Hydrophone Road Noise Removal Using Modeled Guided Waves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic devices deployed in wellbores generate motion-induced noise that obscures critical sound signals, leading to inaccurate determinations and reduced safety in wellbore operations.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive filtering method is employed to attenuate motion-induced noise (road noise) by aligning and transforming sensor data using timing offsets and spectral analysis, separating it from signals of interest.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hydrophones are deployed in a wellbore to collect acoustic signals, then acoustic data can be gathered for wellbore safety determination, but motion of the hydrophones generates road noise that obfuscates critical sound signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent models the road noise generated by hydrophone motion using guided wave theory to create a synthetic road noise signal. This modeled noise is then used as an adaptive filter to remove the actual road noise from the acoustic data, converting the harmful road noise into a useful filtering tool that improves signal detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a modeled road noise signal as an intermediary element. This synthetic noise signal serves as a mediator between the actual road noise and the filtering process, allowing the system to selectively remove road noise while preserving critical acoustic signals through adaptive filtering techniques
2Measurement precision
If road noise is removed from acoustic data, then signal quality improves for safety determinations, but complex signal processing is required to separate noise from signals of interest
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary modeling of road noise characteristics using guided wave theory before the actual filtering process. By pre-characterizing the road noise signal and its propagation through the wellbore environment, the system simplifies the subsequent adaptive filtering operation and reduces computational complexity during real-time processing
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
Enhances the accuracy of wellbore safety determinations by effectively removing road noise, preserving and enhancing the quality of signals related to wellbore conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an array of acoustic sensors (e.g., microphones) that sense road noise as it propagates along the wellbore structure
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrophone may be deployed in a wellbore to collect sounds that may be used to identify whether a wellbore is safe to operate. This hydrophone may include acoustic sensors that sense noise generated by motion of the hydrophone and may sense noise indicative of a defect that could lead to catastrophic failure of a wellbore. Noise generated by movement of the hydrophone may be classified as “road noise” and noise associated with wellbore defects may be classified being “signals of interest.” The presence of “road noise” may interfere with the collection of “signals of interest” and because of this, evaluations performed on data that includes “road noise” may result in inaccurate determinations and a decrease in safety. As such, systems and methods of the present disclosure are directed to improving safety of a wellbore by removing “road noise” more effectively while increasing quality of “signals of interest.”