System and method for sonic wave measurements using an acoustic beam source.
Abstract
A method and system for investigating structure near a borehole are described herein. The method includes generating an acoustic beam by an acoustic source; directing at one or more azimuthal angles the acoustic beam towards a selected location in a vicinity of a borehole; receiving at one or more receivers an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal originating from a reflection or a refraction of the acoustic wave by a material at the selected location; and analyzing the received acoustic signal to characterize features of the material around the borehole.

Term
6.9 yearsleft in the term
Expires 21 August 2033.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Today
- Expires
72 claims: 72 independent, 0 dependent
- 1CLAIMS REIVINDICACIONES IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO tHE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL MEXICAN INSTITUTE tHE THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY Habiéndose descrito la invención como antecede, se reclama como propiedad lo contenido en las siguientes reivindicaciones:Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. Un método para investigar la unión de cemento o la estructura de una formación rocosa cerca de un pozo, caracterizado porque comprende: one. A method of investigating the cement bond or structure of a rock formation near a well, characterized in that it comprises: generar una haz acústico colimado mediante una fuente de haz acústico, el haz acústico colimado que tiene una frecuencia en el intervalo de frecuencia entre aproximadamente 15 kHz y 120 kHz;generating a collimated acoustic beam by an acoustic beam source, the collimated acoustic beam having a frequency in the frequency range between about 15 kHz and 120 kHz;directing at one or more azimuth angles and at one or more inclination angles the collimated sound beam to a selected location in the vicinity of a well;dirigir en uno o más ángulos acimutales y en uno o más ángulos de inclinación el haz acústico colimado hacia una ubicación seleccionada en una vecindad de un pozo;receiving, in an acoustic detector comprising a two-dimensional array of receiver elements, an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal originating from a reflection, refraction, or surface wave propagation, or any combination thereof, of the beam acoustic collimated by a material at the selected location in an azimuth angular range, each receiver element in the two-dimensional array of receiver elements that is configured to receive a portion of the acoustic signal corresponding to a portion of the azimuth angular range, the two-dimensional array of receiver elements recibir, en un detector acústico que comprende un arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores, una señal acústica, la señal acústica que se origina a partir de una reflexión, una refracción, o una propagación de onda superficial, o cualquier combinación de las mismas, del haz acústico colimado mediante un material en la ubicación seleccionada en un intervalo angular acimutal, cada elemento receptor en el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores que se configura para recibir una porción de la señal acústica que corresponde a una porción del intervalo angular acimutal, el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO Dt INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY that is placed on a surface of a cylindrical member that separates to provide a space between the nearby receiving elements, the two-dimensional array of receiving elements comprising a piezoelectric film;and analyze the acoustic signal received to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well. INSTITUTO MEXICANO Dt LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL que se coloca en una superficie de un miembro cilindrico que se separa para proporcionar un espacio entre los elementos receptores cercanos, el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores que comprende una película piezoeléctrica;y analizar la señal acústica recibida para caracterizar las características del material alrededor del pozo.
- 2The method according to claim 2. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la generación del haz acústico colimado comprende transmitir una primera onda acústica y una segunda onda acústica en un medio acústicamente no lineal para producir el haz acústico colimado mediante un proceso mezclador no lineal, en donde el haz acústico colimado se propaga a través del medio no lineal en una misma dirección como una dirección inicial de la primera y segunda onda acústica y tiene una frecuencia igual a una diferencia entre una frecuencia de la primera onda acústica y una frecuencia de la segunda onda acústica. 1, characterized in that the generation of the collimated acoustic beam comprises transmitting a first acoustic wave and a second acoustic wave in an acoustically non-linear medium to produce the collimated acoustic beam by means of a non-linear mixing process, where the collimated acoustic beam propagates through the non-linear medium in the same direction as an initial direction of the first and second acoustic waves and has a frequency equal to a difference between a frequency of the first acoustic wave and a frequency of the second acoustic wave.
- 3The method according to claim 3. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 2, caracterizado porque el medio no lineal incluye uno o más de una mezcla de líquidos, un sólido, un material granular, microesferas incrustadas, o una emulsión. 2, characterized in that the non-linear medium includes one or more than a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.
- 4El método de conformidad con la reivindicación Four. The method according to claim 1, caracterizado porque la generación del haz acústico colimado comprende generar el haz acústico colimado 1, characterized in that the generation of the collimated acoustic beam comprises generating the collimated acoustic beam IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL utilizando una pluralidad arreglo. MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY using a plural arrangement. de transductores arreglados en un of transducers arranged in a
- 5The method according to claim 5. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la dirección del haz acústico colimado comprende dirigir el haz acústico colimado utilizando un dispositivo de guía direccionador. 1, characterized in that the direction of the collimated acoustic beam comprises directing the collimated acoustic beam using a targeting guide device.
- 6The method according to claim 6. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 5, caracterizado porque la dirección del haz acústico colimado comprende utilizar un dispositivo de enfoque que incluye un reflector acústico, una lente acústica o ambos. 5, characterized in that the direction of the collimated acoustic beam comprises using a focusing device that includes an acoustic reflector, an acoustic lens, or both.
- 7The method according to claim 7. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 2, caracterizado porque comprende además codificar el haz acústico colimado con un código que varía en el tiempo al introducir un componente que varía en el tiempo que incluye uno o más de un chirrido o barrido de frecuencia a una de la primera y la segunda señal acústica. 2, characterized in that it further comprises encoding the collimated acoustic beam with a time-varying code by introducing a time-varying component that includes one or more of a chirp or frequency sweep to one of the first and second acoustic signals. .
- 8The method according to claim 8. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 7, caracterizado porque los componentes que varían en el tiempo comprenden una variación en amplitud, frecuencia o fase, o cualquier combinación de las mismas. 7, characterized in that the components that vary in time comprise a variation in amplitude, frequency or phase, or any combination thereof.
- 9The method according to claim 9. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 8, caracterizado porque los componentes que varían en el tiempo comprenden una variación en amplitud, frecuencia o fase, o cualquier combinación de las mismas. 8, characterized in that the components that vary in time comprise a variation in amplitude, frequency or phase, or any combination thereof. IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO MEXICAN INSTITUTE DE LA PROPIEDAD Oto/ΛϋβΓ OF THE PROPERTY Oto / ΛϋβΓ INDUSTRIAL - INDUSTRIAL -
- 10The method according to claim 10. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque el análisis comprende analizar la señal acústica recibida después de que se ha reflejado o retrodispersado a partir de las carencias de homogeneidades en la formación rocosa o materiales que circundan el pozo, o ambos para generar una imagen que proporciona la información sobre la unión de cementación, varias fracturadas, u otros defectos. 1, characterized in that the analysis comprises analyzing the acoustic signal received after it has been reflected or backscattered from the lack of homogeneities in the rock formation or materials surrounding the well, or both to generate an image that provides information on the cement bonding, various fractures, or other defects.
- 11El método de conformidad con la reivindicación eleven. The method according to claim 1, caracterizado porque comprende además mover la fuente acústica y el detector acústico como un todo a lo largo de un eje de pozo. 1, characterized in that it further comprises moving the acoustic source and the acoustic detector as a whole along a shaft axis.
- 12The method according to claim 12. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además mover el detector acústico de forma independiente de la fuente acústica a lo largo del eje de pozo. 1, characterized in that it further comprises moving the acoustic detector independently of the acoustic source along the shaft axis.
- 13The method according to claim 13 . El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además seleccionar un tamaño de los elementos receptores para lograr una resolución angular acimutal deseada de la señal acústica recibida entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 1, characterized in that it further comprises selecting a size of the receiving elements to achieve a desired azimuth angular resolution of the received acoustic signal between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.
- 14The method according to claim 14. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además seleccionar de forma electrónica una pluralidad de elementos receptores en el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores para recibir la 1, characterized in that it further comprises electronically selecting a plurality of receiving elements in the two-dimensional array of receiving elements to receive the IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MtXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL acoustic signal without rotating the two-dimensional array of receiving elements. INSTITUTO MtXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL señal acústica sin girar el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores.
- 15El método de conformidad con la reivindicación fifteen. The method according to claim 1, caracterizado porque la película piezoeléctrica comprende una película de difluoruro de polivinilideno (PVDF). 1, characterized in that the piezoelectric film comprises a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) film.
- 16The method according to claim 16. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además colocar la fuente acústica y el detector acústico dentro de un alojamiento y colocar el alojamiento dentro de un pozo. 1, characterized in that it further comprises placing the acoustic source and the acoustic detector within a housing and placing the housing within a well.
- 17The method according to claim 17. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además mover la fuente acústica de forma independiente del detector acústico. 1, characterized in that it further comprises moving the acoustic source independently of the acoustic detector.
- 18The method according to claim 18. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además girar la fuente acústica, el detector acústico o ambos de forma acimutal alrededor de un eje de pozo. 1, characterized in that it further comprises rotating the acoustic source, the acoustic detector, or both azimuthically about a shaft axis.
- 19The method according to claim 19. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización de las características del material alrededor del pozo comprende detectar una fractura en una sarta de cemento del pozo, un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y la formación rocosa, o un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y una sarta de metal del pozo, o cualquier combinación de los mismos con una resolución acimutal entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 1, characterized in that characterizing the material characteristics around the well includes detecting a fracture in a cement string from the well, a gap between the cement string and the rock formation, or a gap between the cement string and a borehole metal, or any combination thereof with an azimuth resolution between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 15 degrees. IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
- 20El método de conformidad con la reivindicación twenty. The method according to claim 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización de las características del material alrededor del pozo comprende formar imágenes de capas del yacimiento, estratigrafía, fracturas o fallas, o cualquier combinación de las mismas con una resolución acimutal entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 1, characterized in that characterizing the material characteristics around the well comprises imaging the reservoir layers, stratigraphy, fractures or faults, or any combination thereof with azimuth resolution between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.
- 21El método de conformidad con la reivindicación twenty-one. The method according to claim 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización de las características del material alrededor del pozo comprende medir la velocidad compresional, velocidad de cizallamiento de la formación rocosa, o ambas con determinación del acimut. 1, characterized in that the characterization of the characteristics of the material around the well comprises measuring the compressional speed, the shear rate of the rock formation, or both with determination of the azimuth.
- 22The method according to claim 22. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 21, caracterizado porque la caracterización de las características del material alrededor del pozo comprende detectar heterogeneidades detrás de las tuberías o canalizaciones. 21, characterized in that the characterization of the characteristics of the material around the well comprises detecting heterogeneities behind the pipes or pipes.
- 232. 3. The method according to claim 23. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización comprende realizar análisis 3D de propiedades geomecánicas alrededor de pozos a partir del análisis de ondas de refracción y ondas Lamb para mejorar la caracterización de la zona de invasión y cualquier daño del pozo. 1, characterized in that the characterization includes performing 3D analyzes of geomechanical properties around wells from the analysis of refraction waves and Lamb waves to improve the characterization of the invasion zone and any damage to the well.
- 24The method according to claim 24. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización comprende realizar formación de imágenes 3D de la velocidad de la formación rocosa cerca del pozo utilizando análisis de refracción. 1, characterized in that the characterization comprises performing 3D imaging of the velocity of the rock formation near the well using refraction analysis.
- 25The method according to claim 25. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización comprende realizar mapeo 3D de fracturas a partir de reflexiones de llegadas lineales. 1, characterized in that the characterization involves performing 3D fracture mapping from linear arrival reflections.
- 26The method according to claim 26. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la caracterización comprende realizar mapeo 3D de permeabilidad y corteza de producción del yacimiento. 1, characterized in that the characterization comprises performing 3D mapping of permeability and crust of the reservoir's production.
- 27The method according to claim 27. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque la generación del haz acústico colimado comprende generar un haz acústico colimado con pulsos gaussianos de código de fase en el menor intervalo de frecuencia entre aproximadamente 10 kHz y aproximadamente 30 kHz para penetración más profunda en la formación rocosa. 1, characterized in that the generation of the collimated acoustic beam comprises generating a collimated acoustic beam with phase-code Gaussian pulses in the smallest frequency range between about 10 kHz and about 30 kHz for deeper penetration into the rock formation.
- 28The method according to claim 28. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque el análisis de la señal acústica recibida para caracterizar las características del material alrededor del pozo comprende realizar un análisis de tiempofrecuencia de la señal acústica recibida. 1, characterized in that the analysis of the received acoustic signal to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well comprises performing a time-frequency analysis of the received acoustic signal.
- 29The method according to claim 29. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 28, caracterizado porque comprende además determinar un 28, characterized in that it further comprises determining a IMPI IMPI INSTITUID MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY INDUSTRIAL contenido de frecuencia de la señal acústica recibida como una función de tiempo para determinar las frecuencias que son prominentes en ciertos tiempos durante la propagación. INDUSTRIAL frequency content of the acoustic signal received as a function of time to determine the frequencies that are prominent at certain times during propagation.
- 30The method according to claim 30. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 28, caracterizado porque la elaboración del análisis de tiempo-frecuencia comprende realizar un análisis de transformada corta de Fourier (STFT). 28, characterized in that the elaboration of the time-frequency analysis comprises performing a short Fourier transform (STFT) analysis.
- 31The method according to claim 31. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 28, caracterizado porque la elaboración del análisis de tiempo-frecuencia comprende determinar una presencia de un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y la formación rocosa, o un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y una sarta de metal de un pozo, o cualquier combinación de las mismas con una resolución acimutal entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 28, characterized in that the elaboration of the time-frequency analysis involves determining a presence of a space between the cement string and the rock formation, or a space between the cement string and a metal string of a well, or any combination of they have an azimuth resolution between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 15 degrees.
- 32The method according to claim 32. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 1, caracterizado porque comprende además dirigir el haz acústico colimado generado utilizando un dispositivo direccionador generalmente hacia abajo en una dirección de un eje de pozo por delante de una broca de perforación hacia una formación rocosa y detectar mediante el detector acústico una onda acústica reflejada a partir de una o más capas dentro de la formación rocosa. 1, characterized in that it further comprises directing the collimated acoustic beam generated using a targeting device generally downward in a direction from a well shaft ahead of a drill bit towards a rock formation and detecting by means of the acoustic detector an acoustic wave reflected from one or more layers within the rock formation.
- 33The method according to claim 33. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 32, caracterizado porque comprende además determinar una 32, characterized in that it further comprises determining a IMPI) lucTiTin'n υννίΓ.ω,. ' IMPI) lucTiTin’n υννίΓ.ω, . ’ INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PkOl'IEUAU INDUSTRIAL position of one or more layers based on the received reflected acoustic wave. INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PkOl’IEUAU INDUSTRIAL posición de una o más capas con base en la onda acústica recibida reflejada.
- 343. 4. The method according to claim 34. El método de conformidad con la reivindicación 32, caracterizado porque comprende además determinar una cantidad de inclinación de las una o más capas con base en una orientación del haz acústico colimado generado y la onda acústica recibida detectada. 32, characterized in that it further comprises determining an amount of inclination of the one or more layers based on an orientation of the generated collimated acoustic beam and the detected received acoustic wave.
- 35A system for investigating the cementation joint or rock formation structure near a well, characterized in that it comprises:35. Un sistema para investigar la unión de cementación o estructura de formación rocosa cerca de un pozo, caracterizado porque comprende: an acoustic source configured to generate a collimated acoustic beam and direct the collimated acoustic beam at one or more azimuth angles to a selected location in the vicinity of a well, the collimated acoustic beam having a frequency in the frequency range of approximately 15 kHz and 120 kHz;una fuente acústica configurada para generar un haz acústico colimado y dirigir el haz acústico colimado en uno o más ángulos acimutales hacia una ubicación seleccionada en una vecindad de un pozo, el haz acústico colimado que tiene una frecuencia en el intervalo de frecuencia entre aproximadamente 15 kHz y 120 kHz;an acoustic detector comprising a two-dimensional array of receiver elements, the two-dimensional array of receiver elements that is configured to receive an acoustic signal in an azimuth angular range, the acoustic signal that originates from a reflection, refraction, or propagation surface wave or a combination thereof, of the acoustic beam collimated by a material at the selected location, the two-dimensional array of receiving elements that are placed in a un detector acústico que comprende un arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores, el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores que se configura para recibir una señal acústica en un intervalo angular acimutal, la señal acústica que se origina a partir de una reflexión, una refracción, o una propagación de onda superficial o una combinación de las mismas, del haz acústico colimado mediante un material en la ubicación seleccionada, el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores que se colocan en una IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO UE LA PSOPIEUAU MEXICAN INSTITUTE EU LA PSOPIEUAU INDUSTRIAL superficie de un miembro cilindrico que se separa para proporcionar un espacio entre elementos receptores cercanos, el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores que comprende una película piezoeléctrica, en donde cada elemento receptor en el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores se configura para recibir una porción de la señal acústica que corresponde a una porción del intervalo angular acimutal;INDUSTRIAL surface of a cylindrical member that separates to provide a space between nearby receiving elements, the two-dimensional array of receiving elements comprising a piezoelectric film, where each receiving element in the two-dimensional array of receiving elements is configured to receive a portion of the acoustic signal corresponding to a portion of the azimuth angular range;and a processor configured to perform data processing on the received signal to analyze the received acoustic signal to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well. y un procesador configurado para realizar procesamiento de datos en la señal recibida para analizar la señal acústica recibida para caracterizar las características del material alrededor del pozo.
- 36The system according to claim 36. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque la fuente acústica comprende un medio no lineal que incluye uno o más de una mezcla de líquidos, un sólido, un material granular, microesferas incrustadas, o una emulsión. 35, characterized in that the acoustic source comprises a non-linear medium that includes one or more than a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.
- 37The system according to claim 37. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque la fuente acústica comprende:un alojamiento;35, characterized in that the acoustic source comprises: a housing;a plurality of separate piezoelectric layers placed with the housing;and a non-linear medium that is filled between the plurality of layers, wherein each of the plurality of layers una pluralidad de capas piezoeléctricas separadas colocadas con el alojamiento;y un medio no lineal que se llena entre la pluralidad de capas, en donde cada una de la pluralidad de capas ΙΜΡΙ ΙΜΡΙ INSTITUTO MEXICAN. > MEXICAN INSTITUTE. > DE LA RSOPIEOAD INDUSTkEAX piezoeléctricas se configura para generar una onda acústica, y OF THE piezoelectric RSOPIEOAD INDUSTkEAX is configured to generate an acoustic wave, and en donde el medio no lineal y la pluralidad de capas de material piezoeléctrico tienen una impedancia de adaptación para mejorar una transmisión de la onda acústica generada mediante la pluralidad de capas a través de la pluralidad restante de capas para generar el haz acústico colimado. wherein the non-linear medium and the plurality of layers of piezoelectric material have a matching impedance to improve transmission of the acoustic wave generated by the plurality of layers through the remaining plurality of layers to generate the collimated acoustic beam.
- 38The system according to claim 38. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 37, caracterizado porque el alojamiento tiene una configuración cilindrica y, la pluralidad de capas piezoeléctricas se separan a lo largo de una longitud de la configuración cilindrica. 37, characterized in that the housing has a cylindrical configuration and, the plurality of piezoelectric layers are separated along a length of the cylindrical configuration.
- 39The system according to claim 39. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 38, caracterizado porque la configuración cilindrica tiene una base circular o una base poligonal. 38, characterized in that the cylindrical configuration has a circular base or a polygonal base.
- 40The system according to claim 40. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 37, caracterizado porque el medio no lineal comprende un fluido. 37, characterized in that the non-linear medium comprises a fluid.
- 41The system according to claim 41. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 40, caracterizado porque el fluido comprende agua. 40, characterized in that the fluid comprises water.
- 42The system according to claim 42. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 37, caracterizado porque la capa piezoeléctrica comprende una película de difluoruro de polivinilideno (PVDF). 37, characterized in that the piezoelectric layer comprises a film of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF).
- 43The system according to claim 43. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY 37, caracterizado porque comprende además INUuñiAL genSTáaor eléctrico configurado para excitar de forma eleótJMóá át menos una capa piezoeléctrica en la pluralidad de capas piezoeléctricas para generar un pulso de onda acústica. 37, characterized in that it further comprises INUaiAL Electric geneSTaor configured to eleotically excite at least one piezoelectric layer in the plurality of piezoelectric layers to generate an acoustic wave pulse.
- 44The system according to claim 44. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 37, caracterizado porque comprende además un generador eléctrico configurado para excitar de forma eléctrica la pluralidad de películas piezoeléctricas para generar una pluralidad de pulsos de ondas acústicas que se separan en el tiempo para formar un tren de pulsos de ondas acústicas. 37, characterized in that it further comprises an electrical generator configured to electrically excite the plurality of piezoelectric films to generate a plurality of acoustic wave pulses that separate in time to form a train of acoustic wave pulses.
- 45El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación Four. Five. The system according to claim 44, caracterizado porque la pluralidad de pulsos de ondas acústicas separados se miden en el tiempo para que se sumen para generar el haz acústico colimado con una potencia sustancialmente igual a una suma de potencias de pulsos de ondas acústicas individuales en una salida de la fuente acústica. 44, characterized in that the plurality of separate acoustic wave pulses are measured over time to add up to generate the collimated acoustic beam with a power substantially equal to a sum of individual acoustic wave pulse powers at an output of the acoustic source .
- 46The system according to claim 46. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 37, caracterizado porque comprende además un material absorbente acústico colocado en un primer extremo del alojamiento y una placa colocada en un segundo extremo del alojamiento opuesto al primer extremo, la placa que se selecciona a partir de un material que transmite sustancialmente la onda acústica en un intervalo acústico deseado de longitudes de onda. 37, characterized in that it further comprises an acoustic absorbent material placed at a first end of the housing and a plate placed at a second end of the housing opposite the first end, the plate which is selected from a material that substantially transmits the acoustic wave in a desired acoustic range of wavelengths. IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
- 47The system according to claim 47. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 46, caracterizado porque una pared lateral del alojamiento se forma en capas con aislamiento acústico para impedir que la onda acústica se refleje de la pared lateral. 46, characterized in that a side wall of the housing is layered with sound insulation to prevent the sound wave from reflecting off the side wall.
- 48The system according to claim 48. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 46, caracterizado porque la placa se configura para colimar para obtener el haz acústico colimado. 46, characterized in that the plate is configured to collimate to obtain the collimated acoustic beam.
- 49The system according to claim 49. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 37, caracterizado porque las capas piezoeléctricas se separan en partes iguales dentro del alojamiento. 37, characterized in that the piezoelectric layers separate in equal parts within the housing.
- 50El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación fifty. The system according to claim 37, caracterizado porque el alojamiento, la pluralidad de capas piezoeléctricas y el medio no lineal se configuran para generar el haz acústico colimado. 37, characterized in that the housing, the plurality of piezoelectric layers and the non-linear medium are configured to generate the collimated acoustic beam.
- 51The system according to claim 51. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque comprende además una guía direccionadora configurada para dirigir el haz acústico colimado. 35, characterized in that it further comprises a directing guide configured to direct the collimated acoustic beam.
- 52The system according to claim 52. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 51, caracterizado porque la guía direccionadora incluye un reflector acústico, una lente acústica, o ambos. 51, characterized in that the targeting guide includes an acoustic reflector, an acoustic lens, or both.
- 53The system according to claim 53. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para analizar la señal acústica recibida después de que se ha reflejado o retrodispersado a partir de las carencias de 35, characterized in that the processor is configured to analyze the acoustic signal received after it has been reflected or backscattered from the lack of IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPitüAD INDUSTRIAL homogeneidades en la formación rocosa o materiales que circundan el pozo, o ambas para generar una imagen que proporcione información sobre la unión de cementación, áreas fracturadas, u otros defectos. INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPitüAD INDUSTRIAL homogeneities in the rock formation or materials surrounding the well, or both to generate an image that provides information about the bonding of cementing, fractured areas, or other defects.
- 54The system according to claim 54. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque comprende además un controlador configurado para mover la fuente acústica y la pluralidad de receptores. 35, characterized in that it further comprises a controller configured to move the acoustic source and the plurality of receivers.
- 55The system according to claim 55. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el controlador se configura para mover los receptores de forma independiente de la fuente acústica o para mover la fuente acústica y los receptores como un todo a lo largo de un eje de pozo. 35, characterized in that the controller is configured to move the receivers independently of the acoustic source or to move the acoustic source and the receivers as a whole along a shaft axis.
- 56The system according to claim 56. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque se selecciona un tamaño de los elementos receptores para lograr una resolución angular acimutal deseada de la señal acústica recibida entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 35, characterized in that a size of the receiving elements is selected to achieve a desired azimuth angular resolution of the received acoustic signal between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees.
- 57The system according to claim 57. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque comprende además un controlador configurado para seleccionar de forma electrónica uno o más elementos receptores en el arreglo bidimensional de elementos receptores para recibir la señal acústica sin girar los receptores. 35, characterized in that it further comprises a controller configured to electronically select one or more receiver elements in the two-dimensional array of receiver elements to receive the acoustic signal without rotating the receivers.
- 58The system according to claim 58. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY 35, caracterizado porque la película piezoeléctrica comprende una película de difluoruro de polivinilideno (PVDF). 35, characterized in that the piezoelectric film comprises a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) film.
- 59The system according to claim 59. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para caracterizar una fractura de una sarta de cemento del pozo, un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y la formación rocosa, o un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y una sarta de metal del pozo, o cualquier combinación de los mismos con una resolución acimutal entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 35, characterized in that the processor is configured to characterize a fracture of a cement string from the well, a gap between the cement string and the rock formation, or a gap between the cement string and a metal string from the well, or any combination thereof with azimuth resolution between approximately 5 degrees and approximately 15 degrees.
- 60The system according to claim 60. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura además para caracterizar las características del material alrededor del pozo al detectar heterogeneidades detrás de las tuberías o canalizaciones. 35, characterized in that the processor is further configured to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well by detecting heterogeneities behind the pipes or pipes.
- 61The system according to claim 61. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para realizar análisis 3D de propiedades geomecánicas alrededor de pozos a partir de análisis de ondas de refracción y ondas Lamb para mejorar la caracterización de la zona de invasión y cualquier daño del pozo. 35, characterized in that the processor is configured to perform 3D analysis of geomechanical properties around wells based on refraction wave and Lamb wave analysis to improve the characterization of the invasion zone and any well damage.
- 62The system according to claim 62. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para realizar formación de imágenes 3D de la velocidad de formación rocosa cerca del pozo utilizando análisis de 35, characterized in that the processor is configured to perform 3D imaging of the rock formation velocity near the well using analysis of IMPI IMPI INSTITUI TI MEXICANO DE LA MOPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL refracción INSTITUI TI MEXICANO DE LA MOPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL refracción
- 63The system according to claim 63. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para realizar mapeo 3D de fracturas a partir de reflexiones de llegadas lineales. 35, characterized in that the processor is configured to perform 3D fracture mapping from linear arrival reflections.
- 64The system according to claim 64. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque la fuente acústica se configura para generar un haz acústico colimado de pulsos en el intervalo de frecuencia entre aproximadamente 15 kHz y 12 0 kHz para medir ondas guiadas y superficiales, y detectar cemento un espacio entre una sarta y un cemento en un pozo o un espacio entre el cemento y la formación rocosa, o ambos, con base en las ondas guiadas y superficiales medidas, con una resolución angular acimutal en el intervalo entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados. 35, characterized in that the acoustic source is configured to generate a collimated acoustic beam of pulses in the frequency range between approximately 15 kHz and 12 0 kHz to measure guided and surface waves, and to detect cement a space between a string and cement in a pit or a space between cement and rock formation, or both, based on measured surface and guided waves, with azimuth angular resolution in the range of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees.
- 65The system according to claim 65. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para realizar un análisis de tiempo-frecuencia de la señal acústica recibida. 35, characterized in that the processor is configured to perform a time-frequency analysis of the received acoustic signal.
- 66The system according to claim 66. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 65, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para proporcionar un contenido de frecuencia de la señal acústica recibida como una función del tiempo para determinar las frecuencias que son prominentes en ciertos tiempos durante la propagación. 65, characterized in that the processor is configured to provide a frequency content of the received acoustic signal as a function of time to determine the frequencies that are prominent at certain times during propagation. INSTITUTO MEXICANO De LA PROPIEDAD MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL
- 67The system according to claim 67. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 66, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para realizar un análisis de transformada corta de Fourier (STFT). 66, characterized in that the processor is configured to perform a short Fourier transform (STFT) analysis.
- 68The system according to claim 68. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 66, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para determinar una presencia de un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y la formación rocosa, o un espacio entre la sarta de cemento y una sarta de metal de un pozo, o cualquier combinación de los mismos con una resolución acimutal entre aproximadamente 5 grados y aproximadamente 15 grados con base en el análisis de tiempo-frecuencia. 66, characterized in that the processor is configured to determine a presence of a gap between the cement string and the rock formation, or a gap between the cement string and a metal string from a well, or any combination thereof with a azimuth resolution between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees based on time-frequency analysis.
- 69The system according to claim 69. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 35, caracterizado porque la fuente acústica comprende un dispositivo direccionador configurado para dirigir el haz acústico generado generalmente hacia abajo en una dirección de un eje de pozo por delante de una roca de perforación hacia una formación rocosa. 35, characterized in that the acoustic source comprises a targeting device configured to direct the generated acoustic beam generally downward in a direction from a well shaft ahead of a drill rock to a rock formation.
- 70The system according to claim 70. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 69, caracterizado porqué los receptores se configuran para detectar una onda acústica reflejada a partir de una o más capas dentro de la formación rocosa. 69, characterized in that the receivers are configured to detect a reflected acoustic wave from one or more layers within the rock formation.
- 71The system according to claim 71. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 70, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura para determinar una posición de las una o más capas con base en la 70, characterized in that the processor is configured to determine a position of the one or more layers based on the IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DI LA PROPIEDAD MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY INDUSTRIAL onda acústica recibida reflejada. INDUSTRIAL reflected received acoustic wave.
- 72The system according to claim 72. El sistema de conformidad con la reivindicación 71, caracterizado porque el procesador se configura además para determinar una cantidad de inclinación de las una o más capas con base en una orientación del haz acústico generado y la onda acústica recibida detectada. 71, characterized in that the processor is further configured to determine a tilt amount of the one or more layers based on an orientation of the generated acoustic beam and the detected received acoustic wave. IMPI IMPI INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
Independent claims72
298 paragraphs in 82 sections, as filed
(54) Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING SONIC WAVES USING AN SOUND BEAM SOURCE.
(54) Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SONIC WAVE MEASUREMENTS USING AN ACOUSTIC BEAM SOURCE.
(57) Summary
Here we describe a method and system for analyzing a structure near a well. The method includes generating an acoustic beam from an acoustic source; direct the acoustic beam at one or more azimuth angles to a selected location in a vicinity of the wellbore; receiving at one or more receivers an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal that originates from a reflection or refraction of the acoustic wave by a material at the selected location; and analyze the acoustic signal received to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well.
(57) Abstract
A method and system for investigating structure near a borehole are described herein. The method ineludes generating an acoustic beam by an acoustic source; directing at one or more azimuthal angles the acoustic beam towards a selected location in a vicinity of a borehole; receiving at one or more receivers an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal originating from a reflection or a refraction of the acoustic wave by a material at the selected location; and analyzing the received acoustic signal to characterize features of the material around the borehole.
_SE_ «ctnwsU ooí» m «U:
Institute
Mexican Property
Industrial
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PATENT TITLE NO. 338929
Owner (s): CHEVRON USA INC .; LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY LLC
Address: 6001 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramón, California, 94583, USA; Mail Stop A
187, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87544, USA
Name: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING SONIC WAVES USING A SOUND BEAM SOURCE.
Classification: lnt.CI.8: B06B1 / 06; E21B47 / 00; G01V1 / 38; G01V1 / 42; G01V1 / 50; H04R17 / 00
CUNG KHAC VU; DJPEN N. SINHA; CRISTIAN PANTEA
Number:
MX / a / 2015/002266
Country:
US
US
REQUEST
International filing date: August 21, 2013
PRIORITY
Date:
August 2012 March 15, 2013
Number:
61/691,602
13/836,611
Validity: Twenty years
Expiration Date: August 21, 2033
The reference patent is granted based on articles 1. 2nd fraction V, 6th fraction III. and 59 of the Industrial Property Law.
In accordance with article 23 of the Industrial Property Id Law, this patent has a validity of twenty non-expendable years, counted from the date of filing of the international application and will be subject to the payment of the fee to keep the rights in force. .
Whoever signs this title does so based on the provisions of articles 6 sections III and 7 bis 2 of the Industrial Property Law (Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) 06/27/1991. amended on 06/02/1994, 10/25/1996, 12/26/1997, 05/17/1999, 01/26/2004, 06/16/2005, 01/25/2006, 05/06/2009, 01/06/2010, 06/18/2010, 06/28/2010, 01/27/2012 and 04/09/2012); Articles 1, 3, section V, subsection a), sub subsection iii), 4th and 12th sections I and III of the Regulations of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (DOF 12/14/1999. amended on 07/01/2002, 07/15/2004, 07/28/2004 and 09/07/2007); Articles 1, 3, 4, 5 'section V, subsection a), sub Section iii), 16 sections I and III and 30 of the Organic Statute of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (DOF) 12/27/1999, amended on 10/10/2002, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007); 1 °, 3 ° and 5'Irad® a) and O ^ jenúMmo paragraph of the Agreement that delegates powers to the Deputy Directors General, Coordinator, Divisional Directors, Head of the Regional Offices, Divisional Deputy Directors, Departmental Coordinators and other subordinates of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property. (DOF 12/15/1999, amended on 02/04/2000, 07/29/2004, 08/04/2004 and 09/13/2007).
Issue Date: May 6, 2016
DIVISIONAL DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EXAMINATION OF PATENT FUND, ELECTRICAL AREAS AND REGISTRIES OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS AND
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Arenal No. 550. Floor 1<sub>:</sub>
3of. Pueblo Santa Maris Tepepan, Xochimilcc, CP 16020,
Mexico City
Tel (55) 53 34 07 C0 wwwjrn ^ gobrnx
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MX / 2016/35356
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338W <sup>1</sup> IMPI
Mexican INSTITUTE
OF THE PROPERTY <sup>J</sup>&‘
INDUSTRIAL - '
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING SONIC WAVES USING
A SOURCE OF ACOUSTIC BEAM
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the acoustic analysis of rock formations around a well, and more particularly to the use of the combination of an acoustic source that includes a single transducer or array of transducers in the well coupled to a linear material. or nonlinear to produce an acoustic beam as a borehole probing tool to analyze the properties of rock formations and materials surrounding the well.
Background of the Invention
Acoustic analysis of subsoil characteristics tends to be limited by the frequency bandwidth of practical sources. High frequency signals have a relatively short penetration distance, while low frequency signals have no collimation and generate unwanted signals within the well. It is difficult to generate a collimated acoustic beam signal in the sonic frequency range between about 15 kHz and about 12 0 kHz from the well to probe the rock formation surrounding a well with conventional transducers.
Conventional sonic sound sources have
Ref. 254725
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF THE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
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large beam spread, as the frequency decreases, the beam spread increases. Beam spread also depends on the diameter of the transducer, which is limited by the well dimension. Sharp directivity targeting for a particular frequency requires several conditions that must be satisfied, including a long, uniform array of sources that couples all transducers to the rock formation around the well and knowledge of the acoustic velocities of the rock formation. In a well environment, these conditions are often not achievable due to underlying physical limitations, engineering feasibility, or operating conditions, especially when the source signal has wide frequency bandwidth.
Conventional monopole and dipole acoustic logs have been used to measure sonic velocity near the well using a frequency range less than about 8 kHz. However, at this relatively low frequency, the azimuth resolution is relatively low. There are several patents that attempted to overcome this deficiency by using additional receivers to detect the direction of signals returning to the receivers (see, for example, United States Patent No. 5,544,127 and the references cited therein). Applications for sonic well have also been proposed
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
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for reflection imaging, refraction imaging, fracture detection, and permeability determination (see, for example, US Patent No. 5,081,611, US Patent
United States No. 4,831,600, United States Patent No. 4,817,059, and United States Patent No. 4,797,859).
All of these conventional techniques have deficiency of azimuth and operational resolution since the source lacks or has insufficient azimuth directivity and desired frequency bandwidth.
For cement evaluation, ultrasonic waves in the frequency range of hundreds of kilohertz (for example, low ultrasonic frequency range between 80 kHz and approximately 120 kHz and ultrasonic frequency range of around 200 kHz) have been used to detect a cement space behind the string. Even through these frequencies of around 200 kHz good azimuth resolution is allowed, the range of detection distance at approximately this frequency is very limited, i.e. the depth of penetration to investigate behind the formation and channels between the cement and rock formation is limited for the ultrasonic source at frequencies of approximately 200 kHz. Conventional cement evaluation logs use a frequency of 30 kHz and can investigate further
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE *) OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
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deep. However, these conventional luting records do not have azimuth resolution because the wavelength is approximately the radius of the well and consequently the well modes would excite the entire well. As a result, it is difficult to extract detailed azimuth information from the cement bond. In order to overcome this deficiency, multiple sources (emitting in the frequency range between 70 kHz and 120 kHz) and multiple receivers are used in a Sector Link Toolkit (SBT) system. However, even with the use of multiple sources and multiple receivers, the conventional SBT system was unable to correct the deficiencies of previous conventional cementing evaluation records since the source still lacked azimuth directivity to effectively detect the existence of small channels between the cement and the rock formation.
Brief Description of the Invention One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of investigating the cement bond or structure of a rock formation near a well. The method includes generating an acoustic wave using an acoustic source; direct at one or more tilt and azimuth angles the sound wave to a target location in the vicinity of a well; receive an acoustic signal at one or more receivers,
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF LA PRÜPIEL Ai »
INDUSTRIAL the acoustic signal that originates from a surface wave reflection or refraction or propagation of the acoustic wave by a material at the desired location; and analyze the acoustic signal received to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a system for investigating the cement bond or rock formation structure near a well. The system includes an acoustic source configured to generate an acoustic wave and direct the acoustic wave at one or more azimuth angles to a desired location in the vicinity of a well. The system also includes one or more receivers configured to receive an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal that originates from a reflection or surface wave refraction or propagation of the acoustic wave by a material at the desired location. The system also includes a processor configured to perform data processing on the received signal to analyze the received acoustic signal to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide an acoustic source to generate an acoustic beam. The sound source includes a housing; a plurality of separate piezoelectric layers placed with the housing; and a nonlinear medium that is filled between the
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF LA TROI'IEOAi '
INDUSTRIAL
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plurality of layers. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric layers is configured to generate an acoustic wave when excited by an electrical signal. The nonlinear medium and the plurality of layers of piezoelectric material have an acoustic matching impedance to enhance a transmission of the acoustic wave generated by each of the plurality of layers through the remaining plurality of layers.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an acoustic detector that includes a cylindrical support member and a plurality of receiver elements that are placed on a surface of the cylindrical support member. The plurality of receiver elements is configured to detect acoustic waves in a plurality of azimuth angular directions.
These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of related elements of structure and the combination of parts and manufacturing economies, will become more apparent after consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the appended figures, all of which form a part of this description, where similar reference numbers designate corresponding parts in the various Figures. It will be expressly understood, however, that the figures
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<sup>7</sup> IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
LIE THE PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the description and in the claims, the singular form of one, one, and the include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
Brief Description of the Figures
Figures IA and IB show a schematic diagram of a system for generating a collimated acoustic beam to characterize formations and / or materials near a well, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 1C and ID show a schematic diagram of a multiple directional arrangement of polyvinylidene difluoride film (PVDF) acoustic sources used to generate a collimated acoustic beam, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 1E and 1F depict the signal output by the multiple directional arrangement of PVDF film acoustic sources without applying a delay to an electrical excitation signal and when an appropriate delay is applied to the electrical excitation signal;
Figures 2A-2C are schematic representations of a receptor, according to various embodiments of the present invention;
ΙΜΡΙ
INSTITUTO MEXICANO L, E LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL
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Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an acoustic measurement system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4A illustrates a characteristic of a parametric array beam pulse signal emitted by an acoustic source, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4B is a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the acoustic beam signal of Figure 4A to obtain the signal in the frequency domain;
Figure 5 depicts data collected as a function of propagation time and azimuth angle, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 depicts a schematic diagram of an experimental configuration with the receiver having a linear array of receiver elements positioned on a surface of a cylindrical configuration, according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 represents reflection data obtained in an experiment similar to the data shown in Figure 5 but after performing signal processing to filter linear arrivals; according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 represents data collected as a
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE LE LA RRUHEDAD
INDUSTRIAL
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function of the propagation time and after performing linear arrivals processing, according to an invention;
the number of signals for receiver modality filter these
Figure 9 depicts another experiment in which the orientation of the receiver 24 is fixed (ie, the receiver is not rotated) and the mirror is rotated azimuthal; according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 10A and 10B represent an experimental acoustic configuration, according to another embodiment of the present invention where Figure 10A is a longitudinal schematic view of the experimental configuration and Figure 10B is a top view of the experimental configuration, Figures 11A- 11C show graphs of the measured data for various orientations or azimuth angles, respectively, at approximately 320 degrees, at about 90 degrees and at about 165 degrees, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 12A-12C show graphs of acoustic measurement synthetic waveforms in the 15-120 kHz frequency range for different well conditions, according to embodiments of the present invention;
Figures 13A-13C show simulated frequency pulse propagation data along with analysis of
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time-frequency of the same data, according to the modalities of the present invention;
Figure 14A depicts the acoustic measurement system placed within a well, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 14B represents the acoustic measurement system placed inside a well, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 14C depicts the acoustic measurement system placed within a well, in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; and
Figure 15 is a schematic diagram representing a computer system for implementing the method, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Detailed description of the invention
Figures IA and IB are a schematic diagram of a system for generating a collimated acoustic beam to characterize formations and / or materials near a well, according to an embodiment of the present invention. System 10 includes one or more electrical signal generators 12 configured to generate signals on a first frequency and a second frequency. The signals are transmitted to a signal amplifier or amplifiers 14 that are configured to increase the power of the signals. The signals modified by amplifier 14 are transmitted to one or
ΙΜΡΪ
MEXICAN INSTITUTE
OF THE PROPERTY <sup>{J </sup>INDUSTRIAL plus 15 transducers that are configured to generate sound waves on the first and second frequencies. The acoustic waves are transmitted to a non-linear material 17, which mixes the waves on the first frequency and the second frequency by means of wave mixing process to produce a collimated acoustic beam 18 on a third frequency. In one embodiment, the collimated acoustic beam 18 may have a frequency in the range of from about 15 kHz to about 120 kHz. This frequency range can be increased by using, for example, different transducers and main frequencies. The collimated acoustic beam 18 may be a continuous acoustic signal or it may also comprise one or more acoustic pulses (eg, an acoustic pulse train).
Nonlinear material 17 may be a liquid, a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material embedded in a solid string, embedded microspheres, acoustic meta-materials, or an emulsion. As a non-limiting example of this non-linear material is Fluorinert FC-43. Fluorinert is selected for its relatively low speed of sound (646 m / s) and high acoustic non-linearity (β ~ 7.6). Depending on the operating conditions in the well, other non-linear materials can be used as a non-linear mixing medium with adequate low sound speed, high non-linear coupling, length of
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY absorption, shock wavelength, temperature and pressure operating intervals, as well as other requirements required by operability descriptions. Furthermore, the length of the non-linear material can be very compact and can vary from 5 cm to 2 meters for the frequency range between approximately 15 kHz and approximately 120 kHz depending on the type of materials used. The non-linear material can be placed in a housing, such as for example a cylindrical container. The axis of the housing filled with non-linear material can be aligned with a well axis, such as the frequency difference acoustic beam that is output by the non-linear material that propagates along this axis.
The non-linear behavior can be characterized through the analysis of the properties of P waves that result from the non-linear mixing phenomenon in which two incident waves at two different frequencies, fi and f<sub>2</sub>, are mixed to generate third frequency components in the harmonics and inter-modulation frequencies f<sub>2</sub> - fif<sub>2</sub> + fi, 2fi and 2f<sub>2</sub>, etc. In one aspect of the invention, the nonlinear mixing phenomenon is designed to occur in the nonlinear material within the well. In general, only the third resulting differential frequency wave f<sub>2</sub> - fi is of interest for this request. Higher frequencies only propagate a short distance and tend to be absorbed in
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE
Ot INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
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the non-linear material itself. In some modal íHarIp.q. — La.
third wave or collimated beam has a frequency between approximately 15 kHz and approximately 12 0 kHz. However, a wider frequency range and higher frequencies are also within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, the third wave frequency bandwidth is determined by the two main frequencies fi and f<sub>2</sub> where one frequency (for example, frequency fi) remains fixed and the other frequency (for example, frequency f<sub>2</sub>) is swept over time very quickly (for example, chirp). Therefore, for example, by mixing a tone pulse train of a few high-frequency cycles (eg, frequency fi) with a frequency chirp around that frequency fi, a broadband signal can be obtained. However, it is also possible to mix a variety of signals to create a desired time response as well as a frequency response. For example, the compact parametric array source can be preprogrammed to generate Gaussian pulses with a frequency range between approximately 15 kHz and approximately 120 kHz by mixing two high-frequency Gaussian pulses in the chamber filled with Fluorinert. The resulting generated beam pulse at the frequency I2-fi acts as an acoustic particle (analogous to a photon in solid-state physics) traveling in the propagation medium. The characteristic of
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MEAICANU INSTITUTE
Dt PROPERTY p "* INDUSTRIAL sharp pulse enables measurement with raw data without any kind of signal processing such as cross correlation and this speeds up measurement significantly. The experimental measurement system for evaluating this parametric array source for imaging characteristics around a well string is described in the next paragraph.
In one embodiment, transducer 16 and mixing material 17 can be replaced by a multiple directional array of polyvinylidene difluoride film (PVDF) acoustic sources 30 shown in Figure 1C. The multiple directional array of PVDF film acoustic sources 30 comprises a plurality of separate piezoelectric layers (PZTs) (eg, PVDF films) 32. PVDF provides some immediate benefits over piezo-ceramics. PVDF has high mechanical damping and complex permittivity. Transducers constructed with PVDF can therefore have a very wide bandwidth, producing a short duration pressure wave, thus offering good spatial imaging resolution at lower operating center frequencies (and therefore minimally attenuated) than piezo-ceramics. In addition, the acoustic impedance (Z) of PVDF (Measurement Specialties, Norristown, PA) is approximately 2.7 MRayl with respect to the acoustic impedance of water that is equal to
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<img file="MX338929B_D0018.tif" />
approximately 1.48 MRayl. When PZT raps are used, the nonlinear mixing material or medium 17 can be removed and replaced with any fluid that has good transmission properties in the desired operating frequency range (for example, between about 1 kHz and about 120 kHz) and low acoustic absorption. PVDF films 32 can be mounted within housing 34 (eg, a cylinder). Although the directional multi-array sound source 30 is described herein as using PVDF films, it can be appreciated that other piezoelectric films can be used. Although, the housing 34 is depicted in Figure 1C as having a cylindrical shape with a circular base, the housing 34 may have a cylindrical shape or configuration with any base shape (eg, a polygonal base shape). The sound source further includes a non-linear medium that is filled between the piezoelectric layers (eg PVDF films). In one embodiment, housing 34 is filled with a medium such as a fluid having an acoustic impedance substantially matching the acoustic impedance of PVDF film 32. In one embodiment, the fluid may be, for example, water such as Acoustic Impedance of PVDF 32 Film is substantially matched to the acoustic impedance of water. In another embodiment, the water can be replaced by Fluorinert (for example, FC-43). The
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338929B_D0019.tif" />
Impedance mismatch between the PVDF and the fluorinert changes only slightly but the speed of sound in the liquid becomes significantly slower, ie 640 m / s in FC43 compared to 1480 m / s for water. However, Fluorinert FC-43 decomposes at elevated temperatures, above 390 F (198.88 C). The use of Fluorinert allows the size of the fountain to be decreased by almost a third compared to the size when using water because the acoustic velocity in Fluorinert is lower. In one embodiment, the multiple directional array source 30 further includes acoustic absorbent material 31 positioned at a first end of housing 34 and a plate 33 positioned at a second end of housing 34 opposite the first end. In one embodiment, plate 33 can be converted to an acoustic lens to provide collimation manipulation or acoustic beam focusing, etc. PVDF films provide a very wide band sound source from 1 kHz to 100 MHz. In addition, in one embodiment, a side wall of housing 34 can be layered with sound insulation 35 to prevent sound waves generated by films. PVDF are reflected from the side wall.
The multiple directional array based on the PVDF 30 film sound source is capable of outputting a more powerful sound wave (which can be, for example,
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<img file="MX338929B_D0020.tif" />
example, in a cone shape or a collimated or parallel beam) than a conventional parametric array using a single transducer. Each of the plurality of piezoelectric layers (eg, PVDF films) is configured to generate an acoustic wave. The nonlinear medium and the plurality of piezoelectric layers have an impedance to enhance a transmission of the acoustic wave generated by each of the plurality of layers through the remaining plurality of layers.
In one embodiment, an electric generator such as electric generator 12 can be provided to electrically excite at least one piezoelectric layer in the plurality of piezoelectric layers to generate an acoustic wave pulse, as illustrated in Figure ID. For example, the electrical signal generator 12 can be configured to electrically excite the plurality of piezoelectric films (eg, PVDF) 32 to generate a plurality of acoustic wave pulses that separate in time to form a wave pulse train acoustic. The electrical signal generator 12 can be configured to generate a wide variety of signal waveforms (tone pulse train, frequency chirps, square waves, triangle waves, and any trig waveform, etc.) in addition to a Gaussian pulse, and a cascade of time delay generators. Delay
<img file="MX338929B_D0021.tif" />
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338929B_D0022.tif" />
time τ can be adjusted in such a way that it is equal to the time for an acoustic pulse to propagate from one layer to the other in such a way that it arrives exactly at the moment when the next layer is excited. The time delay τ can be adjusted to be substantially equal to a separation distance d between two consecutive PVDF films 32 divided by the speed c of sound in between the consecutive PVDF films 32. Therefore, if, for example, the first film 32A is excited at time t equal to zero to generate a first pulse, the second film 32B can be excited at time t delayed by delay time τ to generate a second pulse, and the third film 32C can be excited at time t delayed by delay time 2τ to generate a third pulse, etc. In this way, the first pulse generated by the first film 32A arrives at the second film 32B at substantially the same time as the second pulse is generated by the second layer 32B. Similarly, the first pulse and the second pulse reach the third film 32C is substantially the same time as the third pulse is generated in the third layer 32C, etc. Each PVDF layer 32 can be powered from these delay generators with the appropriate delay according to the position of the PVDF film 32 within the housing 34. Each PVDF film 32 can also be excited by a delayed electrical signal whose
<img file="MX338929B_D0023.tif" />
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INSTITUTO MEXICANO OE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL amplitude can also be adjusted and formed appropriately. The purpose of this approach is to have acoustic pulses from all the previous layers or films arriving in the last layer when the last layer is excited in such a way that all the waves add up and produce a stronger pulse. If there are N layers then the signal emanating from the last layer will be approximately N times the power generated by each layer after subtracting the signal losses in the layer and in between. Although it is easier to have all layers placed at equal intervals in space but this is not necessary. Indeed, the various layers can be placed in any position and the interval between the layers can be different. The time delay can be appropriately selected to account for the separation between the various layers. A fixed-frequency line-array approach can also be implemented by appropriately varying the delay between PVDF 32 films.
In one embodiment, each PVDF film is excited by a 500 kHz tone pulse train. Frequencies from 50 kHz to 1 MHz can also be used if desired. There is no higher cutoff frequency until almost
100 MHz and is only somewhat limited mainly by the absorption of sound in the liquid in which these films are immersed. The experimental data is graphed on the
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Figures 1E and 1F. Figure 1E shows the signal from all 4 PVDF transmitters when no electronic delay is used.
In this case, each signal reached the receiver based on its distance from the receiver. Figure 1F, on the other hand, shows when the appropriate time delay was used, all signals arrived at the last transmitter at the same time. In this case, the signal detected by the receiver now shows the large overlay signal.
The efficiency of the multiple directional sound source can be increased by using PVDF films that are slightly curved instead of flat, stretched. In one embodiment, each PVDF film can be provided with a plastic cross made of thin plastic wire (or metal wire) attached to it to make the surface of the film slightly curved in a symmetrical manner. Each of the PVDF films has a thin electrode layer on opposite sides where the electrical connections are made for the excitation of the film. Film array 32 is integrated into a wire frame and then inserted into the cylinder. The cables are pulled out through an outlet hole on the absorbent side of the cylinder.
For example, in operation, a first PVDF 32A film can be configured to generate a first acoustic pulse, and a second PVDF 32B film can be configured
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<img file="MX338929B_D0024.tif" />
INDUSTRIAL .-- To generate a second acoustic pulse delayed from the first pulse, a third PVDF 32C film can be configured to generate a third acoustic pulse delayed from the second acoustic pulse, etc. The third 32C PVDF film can be configured to be transparent to the first and second acoustic pulses. The second PVDF 3 2B film can be configured to be transparent to the first acoustic pulse. The first, second, and third acoustic pulses are added together, and as a result, the PVDF film acoustic source 30 can signal a signal comprising the first, second, and third acoustic pulses. This provides not only the ability to control the output acoustic beam power but also the energy of the individual pulses and the delay between the various pulses. In this example, the PVDF film sound source 30 is described as having three PVDF films. However, any number of PVDF films can be used. In one embodiment, housing 34 is surrounded by an acoustic absorbent material (not shown) to prevent the dispersion of acoustic energy to one side of housing 34.
In another embodiment, the sound waves generated by each of the PVDF films 32 arrive at the front disk 33 at the same time and are power summed. Each PVDF film is excited by an electrical pulse (in Gaussian form)
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY that has a signal bandwidth between approximately 15
..... .............! ' kHz and approximately 120 kHz. However, PVDF can be excited to generate sound waves in any frequency range within the operating frequency of the films. In this way, all the sound pulses generated by each element per PVDF film 32 arrive at the front element 33 at the same time and sum to produce a powerful signal that is about N times the power output of each element after subtracting the small transmission loss in the liquid and film. Liquid loss is minimal at these frequencies.
In one embodiment, the collimated acoustic beam 18 can be oriented in a particular direction by an acoustic beam guide 20. In one embodiment, the acoustic source (transducers 16 and nonlinear material 17 or acoustic source 30) and the acoustic beam guide or targeting device 20 are placed within a housing 22. The acoustic beam guide 20 can be an acoustic reflector or an acoustic slow motion, or a combination of both. The acoustic reflector can be a material with different acoustic impedance from the surrounding medium in which the beam is propagated. In a non-limiting example of this acoustic reflector is a metal plate. In one embodiment, the acoustic lens can be configured to focus the collimated acoustic beam on a particular focal point and direction and can be shaped
<img file="MX338929B_D0025.tif" />
<img file="MX338929B_D0026.tif" />
<sup>23</sup> IMPI
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INDUSTRIAL concave. A Fresnel type mirror arrangement can also be used for the acoustic beam guide. The acoustic beam guide 20 can be rotated or tilted in a particular orientation by using one or more triggers (not shown) coupled to the acoustic beam guide 20. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the acoustic beam guide 2 0 does not can be used, and collimated beam 18 could spread along the axis of housing 22. For example, housing 22 can be made of plastic or other suitable material. In one embodiment, housing 22 may be in the form of a cylinder or pipe section with a circular base, as shown in Figures IA and IB. However, housing 22 may have other configurations such as a polygonal base cylinder (eg, square, rectangular, hexagonal, pentagonal, etc.). In one embodiment, housing 22 can be filled with a liquid (eg, water).
Figure 14A depicts the acoustic measurement system placed within a well, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Collimated beam 18 may be directed in a particular direction toward an object or target of interest such as a cement liner or rock layers behind string 19A within a well 11 or object 19B (eg, crack, fracture, hole, etc.) within the rock formation 13 near well 11, as
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shown in Figure 14A. Lacks of homogeneities of formations, materials or structures, such as object 19A, for example, will generate refraction or propagation of surface waves 21A that is dispersed as acoustic wave 21B and is detected by receiver 24. Similarly, gaps in homogeneities within rock formation 13 such as crack or fracture 19B create reflection or scattering of acoustic beam 18 and reflected acoustic wave 21C can then be detected by receiver 24. Acoustic beam 18 can generate elastic waves, for example refractions and surface propagation waves, that travel along boundaries with the rock formation 13 and boundaries between the wellbore and the rock formation 13. Scattered, reflected or surface waves and other types of waves are received by the receiver 24.
Figure 14B represents the acoustic measurement system placed inside a well, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the output of the acoustic beam 18 through the acoustic source 16, 30 can be directed using the directing device 20 generally downward in the direction of axis 15 of well 11. In this case, the acoustic beam or acoustic wave 18 can be used to investigate the rock formation 13 that has not been drilled and therefore to investigate ahead of the drill bit. This can be done, for example, by
<img file="MX338929B_D0027.tif" />
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY drilling operations. When acoustic beam 18 is generally directed downward toward rock formation 13, objects 19C (eg, rock layers within the rock formation) reflect some of the acoustic beam energy 18 as acoustic wave 21D which can then be detected by receiver 24. The location or distance of the object 19C from the acoustic source 16, 30 can then be determined based on the received acoustic wave 2ID.
Similarly, the amount of inclination of the layers 19C can also be determined based on the inclination of the acoustic beam 18 (eg, with respect to the shaft axis 15) and the received acoustic wave 21D. Figure 14C shows a situation where layers 19C are tilted with respect to well 11 or shaft 15. In this case, the beam steering device 20 (for example, a tilting acoustic prism or mirror, etc.) that is positioned in front of the source 30 can be used to direct the acoustic beam 18 in any direction that includes a direction to the layers 19C. If the targeting device 20 is positioned vertically, then the source sound beam is allowed to pass through without any significant amount of blocking. If the layers 19C are tilted at an angle then the acoustic beam 18 will not be reflected by the layers 19C and as a result the acoustic signal reflected by the receiver 24 is not detected. If, on the other hand, the targeting device
<img file="MX338929B_D0028.tif" />
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<img file="MX338929B_D0029.tif" />
is rotated or tilted such that the orientation of the acoustic beam 18 is substantially perpendicular or normal to the layers 19C, an acoustic signal 21D can then be reflected from the inclined layers 21D and can be detected by the receiver 24. The targeting device is It can orient azimuth in addition to tilt or elevation to provide a complete picture of what lies ahead of the drill bit.
As shown in Figure IB, receiver 24 can also be provided within housing 22. However, receiver 24 can also be provided separate from housing 22 to allow independent movement of receiver 24 and source 16. Receiver 24 is You can configure to receive the reflected, scattered, diffracted wave, etc. 21. In one embodiment, an acoustic absorber 23 can be placed between the acoustic beam guide 20 and the
<td>receiver</td><td> 24,</td><td>for example,</td><td>for</td><td>prevent</td><td>than</td><td>the</td><td>waves</td>
<td>acoustic</td><td>than</td><td>there may be no</td><td>been</td><td>reflected</td><td>or of</td><td>other</td><td>shape</td>
<td>directed</td><td>by</td><td>the beam guide</td><td colspan="2">20 reach the</td><td colspan="2">receiver</td><td>24. in</td>
One embodiment, by placing the receiver 24 within the same housing 22, the receiver 24 is capable of receiving the reflected or scattered wave 21 as the housing 22 moves, i.e. source 16 and receiver 24, and the housing 22, etc., move as a whole as a single device 9 along the well 11 (as shown in
<img file="MX338929B_D0030.tif" />
MEXICAN INSTITUTE [> £ THE PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338929B_D0031.tif" />
Figure 14). However, in another embodiment, the acoustics (eg, the acoustic source 16 with the mixing material 17 or the acoustic source 30) and the receiver 24 can be moved independently along the well 13. The reflected acoustic waves 21 they are detected by receiver 24 and converted into an electrical signal that can be transmitted to processing electronics 26 for analysis. Processing electronics 26 may include a computer with appropriate software to characterize the rock formation or material or structure surrounding the well, including producing 2D or 3D images of the formation or material around the well 11.
In some embodiments, the entire device 9 including the transducers 16 (or the multiple directional acoustic source 30), the nonlinear material 17, the targeting device 20, and the receiver 24 can be moved up and down the length of the Well 11 to form images of a particular formation near the well or to investigate the structure of the well string. However, in other embodiments, the acoustic source (for example, acoustic source 16 with mixing material 17 or acoustic source 30) and directing device 20 can also be moved independently of receiver 24 (for example, as long as that the receiver is fixed). Furthermore, the complete device 9 with or without receiver 24 can be
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0032.tif" />
rotate around axis 15 of well 11 to form images of rock formations, structures, materials, etc., in any azimuth direction around well 11.
Figure 2A is a schematic representation of receiver 24, according to one embodiment of the present invention. Receiver 24 comprises a plurality of receiver elements 40. Receiver elements 40 may be an array of PVDF films. In one embodiment, the array can be produced from a single PVDF sheet with electrodes properly deposited on both sides of the film (or etch a previously metallized electrode over the entire surface) and leaving a gap between nearby elements. Each of these electrodes then behaves like a piezoelectric receiver element. A conventional array element size can be approximately 1 cm x 1 cm but can be almost any size depending on the resolution of the experiment required. In one embodiment, electrical lines can be established on film or PVDF foil for electrical connections. The complete sheet with electrodes can then be covered with a very thin sheet of material (eg Mylar) for protection and short electrical circuits. Therefore, a line array can be wrapped around, as shown in Figure 2B, as a circular configuration made around an acoustically absorbent material (eg, foam) to
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY create a circular arrangement that covers 360 degrees. Receiver elements 40 are mounted on surface 42S of an acoustic absorbent material (eg, acoustic absorbent foam, sponge, or various types of silicone rubber) 42. Figure 2C depicts a schematic representation of receiver 24, according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a large sheet of PVDF film can be used to create a two-dimensional array (ie, a matrix array) of transducer receiver elements 40. Transducer array 40 can then be wrapped around a cylindrical configuration to create a An arrangement that can provide full 360 degree coverage around the axis of the cylindrical configuration, in addition to vertical coverage along the axis of the cylindrical configuration. In this way, the receiver array does not need to physically rotate azimuth in the well. In this case, different vertical rows or series of PVDF layers or a one-dimensional array of PVDF films within the two-dimensional array of PVDF film can be electronically selected to detect acoustic signals. Conventionally, in operation, all PVDF elements can first be scanned at a given location to determine the direction from which any signal is coming, and then appropriate vertical arrays can be used to track this signal. Electronics
<img file="MX338929B_D0033.tif" />
<img file="MX338929B_D0034.tif" />
<sub>30</sub> IMPI <sup>υ</sup> MEXICAN INSTITUTE
FROM INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY signal multiplexing can be nt-i1Í7.ar to cry out this type of electronic scanning and the detected signal can be amplified and digitized later. As shown in Figures 2B and 2C, the acoustic absorbent material 42 has a cylindrical configuration with a circular base. However, as can be appreciated, the absorbent material 42 can have any desired configuration such as a cylindrical configuration with a polygonal base or elliptical base, or other shape. By mounting the reducing elements 40 on the surface 42S of the absorbent material 42, the receiving elements 40 receive acoustic signals from the front side of the receiving elements 40 and not from the rear side of the receiving elements 40.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a laboratory measurement system or experimental setup for testing the measurement system when developed in a well environment, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the experimental configuration, the housing 22 that includes the acoustic source (eg, acoustic source 16 with mixing material 17 or acoustic source 30), beam steering device 20, and receiver 24 are placed within axial well 11A in a cylindrical body (for example, a cylindrical cement body) 29 that simulates well 11 with a cement string. Acoustic measurement system 9 includes acoustic source
IW ιιιυιυ MtAICANU
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL (eg acoustic source 16 with ^ t-ariai mixer 17 or acoustic source 30), mirror system 20 and receiver 24. In one embodiment, the acoustic source (eg acoustic source 16 with material mixer 17 or acoustic source 30), medium or linear 17, mirror system 20 and receiver 24 are placed inside housing 22. In one embodiment, receiver 24 is configured such that it only receives acoustic signals from the front. Receiver 24 is protected from other signals such as turn signals (ie signals that are incident on the rear of receiver 24 are absorbed by absorber 42). In one embodiment, receiver 24 is configured to move with the sound source (sound source 16 with mixing material 17 or sound source 30). In another embodiment, receiver 24 can move independently of the sound source (sound source 16 with mixing material 17 or sound source 30). In order to test the effectiveness of this measurement system, a notch 25 is provided on an outer periphery or outer surface of the cylindrical body 29 (eg cylindrical body of concrete or cement), as will be explained in further detail in the following paragraphs. .
In one embodiment, the sound source (sound source 16 with mixing material 17 or sound source
30) and receiver 24 are configured in such a way that the
<img file="MX338929B_D0035.tif" />
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
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<img file="MX338929B_D0036.tif" />
beam direction of the acoustic source (the acoustic source 16 with the mixing material 17 or the acoustic source 30), that is, acoustic beam 18, and the received signal 21 are in the same plane. In one embodiment, both the acoustic source (acoustic source 16 with mixing material 17 or acoustic source 30) and receiver 24 are rotated azimuthically from 0 to 360 degrees. However, in another embodiment, only the mirror 20 is rotated so much that the source (sound source 16 with mixing material 17 or sound source 30) and receiver 24 are fixed. Indeed, by providing the receiver 24 with a cylindrical configuration where the receiver elements 40 are placed on the surface of the cylindrical configuration, the receiver 24 is capable of detecting an acoustic signal at an angle of 0 to 360 degrees without having to move or rotate receiver 24. Similarly, the sound source (sound source 16 with mixing material 17 or sound source 30) does not need to be reoriented in order for it to be able to scan a desired azimuth angle of field. The azimuth field angle can be scanned by simply rotating the targeting device (eg mirror 20). The acoustic beam emitted by the acoustic source (the acoustic source 16 with the mixing material 17 or the acoustic source 30) is reflected by the beam-directing device (for example, mirror) 20 and is directed as an acoustic beam 18 towards the interior wall of the cylindrical body of cement
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<img file="MX338929B_D0037.tif" />
29. The acoustic beam 18 interacts with the material of the cylindrical horn 29, the outer cylindrical body of material 29, the interface between the housing 22 and the cylindrical body 29, etc., and generates reflections, refractions or surface waves, or any combination of the same. In a first scenario, the acoustic beam, after being reflected by the mirror 20, can be subjected to reflection by the material of the cylindrical body (for example, cylindrical cement body) 29 or the rock formation, or both. The reflected acoustic signal can then be detected by receiver 24. This scenario is generally referred to as a reflective mode. In a second scenario, the acoustic signal, after being reflected by the mirror 20, can be refracted by the material of the cylindrical body (for example, cylindrical cement body) 29 at the interface between the cylindrical cement body 29 and the rock formation. The refracted acoustic signal can then be detected by receiver 24. This scenario is generally referred to as a refractive mode. In yet a third scenario, the acoustic signal, after being reflected by the mirror 20, can generate surface waves at the interface between a well surface and the cement in the cylindrical body 29 (or rock formation in a field display) or at interface limits within the cement (or rock formation).
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<img file="MX338929B_D0038.tif" />
Surface waves will emit acoustic return signals that can be detected by receiver 24. This scenario is generally referred to as a surface wave mode.
Figure 4A illustrates a characteristic of the beam pulse signal emitted by the parametric acoustic source placed within the well in an experimental laboratory setup, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The acoustic beam signal pattern 45 on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 29 as a function of time (time domain) is measured using a Doppler laser vibrometer. The waveform of signal 45 is shown in Figure 4A. Figure 4B is a fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the acoustic beam signal 45 to obtain the signal in the frequency domain. The frequency bandwidth of signal 45 can be extracted from the FFT showing a wide frequency bandwidth between about 15 kHz and about 120 kHz.
The unique characteristics of the sound source (sound source 16 with mixing material 17 or sound source 30) can be combined with various receiver elements or modules 40 in a measurement system to perform azimuthal sonic borehole measurements, imaging third dimension (3D) by reflection of a well, 3D imaging by refraction, 3D detection of fractures,
<img file="MX338929B_D0039.tif" />
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INDUSTRIAL 3D permeability mapping, and 3D mapping of channels between the cylindrical body of cement and the rock formation.
Due to the high directivity of the beam pulse, many of the shortcomings of the existing acoustic well measurement systems cited above can be minimized. As will be discussed later, the system has good azimuth resolution as well as tilt direction control. In one embodiment, the azimuth angular resolution is between about 5 degrees and about 15 degrees, for example 10 degrees. This new capability enables the extension of acoustic well measurement to full 3D measurement (the 3<sup>was</sup> dimension which is the azimuth angle).
Figure 5 depicts data collected as a function of propagation time, distance between receiver elements and acoustic beam source, and azimuth angle in an experiment using the experimental setup shown in Figure 3, according to one embodiment of the present invention. In this experiment the beam source is directed into the rock formation at an azimuth angle and a tilt angle, and the linear receiver 24 with receiver elements 40 is oriented to detect the return signal at the same azimuth angles as the source beam , as shown in Figure 6. The complete source, mirror, and receiver assembly are rotated azimuthically in steps
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<img file="MX338929B_D0040.tif" />
Incremental increments of 10 degrees and acoustic return signal data are recorded for all receiver elements for each azimuth increment. Figure 5 shows five panels marked panel 1 through panel 5 (Pl, P2, P3, P4, and P5). Each panel corresponds to data presented for an azimuth measurement (i.e., azimuth angle). Each azimuth angle of 10 degrees (i.e. 0 degrees, 10 degrees, 20 degrees, etc.) corresponds to a different panel (Pl to P5). The y coordinate in each panel represents the arrival time of the detected signal in the various receiver elements 40. The x coordinate in each panel corresponds to the distance from the vertical receiver element to the source. The grayscale of the display corresponds to the amplitude of the received acoustic signal. Within each panel a plurality of data points 58 are shown. Each of these points 58 corresponds to a signal detected by one of the plurality of receiver elements 40 of receiver 24. In this example, receiver 24 is provided with 12 receiver elements 40. Therefore, 12 data points are detected by receiver 24, each point corresponding to a signal detected by one of 12 receiver elements 40. Each of the 12 data points has a different arrival time that corresponds to the arrival of the signal for each of the 12 receiving elements 40. As shown in Figure 5, the first arrival of linear signal 50 corresponds to a wave of
<img file="MX338929B_D0041.tif" />
IMPI P-wave compression refraction commonly measured in sonic recording. The second and third linear signal arrival 52 and 54 correspond to surface waves such as Rayleigh Stoneley or Lamb waves. The arrival of signals due to reflection from the cement / air interface at the perimeter of the cylindrical body is shown at 56.
Figure 7 represents reflection data obtained in an experiment similar to the data shown in Figure but after performing signal processing to filter linear arrivals. There are 36 P1-P36 panels and each panel corresponds to an azimuth angle and the 36 panels vary from 0 to 180 degrees. For example, panel P1 corresponds to the azimuth angle of 0 degrees. The y coordinate represents the arrival time at receiver 24. The y coordinate in each panel represents the arrival time of the detected signal in the various receiver elements 40. The x coordinate in each panel corresponds to the vertical distance from the receiver element to the source. The grayscale of the display corresponds to the amplitude of the received acoustic signal. Within each panel, that is, within each azimuth angle interval, hyperbola-like curves can be observed 59. Each curve 59 corresponds to data from a signal detected by a single receiver element 40 at receiver 24. The series of wave patterns
0 and 62 correspond to a reflection of a perimeter or
<img file="MX338929B_D0042.tif" />
<sub>38</sub> IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY outer periphery of the cylindrical body of cement 29 while wave pattern 64 corresponds to a reflection from a surface of notch 25 (at an interface of cement and air). As can be pointed out, the reflected waves from the surface of the notch 25 arrive at the receiver 24 before the reflected waves from the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical body 29. Furthermore, the position of the notch 25 can be determined using the azimuth measurement method and system described herein. The present method achieves excellent azimuth resolution allowing defects to be detected within a structure such as within a string within a well or at an interface of the well and rock formation, etc. For example, as can be pointed out in Figure 7, the notch 25 can be placed at specific azimuth angles or within an azimuth angular range allowing a determination of a position or location of a structure, such as a structural defect, a fracture, or the like.
Figure 8 represents a visualization of different data from the same experiment with a different classification. There are 12 panels (from P1 to P12) in Figure 8. Each panel (Pl, P2, ..., P12) corresponds to signal data detected by one of the 12 receiver elements 40 in receiver 24. Within each panel (for example, panel Pl) the x coordinate represents the azimuth angle (in the
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<img file="MX338929B_D0043.tif" />
interval 0 degrees to 360 degrees) The y-coordinate represents the arrival time in each of the 12 receiver elements 40 of the receiver 24. The gray scale of the display corresponds to the amplitude of the received acoustic signal. As can be seen in Figure 8, the reflection of the notch 25 is detected by some of the detector elements 40 (for example, in panels P1 to P4) and not by other detector elements (for example, in panels P9 to P12). Furthermore, it can be noted that for panel P1 for example, the notch 25 is clearly visible in the middle of the panel corresponding to an azimuth angle of approximately 90 degrees. The reason for detecting the notch 25 with specific receiver elements 40 (panels P1 to P4) and not by other receiver elements 40 (panels P9 to P12) is due to the fact that the acoustic beam 18 has a specific angular elevation dispersion and therefore therefore it is selectively reflected to the specific detector elements 40. Therefore, the detector elements 40 (corresponding to panels P9 through P12) outside the scattered, reflected, diffracted acoustic wave beam of the notch 25 are not capable of detecting the scattered, reflected, diffracted beam of the notch. 25. However, as can be appreciated, if receiver 24 moves vertically, other receiver elements 40 within receiver 24 can then detect the reflected, diffracted, or scattered signal
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY using notch 25. In this case, the notch can then be seen on panels P6 to PIO if the inclination of the notch changes, by way of example. Therefore, the present measurement system is not only capable of solving a position of a structure at an azimuth angle, but also at an elevation angle.
In addition, the elevation information can be used to determine an orientation of the structure (eg, notch 25). For example, in the laboratory experiment described in the previous paragraphs, the notch 25 is parallel to the axis of the well in the cylindrical body of cement 29. However, the notch 25 can also be placed obliquely, i.e. at an angle to the well axis, in which case the angular elevation information depending on the orientation of the notch 25 may be different. Indeed, depending on the angular orientation of the structure (for example, notch 25) with respect to the well axis, the reflected beam, diffracted by the notch 25, can preferably be directed to specific receptor elements 40. As a result, the notch 25 can be seen in the data or graphed image on different panels (eg, on panels P7 and P8). By determining in which panels notch 25 is detected, it is possible to infer the angular inclination of notch 25.
Figure 9 depicts another experiment in which
<img file="MX338929B_D0044.tif" />
<img file="MX338929B_D0045.tif" />
IMPI
The MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY the orientation of the receiver 24 is fixed (that is, the receiver is not rotated) and the mirror is rotated azimuth between 0 and 360 degrees in an increment of 2 0 degrees. The 19 panels are presented with each panel corresponding to signal data recorded with a single azimuth angle from 0 degrees to 360 degrees azimuth angle in increment of 20 degrees. The y coordinate represents the arrival time at receiver elements 40 of receiver 24. The x coordinate in each panel corresponds to the vertical distance between the receiving element and the source. The grayscale of the display corresponds to the amplitude of the received acoustic signal. The data clearly shows excellent azimuth resolution with the maximum linear arrivals energy that occurs when aligning the beam orientation and receiver orientation of the receiver. This shows that the propagation path is rather narrow in extension and does not propagate too much azimuth.
Figures 10A and 10B represent an experimental acoustic configuration, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10A is a longitudinal schematic view of the experimental setup and Figure 10B is a top view of the experimental setup. The included experimental setup is similar in many ways to the experimental setup shown schematically in Figure 3. The cylindrical body of
ΙΜΡΪ
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL cement 22 is aligned with an internal steel string —i iwi * · -ιι imu »: ·! · G * arranged axially 100. A pipe or tube 102 is embedded within the cylindrical body of cement 22. A notch 25 it is also cut or engraved on an exterior surface of the cylindrical cement body 22. A separation sheet 104 (eg, aluminum sheet) is provided within the housing 22. In this embodiment, the separation sheet 104 is placed in contact with the inner string 100. The acoustic source 16, 30, the non-linear material 17, the mirror and the receiver 24 are placed within the string 100 of the cylindrical body 22. As shown in Figure 10B, the axes are drawn to indicate the angular orientation azimuth (the orientation of the two axes is arbitrary). Notch 25 is positioned at azimuth angle between about 230 degrees and about 280 degrees. Pipe or tube 102 is placed at an azimuth angle between about 80 degrees and about 100 degrees. The separation sheet (eg, aluminum sheet) is placed at an azimuth angle between about 140 degrees and about 190 degrees.
Figures 11A-11C show graphs of the measured data for various orientations or azimuth angles, respectively, at about 320 degrees, at about 90 degrees, and at about 165 degrees, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The
<img file="MX338929B_D0046.tif" />
IMPI
INSTITUTO MEXICANO Dfc LA PROPERTY INDUSTRIAL orientation or azimuth angle of approximately 320 degrees (Figure 11A) corresponds to the orientation of the acoustic beam in a region where there is no inclusion behind the inner string 100, that is, there is only the wall of the cylindrical body of cement. The orientation or azimuth angle of approximately 90 degrees (Figure 11B) corresponds to the orientation of the acoustic beam in a region where the tube is included (for example, plastic pipe) 102. The orientation or azimuth angle of approximately 165 degrees (Figure 11C) corresponds to the orientation of the acoustic beam in a region where the separation sheet (eg, aluminum sheet) 104 is provided. In this graph, the y coordinate corresponds to the time it takes for the sound wave to be received by the receiver 24, the x coordinate in each panel corresponds to the vertical distance of the receiving element from the source. The various curves in each graph correspond to the acoustic signals received by the various receiver elements 40 at receiver 24. In this example, 12 receiver elements 40 are provided at receiver 24. However, any number of receiving elements can be used. The curve closest to the x coordinate corresponds to the signal detected by the first receiving element and the curve furthest to the x coordinate corresponds to the signal detected by the 12th receiving element. The first receiving element is the receiving element that is closest
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF IWDU5TIUAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0047.tif" />
to the acoustic source 16, 30 and the 12th receiving element is the receiving element that is furthest from the acoustic source
16, 30.
As shown in Figure HA, without inclusion behind the inner string 100, the surface waves decay with distance along the well, that is, they decay from the first receiving element to the 12th receiving element. As shown in Figure 11C, with the delamination or separation sheet 104 behind the string 100, the amplitude of the surface waves is greater and decays more slowly as expected because the steel pipe is not wetted by the contact with the cement (i.e. the aluminum foil carries the sound waves further along the hole). As shown in Figure 11B, at azimuth angles corresponding to pipe 102, the surface wave amplitude is greater and also decays more slowly. In addition to the surface wave, a fast linear arrival just behind the first arrival of the P wave is recorded indicating additional wave mode displacement along the wall of pipe 102. These measurement data clearly show that the azimuth information of the rock formation behind the steel string can be deduced from linear arrivals using an acoustic well measurement system.
In addition to the ability to change the orientation
IMPI
INSTITUTO MEXICANO PE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL acoustic when changing address
<img file="MX338929B_D0048.tif" />
20, the inclination of the mirror 20 to send the azimuth source beam from the mirror azimuth angular source beam can also be changed acoustically along any vertical direction. This allows the sound source beam to be injected at different azimuth inclinations and directions to probe reflection limits, refractive limits, and fractures of different orientations in the rock formation.
The data can be further analyzed using various
<td>conventional methods.</td><td>The</td><td>analysis</td><td>of</td><td>arrivals of</td>
<td>refraction along with</td><td>the</td><td colspan="2">resolution</td><td>azimuth can</td>
<td>provide training</td><td>of</td><td>images</td><td>3D</td><td>of speed</td>
by means of refraction analysis. This may provide better disturbance characterization near the well and reservoir crust characterization.
In one embodiment, the measurement data is collected using broadband beam pulse. In this way, information with wide frequency bandwidth can be collected relatively quickly. Indeed, in this case, it is not necessary to sweep the frequency by chirping.
Furthermore, in one embodiment, the use of multiple acoustic sources to cover the entire bandwidth, for example, between about 15 kHz and about 120 kHz, may not be necessary. Acoustic beam pulse with wide broadband, for example between about 15 kHz
IMPI ^
INSTITUTO MEXICANO DE LA PROFIEDAD fNOUSTiUAL and approximately 120 kHz, can provide measurements that can provide information about the cement bond between cement and rock formation in a well.
The present measurement system can be used to evaluate a cement string or steel string in a well. A simulation of guided wave propagation through the steel string when a sound beam pulse interacts with the steel string is performed under certain geometric conditions. In this simulation, a 25mm thick layer of cement is used between the Berea steel and sandstone string. La Berea is considered infinite in extension.
The well is also assumed to be full of water and an energy sink exists along the axis of the well. Simulations were carried out using the DISPERSE software package from Imperial College, UK.
Figures 12A-12C show graphs of acoustic simulation in the 20-120 kHz frequency range for various conditions. The data in these charts is captured in the case where the well is full of water. Each data set is generated under different conditions but in each case the receiver is 12 inches (30.48 centimeters) from the excitation point on the steel string in the axial direction. These data show the propagation characteristics of a sound pulse (frequency chirp) lasting 100 microseconds with
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL
<img file="MX338929B_D0049.tif" />
a frequency range of 20-120 kHz and with a Gaussian envelope. The graphs on the left side show the amplitude of the received acoustic signal as a function of time and the graphs on the right side show the fast Fourier transform of the acoustic signal to the frequency domain where the amplitude is graphed as a function of the frequency. Figure 12A is a graph of the data captured with water - steel - concrete - air, where there is an air gap between the concrete and the Berea sandstone. Figure 12B is a graph of the water - steel - concrete - water - Berea data, where there is a water gap (eg, a 1mm gap) between the concrete and the Berea. Figure 12C is a graph of the data captured with water - steel - concrete - Berea, where all the interfaces between water, steel, concrete and Berea are in physical contact.
The graphs represented in Figures 12A-12C show significant differences between them in terms of signal characteristics. When the concrete is in good contact with the Berea sandstone, the wave energy through the steel dissipates in the Berea and the observed amplitude is rather low (as shown in Figure 12C). When there is a gap or gap between the concrete and the Berea, the signal level is higher (as shown in Figures 12A and 12B).
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0050.tif" />
The second set of graphs on the right side representing signal amplitude versus frequency shows the frequency content of the received signal.
Higher frequencies are damped when concrete and
Berea are in good contact (as shown in Figure 12C). Furthermore, as can be pointed out in Figure 12B, the presence of water between the concrete and the Berea confines the energy at earlier times and the frequency content is also narrowed. As shown in Figure 12A, when the concrete is in good contact with the Berea, the signal is dispersed in time with the main arrival significantly delayed. The differences between the different scenarios can be easily seen in these charts. The simulated data shows that the described measurement method or system can be effectively used for cement evaluation around a well string.
Figures 12A-12C above show the frequency content of the signal propagated under various well string integrity conditions in reference to the concrete and Berea rock formation behind it. Therefore, it is not possible to observe in these Figures which frequencies propagate and at what intensities at different times. Another way of looking at the information presented in Figures 12A-12C can be based on an analysis of frequency-binding time of the data using a
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY Fourier short transform approach (STFT). This provides the frequency content of the signal as a function of time and therefore allows frequencies that are prominent at certain times to be seen during propagation. Therefore, STFT analysis of the data improves the information provided by Figures 12A-12C and introduces a powerful analysis approach.
Figures 13A-13C show the original simulated chirp propagation data along with time-frequency analysis of the same data. The graphs on the right side represent the 3D time-frequency information for each of the simulations previously analyzed with reference to the
Figures 12A-12C, respectively. The x-axis corresponds to time, and the y-axis corresponds to frequency, and the z-axis vertical axis corresponds to amplitude. In Figure 13A, as shown in the 3D graph, where the concrete is separated from the rest of the system and the rock formation is not seen, the energy in the waves propagates through three different speeds and this gives rise to three peaks in a 0.1 second time interval. It is also noted that the wave also arrives relatively quickly, after 0.1 second. In Figure 13B, as shown in the 3D graph, the situation is
<img file="MX338929B_D0051.tif" />
that there is a 1 mm gap filled with water between the
ΙΜΡΙ
MEXICAN INSTITUTE »OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0052.tif" />
cement and rock formation. The acoustic wave propagation characteristics are completely different from the acoustic wave propagation characteristics shown in Figure 13A. Indeed, all the energy appears to be grouped together and propagates relatively quickly through the string and cement and the propagation is not influenced by rock formation as if the two parts were isolated. Figure 13C depicts the situation where all layers are tightly coupled (steel string, cement, and rock formation). As shown in the 3D graph in Figure 13C, the presence of the rock formation has a strong load influence on the wave propagation and the wave propagation is significantly delayed and the main energy peak arrives with a delay of almost 0.5 seconds. These three examples show how the different separations or couplings between the layers can be detected by this type of analysis and measurements.
Furthermore, by providing azimuth resolution in acoustic well measurements, rock characterization can be improved and therefore production engineering systems are improved. Furthermore, by providing azimuth resolution in acoustic weight measurement, the integrity of the well can be assessed and therefore the safety of total drilling is improved. Furthermore, the azimuth resolution in the
<img file="MX338929B_D0053.tif" />
IMPI
INSTITU ID MEXICANO DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL well measurements can allow the measurement of a stress surrounding the well and as a result the well completion methodology is improved.
Furthermore, the described acoustic well measurement system and method can also be used to image rock formation, actually The present measurement system and method can fill a measurement gap between conventional sonic tools investigating less than a foot (approximately 33 cm) from the well with relatively good vertical resolution and conventional long-range sonic imaging tools such as a Acoustic Well Reflection Study (BARS) from the Schlumberger Corporation, investigating the rock formation tens of feet from the well but with lower vertical resolution and limited azimuth resolution. For example, the present acoustic measurement method and system can be used in various applications including:
one. 3D imaging of reservoir layers, stratigraphy, fractures, faults, cavities (up to a few feet such as 10 feet (3.04 meters) from the well) with full azimuth resolution.
2. Measurement of compressional velocity VP and shear velocity Vs of the rock formation with complete azimuth determination.
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0054.tif" />
3. 3D analysis of geomechanical properties around wells from analysis of refraction waves and Lamb waves to improve the characterization of the invasion zone and any well damage.
Four. 3D imaging of the velocity of the rock formation near the well using refraction analysis.
5. 3D fracture mapping from linear arrival reflections.
6. 3D mapping of permeability and crust of reservoir production.
7. Focusing the acoustic beam with phase-coded Gaussian pulses in the shortest frequency range, for example, between about 10 kHz and about 30 kHz for deeper penetration into the rock formation while discriminating background noise.
For example, in one embodiment, measurement of the compressional and / or shear velocity of the rock formation in the vicinity of the well at a plurality of azimuth angles using the measurement system described above can provide valuable information regarding the stress around the thus allowing to determine or predict potential fracture position and / or fracture propagation with the rock formation in the vicinity of the well. Formations known to have
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0055.tif" />
Relatively greater speed variations are either relatively less consolidated, or the effort in formation is greater. In both situations, an indication can be provided such as the probability that the well will collapse. The acoustic measurement system described in the preceding paragraphs can provide information on velocities as a function of azimuth angle and / or elevation angle within the rock formation around the well. Using velocity as a function of azimuth angle or elevation angle one can in turn provide the azimuth and / or inclination angle of various stress areas and / or fractures, faults, etc., and therefore can be provided finally the information on the anisotropy of the stress field of the earth around the well. In addition, the position of a fracture or failure can be mapped in three dimensions (3D mapping) using the acquired data as a function of azimuth and elevation angle.
The measurement system and method described above can also be used in mapping fluid permeability of subsurface formations such as subsurface penetrated by a well that includes permeability due to fractures in the rock formation. For example, this can be done by measuring speeds (compression rate or shear rate or waves
<img file="MX338929B_D0056.tif" />
IMPI
MEXiCAN INSTITUTE-)
FROM INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (surface or any combination of ^ 'laj ·' velooidatedQ cited) at various points within the rock formation around the well. Based on the measured velocity, the permeability can be extracted using various known models.
In one embodiment, the method or methods described above can be implemented as a series of instructions that can be executed by a computer. As can be seen, the term computer as used herein encompasses any type of computing system or device that includes a personal computer (for example, a desktop computer, a laptop, or any other handheld computing device), or a central computer (for example, an IBM central system), or a super-computer (for example, a CRAY computer), or a plurality of networked computers in a distributed computing environment.
For example, the methods can be implemented as a software program application that can be stored on a computer-readable medium such as hard drives, CD-ROMs, optical discs, DVDs, magnetic optical discs, RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, magnetic cards or optical, flash cards (for example, a USB flash card), PCMCIA memory cards, smart cards, or other media.
Alternatively, a portion or all of the
IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE i, - »-».
OF THE PROPERTY
INDUSTRIAL 'software program product can be downloaded from
<img file="MX338929B_D0057.tif" />
from a remote computer or server using a network such as the internet, an ATM network, a wide area network (WAN), or a local area network.
Alternatively, instead of or in addition to implementing the method as computer program products (eg, software products) embedded in a computer, the method may be implemented as hardware in which, for example, a specific application integrated circuit (ASIC) can be designed to implement the method.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram representing a computer system 130 for implementing the methods, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 15, computer system 130 comprises processor (eg, one or more processors) 132 and memory 134 in communication with processor 132. Computer system 130 may further include an input device 136 for entering data (such as a keyboard, a mouse, or the like) and an output device 138 such as a display device for displaying computation results. Computer system 130 can be configured to control various modules including a control module 140 to control signal generator 12, a control module 142 to control the
142 a control module
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MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
<img file="MX338929B_D0058.tif" />
mirror 20 addressing, and acquisition electronics to acquire measurement data. Measurement data can be stored on a storage device (eg a flash drive) for display or further processing, etc.
In one embodiment, a system for investigating structure near a well is provided. The system includes an acoustic source configured to generate an acoustic wave and direct the acoustic wave at one or more azimuth angles to a desired location in the vicinity of a well. The system further includes one or more receivers configured to receive an acoustic signal, the acoustic signal that originates from a reflection or refraction of the acoustic wave by a material at the desired location. The system also includes a processor configured to perform data processing on the received signal to analyze the received acoustic signal to characterize the characteristics of the material around the well.
Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that these details are for that purpose only and that the invention is not limits to the described modalities, but, on the contrary, it is proposed
<img file="MX338929B_D0059.tif" />
<sup>57</sup> IMPI
MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY covering modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the attached claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any one embodiment may be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
Furthermore, since various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructions and operations described herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.
It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant for practicing the present invention is the one that is clear from the present description of the invention.
Contents82
75 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6 Sheet 7 Sheet 8 Sheet 9 Sheet 10 Sheet 11 Sheet 12 Sheet 13 Sheet 14 Sheet 15 Sheet 16 Sheet 17 Sheet 18 Sheet 19 Sheet 20 Sheet 21 Sheet 22 Sheet 23 Sheet 24 Sheet 25 Sheet 26 Sheet 27 Sheet 28 Sheet 29 Sheet 30 Sheet 31 Sheet 32 Sheet 33 Sheet 34 Sheet 35 Sheet 36 Sheet 37 Sheet 38 Sheet 39 Sheet 40 Sheet 41 Sheet 42 Sheet 43 Sheet 44 Sheet 45 Sheet 46 Sheet 47 Sheet 48 Sheet 49 Sheet 50 Sheet 51 Sheet 52 Sheet 53 Sheet 54 Sheet 55 Sheet 56 Sheet 57 Sheet 58 Sheet 59 Sheet 60 Sheet 61 Sheet 62 Sheet 63 Sheet 64 Sheet 65 Sheet 66 Sheet 67 Sheet 68 Sheet 69 Sheet 70 Sheet 71 Sheet 72 Sheet 73 Sheet 74 Sheet 75
37 members in 10 offices
Priority claims11
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201261691602 | United States of America | P | |
| 61691602 | United States of America | – | |
| 13836611 | United States of America | – | |
| 201313836611 | United States of America | A | |
| 2013056038 | United States of America | W | |
| 13836611 | – | – | – |
| 61691602 | – | – | – |
| US1356038 | – | – | – |
| US201261691602P | – | – | – |
| US201313836611 | – | – | – |
| WO2013US56038 | – | – | – |
Members37
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2882342A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| CA2882343A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| CA2882366A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| US2014056101A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2014056110A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2014056111A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| WO2014031777A2 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A2 | |
| WO2014031778A2 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A2 | |
| WO2014031779A2 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A2 | |
| WO2014031778A3 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A3 | |
| WO2014031777A3 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A3 | |
| WO2014031779A3 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A3 | |
| AU2013305753A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| AU2013305752A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| AU2013305754A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| SG11201501252WA | Singapore | A | |
| SG11201501253TA | Singapore | A | |
| SG11201501258XA | Singapore | A | |
| MX2015002264A | Mexico | A | |
| MX2015002265A | Mexico | A | |
| MX2015002266A | Mexico | A | |
| EP2888608A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| EP2888609A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| EP2888610A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| US9103944B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP2015529822A | Japan | A | |
| JP2015531073A | Japan | A | |
| JP2015531074A | Japan | A | |
| MX338882B | Mexico | B | |
| MX338929BThis record | Mexico | B | |
| US9354346B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| RU2015110055A | Russian Federation | A | |
| RU2015110056A | Russian Federation | A | |
| RU2015110057A | Russian Federation | A | |
| BR112015003736A2 | Brazil | A2 | |
| BR112015003739A2 | Brazil | A2 | |
| BR112015003740A2 | Brazil | A2 |
1 legal event, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Events
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Grant or registrationFG | FG |
Numbers
- Publication
- 338929
- Publication, DOCDB
- 338929
- Publication, EPODOC
- MX338929
- Application
- 2015002266
- Application, DOCDB
- 2015002266
- Application, EPODOC
- MX20150002266
Titles2
- English
- SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SONIC WAVE MEASUREMENTS USING AN ACOUSTIC BEAM SOURCE.
- Spanish
- SISTEMA Y METODO PARA MEDICIONES DE ONDAS SONICAS UTILIZANDO UNA FUENTE DE HAZ ACUSTICO.
Classification
- CPC, 7
- G01V1/50
- B06B1/0688
- E21B47/005
- E21B47/0005
- G01V1/40
- H04R17/00
- G01V1/42