Acoustic stimulation method with axial driver actuating moment arms on tines

• US 7,216,738 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company), Shell International Exploration and Production BV (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company), Shell International Exploration and Production BV (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Han, Wei, Proett, Mark A., Birchak, James R., Zuiderwijk, Pedro, van Batenburg, Diederik, Mese, Ali I., van der Sman, Peter, Ritter, Thomas E., Yoo, Kwang, Groenenboom, Jeroen, Trainor, William, van der Bas, Ferdinand, Kusmer, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUKS, JEREMY AUSTIN
• Application Number:
  US11/059,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 181/121, 181/105, 181/106, 181/111, 181/113, 367/35, 367/157, 367/160, 367/165, 367/189
• US Class Current: 181/121
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/121 Flextensional transducers

Abstract

A method for generating acoustic waves, the method having the steps of: extending a tine from a support structure so that a proximal end of the tine is attached to the support structure and a distal end of the tine is uninhibited; positioning an oscillator so as to be supported by the support structure and to mechanically communicate with the tine; and oscillating the tine with the oscillator.

Claims

1. A method of generating acoustic waves, comprising:

extending a tine from a support structure so that a proximal end of the tine is attached to the support structure and a distal end of the tine is uninhibited;

wherein extending the tine comprises extending a pivot post from the support structure, extending a beam from the pivot post, and extending the tine from the beam,

positioning an oscillator so as to be supported by the support structure and to mechanically communicate with the tine; and

oscillating the tine with the oscillator.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein extending the tine comprises extending a plurality of tines.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein extending the tine comprises extending a plurality of tines, wherein the plurality of tines are position equidistant from each other in a circular pattern.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the oscillator comprises extending a moment arm from the tine, and mechanically communicating the oscillator with the moment arm.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein oscillating the tine with the oscillator comprises oscillating the tine in a first order mode of oscillation.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein oscillating the tine with the oscillator comprises oscillating the tine in a second order mode of oscillation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein oscillating the tine with the oscillator comprises oscillating the tine in a third order mode of oscillation.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein oscillating the tine radiates an acoustic pattern having substantially equal roll-off with distance for two orthogonal planes perpendicular to a face of the tine.

9. A method for generating acoustic waves, comprising:

extending two tines from a support structure so that proximal ends of the two tines are attached to the support structure and distal ends of the two tines are uninhibited;

wherein extending the two tines comprises extending two pivot posts from the support structure, extending a beam from each of the two pivot post, and extending the two tines from the beams,

positioning an oscillator so as to be supported by the support structure and to mechanically communicate with the two tines; and

oscillating the two tines with the oscillator.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein positioning the oscillator comprises extending a moment arm from each of the two tines, and mechanically communicating the oscillator with the moment arms.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein positioning the oscillator comprises positioning the oscillator so that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the two tines.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein positioning the oscillator comprises positioning the oscillator so that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to the two tines.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein oscillating the two tines with the oscillator comprises oscillating the two tines symmetrically.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein oscillating the two tines with the oscillator comprises oscillating the two tines asymmetrically.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein oscillating the two tines with the oscillator comprises oscillating the two tines in a first order mode of oscillation.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein oscillating the two tines with the oscillator comprises oscillating the two tines in a second order mode of oscillation.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein oscillating the two tines with the oscillator comprises oscillating the two lines in a third order mode of oscillation.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein oscillating the two tines radiates acoustic patterns having substantially equal roll-off with distance for two orthogonal planes perpendicular to respective faces of the two tines.