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Automatic adjustment of magnetostrictive transducer preload for acoustic telemetry in a wellbore

  • US 10,145,238 B2
  • Filed: 04/22/2015
  • Issued: 12/04/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A magnetostrictive transducer system comprising:

  • a magnetostrictive transducer mechanically coupled to a tubular member, the magnetostrictive transducer arranged to strain in response to a drive signal and thereby produce a corresponding acoustic wave in the tubular member;

    a preload spring positioned between and in contact with the tubular member and the magnetostrictive transducer to apply a preload force on the magnetostrictive transducer;

    an oscillator positioned to receive a carrier signal and to drive a reference signal that is proportional to the received carrier signal;

    a filter module positioned to receive the reference signal, to filter the carrier signal, and to provide a filtered carrier signal to the magnetostrictive transducer, where the filtered carrier signal is a first component of the drive signal;

    a detector module positioned to receive the reference signal and an output signal and to provide a corrective DC signal as a feedback to the magnetostrictive transducer, where the corrective DC signal is a second component of the drive signal, for automatic adjustment to the strain of the magnetostrictive transducer; and

    an acoustic telemetry receiver mechanically coupled to the tubular member to sense acoustic waves in the tubular member and to transduce corresponding electrical signals to provide the output signal to the detector module.

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