Seismic Receiver Vibration Isolation and Azimuthal Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic receivers in subterranean formations face challenges in maintaining stable three-point contact with wellbore walls regardless of azimuthal orientation, leading to suboptimal seismic wave detection due to vibration interference.
Innovation Solution
The seismic receiver system features a tool body with a sensor package and contact shoes distributed for three-point contact with the wellbore wall, along with a vibration isolation system using springs to maintain contact and isolate the sensor package from vibrations, allowing detection in arbitrary orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the sensor package is mounted directly in the tool body, then the structure is simple, but the sensor package is subject to vibration interference from the tool string
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration isolation system comprising springs is introduced as an intermediary between the sensor package and the tool body. This mediator absorbs and isolates vibrations from the tool string while allowing the sensor package to maintain its position and detect seismic waves accurately, thus resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and vibration interference.
2Manufacturing precision
If the contact shoes are mounted in a fixed azimuthal orientation, then the manufacturing is precise, but the detection capability is limited to specific orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The contact shoes are arranged in an asymmetric three-point configuration around the sensor package rather than in a symmetric fixed azimuthal pattern. This asymmetric arrangement allows the contact shoes to maintain stable contact with the wellbore wall across multiple azimuthal orientations, enabling the sensor package to detect seismic waves from various directions while maintaining manufacturing precision.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sensor package is isolated from the tool string, then vibration interference is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration isolation system utilizes springs with specifically selected mechanical parameters (spring constant, damping characteristics) to achieve effective vibration isolation. By optimizing these parameters, the system provides sufficient isolation from tool string vibrations while maintaining a relatively simple and compact structure, thus resolving the contradiction between vibration reduction and device complexity.
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
This configuration ensures stable and efficient seismic wave detection by maintaining consistent contact and isolating the sensor package from vibrations, enhancing data quality and simplifying deployment and data transfer.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor package may be vibrationally isolated from the tool string delivering the seismic receiver downhole
Data Source
AI summary
A technique facilitates seismic wave detection with a seismic receiver. The seismic receiver has a tool body, a vibrationally isolated sensor package mounted in the tool body, and a plurality of contact shoes. The contact shoes are mounted around the sensor package in a distribution which enables three-point contact with a surrounding wellbore wall regardless of the azimuthal orientation of the sensor package.