Wellbore signal generator

• US 7,441,628 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z-Seis Corp.
• Original Assignee: Z-Seis Corp.
• Inventors: Minto, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHILLIPS, FORREST M
• Application Number:
  US10/965,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081413A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 181/111, 181/121, 181/113, 181/124, 181/108, 181/112, 181/122, 181/106, 166/177.6, 166/177.1, 367/14, 367/25, 367/188, 367/82, 367/35, 367/105, 310/334, 310/322
• US Class Current: 181/111
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/04 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/52 Structural details

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for generating a signal with a signal generator comprising a tool body disposed in a tubular member. A first and second electromagnets are disposed within the tool body such that the second electromagnet is opposite the first electromagnet. A power supply selectively provides electrical current to the first and second electromagnets so as to displace the tubular member and generate a signal in the surrounding formation.

Claims

1. A signal generator comprising

a tool body operable to be disposed in a wellbore casing;

a first electromagnet disposed within said tool body;

a second electromagnet disposed within said tool body opposite said first electromagnet; and

a power supply operable to selectively provide electrical current to said first and second electromagnets so as to generate a magnetic force that attracts the wellbore casing to the electromagnets so as to displace the wellbore casing, wherein a signal is generated by the displacement of the wellbore casing.

2. The signal generator of claim 1 wherein the power supply generates electrical current such that said first electromagnet is energized when said second electromagnet is not energized so as to generate a vibrating displacement in the wellbore casing.

3. The signal generator of claim 1 wherein the wellbore casing is filled with a gas.

4. The signal generator of claim 1 wherein said tool body is suspended in the wellbore casing on a wireline.

5. The signal generator of claim 4 wherein said power supply provides electrical current through the wireline.

6. The signal generator of claim 1 further comprising:

a third electromagnet disposed within said tool body and oriented perpendicular to said first electromagnet; and

a fourth electromagnet disposed within said tool body opposite said third electromagnet.

7. The signal generator of claim 6 wherein the power supply generates electrical current such that said electromagnets are energized in series so as to generate a rotating displacement in the wellbore casing.

8. The signal generator of claim 6 wherein said tool body is suspended in the wellbore casing. on a wireline.

9. The signal generator of claim 8 wherein said power supply provides electrical current through the wireline.

10. The signal generator of claim 6 wherein the power supply generates electrical current such that said first and second electromagnets are energized and then said third and fourth electromagnets are energized so as to form orthogonally opposed displacements in the wellbore casing.

11. The signal generator of claim 1 wherein said first and second electromagnets each comprise a core movable relative to said tool body.

12. The signal generator of claim 11 wherein the cores of said first and second electromagnets contact the wellbore casing and move relative to said tool body when electrical current is applied to the electromagnets.

13. A signal generator comprising:

a plurality of electromagnets disposed about a tool body disposed in a wellbore casing; and

a power supply operable to provide electrical current to said plurality of electromagnets so as to create an attractive magnetic force between the electromagnets and the wellbore casing, wherein the attractive magnetic force generates a displacement of the casing.

14. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein said power supply creates a vibrating displacement of the casing.

15. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein said power supply creates a rotating displacement of the casing.

16. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein said power supply creates a first vibrating displacement and second vibrating displacement, wherein the first vibrating displacement is orthogonal to the second vibrating displacement.

17. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein said plurality of electromagnets comprises a pair of electromagnets oriented in opposite directions.

18. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein said plurality of electromagnets comprises four electromagnets oriented at ninety degree intervals.

19. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein the tool body is suspended in the wellbore casing on a wireline.

20. The signal generator of claim 15 wherein said power supply provides electrical current through the wireline.

21. The signal generator of claim 13 wherein said plurality of electromagnets each comprise a core movable relative to said tool body.

22. The signal generator of claim 21 wherein the cores contact the casing and move relative to the tool body when electrical current is applied to said electromagnets.

23. A method of generating a seismic signal in a formation comprising:

disposing a tool in a wellbore casing, wherein the tool comprises a plurality of electromagnets;

supplying electrical power to the tool; and

selectively applying the electrical power to the electromagnets so as to generate a magnetic force that attracts the wellbore casing to the electromagnet so as to displace the wellbore casing.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the displacement in the casing is a vibrating displacement.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the displacement in the casing is a rotating displacement.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the displacement in the casing comprises a first displacement and a second displacement, wherein the first displacement is orthogonal to the second displacement.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein electrical power is supplied to the tool through a wireline that suspends the tool within the wellbore tubular.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the tool is sized so as to minimize an annular area formed between the tool and the wellbore casing.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising centralizing the tool within the wellbore casing by selectively applying electrical current to the electromagnets.