Acoustic Attenuation Interface for Noise Reduction in Drilling Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic signals recorded during drilling operations in the oil and gas industry often contain high levels of environmental noise, which introduces uncertainties in determining the lithological properties of the site, making it challenging to extract accurate information.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising an acoustic attenuation interface between two acoustic transmission conduits, where an acoustic signal source generates a signal transmitted through one conduit, and an acoustic noise source generates noise transmitted through another conduit, with sensors detecting composite signals to produce a noise-reduced signal using an acoustic signal processing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If acoustic signals are recorded during drilling operations, then real-time information about formation properties is obtained, but environmental noise contaminates the signals and introduces uncertainties in lithological determination
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the acoustic transmission into separate conduits: a first acoustic transmission conduit for the desired acoustic signal and a second acoustic transmission conduit for environmental noise. This physical segmentation allows independent handling and processing of signal and noise components, enabling the noise to be attenuated without affecting the primary signal path.
Solution Approach 2:
An acoustic attenuation interface is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second acoustic transmission conduits. This interface selectively attenuates acoustic noise transmitted through the second conduit while allowing the acoustic signal from the first conduit to pass through with minimal interference. The attenuation interface acts as a mediator that separates and filters noise from the useful signal.
2Reliability
If acoustic noise is present in the signal transmission path, then complete signal coverage is maintained, but the noise intensity reduces the quality of the acoustic signal
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the acoustic transmission system into separate segments: a first acoustic transmission conduit carrying the desired signal and a second acoustic transmission conduit carrying the noise. This segmentation allows the noise to be confined to its own transmission path where it can be attenuated by the acoustic attenuation interface without compromising the integrity of the primary signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic attenuation interface serves as an intermediary that selectively reduces noise intensity while preserving signal integrity. Positioned between the two transmission conduits, it attenuates noise from the second conduit that might otherwise contaminate the signal in the first conduit, thereby reducing harmful noise factors while maintaining reliable signal transmission.
3Loss of information
If sensors detect composite signals containing both acoustic signal and noise, then complete signal information is captured, but noise content increases uncertainty in signal interpretation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses separate acoustic transmission conduits for signal and noise, allowing sensors to detect composite signals while the physical segmentation ensures that noise has already been attenuated by the acoustic attenuation interface. This segmentation approach captures complete signal information while minimizing noise contamination in the detected composite signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The acoustic attenuation interface acts as an intermediary that reduces noise content in the composite signals detected by sensors. By positioning this interface between the transmission conduits, the system allows sensors to capture complete signal information while the interface has already filtered out much of the noise, thereby improving signal interpretation accuracy without losing essential signal data.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces environmental noise in acoustic signals, minimizing errors in determining lithological properties, and enabling more accurate real-time data acquisition during drilling operations.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic attenuation interface disposed between the first acoustic transmission conduit and the second acoustic transmission conduit... attenuating the acoustic noise propagating from the second acoustic transmission conduit to the first acoustic transmission conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an acoustic attenuation interface disposed between a first acoustic transmission conduit and a second acoustic transmission conduit. An acoustic signal source acoustically coupled to the first acoustic transmission conduit generates an acoustic signal. An acoustic noise source acoustically coupled to the second acoustic transmission conduit generates an acoustic noise. A first sensor is configured to detect a first composite signal including the acoustic signal after transmission through at least a portion of the first acoustic transmission conduit and an attenuated acoustic noise. A second sensor is configured to detect a second composite signal including the acoustic signal after transmission through at least a portion of the first acoustic transmission conduit and attenuated by the acoustic attenuation interface and the acoustic noise. An acoustic signal processing system is configured to determine a noise-reduced signal from the first composite signal and the second composite signal.