Controlled implosive downhole seismic source
First Claim
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1. An implosive downhole seismic source comprising:
- a generally cylindrical vessel body comprised of a material of sufficient strength to withstand the force of implosion;
and end cap sealing said cylindrical vessel body to form a chamber, said end cap being comprised of a material capable of being selectively ruptured to cause an implosion under the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid into which said vessel body is lowered; and
explosive means for selectively rupturing said end cap to implode the fluid surrounding said vessel body into said chamber as a result of the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid.
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Abstract
A controlled implosive downhole seismic source having a substantially hollow closed vessel body adapted to be lowered in a borehole and means for selectively causing at least a portion of the vessel body to implode under pressure thereby producing seismic waves.
45 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implosive downhole seismic source comprising:
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a generally cylindrical vessel body comprised of a material of sufficient strength to withstand the force of implosion; and end cap sealing said cylindrical vessel body to form a chamber, said end cap being comprised of a material capable of being selectively ruptured to cause an implosion under the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid into which said vessel body is lowered; and explosive means for selectively rupturing said end cap to implode the fluid surrounding said vessel body into said chamber as a result of the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An implosive downhole seismic source comprising:
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a generally cylindrical vessel body comprised of a material of sufficient strength to withstand the force of implosion; an end cap sealing said cylindrical vessel body to form a chamber, said end cap being comprised of a material capable of being selectively ruptured to cause an implosion under the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid into which said vessel body is lowered; explosive means for selectively rupturing said end cap to implode the fluid surrounding said vessel body into said chamber; a piston slidably disposed within said chamber adjacent said end cap forceable toward the opposite end of said chamber when said end cap is ruptured; and a piston stop for decelerating said piston. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. An implosive downhole seismic source comprising:
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a downhole carrier; a plurality of generally cylindrical vessel bodies mounted to said downhole carrier, each of said vessel bodies being comprised of a material of sufficient strength to withstand the force of implosion; an end cap sealing each of said vessel bodies to form a chamber, each said end cap being comprised of a material capable of being selectively ruptured to cause an implosion under the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid into which said downhole carrier, having said vessel bodies mounted thereto, is lowered; explosive means for separately rupturing the end caps of said vessel bodies to implode the fluid surrounding said vessel body into the chamber; and circuit means for selective firing of ignitors to rupture the end cap of each of said vessel bodies mounted to said downhole carrier. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A method of generating a downhole seismic source comprising:
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lowering a vessel body comprised of a material of sufficient strength to withstand the force of implosion, an end cap sealing the cylindrical vessel body to form a chamber comprised of a material capable of being selectively ruptured to cause an implosion, and explosive means for selectively rupturing said end cap downhole; actuating the explosive means to rupture the end cap to implode the fluid surrounding the vessel body into the chamber as a result of downhole hydrostatic pressure; and recovering the vessel body for re-use. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification