US2014204712A1PendingUtilityA1

Downhole optical acoustic transducers

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Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERV INCPriority: Jan 24, 2013Filed: Jan 24, 2013Published: Jul 24, 2014
Est. expiryJan 24, 2033(~6.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Neal G. SkinnerEtienne M. SamsonJohn L. MaidaChristopher Lee StokelyDavid Andrew Barfoot
G01D 5/48E21B 47/14E21B 47/135G01H 9/004G01V 1/226G01V 2210/1429
43
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Claims

Abstract

A method of generating an acoustic signal in a subterranean well can include converting optical energy to acoustic energy downhole, thereby transmitting the acoustic signal through a downhole environment. A well system can include an optical acoustic transducer disposed in the well and coupled to an optical waveguide in the well, whereby the transducer converts optical energy transmitted via the optical waveguide to acoustic energy. An optical acoustic transducer for use in a subterranean well can include various means for converting optical energy transmitted via an optical waveguide to acoustic energy in the well.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of generating an acoustic signal in a subterranean well, the method comprising:
 converting optical energy to acoustic energy downhole, thereby transmitting the acoustic signal through a downhole environment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the optical energy to electrical energy downhole. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the converting further comprises illuminating an optical to electrical transducer with light transmitted via an optical waveguide downhole. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the electrical energy to the acoustic energy downhole. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising storing the electrical energy downhole. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising triggering a release of the electrical energy downhole. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the electrical energy to mechanical energy downhole. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the optical energy to thermal energy downhole. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the thermal energy to the acoustic energy downhole. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the thermal energy to mechanical energy downhole. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the converting further comprises converting the mechanical energy to the acoustic energy downhole. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the converting further comprises detonating an explosive device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the detonating is performed by directing light transmitted via an optical waveguide in the well to the explosive device. 
     
     
         14 . A well system, comprising:
 an optical acoustic transducer disposed in the well and coupled to an optical waveguide in the well, wherein the transducer converts optical energy transmitted via the optical waveguide to acoustic energy.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer comprises an optical electrical transducer which converts the optical energy to electrical energy in the well. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the optical electrical transducer is illuminated with light transmitted via the optical waveguide in the well. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer further comprises an electrical acoustic transducer which converts the electrical energy to the acoustic energy in the well. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical energy generated by the optical electrical transducer is stored in the well. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer releases the stored electrical energy in the well. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer comprises an optical thermal transducer which converts the optical energy to thermal energy in the well. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer further comprises a thermal acoustic transducer which converts the thermal energy to the acoustic energy in the well. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer further comprises a thermal mechanical transducer which converts the thermal energy to mechanical energy in the well. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the optical acoustic transducer further comprises a mechanical acoustic transducer which converts the mechanical energy to the acoustic energy in the well. 
     
     
         24 . An optical acoustic transducer for use in a subterranean well, the optical acoustic transducer comprising:
 means for converting optical energy transmitted via an optical waveguide to acoustic energy in the well.   
     
     
         25 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 24 , wherein the converting means comprises an optical electrical transducer which converts the optical energy to electrical energy in the well. 
     
     
         26 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 25 , wherein the optical electrical transducer is illuminated with light transmitted via the optical waveguide in the well. 
     
     
         27 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 25 , wherein the converting means further comprises an electrical acoustic transducer which converts the electrical energy to the acoustic energy in the well. 
     
     
         28 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 25 , wherein the electrical energy generated by the optical electrical transducer is stored in the well. 
     
     
         29 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 28 , wherein the converting means releases the stored electrical energy in the well. 
     
     
         30 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 24 , wherein the converting means comprises an optical thermal transducer which converts the optical energy to thermal energy in the well. 
     
     
         31 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 30 , wherein the converting means further comprises a thermal acoustic transducer which converts the thermal energy to the acoustic energy in the well. 
     
     
         32 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 30 , wherein the converting means further comprises a thermal mechanical transducer which converts the thermal energy to mechanical energy in the well. 
     
     
         33 . The optical acoustic transducer of  claim 32 , wherein the converting means further comprises a mechanical acoustic transducer which converts the mechanical energy to the acoustic energy in the well.

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