimorph-type dipole acoustic sensor. In another embodiment, the receiver element can be formed from a plurality of radially spaced apart piezoelectric elements.

Acoustic dipole well logging instrument

The signal-to-noise ratio of televiewer signals from a rotary sidewall acoustic-beam scanner is improved by replacing the volume of borehole drill fluid that lies in the path of the acoustic beam with a solid medium characterized by a lower coefficient of attenuation than that of the drill fluid.

Borehole fluid replacement means and method

A logging-tool assembly for generating both flexural wavefields and compressional wavefields in the sidewall formations encountered by a borehole. The assembly consists of a sonde constructed of a plurality of segments that are axially rotatable with respect to each other. Each one of two of the segments includes a compartment in which is mounted a dipole bender bar transmitting transducer. Two additional segments each contain one or more binaurally sensitive receiver transducers. Monopole transmitting and receiving transducers are also included in the respective appropriate segments. An acoustic isolator of novel construction acoustically separates the transmitting transducers from the receiving transducers.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Paul G Junghans